Which lesser known / newer Stephen King books should I read next?

[2022HereWeCome]

Ok I've read all the Stephen King classics - Salem's lot, Pet Cemetery, IT, the shining, Carrie, Misery etc (all great reads). Bachman books are fantastic - especially The Long Walk.

So I've just finished The Institute - not perfect by any means but much better than I anticipated and a real page turner. So what can I read now? I haven't read many of SK newer books and I'm sure there are some older lesser known ones that are worth a read.

Any ideas? I didn't enjoy the Dark Tower series - patchy and underwhelming. I tried to re-read the Stand a couple of years ago and failed miserably - found it boring. And 'Gwendy's Button Box' is best forgotten IMO.

The Bill Hodges trilogy is worth a look (Mr Mercedes is the first book). I really enjoyed Insomnia and Desperation - but The Regulators (Desperation's sister book) I didn't get on as well with.

Some folk love The Talisman and The Black House that he wrote with Straub, but I'm not keen on Straub's style and I can see it clearly each time it's present.

Dreamcatcher was really good too. If you're a fan of the short stories "If It Bleeds" is another collection, although wait until after Bill Hodges for that one.

I liked Under The Dome. And also the time travelling one about the JFK assassination.

22.11.63

Amazing

I've read the Talisman and I liked it but Black house less so.

Is Dolores Claiborne or Duma Key any good?

Christine and The Dead Zone are two vintage King novels which are really good if you haven't read them already. I also really enjoyed Duma Key and 11 22 63 from a bit later on- in fact you've got loads more really good ones still left before you hit the crap!

Bag of bones! Loved it.
Also, the dark tower series. His best (in my opinion)

Firestarter is great.

@SausagePourHomme

22.11.63

Amazing

Absolutely this. I would love to forget it and read it all again!

Dolores claiborne is great. It has difgicult subject matter, child abuse and domestic violence. It is amazing writing of female characters though.

Equally what are the ones to avoid?

@wellerhugs5 I wanted to like the Dark Tower I really did but I found some of the books really slight and the lead up to the ending was a HUGE disappointment.

I really liked Duma Key

I loved Rose Madder, even though it's a bit weird. And also Thinner, which is Richard Bachman.

11.22.63
Seconded, thirded, fourthed!

The Tommyknockers

@SausagePourHomme

22.11.63

Amazing

I second this.

I also really enjoyed Blaze and Joyland, quite different to his usual genre but good (& not as massive as some of his books - I like a long book but sometimes it's nice to have something shorter too!).

I'm also a big fan of his short story collections.

The Stand. The tv series is abysmal so if you've seen that don't let it put you off the book.

I don't get the love for The Stand. I enjoyed it as a teenager but tried to re-read recently and it irritated the heck out of me.

Duma Key is a great book. Have you tried Sleeping Beauties which he wrote with his son Owen? It has the same feel as his older stuff and is a great read.

Ohhhh and on that note - I "found" an author a couple of years ago called Joe Hill and the book was Nos4R2 (since been made into a series), so I read a 2nd book of his, The Fireman, and it was even better so I had a bit of a google and turns out he is Stephen King's son and he is a GREAT writer - I would absolutely recommend giving him a go. He is the same genre as his dad and his style is quite similar so that is probably why I enjoyed his books.

I'd also say the Bill Hodges trilogy, mainly because I really like the character of Holly Gibney. She's also in The Outsider and (as the main character) If It Bleeds.

@SausagePourHomme

22.11.63

Amazing

Yes, I don't like the horror genre as a rule, but this is an incredible book

Another vote for 11.22.63 . Everything in my world stopped when I opened that book up
Cujo is worth a read too and Different Seasons for short stories.
I too wish I could forget 11.22.63 and have the pleasure of reading it again

I liked Dolores Claiborne. Liked two of the short stories in Different Seasons but I thought The Apt Pupil was drivel. I’m always surprised by how many people haven’t read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, which I really enjoyed.

I like Dreamcatcher too although I know lots of people aren’t keen! Think it was one of the first King novels I read as a teen.