Stephen King - 'IT', really scary book

'The Shining' as a film is a v skewed interpretation of the book and Jack Nicholson plays a character very different to King's version of the character. It's a good film - but it's v different to King's imagined hotel/caretaker.

I don't see The Shining as a SK film as it is different from the book (like The Running Man). It is still a good film, and much better than the made for TV version which sticks to the book, though

I mentioned Firestarter, cote! I love it, especially the flashbacks to the clinical trial and you're never quite sure what actually happened.

Did anyone see the documentary on Stanley Kubrick's film of The Shining? It is called Room 237 and it came out last year.

The Stand
The Shining
Firestarter (can't believe nobody mentioned this yet!)
Dead Zone
... all great SK classics.

And from among his newer books:

Duma Key.

Dolores Claiborne was pretty good too book wise. The film I think (not seen it for yonks) diluted the issues a bit.

Wasn't Denny the baby that Sarah put to bed when she finally slept with John Smith (The Dead Zone).

A line something like "Sleep Denny" "That easy?" "That easy."

(Haven't read it for years, so could be wrong)

I love most of his books, but after his accident I went off him quite a bit - his writing seemed angrier and disjointed.

For me he returned to form with Under the Dome.

(However, unlike the rest of the world I really liked Cell, so my taste is obviously a little screwed!)

The Stand is my absolute favourite, closely followed by The Talisman and Black House.

My Grandad is called Dennis and has been Denny to the whole family ever since I could not pronounce "grandad" as a toddler

Carrie is a great read IMO

I knew it was George .

That part haunted me as a child and now I have a little brother George so I definitely can't re-read. Not that I'd want to. [shudder]

Terrifying book!

I can't really get my head round The Regulators and Desperation still enjoyed them though. Couldn't get into Cell or Geralds Game

I bloody love Insomnia! I could pick up and read it over and over and never tire of it

Denny is the baby in The Dead Zone too.

The Long Walk, that's one of my favourites! It now reminds me of the Hunger Games.

I love a lot of Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by me are a given, as is The Stand which is still one of my favourite books.

Has anyone read Insomnia? I found that both incredibly touching and very creepy, plus it describes so horribly well how wretched you feel for a lack of sleep and how different the world can look when you're so tired.

I love so many SK books. But I think Insomnia is my favourite closely followed by the Long Walk.

There should be a law that only Frank Darabont is allowed to do SK films. I dread to think what Ron Howard will do to The Dark Tower (if the adaptation ever happens)

Yes, King is either amazing or dreadful.

It, Bag of Bones, Christine and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon are great. I think he writes teenagers and coming of age stuff really well.

On Writing was a great read.

Pet Sematry I seem to remember was one of the first books to shock me. And I really, really dont like Gerald's Game. The psychological aspect gets me whilst the writing annoys me, and I simply can't read it.

how has no one mentioned the green mile? That translated amazingly onto film

and also I love Duma Key - proper creepy as shit back to his best psychological stuff after a run of less good books, read that twice and it gave me shivers both times

IT is amazing - one of the first of his I read as a teenager, gave me nightmares and I couldn't look at the cover of the book for months! (coloured eyes (red?) peeping out of a drain.... eurgh

I found joe hills books more readable for me personally, I don't know what it is bout Stephen kings books but I find them a challenge. The writing style just doesn't work for me. Apart from the girl that loved tom Gordon which I loved.

Yep, it's Danny in 'The Shining' I think. Can't remember enough about 'Stand By Me' - will have to re-read. Love the name though - never heard it anywhere other than in King.

It not I.

I reread I last year and it still freaked me out.

I have read the early ones then got bored.

But loved the latest one about Kennedy and time travel.
I sobbed.

Is it Danny in The Shining? Denny was Gordie's brother in Stand By Me, I think.

I really like 'The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon' as it's such a brilliant depiction of the thought processes of a child.

Joe Hill hasn't done much for me thus far - he has good ideas but I don't think he executes them very well and the books don't have enough 'heart' to them to satisfy me. I think he's trying to emulate his dad but doesn't have his dad's eye for (or indeed compassion for) characters.