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Original poster

Stephen King, help please?

56 replies

Number666livesaMrMIller · 20/05/2015 19:59

Ok, I'll admit I've never really read a Stephen King book. I've dallied with the usual 'it' and 'pet semetry' in my teens but nothing since.
Any particular recommendations? What order do I need to read things in?
I'm not a fan of short stories and love a good chunky novel to get my teeth into.
Thank you Smile

OP posts:
chocmeup · 22/05/2015 00:43

Brilliant: The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, The Stand and Insomnia.

Avoid: Gerald's Game

I never dared read IT as my big brave sister swore it was the only horror novel to ever keep her awake at night and I already find clowns terrifying. I didn't much like 11/22/63, I'm surprised it's so popular here.

At the risk of sounding like Amazon's software, you may also enjoy Dean Koontz, especially "Watchers".

chipsandpeas · 22/05/2015 00:37

deffo the stand

misery
the shining
carrie
the cell
four past midnight (short stories)
graveyard shift
geralds game
it
dolores clairborn
needful things

pretty much anything, and also look for richard bachmann (the running man totally differnt from the arnie film and the dark tower series)

MimsyBorogroves · 22/05/2015 00:29

IT is the ultimate King. He writes best about coming of age and the complexities of human relationships, for me - and this is just perfect. 11/22/63 is brilliant too for similar reasons and ties in well.

Original poster
Number666livesaMrMIller · 21/05/2015 22:38

I started The Stand this afternoon. Almost wanted to ring in sick to work and carry on reading! I'm a fast reader but this bad boy is going to last me ages Grin
Thanks for all the recommendations.

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CoteDAzur · 21/05/2015 09:12

Duma Key is very good, I agree. And it's properly scary. I was wary of tennis bald for a good year after reading it & was anxious I might see one in the sea.

Cell is silly and well, terrible. I don't think SK understands technology very well.

Dark Tower is a cowboy story / fantasy. I hate Westerns and don't care for fantasy genre in general so didn't get along with it. YMMV.

Among the SK books I read decades ago, I loved:
The Stand
Firestarter
The Shining
Pet Cemetery
Short stories

... but wasn't impressed with:
Misery
Tommyknockers
Needful Things
Dreamcatcher
Talisman
Kujo

ArthurMcAffertyhastwocats · 20/05/2015 21:19

I love The Stand. It's immense, and beautiful, and sad, and the characters will stay with you forever.

11/22/63 is fantastic, though a long way from horror.

Duma Key I thought was good when I read it recently - I'm now scared of tennis balls, though. Under the Dome is fantastic though the ending isn't as good as the rest of the book.

I also like The Dark Tower books a lot but they aren't quite the same as his other books, although in many ways they are the culmination of a lot of his work.

Original poster
Number666livesaMrMIller · 20/05/2015 21:12

Right, it's done! Lots poorer but defiantly happy that I asked. Going to start with THe Stand seeing as it's appeared the most in people's lists!
Thank you all

OP posts:
Original poster
Number666livesaMrMIller · 20/05/2015 20:57

I can't keep up! Good job it's almost pay day!!

OP posts:
bloodyteenagers · 20/05/2015 20:51

The stand
Carrie
Cell
Under the dome
Thinner
Misery
Needful things
Talisman
Cujo
Different seasons
Everything's eventual
Bag of bones
Tommyknockers
Gerald's game
Four past midnight.
Dreamcatcher
Running man
The regulators

Fuck it, they are all good.

Norland · 20/05/2015 20:42
ShadowFire · 20/05/2015 20:36

Loved The Stand, The Shining, The Eyes of the Dragon and The Talisman (written with Peter Straub). Carrie and Misery are also good. Currently about halfway through Doctor Sleep (sequel to The Shining) which is very good so far.

Norland · 20/05/2015 20:34

I've got 4 x books on the go at the moment (only one novel, Perdido Station by China Miéville but I'm going to dig out my copy of IT and re-read it. Always something new to find in there......Pennywise the Clown eh? Something to give you nightmares.

skorpion · 20/05/2015 20:33

I loved 'Lisey's Story' and 'Green Mile'. I think I prefer his not strictly horror stories.

kissedbyamoonbeammyarse · 20/05/2015 20:32

I went to look up Joe Hill and SK has a new book out on the 2nd of June. Yay!!

CtrlAltDelicious · 20/05/2015 20:30

Oh an Misery is brilliant!

ZestyDragon · 20/05/2015 20:30

YY to The Black House and The Stand.

CtrlAltDelicious · 20/05/2015 20:30

The Stand!!!! Read it age 14 - loved it. Read it again in my 20's loved it even more.
Also, 11.22.63. I wasn't alive for the time in question so thought I wouldn't "get it" but it;s outstanding.
Also, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Not a horror, but frighteningly real, you could just imagine it happening!
Rose Madder is awesome but does delve into the supernatural when you really don't want it to, which I found frustrating. Avoid Gerald's Game. Just became distasteful, IMO.

kissedbyamoonbeammyarse · 20/05/2015 20:27

The Black House. He wrote that with peter straub. Seriously scary. Great.

ZestyDragon · 20/05/2015 20:27

Bag of Bones is fantastic, both creepy and a love story.
The Body (which became the film Stand by Me) part of Different Seasons - 4 Novellas and are very good.
Christine scared the bejesus out of me.
IT actually still scares me and I read that 27 years ago.
Rose Madder is fab, a story of a woman escaping from her abusive husband.

I actually think SK writes about women very well and sometimes are more "real" than his male characters.

Also check out his son Joe Hill.

Original poster
Number666livesaMrMIller · 20/05/2015 20:26

Thank you! Roll on holidays and time to actually read them!

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kissedbyamoonbeammyarse · 20/05/2015 20:26

Rose madder, the green mile, misery

eurochick · 20/05/2015 20:20

The Stand is far and away my favourite SK book. Under the Dome and 11-22-63 are also good.

AtomicDog · 20/05/2015 20:19

The Stand is wonderful. I didn't want it to end (and it's not exactly a thin book!)

Original poster
Number666livesaMrMIller · 20/05/2015 20:19

Thank you all so much! Off to spend some Amazon pennies now Smile

OP posts:
originalusernamefail · 20/05/2015 20:17

The Stand - love it.
Insomnia
The Shining
Doctor sleep (shining 2)

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