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Original poster

stephen king -- what should i read?

77 replies

tyaca · 30/10/2010 23:12

never thought of reading his books, but picked up under the dome the other day and loved it.

since got green mile off ebay, halfway through, left at MILs, darn. but really enjoying, looking forward to getting it back in post.

what next? could live without horror, but will consider anything recommended

OP posts:
BelligerentGhoul · 30/10/2010 23:13

The Stand is his best - way better than Under The Dome.

I also love his Dark Tower series but since it's 7 books, you'll need to be willing to put some hours in!

ghoulishglendawhingesagain · 30/10/2010 23:16

I loved lots of early stuff - Pet Semetary, Carrie, Misery are all great. I just bought his memoir, 'On Writing' but not started it yet.

Funkychunkymunky · 30/10/2010 23:18

I love them all but think carrie is a disappointment. One of my favourites is needful things.

Funkychunkymunky · 30/10/2010 23:19

Oh yes pet cemetery and misery are really good!

Funkychunkymunky · 30/10/2010 23:19

Lisey's story is good but a bit weird IMHO.

nannynobnobs · 30/10/2010 23:22

My favourites are Insomnia, The Shining, The Dead Zone, The Stand, and his short story collections (Everything's Eventual, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Different Seasons). Different Seasons has the novellas The Body (filmed as Stand By Me) and Rita Hayworth And Shawshank Redemption, filmed as obv the Shawshank Redemption. Brilliant writing.

Original poster
tyaca · 30/10/2010 23:23

quick responses Smile

i just bought the stand actually. on way back from MILs, realised had forgotten green mile and made my way straight to waterstones. resisted wasting £8 on another copy of green mile and went for the stand. quite enjoying so far. it turns into horror or not?

what are the other good non-horrors? can't imagine being bothered with shawshank cause of knowing film so well.

OP posts:
Pluto · 30/10/2010 23:23

The Shining, Misery, The Green Mile, Dolores Claiborne and Misery are all gripping yarns.

DH has everything he has ever written (and under his pseudonym Richard ?? somethingortheother). I will get back with details tomorrow :)

sallyspookypoisonberry · 30/10/2010 23:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BelligerentGhoul · 30/10/2010 23:24

The Stand isn't exactly 'horror' as in typical gore-fest stuff. But it is very, very frightening and will probably make you cry.

Ghoulish - On Writing is really interesting.

pinkteddy · 30/10/2010 23:26

Yes Needful Things and I'd recommend the Tommyknockers(although long).

If you like shorter books, Different Seasons (compilation of short stories) has Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption in it, the other stories are good too. Four past midnight also a good compilation.

Sidge · 30/10/2010 23:26

Some of his short story anthologies are excellent - Different Seasons has Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption which is just incredible.

Four Past Midnight contains The Langoliers which is brilliant, and Nightmares and Dreamscapes has some great stories.

The Shining is great, as is The Long Walk, Pet Sematary, The Green Mile, Duma Key and Under the Dome.

Sidge · 30/10/2010 23:28

Oh cross-posted.

Read The Shawshank Redemption even if you know the film well - it is fantastic and has such a depth to it that even the superb film doesn't reach.

ghoulishglendawhingesagain · 30/10/2010 23:28

Richard Bachman I think - Thinner? Very good too but years since I read it.

I went off him after a while and started enjoying Dean Koontz more. Then went off him a bit too[hsmile]

Belligerent - saw some good reviews of it, have have a large queue of stuff to read ATM... I got a bit carried away on Amazon the other day.

GroupieGirl · 30/10/2010 23:29

Bachman. Richard Bachman. Thinner and The Running Man stand out for me...although I wrote an epic poem based on The Running Man for my course last year and can't bear to read the book ever again. But that's beside the point.

Insomnia, Needful Things and Misery are all excellent suggestions...May I also recommend Cujo?

GroupieGirl · 30/10/2010 23:30

Oops.

Anyone for Richard Layman, too?

thelunar66 · 30/10/2010 23:31

Another vote for The Stand. Its a long book and took me most of my materity leave to read.

Pet Semitary is excellent, but will haunt you for years after.

ShirleyGarrote · 30/10/2010 23:34

Hello OP!

Um, to start of (if you're not after scary) I'd go for a bit of Dead Zone. Beautiful story, really haunting and sad and just...

Oh, and once you've finished with that one move on the Dolores Claiborne - not scary at all, just kind of sad and happy at the same time.

Maybe you could move on then a bit into something a little more chilling...Try TommyKnockers and Needful Things

And then do Christine and Carrie (these are scary)

and then Salems Lot and The Shining. (These are really really scary)

Save the best til last. The Stand. Easily one of the best books of the 20th century.

And then read everything he has ever written. It will make you happy.

So Envy of you starting all these books.

BelligerentGhoul · 30/10/2010 23:36

The Stand - easily one of the best books EVER! :)

Lovely post btw, Shirley.

Valpollicella · 30/10/2010 23:37

Four After Midnight is great...4 novellas in one book that feel like full length books but are 'easy' to read

Sidge · 30/10/2010 23:38

I'm reading Lisey's Story at the moment, took a bit of getting into but am quite enjoying it now.

Love SK's books, may have to re-read Insomnnia, Thinner and The Stand soon.

nannynobnobs · 30/10/2010 23:39

I don't actually want to read Pet Sematary again as it's so, well, horrible! And I am a SK 'constant reader'.
Gerald's Game made me almost vom in my mouth a bit- if you've read it, you surely know the scene I mean.
Crouch End in Nightmares and Dreamscapes is very creepy indeed. Chattery Teeth is brilliant. :)

GroupieGirl · 30/10/2010 23:39

I'm now off to dig out all my battered old Stephen King books. And also to read the ones I haven't yet.

BelligerentGhoul · 30/10/2010 23:39

Am I allowed to mention my favourite short story again, or does it give too much away? :)

GroupieGirl · 30/10/2010 23:40

Gerald's Game gave me nightmare's. I was thirteen.