Stephen King

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

So I've had quite a lot of people recently telling me I should read some Stephen King books. Yesterday I picked up Pet Semetary and The Tommyknockers for $5 each at the op-shop near where I work. Now I was wonder if theres any other books by King that I should read before/after reading these 2 books, because I've heard that some of his stuff is a lot harder to get into and some's more accessible. Also use this thread to recommend any of his books you enjoyed.
Please don't post in here if you're going to be a pretentious dickfart and bitch about how you don't like his writing blahblahblah.

[DruNkiN_mONkeY350]

I love Misery . Its one of his best books and its so well written and very suspsensful. The Mist is also a good one to read. I like a lot of his books but those two really stand out to me.

[tunacake]

Stephen King's pretty hit or miss. He has some really great stuff, but there's a lot that he just pumps out without any apparent effort, although I haven't found anything of his that wasn't at least mildly enjoyable.
I highly recommend IT.

[Spiffy13]

I just recently started reading Stephen King. I started reading them after I saw 1408 (which I loved). I'm only reading short stories at the moment, but I really like The Man In The Black Suit and All That You Love Will Be Carried Away.

[social_lawnmower]

Four past Midnight is a collection of well-written short stories.
Good to pick up and read if you're just going to go a few pages at a time.

[jayce]

Short

- 1408, from "Everything's Eventual" (better than the movie, in my opinion)
- The Langoliers, from "Four Past Midnight"
- pretty much all the stories from "Different Seasons" (these aren't really of the horror genre)

Long

- Firestarter (I liked it because it's a sad story, more than anything else)
- Cujo
- Desperation
- The Shining

Epic

- The Dark Tower series
There are seven books in this, but if you try out the first one and you like the style, they're really addictive and you get through them quite quickly.

[Heloisa]

So I've had quite a lot of people recently telling me I should read some Stephen King books. Yesterday I picked up Pet Semetary and The Tommyknockers for $5 each at the op-shop near where I work. Now I was wonder if theres any other books by King that I should read before/after reading these 2 books, because I've heard that some of his stuff is a lot harder to get into and some's more accessible. Also use this thread to recommend any of his books you enjoyed.
Please don't post in here if you're going to be a pretentious dickfart and bitch about how you don't like his writing blahblahblah.

I already read almost 50 books from Stephen King. I recommend all of them, but if you have Pet Sematary, please, start with this one! This book is terrific and I also recommend that you don't read it just once. In every reading you will find out a new thing in this book, trust me.

And please, read the Dark Tower series, you'll love it.

[timbot]

Well, if you like good books--the classics and such--don't waste your time. Even The Dark Tower is going to leave you a little empty. But, if you're not a real big Literature fan, then he can be a pretty good read. My favorites are The Dark Tower, The Eyes of the Dragon and Hearts in Atlantis. But, as other people have said above...sometimes he's good and sometimes he's not, and the only people who like him all the time are silly fanboys...and you everyone knows you can't trust them.

[green rubber bands]

There's already a thread about this :ahe:.

[INTUNEevolution]

So I've had quite a lot of people recently telling me I should read some Stephen King books. Yesterday I picked up Pet Semetary and The Tommyknockers for $5 each at the op-shop near where I work. Now I was wonder if theres any other books by King that I should read before/after reading these 2 books, because I've heard that some of his stuff is a lot harder to get into and some's more accessible. Also use this thread to recommend any of his books you enjoyed.
Please don't post in here if you're going to be a pretentious dickfart and bitch about how you don't like his writing blahblahblah.

You get what you pay for.



- The Dark Tower series
There are seven books in this, but if you try out the first one and you like the style, they're really addictive and you get through them quite quickly.

Also, this is a lie. Addictive, yes, but by no means are they fast reads.

Fast for 800 pages, but time slows down. Trust me on this.

[tunacake]

There's already a thread about this :ahe:.

The other thread is about the Dark Tower series specifically.

[Infinity]

"It" was a great read. Long but worth the investment of time. You'll never look at clowns the same again.

[BKS]

Oh jeez, where to start, right? As an avid Stephen King fan, I'd say just buy every book and read them all, but to name a few books that stood out in my head, I'd have to say:

Desperation
It
Pet Semetary (but you already have that)
The Long Walk (as Richard Bachman(This book actually managed to get me emotional))
The Dark Tower Series (see my thread)

and before I ramble too much, because I definitely would, read The Body. It was adapted into the movie "Stand By Me" and is just phenomenally written. As in The Green Mile.

[History]

I enjoyed From a Buick 8 and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. The Dark Tower series was good, that is if you are into fantasy type reads. I also liked The Stand, it's long but I thought it was worth the read. Don't get too wrapped up in King, his character development is good, but he pretty much recycles the same personalities throughout, and he isn't very good at expressing his female characters, who are, generally weaker or less likable throughout his books.

[TangerineOrange]

You know the movie The Shawshank Redemption? Apparently that was based on a short story he wrote, which I was mildly surprised about. Not because I didn't think he capable of writing a story such as that, but because it was such a deviation from what he typically writes about.

[UncleDuck2]

My favourites are:
-Misery (just amazing)
-Hearts in Atlantis (In the beginning it was a horror storie, but it ended with a cardgame)
-The Green Mile
-Pet Semetary
-The Mist
-The Shining
and last but not least
-Salem's lot (Vampires in that one, really cool)

The man is a genius, not all the time, but he's a genius.

[Echo]

Uncle Duck you didn't have to put the spoiler alert on the Salem's Lot part. It's kind of obvious with the person bitten by a vampire on the cover.

I think Pet Sematary is a good book to start on because its really creepy. I didn't really like The Dark Tower series, but thats because I like his horrors. Fantasy's not my thing. I love almost all of his books, but I'd have to say Desperation and It were my favorite.

[BKS]

Scuse me, nuthugger coming through.

It all really depends on what kind of book you want to read. Horror, Crime, Psychological, he's got them.

I recommend: It, The Dark Tower Series, Desperation, The Long Walk (as Richard Bachman), and I donno, maybe some of his short stories or really any book you can find.

[Erinnn]

Anything he has written is good to me.
Favorites though,
The Shining
and
IT

[Demoir]

'Different Seasons' is great. None of the 4 short stories are horror (except elements of 'Apt Pupil') but they are all brilliant. I especially like 'Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption' and 'The Body'.

[FA5TeddyFEL5ON]

"Bag of Bones" was my favorite, a pregnant woman gets heat stroke and dies at the beginning. How can you beat that?

[BKS]

"Bag of Bones" was my favorite, a pregnant woman gets heat stroke and dies at the beginning. How can you beat that?

A large variety of ways. I don't find that funny nor amusing. I find "Loggers found dead with penises lopped off and inserted into their own mouths" amusing.

[steven]

The Dark Tower series is by far the best litterature I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Brilliant storytelling.

[FA5TeddyFEL5ON]

Regardless of whether you think its amusing or not, the man is a genius. He's sold like 350 million books, and hes written like 60 some books I think.

[Tastychainsaws]

Pet Semetary was really good. The book was really suspenseful towards the end.

Carrie is also good but it makes you frown on society.

Misery was so and so but I still recommend it.

Rose Madder was all right but for 60% of the book nothing really seemed to happen.

[RessXalcor]

I'm surprised only one person mentioned The stand which is one hell of a great book, the first I've read. The Shining Second book I've ever read, but that doesn't mean its bad. Plus it has a memorable movie, but I suggest you read the book anyway.

[Taperjeangirl7]

I can't stress "The Stand" enough. Absolutely amazing.
I agree with that guy up there, the long walk &the running game asRichard Bachman are cool.

It, Misery (extremely disturbing), from a buick 8.

Read the first Towers book and hated it. I had to struggle through it.

[Haggis McSpud]

"The Girl Who Loved Tom Gorden" and "Needful Things" are good reads as well. I also recommend watching the movies; Tommyknockers, Misery, IT and The Shining are my favorites.

[sly939]

I can't stress "The Stand" enough. Absolutely amazing.


you are genius!

Also Firestarter, The Eye of the Dragon, From a Buick 8, Dreamcatcher is really good.

Also The Dead Zone

[smizmar68]

Misery and Salem's Lot are two very good books by Stephen King. My favorite though is The Stand. Parts of it can be a little slow but overall the story is amazing. Very creeps might I add.

[Idioteque]

I just finished the Long Walk and I truly think it is my favorite book by him (as Robert Bachman). I started it and finished in in about 3 hours, I was so engrossed. Definitely a must read.

[Musician of cool noises]

I've read through a bit of Nightmares and Dreamscapes i think it was called, a collection of short stories. it's good to get into if you just want really short stuff to read first and pick at. Later on i read Cell, which does make you wonder about cell phones to say the least... though not an avid fan, i've been meaning to read his books, and from what i've read, well just start on any one!

[avalanche_]

My favorite is definitely The Stand.

[diableri]

My favorite is definitely The Stand.

I'll second (or fourth or fifth it?) the The Stand whenever someone decides to tackle one of his big books. I've read it several times over the years and have enjoyed it differently each time. I'd also say that reading it before the Dark Tower series is a must due to synergy between them but there are going to be lots of opinions on that one.

I think it was the OP that mentioned Tommyknockers. I would say that particular book along with Insomnia and a few others are going to be best read later on in his catalog rather than early. I know the thread is old though so it's likely too late for the guy talking about it; just some advice for future readers. Save Tommyknockers for later on. It's a good book, just less accessible than many many of his others.

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

I'll second (or fourth or fifth it?) the The Stand whenever someone decides to tackle one of his big books. I've read it several times over the years and have enjoyed it differently each time. I'd also say that reading it before the Dark Tower series is a must due to synergy between them but there are going to be lots of opinions on that one.

I think it was the OP that mentioned Tommyknockers. I would say that particular book along with Insomnia and a few others are going to be best read later on in his catalog rather than early. I know the thread is old though so it's likely too late for the guy talking about it; just some advice for future readers. Save Tommyknockers for later on. It's a good book, just less accessible than many many of his others.

It's not too late, I haven't started reading his books yet because I've got something like 10 books that I still haven't read sitting in my room, so I'll get around to it slowly. Thanks to everyone for the recommendations!

[stfu]

Needful Things is a nice book.

[Wackiest]

I read The Shining first, which was grand. And then Carrie which is short and quite easy to read. I wouldn't start with Christine that takes a while to get into. I also rather enjoyed Firestarter.

[NVM]

Based on watching parts of the King film adaption, I always thought of him as sell-out trashy horror writer. In some ways he is, but I was pretty surprised when I really started to like his work.
My favorite book so far is the Drawing of the Three, but I'm currently going through The Stand which is great.

[BKS]

Based on watching parts of the King film adaption, I always thought of him as sell-out trashy horror writer. In some ways he is, but I was pretty surprised when I really started to like his work.
My favorite book so far is the Drawing of the Three, but I'm currently going through The Stand which is great.

Have you read the previous books in the Dark Tower series? The universe he crafted makes me orgasm.
Literally.