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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to utterly love Stephen King?

319 replies

minifingers · 29/09/2014 14:45

Ex secondary English teacher, who snootily resisted his books and the whole horror genre for decades, in favour of Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Jane Austen, and lots of serious modern authors like Saul Bellow.

Had children, got too knackered and thick to read serious fiction so tarted on the Stephen Kings.

I find that I absolutely love his books. Love them, and the mind which created them.

Worried that I'm going to end up like that woman in Misery - you know, the Kathy Bates character. Obsessed.

Anyone else got a Stephen King pash or is it just me? He's not very mumnsetty.

OP posts:
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5
Canyouforgiveher · 29/09/2014 15:08

I just think that if you write 10,00000 books/series/short stories, some of them have to turn up good.

Don't think good writing works like that at all. The opposite is true imo. If you are a good writer who is prolific, some of your work may well not be that good. If you are a crap writer, you can write as much as you like but it will all be crap.

Powaqa · 29/09/2014 15:08

I have read everything except the Dark Tower series

The Stand is my absolute favourite but cannot find any mention of a sequel, did you mean the sequel to The Shining - Dr Sleep?

Mr Mercedes, his latest book is good too, it's a non weird book and took me a little while to accept that there was going to be no bogey man, no vampires or killer dogs.

I also love Dean Koontz although he has gone off the boil for his last half a dozen books or so

BecauseIsaidS0 · 29/09/2014 15:08

I lurve his books.

to utterly love Stephen King?
bigkidsdidit · 29/09/2014 15:09

I reread It recently, I'd forgotten what an amazing story it is. His imagination is wonderful. and the Bachman books are some of my favourites.

I find his sex bits completely cringey, though!

fluffyraggies · 29/09/2014 15:10

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon remains the only book I've ever read in a single sitting because I just couldn't put it down.

Same here.

And The Green Mile is the only book i've had to stop reading for a while because i was literally sobbing so hard near the end that i couldn't see the bloody words.

SKs books were the background to my teen years. When writing about children, teens and young adults he manages to touch that vulnerable/fearless/naive/fierce/tender/needy/independent hellish mixture of feelings that puberty brings, in a way that no music or other writer could for me. I read Christine when i was the same age as the main characters, and i will not watch the film or even read the book again as i don't wish to spoil the mood. Even 30 years later.

Caterpillarmum · 29/09/2014 15:16

I LOVE SK audiobooks! So evocative and downright scary!!

I listened to Rose Madder when doing the housework and was just stood there with duster in hand open mouthed when DH walked in and promptly jumped out of my skin!

Top 5 has to be:

  1. The Stand
  2. It
  3. 11.22.63
  4. Duma Key
  5. Rose Madder

I have to admit I was disappointed with Dr Sleep and Mr Mercedes, but I'm sure other SK fans loved them.

What are your top 5s?

bigkidsdidit · 29/09/2014 15:16

Mrs Minton the long walk is my favourite too, I think

RufusTheReindeer · 29/09/2014 15:21

fluffy

Read the green mile in its 6 book form

Bought the first one just before we left for a 6 month round the world trip and read the last one driving across America on our way home

I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed!!

Only one other book has affected me as badly

Love Stephen King and have read everything...not enjoyed them all but the vast majority I have. Can't do a top 5

And I read Christine at 16 (had to buy it myself as my mum bought it for me and then had to return it as she found some swear words)

It's funny how many personal memories are tied up in them

BigbyWolf · 29/09/2014 15:21

Yanbu! He is fantastic.
The most recent one I read was 'Full Dark, No Stars' which is a compilation of short stories. There is one in there called 'Big Driver' which I particularly liked.
I also like Dean Koontz and when I'm feeling particularly in need of very depraved, twisted horror something easy to read that doesn't require too much thinking, I read Richard Laymon.

CheerfulYank · 29/09/2014 15:21

I love, love, love him. His characters ate wonderful and so well drawn. I've really loved some of them!

I read one of Tabitha's (his wife's) books while pregnant and a character mentioned Dick Hallorann (from The Shining). The character went on to say, "of course, Dick's dead now.". I burst into tears. Blush

I love the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon! Whenever I read it and she's (SPOILERS)

in the hospital bed at the end, communicating " I got the save" to her dad, I well up. Every time!

Have any of you read "Full Dark, No Stars", one of his more recent short story collections? There are a few stories in it that have been turned into movies coming out soon and I can't wait! King movies aren't usually very good IMO (except for the Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption which are excellent) but these look good!

CheerfulYank · 29/09/2014 15:22

Xpost Wolf! Big Driver is going to be a TV movie starring Maria Bello!

YouTube the preview, it looks not too bad! :)

RufusTheReindeer · 29/09/2014 15:23

New book in time for Christmas

Revival

RufusTheReindeer · 29/09/2014 15:24

The tv shows and movies are usually shit

I don't know how it happens!!

chickensaresafehere · 29/09/2014 15:25

I too,adore Stephen King,started reading his books back when I was 13(I'm 43 now!!).He is,unashamedly my favourite author & 'The Stand' is my favourite book with Rose Madder coming a close second.
Just finishing 11.22.63 & don't want it to end!But have Doctor Sleep lined up to read next.
Tell me more about The Dark Tower series are they worth a read?

CheerfulYank · 29/09/2014 15:26

Also (another non supernatural one) is the Gingerbread Girl, which is a short story I loved. Think it was on Four Past Midnight.

My top five are probably:

  1. The Stand
  2. Firestarter
  3. It
  4. the Shining
  5. the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

But I love so many. I really enjoy the Dead Zone. The part where the main character has predicted a deadly fire, and it actually happens... I get literal chills every time.

CheerfulYank · 29/09/2014 15:27

I agree about the movies. A Good Marriage will be out soon and I have high hopes as it's starting Joan Allen and she usually makes good choices. :)

chocogirl77 · 29/09/2014 15:27

IT was my first too, I was 11 and couldn't go to the bathroom on my own at night for days later!
The Different Seasons Anthology is probably my favourite book, with the green mile a close second ( I read it as a serial as i couldn't wait for the paperback ) IT is third as it got weird towards the end, then 11.22.63 and finally misery.

Celticlass2 · 29/09/2014 15:27

Yes I love Stephen King. He's an absolute genius. Recently rewatched a few of the films. God, Pet Cemetary was bloody Brilliant.
Have introduced DD 14 to some of his books.
I haven't read Doctor Sleep. Am I going to be disappointed if I do? Have heard mixed reviews.

BigbyWolf · 29/09/2014 15:27

Ah CheerfulYank Great minds think alike!
I actually gasped in excitement when I read your post! I will look at the YouTube trailer now!
Which others from that book have been turned into movies?

fluffyraggies · 29/09/2014 15:28

Rufus - yes i read GM in it's 6 book form too! (in about 2 sittings) Grin

When i look at my tatty dogeared copy of Christine i remember buying it - lovely red and all brand new. i remember all the times i dragged it out of my school bag to read a few more pages. I remember where i was, what i was going through and what i was feeling. Amazing how evocative it is.

WeAreGroot · 29/09/2014 15:29

King movies aren't usually very good IMO (except for the Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption which are excellent) but these look good!

I think his short stories tend to translate into films much better than his novels, there's just too much stuff in those to bring them to the screen without being butchered beyond recognition.

Aside from Shawshank (one of my favourite films ever) and Green Mile (which makes me cry far too much to watch it regularly) I really like 1408 and The Mist. The Mist was written (the screenplay at least) and directed by Frank Darabont who wrote the screenplays for and directed both Shawshank and Green Mile. He has a real feel for SK stuff and The Mist is typically brilliant yet harrowing. Apparently SK was disappointed that he didn't think of Darabont's altered ending as he liked it better than his own!

There's a made for TV film of The Shining which SK wrote the teleplay for which is actually very good and far closer to the book than Kubrick's monstrosity.

CheerfulYank · 29/09/2014 15:31

A Good Marriage (x post again :o) which was my other favorite from the book.

I really hope they don't mess it up. I particularly loved the scene between the woman and the older detective... hope they do it justice.

CheerfulYank · 29/09/2014 15:32

My middle name is Christine because my mom was reading it the night before I was born. Blush

LucilleBluth · 29/09/2014 15:32

I'm reading IT at the moment, it is literally terrifying. I have been reading him for years, beats the Booker prize list any day ;)

CheerfulYank · 29/09/2014 15:33

I can't watch the Mist, I just can't! Even though my girl crush Melissa McBride is in it.