Stephen King - what next for holiday reading?

[PepeLePew]

I'm reading Under the Dome at the moment and loving it - it's everything I love about King. Real empathy, brilliantly drawn characters, people who act badly out of fear, shame, ignorance. The Stand is one of my favourite books ever and as a teenager I read Salem's Lot, Carrie, Thinner, Firestarter and a couple of others. But I hated Rose Madder (it was ok until she went into the other world and got lost in the maze) and Gerald's Game and I don't think I can stomach the more traditional horror stuff any more, so what next for my holiday?

I am bizarrely daunted by the idea of The Dark Tower series though I am told they are great. Are they worth trying? Or something totally different? What is the ratio of scary to awesome in IT? I'd give it a go if it was more than just a horror story (I think!).

"Cell"

I see your Cell and your Needful Things and raise you Dreamcatcher!

Needful Things wasn't great but at least was an attempt at an intricate plot with various characters in the town etc. The Cell was just pathetic. The only thing I took away from that book is that SK doesn't understand a thing about tech.

Intricate? I found it spiteful and petty and gratuitous and pornographic. I loathe it.

I said an attempt at an intricate plot. Not a successful one. But at least he tried, with various relationships between different characters etc.

Meanwhile back at The Cell... Not even any such attempt. Dumb story about running from zombies, then a laughable explanation so forgettable that I've forgotten it and that's it.

I preferred, 'Cell' on second reading. I liked the teenage girl with the tiny shoe, and the bit in the school.

Haven't read all posts so may be repeating but Doctor Sleep is brilliant, it's a sequel to The Shining but good on its own too. I've just started Mr Mercedes and loving it! Big SK fan

Ok - am thinking

Oops!

Right - there seems to be a consensus that Duma Key is great, so I will download that. I'll try IT - what's the worst that can happen? And I will also go for 11.22.63 which sounds wonderful. Will try the DT series another time - think my DF has all the paperbacks so might borrow one next time
I see him.

I am about to finish the Dark Tower and I think I will be going into mourning

Those books really get to you

You say true.

Weeps for the fall of Gilead, and the gorgeousness of Roland...

The Talisman. It's written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Excellent book.

I loved pet cemetery. I read this when I was quite young too. Not sure how it would stand up now...

Bag of bones was very good too if you fancy a good ghost story :-)

Perdita is right - 11.22.63 is fab / amazing / unputdownable. What a cracking story with all the Lee Harvey Oswald stuff going on in the background. I felt like I was there. I was so sad when I finished.

You must read Mr Mercedes. An exciting detective-hunting-serial-killer story. I don't know how the hell he does it but his characterisation makes you fall in love with the characters. Loved the main character - a retired detective. And I really got inside the head of the killer.

Duma Key is just ok. But one thing I loved - again the characterisation. The storyline was just bleughh for me. But my love for the characters kept me going.

I've come to SK later in life. Next on my list is Doctor Sleep. And then Needful Things.

Skip Needful Things, Captain.

Wonder why no-one's mentioned Tommyknockers :-p

Is Tommyknockers rubbish? I just bought it in a second hand book sale for $2 and was about to start it . . .it is quite a hefty one and i don't have nearly as much reading time as I used to so would take a while!

It's......erm.....different. Not to my taste but you might really enjoy it. I thought it just got a bit too silly. Even for SK.

I finished The Dark Tower at three this morning, it was one of those can't bear to stop reads.

It is true, I am in mourning

Don't let this put anyone off though, I am so glad I read them. Thanks to Remus who got me going.

Go back Jack and do it again...

I wasn't expecting that. Excellent ending though

Tommyknockers = load of garbage.

So glad you enjoyed DT, Humphrey. You see what I mean now about wanting to start them all again immediately?!

Yes!

Are you going to?