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Original poster

Recommend some Stephen King?

72 replies

hairycabbage · 02/12/2022 20:11

I don't like 'extreme' horror that keeps me awake at night but I love Stephen Kings style of writing.
I've read Sleeping Beauties, the green mile, fairytale, Misery and the outsider and loved them all. 'It' was a bit too much for me, although I did enjoy it I suppose!.
I listen to them on audible on dark night time walks so anything too creepy is a no-no...
Can anyone recommend some similar to those I enjoyed?

OP posts:
Idbemonica1 · 02/12/2022 20:12

Salems lot? An oldie but goody

FionnulaTheCooler · 02/12/2022 20:15

Billy Summers, and 11.22.63. Not horror as such but very easy to get into.

purplewolfie · 02/12/2022 20:18

I'd recommend Needful Things and Bag of Bones. Not too gruesome but very Kingy in different ways

Original poster
hairycabbage · 02/12/2022 20:19

Amazing, thank you!
Has anyone read The Institute?

OP posts:
LoisChasse · 02/12/2022 20:20

I second 11.22.63 for a non-horrror.
I love Pet Sematary but it is quite dark. Fire starter or Christine for older, classic Stephen King.
I love them all though!

ditalini · 02/12/2022 20:21

I loved Hearts in Atlantis which is one of his non-horror novels.

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 02/12/2022 20:22

I listened to the institute on audible and really enjoyed it, have just finished the bazaar of bad dreams which are some of his shorter stories also enjoyed but a couple were frustrating 😂

darkwinterdays · 02/12/2022 20:23

The Shining, the Green Mile, Misery, Thinner. I enjoyed all of these...

purplewolfie · 02/12/2022 20:23

The Institute is ok...bit like The Outsider. Not spooky/supernatural but lots of nasty things happen to children...

FloresApparuerunt · 02/12/2022 20:24

Thinner is fantastic!

Carrie is really good - I know people say that it's horror, but I've always thought it was a very sad drama. Poor kid.

Original poster
hairycabbage · 02/12/2022 20:25

You're right, I zone out a bit when it's about violence or other horrid things happening to children (The Outsider was a brilliant read but very graphic in this area)
I might go for Salems Lot (and stick to well lit roads rather than fields in the dark for my daily walks )Grin

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Squashpocket · 02/12/2022 20:26

I read and liked The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon a number of years ago. Not sure if my post-children nerves could stand it now, but I remember enjoying it as a younger woman.

NooNakedJacuzziness · 02/12/2022 20:26

The Dead Zone is brilliant, not really horror but such a good story

DomesticShortHair · 02/12/2022 20:32

Not one of his most popular or recognised by any means, but I really enjoyed From a Buick 8. I also like the Dark Tower series. The Stand is my favourite King Book of all time, though.

Goneback2school · 02/12/2022 20:33

I loved Desperation and Insomnia

romdowa · 02/12/2022 20:34

Duma key and needful things are two of my favourite king books. They are horror though but its mild.

gegs73 · 02/12/2022 20:34

11.22.63 like others have said. Really good book.

RamsayBoltonsConscience · 02/12/2022 20:34

Seconding The Stand and 11.22.63. His writing as Richard Bachman is very good and not too horror based.

chocolateisavegetable · 02/12/2022 20:36

Also worth checking out Dean Koontz if you haven’t already

canyouextrapol · 02/12/2022 20:37

The Stand

bimbimbap · 02/12/2022 20:37

i vote for cujo!

PepeLePew · 02/12/2022 20:39

Salem's Lot is terrifying.
The Stand is an incredible book. One of my favourites. I also like 11.22.63 and Duma Key, as well as a lot of his short stories. The earlier ones are also good - The Long Walk is special. There are some real stinkers in there but I remember The Institute as being a reliably good King story.

purplewolfie · 02/12/2022 20:39

I'm a big fan but I couldn't get far in to Desperation...something really horrible happens early on and I couldn't deal. Might be different now my children are older.

Msgrieves · 02/12/2022 20:41

I agree with cujo, also bag of bones and insomnia, also try the Bachmann books (his alias) running man is good and not like the film, although I love that too. The long walk is great and I think is one of the first things he ever wrote. There's always the stand too, not too spooky.

mrsfollowill · 02/12/2022 20:43

Where to start! I really like the older stuff- Carrie, Christine, Pet Sematary, Salems Lot, The Shining, The Stand and The Dead Zone - all brilliant books IMO- not overly violent. Liked Cujo and Misery as well. Yes- to Dean Koontz as well if you've not read his stuff!