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Original poster

Possibly picking up Stephen King again

57 replies

user1495832265 · 15/08/2017 10:20

I was a huge Stephen King fan back in the day, although I never read The Dark Half or The Talisman, I enjoyed all of his other books up to The Tommyknockers. I remember trying to read that on holiday in 1989 thought it was terrible and gave up. I didn't like Dolores Claiborne, The Dark Half, Rose Madder. The last one that I enjoyed was Gerald's Game. So, I pretty much stopped reading his new stuff in the mid 1990s although I've re-read most of the earlier ones several times.

If you're familiar with much of his work, do you think it would be worth me trying some of his more recent stuff and if so can you suggest a few titles, or should I just accept that his style is no longer for me?

OP posts:
Original poster
user1495832265 · 15/08/2017 10:27

To add, I've just read a synopsis of The Dark Half and I think I may read it again. I was going through my own period of darkness at the time it was published which affected my enjoyment of anything and it certainly sounds as if it's worth another look.

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ComfortablyGlum · 15/08/2017 17:24

I also found The Tommyknockers absolutely dire! Was a huge fan of almost everything he had written up til then. He (in my opinion) definitely had a run of duff books and about the only thing I enjoyed were some short story compilations that he churned out.

I've still read pretty much everything he writes - but not compulsively on release. The only recent (ish) novel I've REALLY enjoyed was 11-22-63. That, I felt was akin to some of his great books of the 80s. The TV series was very true to the book and is good as well.

Doctor Sleep was about the little boy from The Shining now grown up. It was ok but an average Novel where the premise sounded better than the actuality.

The Mr Mercedes trilogy is of the same ilk - I did enjoy the last part (Finders Keepers) the most but it was still a world away from his great works.

FYI my favourite King novel is The Stand with IT a very close second. Reading His novella 'The Long Walk' is still one of my stand out literary 'wow' moments of my life - I think I was 15 when I read it and lapped up everything he wrote since then! Oh apart from The Darktower stuff - I read the early parts but not the later ones.

PotteringAlong · 15/08/2017 17:25

Loved 11-22-63

If you've not read it it's well worth it.

EggysMom · 15/08/2017 17:28

I'd recommend 11-22-63 as well , but other recent offerings have been disappointing.

Have you read / what are others' opinions of Lisey's Story?

Buck3t · 15/08/2017 17:32

Unfortunately he is now a little bit and miss. Tommyknockers was awful. But not as bad as some of the new stuff. I always confuse Gerald's game with. Needful things which was good. Can't remember the name of the 'old people love story).

Rose madder is worth a second read in my opinion. Lisey's story, not so much. Loved the dark half at the time. Loved the Stand. It was amazing. Desperation tried to be the Stand imo. The green mile is amazing and we'll worth reading. The Dark Tower series is top stuff. The girl who lived Gordon Thomas was okay. Bag of bones that was still 90s was good.

I will have missed stuff out. But he's still a good read, just a bit hit and miss

Buck3t · 15/08/2017 17:33

Almost forgot 11-22-63. Was him coming back to form. Could not put it down

Macncheesewithbacon · 15/08/2017 17:33

DS14 has just finished IT and gone on a binge - we're both deep into Dark Tower - it's challenging my memory......

TheWitchwithNoName · 15/08/2017 17:36

I loved Lisley's story. I haven't bothered with his newer stuff, I gave up on under the dome but did enjoy Dr Sleep. Had a real feel of Koontz's Odd Thomas to me though.

Merry0409 · 15/08/2017 17:39

I'am a big fan, my favourite being the stand, which I've read about 30 times, closely followed by Salems lot, then It, some of his later stuff is pretty bad, but 112263 was very good, like he had returned to previous form. I've never read the dark tower ones, will give them a go.

grafittiartist · 15/08/2017 17:41

Ah- great timing. Having never read him, I decided to borrow two, but find both dreadful- just so miserable. I didn't expect them to be cheery- But these are too unpleasant! You listed the two that I chose as ones you didn't like op- so can I ask you for any recommendations?

joannegrady90 · 15/08/2017 17:42

Revival is amazing one of his best!

Annamadrigal · 15/08/2017 17:47

Not really enjoyed many of his recent ones although they are still page turners. I did really enjoy Bag of Bones though- I found it melancholy and haunting. His short stories are still worth a look, as are his son Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts- a story called Pop Art is one of the most moving and beautiful short story i've read!

Annamadrigal · 15/08/2017 17:50

(sorry, that was such a clunky paragraph- distracted by Dc's dinner going everywhere!)

grounddown · 15/08/2017 17:56

Ooh I've just started 11-22-63 and really enjoying it so far

bigkidsdidit · 15/08/2017 17:57

God Glum snap - I read the long walk when I was 14. I am now 35 and I swear I have thought about it, however briefly, every week since. Especially when I am trudging home with the shopping 😀

OP I wouldn't read the new stuff but I would re read all the old.

fairgame84 · 15/08/2017 18:04

Rose Madder and Mr Mercedes are both good reads. I couldn't get into 11.22.63.
Full Dark No Stars and Blaze are my favourite SK books.
Under the Dome was really good until the shit ending spoilt it Angry

fairgame84 · 15/08/2017 18:08

Sorry OP you said you didn't like Rose Madder. I did read your post but clearly it didn't sink in Blush

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 15/08/2017 18:50

I have had big Stephen King phases but not recently.

I love The Dead Zone, and Christoher Walken is excellent in the adaptation of that. Misery is another favourite.

NerrSnerr · 15/08/2017 20:40

I really enjoyed the Mr Mercedes trilogy and Under The Dome. I also enjoyed The Long Walk and Cell.

JeffJarrett · 15/08/2017 20:48

I've read most of his classics but he lost me with Dreamcatcher. I couldn't finish it Confused

I read Joe Hill's Heart Shaped Box on recommendations from here, but just found it a bit 'meh' (Had previously read and LOVED the Locke and Key graphic novels and didn't realise he was King's son).

A friend recommend N0S4A2 and I'm almost done with it and massively enjoying it.

Original poster
user1495832265 · 15/08/2017 23:46

Thanks for all of these posts, I only expected one or two replies!
.
I've downloaded Mr Mercedes. I did see a little of 11.22.63 on Netflix or a Sky box set and was quite intrigued so may try that.
I mentioned the Dark Half twice in my first post, saying I didn't like it and then that I hadn't read it Confused. I was getting confused with Needful Things which I have read and didn't like.

Of the earlier stuff, I liked them all, and have read all of them more than once, up until The Tommyknockers. After that one the only one I liked was Gerald's Game.
Absolute favourites are The Dead Zone, Thinner (written as Bachman), Salem's Lot, The Stand and Pet Sematary. Pet Sematary scared me to death.
I think I'll reread The Stand and then try Mr Mercedes.

OP posts:
Original poster
user1495832265 · 15/08/2017 23:48

Forgot the short stories, agree that The Long Walk is excellent.

OP posts:
Fluffypinkpyjamas · 15/08/2017 23:55

I always loved SK books. This has made me want to read the books I haven't read. Thanks for posting!

LuckyLuckyMe · 15/08/2017 23:57

I loved 11.22.63, Duma key, Liseys story and revival. I am reading Bazaar of bad dreams (short stories) at the moment and it's fab.

EBearhug · 16/08/2017 00:00

I enjoyed the Mr Mercedes trilogy. Actually, I've enjoyed most of the recent ones. I'm not going to his books for a great intellectual study, but he's a good storyteller, and I enjoy them.