Stephen King - didn't like Carrie, what are the others like?

Because of this thread I've started Dark Tower again from the beginning, its been a while since I read them. Only started yesterday but am onto The Waste Lands today

I might have to buy Firestarter again. I have no idea where my copy could be.

I read it when in my late teens and moved between four cities since then.

I love Stephen King - if anyone remembers an 80's kids movie called The Monster Squad then you may like this as worn by one of the kids in it

Lots of good reccomendations for you here SineadTemptation and I would like to add to definately avoid Cell. Just bizarre.

Apparently King's own favourite of his works is Bag of Bones which I reread recently, and is very good, and very scary.

CoteDAzur I am currently re-reading Firestarter (got it out the library) - it is all kinds of aces.

One of my favourite books is The Stand and I've recently read Under The Dome which was also very good.

Cycle of The Werewolf was also made into a film and worked better in the comic form which I had - that probably wouldn't work on kindle.

I read all his books when I was a teenager, loved his short stories too which could sometimes be scarier than the full novel.

Dark Tower eight is already written, it seems.

It looks at the time between the end of book four (Oz) and their arrival at the Calla at the beginning of book 5.

Yes I saw book 8 mentioned when I was looking at the reading order stuff. Sounds like it won't be out for a while though as, apparently, SK is writing a sequel to The Shining first. Looking forward to Wizard & Glass. I think each book has been better than the previous one but that may be because I am getting more engrossed

Oh, you've got Wizard & Glass next, probably my favourite one

And there's apparently going to be another one Dark Tower 8

I'm right at the end of The Waste Lands at the moment. It seems like every time I put my Kindle down I'm at a cliff hanger. I really can't wait until I can read them again! As I have a 14 month old DS it has been ages since I've been this engrossed in a book

I would, which one are you reading now? Plus if you read them after you'll have that 'Ohhhh' moment which is much nicer than 'Eh'!

Thanks Tilly. I'm not sure I could bear to drag myself away from The Dark Tower to read the other. I might save reading all of the connected books for when I re-read The Dark Tower. I'd imagine this will be quite soon anyway, it is ages since any books have grabbed me the way these have.

I don't think it adds much, just that they have some of the same characters so you get more of their story and it rounds out the overall tale. You could also read The Stand, Insomnia, The Talisman, Black House and The Eyes of the Dragon as they also connect to the series.

I don't think it makes much difference if you read them before or after though!

I was wondering about the reading order for The Dark Tower. The SK website forum advocates reading certain books in between books of the Dark Tower as they are connected, I was wondering if anyone had done this? Lots of people suggest reading Salem's Lot and Hearts of Atlantis before book 5. I haven't read either, would it enhance my reading experience of The Dark Tower to do so?

SQUEEEEE!!!!

New book! New book.

I never really got into Dean Koontz, his stories don't grab me

Colonel, he's definitely not Roland, Cort maybe but not Roland. I am actually quite sad they're doing a film & a tv version, I'll still probably watch it though! And his new book looks good, v interesting

Haven't read Carrie, but the some of his best work is the non horror stuff. Try "The Green Mile", "Different Seasons" (4 short stories, one of which is the novella on which the film Shawshank Redemption is based, another is what the film Stand By Me was on).

I personally really loved Gerald's Game (although it scared me shitless) and "It" was a FAR better book than film. "The Shining" as well was great.

I'd also take a look at Dean Koontz - his books require slightly less suspension of belief and they're really enjoyable.

New book out in November - oooooooh again!

oooooooooooooooooooh

Tilly They are planning a film here Scroll down for the guy who may be Roland. I've never heard of him and don't think he looks right at all - too sultry and too short. He needs to be tall and skinny and sort of faded looking imho. I can only think of Viego Whatshisname but he's probably too delicate.

I haven't read many of Stephen kings newer books and I hated some of his books, Carrie being one of them.
The Shining is my top book of all time, it's fantastic, I would definitely recommend it.
Misery, insomnia and Geralds game are really good too as is Different Seasons which is a book of shorter stories including the shawshank redemption.

Colonel, lol, will definitely give that game a go. I hope they never do a film version, I don't think there is any actor who could be Roland

Thanks Fab & ColonelBrandon, will give those a try

Cell wasn't so great, I didn't like Needful Things that much either but there are good ones in between,

Cell was awful. Apt Pupil v v good.

Secret Roland Game = whenever in a place where there are lots of people, I weigh them all up in my head to see if any of the men could 'be' Roland. Sadly I am yet to find him.

In my humble opinion, two of the greatest short stories/novellas ever written are Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank redemption and Apt Pupil.
They are without peers and show King for what he is, a truly, truly gifted writer.
They are breathtakingly good.

Ooops X posted!
Have to say I'm not much of a fan of SK's more recent works. Started to read Cell a few years ago, got about 4 chapters in and just had to put it down. Seemed more like pointless violence and zombies just quite ridiculous. I haven't re-read his 'classics' for many years, but I hope it's not my taste that changed! I started getting a little bored around the time of Needful Things...that's the last one I remember enjoying, although not as much as IT, but then I was the same age as the characters in IT when I read it, so it had a Deeper Meaning to me back then

Tilly Re: Gaiman; I'm re-reading American Gods atm and the follow up is Anansi Boys :)