Best Stephen King book?

[PurpleDaisies]

My husband read a book on writing by a Stephen King and really enjoyed it. Neither of us have ever read a novel of his. Any recommendations? I don’t really like horror….

Thanks!

My list in preference:
The stand
The shining
Christine
He is fantastic but these are my favourites that I’ve read and reread

He does write a lot of thriller type novels too - the Mr Mercedes trilogy is good, as well as his new novel Billy Summers. I love a good horror though so I like his darker novels! I know it's a film, but I would also recommend reading The Green Mile.

They're all terrible

It's a short story, but one of my favourites is "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" - might be a good place to start as it's not in quite the same all-out 'horror' vein as some of his others

The Stand is my favourite (but I've only read three!).

1. The Stand
2. IT
3. Pet Sematary

Excellent! Thanks for all the suggestions so far. Much appreciated.

Absolutely the Green Mile - read it recently and loved it as much as I love the film.

Haven't read it yet but I have just bought Misery on recommendation from several sources.

The short stories are the best imo.

11/22/63 is a brilliant Stephen King book, and not a horror. I couldn't put it down.

The Stand
The Green Mile
The Deadzone
Thinner
Needful Things
Misery
The Shining

I love everything he's written basically. The Stand is amazing but it's long. The Green Mile is really good and has made me cry before. Needful Things is brilliant and not scary. I couldn't put down The Institute and nearly had to book a day off work to finish. The Shining and Dr Sleep - so different from the film.

Enjoy!

My favourite author!
The Stand
It
Salems lot
Cell
His books of short stories are fantastic
I've read all of his books and love most of them.
His films - Shawshank Redemption, the Green Mile, 1408 are awesome as well.

And oh god yes to 11/22/63.

He writes the best characters.

Misery
The Green Mile
The Stand
Carrie
Pet Semetary
Dr Sleep

I like his short story collections a lot, too.

I forgot how much I love mumsnet sometimes! This is excellent.

Avoid anything within the last decade or so, seems like he started writing any old crap just for the money. His earlier books are largely awesome though, my personal favourites are Dolores Claiborne, The Green Mile and Christine.

The Green Mile
The Shining
I don't generally like supernatural stuff but make an exception for him.
Couldn't get on with Salem's Lot though.

Of the Bachman/short stories I absolutely loved The Long Walk.

Christine for me

The Stand

I like Delores claibourn.

Misery is good but the story within the story can he hard work.

Carrie is also really good.

I liked Tommy knockers too but its long and I had to return to the library befire I finished it

It
From a buick 8
Insomnia
Desperation
Needful things
Black house written with Peter Strain
Duma key
Bag of bones
Everything's eventual ( short stories)
Dr sleep

Another vote for 11/22/63
You really feel you're actually there with a Stephen King book.

Straub not strain!