Four Past Midnight is a great read. I prefer the short stories to the weighty, endless tomes he usually writes because I can get right into the story without a long setup, and reach the ending without all the flashbacks.
I don’t know specifics but my son has told me that almost all of his books have the same underlying group of characters woven through them. After he read 11/22/63 was when he discovered that — Dark Tower, Shining, so on. Jennifer — PM me if you want to talk about it more.
I remembered loving it as a teen but didn’t remember much about it, so I started rereading it. Maybe it just starts slow, but I’m having trouble getting into it.
The green mile. Such a melancholy and lovely message. But don’t forget Carrie. Introduced me to S.K. and scared the hell out of me. He’s been a favorite ever since
I’ll also have to go with The Stand. The epitome of Good vs. Evil. Such great characters and I love the dystopian setting. That being said, I just watched Shawshank Redemption on TV for the 800th time, and that has to be one of the top 5 movies ever.
And I also really loved The Long Walk. It stuck with me for a long time. It wasn’t scary in the way it or the shining was scary but the dystopian element and the fact that the walk was ingrained in life really got to me. I was a teen the first time I read it I think. Probably around the same age as the main character.
Hands down 11.22.63 wish I could read it again for the first time! But also loved Mercedes trilogy but don’t have it for my collection yet! (Read it digital)
I just asked somebody else this but they didn’t remember. I just started this. I just read the part that refers to Pennywise. Are any of his other works brought up?
That one’s not my favorite, and I’ve read almost all of them, which is to say, if you find YOU don’t like it, don’t judge Stephen King by it! Most of his books are excellent!
I bought a bunch more recently but my dad let me borrow this a while back. I saw somewhere else where they said it was the scariest book they ever read. So far not scary but I’m only about 50 pages in
Me too on The Stand, second fave is probably Duma Key. It’s not brilliant (like The Shining) but I think it’s a perfect piece of work. And, even though it’s shorter, I think it’s equally evocative and atmospheric.
Yes! I love audiobooks- I can get (mostly mindless) things done while “reading”. The right reader is vital! Have you *listened to DT? That’s one I like equally both ways. Who’s your fave character? Mine’s Jake (and Oy).
I’ve only listed to two audiobooks ever, haha. Duma Key and Educated by Tara Westover (super good). I’ve read DT a billion times. I am in love with early Eddie. That first scene with him (on the airplane) is SO GOOD. Then, Roland and Oy.
I’ve read Hill’s NOS4A2 and Horns. I like him, but don’t love him yet. I’ve been meaning to read Heart Shaped Box. I’ll pick it up! I’m in the middle of Sleeping Beauties by his other son…not loving it, but it’s enjoyable.
@Trasi YES. Exactly. I wish they had flip flopped the stories. I want to read about the women making their new life, not the dudes messing up the old life.
@Patricia I agree; parts of it were almost insulting in what appeared to be the authors’ attempt to pander to what they must believe “women want to hear”
The Stand, great dystopian novel, IT, so creepy and good! My new favorite, 11/22/63. Love time travel books and Stephen King. I follow him on Twitter and he is hilarious ?
My all time King favourite has got to be The Talisman ! Something (whi knows what !) resonated in me with that book … my imagination just seemed to sync with King’s and there I was, jumping between different worlds, holding Jack’s hand … I’m also re-reading The Stand – that book will never get old and I find something different in it every time I read it 🙂 Rose Madder came just at the right time in my life – I, too, was in an abusive relationship & was very relatable … There’s books that I’m not so keen on, Gerald’s Game for instance, couldn’t ‘get it’, but I give every book a read and judge it on its own merits. I find that no matter what genre you normally read, there’s a King book that will match it ! Here’s the thing (for me, anyways); when I was a teenager, starting out on my King journey, it was all about the scares – the horror/vampire/Gage Creed’s shoe on the highway/blood/gore/scared stiff/sleep with the lights on kinda vibe … now I’m older, I see the humanity in his stories which, I have to say, scares me more ! If you’re just starting your King journey then I’m a little jealous as you get to experience that initial ‘wow’ for the first time 🙂 Enjoy !
11/22/63 because I lived through the death of President Kennedy, and it was a horrible day I will never forget. And, Stephen King brought me back to that time in such a unforgettable way. Loved that book.
Four Past Midnight is a great read. I prefer the short stories to the weighty, endless tomes he usually writes because I can get right into the story without a long setup, and reach the ending without all the flashbacks.
Good point
The Stand. It wasn’t what I expected and the character development is stunning.
11/22/63 because it was part love story, part historical fiction, part time travel.
I just stared this. I just read the part that refers to Pennywise. Are any of his other works brought up?
It’s been awhile since I read it, don’t remember.
I don’t know specifics but my son has told me that almost all of his books have the same underlying group of characters woven through them. After he read 11/22/63 was when he discovered that — Dark Tower, Shining, so on. Jennifer — PM me if you want to talk about it more.
The Stand. I love the Biblical parallels.
Rose Madder
Lisey’s Story as it is a love story with Stephen King thrown in. And by the way, you may not look into a mirror again ?
The Stand or 11/22/63. The characters come alive on the pages!
As much as I loved 11/22/63 (and I did!), I gotta stick with my first love, The Stand.
The Stand. Just the definition of an epic.
The Stand. The ultimate good vs evil story, and characters that you will remember forever.
Eyes of the Dragon, because it’s such a departure from his other works
❤ that one
I remembered loving it as a teen but didn’t remember much about it, so I started rereading it. Maybe it just starts slow, but I’m having trouble getting into it.
11/22/63. I thought it was fascinating and well worth my time.
Cannot get into this, restarted it twice now. Its worth persuing with then
@Stacey all I can say is while it’s long, I definitely enjoyed the story.
The green mile. Such a melancholy and lovely message. But don’t forget Carrie. Introduced me to S.K. and scared the hell out of me. He’s been a favorite ever since
Dream catcher. Could watch the movie
11/22/63
I have the book. It’s on my list to finally read this year!
11/22/63 because I love time travel books. I read it twice and have watched the series
It and Pet Semetary
‘Salem’s Lot, because it scared me spitless.
11/23/63 bc it’s a love story. I’m not a fan of horror but I enjoy his non horror.
Desperation because it creeped me out ?
The Gunslinger series. Best ending ever.
I loved the first four, got through them in no time, but I’m still struggling to finish the last book.
I’ll also have to go with The Stand. The epitome of Good vs. Evil. Such great characters and I love the dystopian setting. That being said, I just watched Shawshank Redemption on TV for the 800th time, and that has to be one of the top 5 movies ever.
Mr. Mercedes because I absolutely couldn’t put the book down.
11/22/63 because I was hooked from start to finish.
The Shining
Eyes of the dragon and the stand
Misery the beginning of my King journey as a teen
Mine too
Ugh. Hate them all.
Really? Why?
Have you read them all?
@Autumn no. I’ve only read like two many years ago. I just thought every loved him. Lol.
I love King. The question was directed at Christine. How can someone hate ALL of his books if they’ve never read them all?
I keep trying. He is a sloppy writer and I just can’t understand why everyone likes him so much. Oh well.
@Christine, that’s understandable. There are authors I can’t get into either that everyone seems to love.
Could not put down Delores Claiborne. Kept me up all night reading.
And I also really loved The Long Walk. It stuck with me for a long time. It wasn’t scary in the way it or the shining was scary but the dystopian element and the fact that the walk was ingrained in life really got to me. I was a teen the first time I read it I think. Probably around the same age as the main character.
I love that story. I wanted more lol
Same!
.
Shawshank Redemption (which was really several short stories).
The Long Walk
Misery. Annie Wilkes is one terrifying person.
Misery
Hands down 11.22.63 wish I could read it again for the first time! But also loved Mercedes trilogy but don’t have it for my collection yet! (Read it digital)
I just asked somebody else this but they didn’t remember. I just started this. I just read the part that refers to Pennywise. Are any of his other works brought up?
Derry is one of his places he visits, but there are other references too
The Stand. I’m re-reading it now for the umpteenth time.
I just started my very first King book yesterday. Gerald’s Game. So far it’s good.
That one’s not my favorite, and I’ve read almost all of them, which is to say, if you find YOU don’t like it, don’t judge Stephen King by it! Most of his books are excellent!
I bought a bunch more recently but my dad let me borrow this a while back. I saw somewhere else where they said it was the scariest book they ever read. So far not scary but I’m only about 50 pages in
Never read any of his books.
What kinds of books/stories do you like? I’ll match you up with the perfect King!
11-22-63
One of his early books of short stories. 30 years ago and I still remember the spot in the lake, the monkey toy the most. I like the Green Mile too.
11-22-63
Me, too.
@Bron
The Stand and the Shining are my all time favorites 🙂
Me too on The Stand, second fave is probably Duma Key. It’s not brilliant (like The Shining) but I think it’s a perfect piece of work. And, even though it’s shorter, I think it’s equally evocative and atmospheric.
Oh, and the Dark Tower books, of course! Top of the list.
@Trasi Perfect description. I listened to the audiobook version by John Slattery and it was tops.
Oh yeah, the Dark Tower series <3<3<3<3<3<3<3 So. Good.
Yes! I love audiobooks- I can get (mostly mindless) things done while “reading”. The right reader is vital! Have you *listened to DT? That’s one I like equally both ways. Who’s your fave character? Mine’s Jake (and Oy).
Also, check out Joe Hill – maybe Heart-Shaped Box as a start…
I’ve only listed to two audiobooks ever, haha. Duma Key and Educated by Tara Westover (super good). I’ve read DT a billion times. I am in love with early Eddie. That first scene with him (on the airplane) is SO GOOD. Then, Roland and Oy.
I’ve read Hill’s NOS4A2 and Horns. I like him, but don’t love him yet. I’ve been meaning to read Heart Shaped Box. I’ll pick it up! I’m in the middle of Sleeping Beauties by his other son…not loving it, but it’s enjoyable.
Well, Duma Key was a great choice ! I’ll have to check out Educated by Tara Westover; thanks!
I hated Sleeping Beauties because I felt it was unnecessarily, egregiously, much too long! Would’ve been a decent novella…
@Trasi YES. Exactly. I wish they had flip flopped the stories. I want to read about the women making their new life, not the dudes messing up the old life.
And Evie Black is boring…
I’m not even sorry I gave up (lol I “rage quit”) and read the wiki to see how it ended.
I found Sleeping Beauty to be cliche, sometime egregiously so.
@Patricia I agree; parts of it were almost insulting in what appeared to be the authors’ attempt to pander to what they must believe “women want to hear”
Yes, Trasi. I thought I was the only person who saw it this way.
@Trasi Yesssssss….it was obnoxious. And you can tell they were trying so hard.
“The Stand”
The Shining. Utterly brilliant and terrifying.
Nightmares and dreamscapes
None
I think the dark tower books as a whole are my favorite. That might be a cheat answer but I stand by it
The running man…it was nothing like the movie and it was just pure awesome….and the long walk wish they make a movie out of that one
Different Seasons
I have recommended people to begin with this collection because it contains the original stories on which two most excellent movie were made.
The Green Mile: The essence of goodness and evil and our tendency to mistake one for the other.
Great description!
The Long Walk
Yes
After reading these comments, I am going ti read The Stand.
Mercedes. It is totally different from his usual writings
The Stand, great dystopian novel, IT, so creepy and good! My new favorite, 11/22/63. Love time travel books and Stephen King. I follow him on Twitter and he is hilarious ?
My all time King favourite has got to be The Talisman ! Something (whi knows what !) resonated in me with that book … my imagination just seemed to sync with King’s and there I was, jumping between different worlds, holding Jack’s hand …
I’m also re-reading The Stand – that book will never get old and I find something different in it every time I read it 🙂
Rose Madder came just at the right time in my life – I, too, was in an abusive relationship & was very relatable …
There’s books that I’m not so keen on, Gerald’s Game for instance, couldn’t ‘get it’, but I give every book a read and judge it on its own merits. I find that no matter what genre you normally read, there’s a King book that will match it !
Here’s the thing (for me, anyways); when I was a teenager, starting out on my King journey, it was all about the scares – the horror/vampire/Gage Creed’s shoe on the highway/blood/gore/scared stiff/sleep with the lights on kinda vibe … now I’m older, I see the humanity in his stories which, I have to say, scares me more !
If you’re just starting your King journey then I’m a little jealous as you get to experience that initial ‘wow’ for the first time 🙂 Enjoy !
Gerald’s Game is one of my favorites. Couldn’t put it down.
I’ve driven by his house in Maine. It’s very Steven King-ish.
The Girl Who Lived Tom Gordon.
I recommend this book to young reader’s who want to start reading King.
Too hard to choose. The last one I read. The Outsider.
The Green Mile and The Stand
11/22/63 because I lived through the death of President Kennedy, and it was a horrible day I will never forget. And, Stephen King brought me back to that time in such a unforgettable way. Loved that book.
Desperation… because it was fantastic!
11-22-63 it has everything I love in a book
So many good ones! Easier to list what I don’t like. The girl who loved Tom Gordon…
I have three
Delores Claiborne
Christine
The Shining
Thinner
Only one I’ve read is 11/22/63. Dont like horror but loved this book!
Needful things is my all time favorite, then dolores Claiborne.
Carrie, The Territories & Tommyknockers
The Stand. Love the uncut version he recently published too.
11/22/63
The Shining….so good and scary!