i hate horror. but i want to read stephen king so baaaad. what to do?
i hate horror. but i want to read stephen king so baaaad. what to do?
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i hate horror. but i want to read stephen king so baaaad. what to do?
uhm, if you don’t like horror why would you want to read stephen king so bad? His popularity doesn’t necessarily mean you will like his stuff.
His books aren’t all horror.
The majority are. But then Kuku can read the non horror ones
Dark Tower. No more scary than some fantasy I’ve read.
not all his books are scary
Read “On Writing” it’s amazing.
Thinner
He also writes non horror.
It is more suspense fantasy than anything
Some of his aren’t actually horror, even slightly.
My favourite of his is Needful Things, it didn’t read like a horror to me.
Hearts in Atlantis is good too, for non-scary of his.
He’s not really a great writer to be honest. If you’re into horror then he can be good at what he does but otherwise I wouldn’t bother yourself personally
Whoa whoa whoa there ?
I only mean objectively he’s not that good! 😀 I’ve still enjoyed a few of his books
He’s had some bad ones for sure but only a handful I actually couldn’t finish… Liseys story was brutal lol
I loved Lisey’s Story. It’s my 2nd favorite.
@Cathy I know there are people who love it, I’m one of the rare ones who love Tommyknockers lol
I hated revival.
Revival had one of the best endings he’s ever written!!!
Hmmm….lol
No really I’ve liked some more than others. But all in all..I like his books. The Stand is my favorite.
I’m catching up because Gerald’s Game freaked me out years ago. Then I read Jack Kilborn…and started reading King again…? trying to catch up.
I will admit, that ending insured that I will read the next,, but I still hated the story, but yeah the ending piqued my interest.
So who is good horror author in your mind?
Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Edgar Allen Pie, H.P.Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury, Jeff Vandemeer,John Ajvide Lindqvist(Let The Right One In) and Hari Kunzru(White Tears,) Andrew Michael Hurley (The Loneyto name a few who have really gotten inside my head and sometimes made me sleep with the light on recently. I’ve enjoyed King books as well, he writes characters and suspense well but his writing style isn’t great in itself in my opinion, so just saying that if the OP isn’t into horror anyway maybe she’s not really missing out.
I’m an Edgar Allan Pie fan too ?
(I knew it wouldn’t be a popular opinion here, but that never stopped me expressing myself before! :D)
Actually Pete you forgot Clive Barker…
Poe is one of our greatest writers, especially his short stories, absolutely captivating, convincing and transporting. I’ve never come across anyone that can ratchet the suspense up like him.
I’ll have to check out Hari Kunzru never read him before
You know I’ve never actually read Clive Barker, other than starting out with Weaveworld once, but didn’t get along with it so I put it down. I know a lot of people who really rave about him though. What would you recommend as an introductory novel of his @Steve?
I’ve read a few Hari Kunzru which I’ve really liked but White Tears is the only one I’d describe as Horror like. It’s a ghost story but very surreally told, evocative and psychological and pretty out there! Really plays with your mind, I found it genuinely disturbing. Also it’s about early blues recording artists and I learnt loads of great new music from it, which obviously made a good soundtrack for reading it too!
Definitely the books of blood series, Cabal is another good one I’ve actually not read weaveworld yet…
Thanks. Is Cabal a stand alone? Not sure I want to start a whole series by an author I’m still unsure about 🙂
Yes it is and Clive is like anyone else hits and misses, the hellbound heart is actually what started the hellraiser movie franchise so I should probably note it as well
Thanks, I’ll take a look. I’d be interested to know what you think of White Tears too if you do give it a go
Try Origin by Jack Kilborn (aka J.A. Konrath)
Firestarter
My first adult book. — I picked up my mom’s copy when I was 11. And I wasn’t scared at all, so good choice.
And Carrie is not that bad.
@Cari, one of my first SKs as well! I actually really loved the movie too!
@Angel, I don’t remember the movie. I think I should watch it again. I think that will go on my Halloween week movie playlist. Perhaps Pet Semetary and Christine as well.
I love all those old SK movies! 😀
@Angel, you can get in on it — we can make a Halloween week playlist together. 🙂
Yes you must see Firestarter! I think for the time it was made, they did a good job, with special effects and all, and the actors are brilliant too, IMO 🙂
that would be fun!
Ok, I nominate Firestarter, Pet Semetary and Christine. There’s three evenings of movies. You wanna go for three more?
sure but I know I’ll never watch them all 😀 I already have on my dvr recorded The Thing, one of my fav movies! and 30 days of night, and Aliens.How bout that? lol
@Angel, I like. Alien requires all three. There were three, right?
@Angel, and my husband picked Cujo for the last night.
right. you seen 30 days of night? great vampire movie. and I love Cujo!
@Angel, I haven’t seen 30 days of night, so I’m glad you recommended it. It’s going to be a fun week. I need to try not to eat all the Halloween candy while I settle in on the couch. LOL
Some of his sci-fi books are good.
The Long Walk
Not all of his books are what you would describe as horror. The Mr Mercedes trilogy is more like detective fiction than horror and would be a great place for you to start.
Also 11-22-63 and The Green Mile!
I just recommend the green mile, too. Soooooo good.
Needful Things or the Green Mile
Try 11/22/63! One of my favourite books ever, and it is not horror!
I don’t read Stephen King for the horror. I don’t particularly like horror. But I love the way he tells a story.
Read!
11/22/63 . I am not into horror either and I loved this book
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Very unique and not really horror at all
One of my faves.
Try The Talisman – more fantasy less horror. Oh and I never read King for the horror aspect.
Read them
Hearts in Atlantis was absolutely beautiful! I cried and wasn’t scared
11/22/63 would be a perfect start
If you like fantasy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/655707.The_Eyes_of_the_Dragon
This one isn’t scary at all, he wrote it for his daughter. I did gag though…..
I love fantasy, so I didn’t gag ?
I like fantasy too, it was his description of a booger of all things that made me gag!?
Do it! Sleep with the lights on. ?
Under the Dome is not to bad at all.
I find him to be more suspenseful than horror. Try the Green Mile. Fantastic story.
The long walk isn’t scary, and really good.
Delores Claiborne, Shawshank redemption, needful things
The Body (Stand by me)
The Stand 3
11/22/63
11/22/63, the green mile, under the dome, eyes of the dragon, the Bill Hodges trilogy, joyland, and Dolores Claiborne are all non-horror in my opinion. Misery too has only a human being as a monster.
His short story collection Different Seasons
DONT READ IT ALONE!!! Called my husband holding a knife one night to check under the bed – lol. So worth it though
Read The Green Mile. You won’t regret it.
Misery isn’t horror and I think one of his best.
For me it’s horror.. but like you I think it’s one of his best (I didn’t read book, I saw the movie).
The book is much better than the movie though I did enjoy the movie. I don’t think of Misery as one of his horror to me that would be IT, Carrie, or Pet Cemetery
I only read “finders keepers” .. it was good even if there are some gory scenes especially at beginning of the book.
It’s not a standalone, it’s the second in the trilogy, but I think it’s ok to read it as a standalone.
Joyland is excellent – a little bit ghost story and a little bit crime novel. Very good, emotional story.
They are so much more than horror. In my personal life I don’t think I know one person who doesn’t have one favorite Stephen King book/movie. I’d recommend The Green Mile, Misery, Eyes of the Dragon, or Carrie. I hope you enjoy whatever you end up picking. I’m a King fan for life after reading Misery.
The Talisman is a great Fantasy one by Stephen King
The Green Mile.
It’s not that scary mostly. Try Dreamcatcher. Even Firestarter
The Eyes of the Dragon is my favorite book by SK and isn’t horror
Most of his short stories are not horror and they are awesome.
Misery
No matter what you read of his you will probably like as long as “Under the Dome” isn’t on the cover
The Body isn’t horror, and I found Salem’s Lot to be fairly tame.
The Bill Hodges Trilogy isn’t horror, either, and those were AMAZING.
Delores Claiborne
Try Different Seasons. No horror at all
Under the Dome, 11/22/63. Neither are horror and both are excellent King reads.
11/22/63 is one of my favorite books.
Just don’t. Kings not worth the effort.
Dolores Claiborne was amazing. So was Misery.
Bag of Bones
I really liked this book. Did you watch the 2 part movie? Pearce Brosnan played the author.
@Chris I loved the book but the movie was honestly pretty disappointing. It was SO made for TV. It seemed much older than it was.
@Britt I didn’t mind it so much, although the book was much better
@Chris I think I probably had overly-high expectations, to be honest. I think the book is lovely and haunting, and the movie lacked the right tone for me. A sort of melancholy, loving, eeriness.
I can see that, for sure.
The green mile isn’t scary either
Cell it’s awesome
Read 11/22/63! I don’t like horror either and I loved that book.
Christine
11/22/63, Rose Madder, Mr
Mercedes
The Stand?
I don’t read his books as horror, even though I know that’s the given genre. Is there gore? Sometimes tons. But I find his books are about human interaction, reaction, and the power of the mind. And strong female leads. I love him so much.
Dolores Claiborne
Girl that love Tom Gordon
Loved that one. It’s the best.
Try Delores Claiborne, Carrie, Rose Madder, Misery, The Green Mile, or 11/22/63. They’re less horror in my opinion.
11/22/63
Blaze
Try “The Dead Zone” – it’s terrific!
I read Stephen King on Writing. Not his usual genre
Misery
Dark Tower
The Stand
Not all of his are horror
He’s not really horror… more like creepy and dark. A lot of his stuff is things that could happen. The green mile is awesome!
Eyes of the Dragon not horror
Read Salems lot. It works into the horror slowly.
11/22/63 is really good.
Me too! But you will love King’s wonderful storytelling and humor!
Read “Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption.” Not horror.
The Green Mile
Under the Dome
He also wrote under the name Richard Bachman… the book
Thinner was a Fantastic book and not really a horror story.
11-23-63
Excellent choice !
Duma Key. The Strand. The Dark Tower series (wonderful on audio.)
Try MISERY.
Or DELORES CLAIBORNE
Dark Tower series.
Not all of his work is horror
The Stand
11.22.63
Green Mile
i hate horror too but i love reading him!
Don’t!
Christine!
The Long Walk … (I hated horror until I read King. My faves are the Bill Hodges trilogy and 11/22/63)
My favorite King is The Long Walk.
A lot of his stories are not horror. My favorite, 11/22/63, the green mile, the girl who loved Tom Gordon, the long walk, can’t think of others but there’s a bunch
Well said.
The Long Walk
Read his work, something well fit for you! Some aren’t horror, they’re just weird. And if you’ve seen movies based on his books, you know some already.
Read The Body. It’s not horror
The Gunslinger Series
Try reading “The Eyes of the Dragon”. He wrote it so that his children would be able to read something that he had written. It’s one of my favorite books.
Try The Stand and/or Under the Dome.
King doesn’t just write horror. Read 11/22/63, it’s amazing. It’s about going back in time to when Kennedy was shot. I’ve read it twice. Also, his The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is good, not horror either. Stephen King is a very versatile writer.
I’m currently reading IT . . . Now I’m a little scared to read more and I’m also curious to know what happens next ?
Read on,
Not all Stephen King is horror. Try the girl who loved Tom Gordon, the green Mile or Mr Mercedes, finders keepers and end of watch just to name a few
Read his novels such as The Green Mile, Rose Madder, Misery. These are terrific novels and are not horror.
Think about it as a fairy tale with bad end. ?
Read 11/22/63
Christine
Not all of his books are pure horror. Some are milder.
YOLO
Man up?
He wrote so much more then horror. The Dark Tower series is a fantasy series by him.
Hide behind a cushion when you get to the scary bits – oh, hang on, ,that only works for the TV.?
Read The Stand. Not horror, but shockingly real.
Listen to it , it may take the stress and fear away
Not everything he does is horror. 11/22/63, The Stand, The Green Mile, the anthology Different Seasons that has the short stories for Stand by Me and Shawshank Redemption in it.
Try Dolores Claiborne – a cracking read and not at all horror
Read the dark tower series, it is not horror.
Read some of his other stuff. Shawshank Redemption or 11/22/63
The dark tower!!
I wouldn’t recommend 11/22/63, very boring
Just depends on the reader , I love the Kennedy assassination history .. plus if you never read much of his other works you may miss the reference to other stories
i enjoyed the book but hated the ending myself.
The ending did make me mad too
Read Salems lot first
Not all of his books are scary TBH. Just look into it before trying. The Stand is less horror, more just dystopian
He’s not all horror ,his genre has changed, you now have 11/22/63 which is more time travel l or the Mr Mercedes triolgy ( with Finders Keepers and End of Watch) that borders more on crime/supernatural .. just depends on what you like .. though many of his works since his accident have fallen short , he’s still my favorite author
Now when you say 11/22/63 is supernatural, can you explain what you mean? I have it on order and I’m not into the supernatural so I’m a little hesitant now…
Well the whole time travel / changing history thing seems a bit supernatural to me .. not full on ghosts or demons, forgive my bad description
Time travel…its good…I don’t think you will be disappointed.?
Ok cool, thanks for the clarification!
Try Misery, there’s nothing supernatural horror about it, but the psychological terror is so good.
Take a deep breath, you can do it and keep the light on
The Dark Tower is suspense, not horror
for that matter, not really suspense
Bag of Bones is more ghost and mystery than horror. It was my first Stephen King. Dolores Claybourne is another short but full of suspense,
11/22/63 isn’t horror and it’s my second favorite by him! It’s time travel and historical fiction-ish.
The Eye of the Dragon
I still haven’t read that one!?
1963
different seasons
Read the green mile. It wasn’t scary in my opinion and I don’t like horror either lol.
The Green Mile…. I don’t do horror … but this is a good one to try …. xxcc
Read “the Girl who Loved Tom Gordon”. It is not as spooky as some of the rest
11/22/63 is not horror.. However he doesn’t get to that date until almost the end of the book.
Outsider wasn’t too scary and I’m a total chicken ?!
Read 11.22.63.its one of my favourites my him and it’s definitely not horror
11.22.63 is one of his best and not really horror at all.
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Start out with not-so-scary horror (something for little kids) and work your way up to Mr. King.
ball z in ur court.
Love his books?