Stephen King

[StressedButBlessedx]

Which of Stephen Kings books do you recommend the most?

Agree that the earlier books are better. The following, published after 1990 are worth a read in my opinion -
The Sand (uncut version)
Needful Things
Gerald's Game
Rose Madder
Bag of Bones
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Dreamcatcher
Duma Key

The Stand

I loved the early ones when I first read them but I'd struggle these days.
There was a period where I thought his stuff was awful - Insomnia and Dreamcatcher were dreadful. But I've quite enjoyed the more recent ones, I say enjoy, 'Revival' was horrifying.
Really enjoyed Duma Key, Billy Summers, and Dr Sleep.

'Different Seasons' is pretty much the only one I can cope with, although 'Cujo' was engaging in parts. 'DS' is very good, though.

The early ones
Carrie
Salems Lot
The Shining
The Dead Zone (also a fantastic film)
The Stand
Christine

Billy Summers is decent.

Hi OP - if you've never read Stephen King I would suggest reading in chronological order - so start with the early classics and take it from there. I love Stephen King - he's written in so many genres. Here's a link that provides detail of all his books

For me it's easier to say which ones AREN'T my favourites:

• The Stand - 16 year old me loved this but I tried to re-read a few years ago and it irritated the hell of me. Too many tropes and stereotypes
• The Dark Tower series - I got to the end but I was so disappointed.
• Cujo and Christine

I've just finished Billy Summers and off to read Dolores Claiborne next ...

The Shining is IMO his best book.

Cujo, Carrie, Salem's Lot and Gerald's Game are all amongst my favourites - any of those will give you the unsettling, psychological, creepy feelings that King is loved for.

Dolores Claibourne is a masterpiece.

I've read all his books (apart from the Dark Tower series), I've enjoyed them all.

Only book of his I couldn't finish was Lisey's Story - but I will give it another at some point.

I haven't read many of his. I found The Institute really disappointing so definitely wouldn't recommend that.

I really liked The Eyes of Dragon which is a young adult book but I really liked it. It's a fantasy novel and an enjoyable easy read.

The Shining - much better than the movie imo (and different)
IT - one I never thought I'd read but turned out to be a fave
The Langoliers - weird but good
On Writing - great to read his thoughts and bits of his life

Christine.

Pet Semertary is the scariest for me.
Misery is also good.
I love his short stories too. Full Dark, No Stars is amazing.

Currently working my way through King, but so far Pet Sematary and Dolores Claybourne are my favourites.

I LOVE the Bachman Books - especially The Running Man and The Long Walk.

The Shining is amazing - better than the film.

Salem's Lot and Pet Sematary also, although I'm pregnant and now terrified of picking the latter up again.

IT is amazing - I couldn't get through The Stand, but did start it during the first Lockdown without really knowing what it was about, so my own fault.

Different Seasons is great, as is Misery and 11.22.63. And The Dead Zone.

Basically I love Stephen King

Misery, The Dead Zone, 11/22/63 are my personal favourites.

Carrie, It, Pet Semetary, Salem's Lot, The Shining ... and one that no one has mentioned yet - The Tommyknockers, which is great.

I read Needful Things recently, and I really didn't rate it. Not one of his best, by a long way.

The stand, It, Misery, the long walk (read it again recently and it resonated with how utterly bizarre politics, especially in the US, has become).

The Stand

though most of his stories are brilliant. The TV/film adaptations, surprisingly poor. Shame he wasn’t at his peak during the Netflix era.

I loved night shift. One of the first I read which is a collection of short stories.
Four past midnight, from a buick 8 as well. I really enjoy SK's short/mid length efforts.

I enjoyed the stand, but there seemed to be a section in the middle where I felt a bit meh about it. Pushed through and enjoyed it a lot.
'It' was long but good!

I've actually really enjoyed his more recent stuff! I thought 12.22.63 was epic. I couldn't put it down and was then disappointed when I reached the end. I tried to maintain my love by buying the James Franco series but it was shite.
Billy summers was really good and I've just finished fairytale. I really loved that too!

Rose madder was a tough read, only through subject matter rather than poor story. Girl who loved Tom Gordon fab too.

I'm a big fan but I'm still to read many of the big hits!

I note I need more adjectives for 'enjoyed'!

The Green mile

Keep fingers crossed then that the new film adaptations of The Running Man and The Long Walk actually happen.

Think the most recent of his I tried was 11.22.63 so of his recent output what would you recommend?

I did enjoy Doctor Sleep (follow on from The Shining) but not read too many of his newer stuff. Have asked for Fairy Tale for Christmas as it got great reviews.

Generally I have found the film adaptations woeful (except for Misery, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and some parts of the IT two-parter) so won't hold my breath, but hope they do happen. It has always baffled me that they can't seem to get King right on screen, but I guess imagination is always better.

The Stand, IT, shawshsnk redemption, sleeping beauties , misery, Carrie

So many to work out the best. Just all brilliant.

Ooh. Desperation. I'd forgotten that. Tak.
Brilliantly done.

I found Dreamcatcher hard to read as it's so accurate and really brings home the pain of his accident. He wrote it after he was run over near his home and his description of pain is unreal. Breathtaking.