Favourite Stephen King Books?

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  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,808
    Will put it on my list!
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • SVRDhand13
    SVRDhand13 Posts: 26,998
    Pet Cemetery! Been my favorite since I was 10 years old.
    severed hand thirteen
    2006: Gorge 7/23 2008: Hartford 6/27 Beacon 7/1 2009: Spectrum 10/30-31
    2010: Newark 5/18 MSG 5/20-21 2011: PJ20 9/3-4 2012: Made In America 9/2
    2013: Brooklyn 10/18-19 Philly 10/21-22 Hartford 10/25 2014: ACL10/12
    2015: NYC 9/23 2016: Tampa 4/11 Philly 4/28-29 MSG 5/1-2 Fenway 8/5+8/7
    2017: RRHoF 4/7   2018: Fenway 9/2+9/4   2021: Sea Hear Now 9/18 
    2022: MSG 9/11  2024: MSG 9/3-4 Philly 9/7+9/9 Fenway 9/15+9/17
    2025: Pittsburgh 5/16+5/18
  • kw18
    kw18 Posts: 3,909
    A new ranking: vulture.com/2012/04/ranking-all-62-stephen-king-books.html#

    I have to sift through this list a bit more ... there are some rankings I agree with, and some I don't. The problem is I've been reading King for the last 20 years, I can't recall how I felt about every book!
    "Where's KW?"
    "Let's check Idaho."
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,852
    not a bad list. Gunslinger is a bit high. I also didnt particularly care for It, but I read it ages ago. Also glad Under the Dome got #12. I really dug it
  • JK_Livin
    JK_Livin South Jersey Posts: 7,365

    Can anyone recommend some King books for my 12yr old son? Some I can't remember if they'd freak him out or are appropriate?
    I know to stay away from the The Dark Tower because of the multiple fucks and cunts scattered throughout.

    Is the a book ratings site out there somewhere?
    Alright, alright, alright!
    Tom O.
    "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"
    -The Writer
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,852
    Eyes of the Dragon is basically a kids book.
  • kw18
    kw18 Posts: 3,909
    MayDay10 said:

    Eyes of the Dragon is basically a kids book.

    I agree. I read it when I was 11 or so, and it was my first King book. It's a good one.
    "Where's KW?"
    "Let's check Idaho."
  • RobbyD462
    RobbyD462 Victoria BC Posts: 4,812
    The Shinning
    The Stand
    It
    Stand by Me
    Shawshank Redemption
    -Seattle,Wash-Key Arena-9/21/9 -Vancouver,B.C-Rogers Arena-12/4/13 -Vancouver,BC-Rogers Arena-5/6/24
    -Seattle,Wash-Key Arena-9/22/9 -Pemberton,B.C-7/17/16
    -Vancouver,B.C-GM Place -9/25/9 -Seattle,Wash-Safeco Field-8/8/18
    -Vancouver,B.C-Pacific Coliseum-9/25/11 -Seattle,Wash-Safeco Field-8/10/18
    -Misoula,MT-Adams Field House-9/30/12 -Vancouver,BC-Rogers Arena-5/4/24

  • 23scidoo
    23scidoo Thessaloniki,Greece Posts: 19,956
    JK_Livin said:


    Can anyone recommend some King books for my 12yr old son? Some I can't remember if they'd freak him out or are appropriate?
    I know to stay away from the The Dark Tower because of the multiple fucks and cunts scattered throughout.


    Is the a book ratings site out there somewhere?

    Stand by me
    Athens 2006. Dusseldorf 2007. Berlin 2009. Venice 2010. Amsterdam 1 2012. Amsterdam 1+2 2014. Buenos Aires 2015.
    Prague Krakow Berlin 2018. Berlin 2022
    EV, Taormina 1+2 2017.

    I wish i was the souvenir you kept your house key on..
  • njnancy
    njnancy Posts: 5,096
    Fellow Stephen King freak here - picking.
    The Talisman
    Lisey's Story
    The Dark Half
    The Stand
    Duma Key

    (On Writing and Faithful were non-fiction so i'm including them. :-$)

    I have a bunch that I have to catch up on, from the past two years, and I am finally going to read Black House on vacation. I haven't watched Under the Dome because I won't watch a show or movie without reading the book first. The release of the Green Mile books as novellas was, to me, both genius and gut wrenching (no instant gratification) and I watched 'N' on a crappy phone each day, then waited for Just After Sunset Collector's Set for the entire DVD. I'm looking forward to Dr. Sleep - though it's about 5th in line.

    I can feel exactly as i did when reading my first two book choices to this day and they remain my favorites until something else actually catches fire in me as they did.


    JK_Livin said:
    Can anyone recommend some King books for my 12yr old son? Some I can't remember if they'd freak him out or are appropriate?
    I know to stay away from the The Dark Tower because of the multiple fucks and cunts scattered throughout.

    Is the a book ratings site out there somewhere?

    Blockade Billy was released by King for a younger audience and will be followed by more. I agree with Eye of the Dragon also.

  • kw18
    kw18 Posts: 3,909
    Oh! And the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon would be a good book for a 12-year-old. Extremely short, but very good.
    "Where's KW?"
    "Let's check Idaho."
  • JK_Livin
    JK_Livin South Jersey Posts: 7,365
    Thanks for the suggestions everyone.
    Alright, alright, alright!
    Tom O.
    "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"
    -The Writer
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,852
    njnancy said:

    . I haven't watched Under the Dome because I won't watch a show or movie without reading the book first.

    I wouldnt bother watching that "thing". It is completely different than the book. In a sucky way. One of the worst shows I have ever seen.
  • njnancy
    njnancy Posts: 5,096
    I had heard good things about it; albeit by people who are not Stephen King fans. His books do not translate well to TV/movies - so much goes on in people's minds or is just so complex that it is impossible to properly represent it except through words.
  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,852
    Its not even a translation. Its basically just 2 dudes that borrowed the Title, some names of people and the dome, as well as Stephen King's name and just made their own alternate, much inferior story. The acting is also porno-level bad.
    One thing SK does very well and is the best hook, is he seems to really nail people's reactions in the face of all sorts of extreme situations. Its all believable. In the TV series, people's actions just make you scratch your head and suspend belief.

    I loved the book, could only watch 4.5 episodes. The wife didnt read the book, but was excited for the series. She lasted 2.5 episodes and said "this is fucking stupid" and walked out.
  • F Me In The Brain
    F Me In The Brain this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 31,808
    kw18 said:

    A new ranking: vulture.com/2012/04/ranking-all-62-stephen-king-books.html#

    I have to sift through this list a bit more ... there are some rankings I agree with, and some I don't. The problem is I've been reading King for the last 20 years, I can't recall how I felt about every book!

    Oh, I knew this would hurt.
    62 - Dreamcatcher. I liked this one!
    46 - Four Past Midnight. Another one I really enjoyed, especially The Langoliers.
    30 - Cujo. This is his 30th best book?
    24 - 11/22/63 - I thought this belonged in the top 20 if not the top 10. (But I am a historical fiction junkie)
    17 - Dolores Claiborne. I had this pegged as a 60s ranking.
    11 - Lisey's Story -- one of the handful I have not read, plot never interested me much
    3. IT. Damn, I loved this book. Read it 2-3 times long ago. Maybe time to read again!
    #1. I really cannot disagree. What an awesome work.

    Lists are so crazy and depend on the writer's viewpoint. Was fun to read through this and think of all of the amazing books this man has given us. Wow!
    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • njnancy
    njnancy Posts: 5,096
    I haven't looked at the link for the rankings, favorite books are so subjective. I pre-ordered 11/22/63 -but there are times that life puts me in a place where I can't read, or journal, but now i'm so backed up on books that I'm looking forward to going to Cape Cod - 2 weeks of blissful silence and books and beach.. I loved Lisey's Story, and have recommended it to many people - but again, it's all subjective and if it doesn't spark something in the reader (Dear Reader) then best to move onto something else. It took me 3 times to get past the first couple chapters of The Tommyknockers but I was determined to read it and finally did - many years ago. Cujo was the first Stephen King book i read, and we all know how it goes after that first one.

    His compilations have had, IMHO, good to excellent short stories - I agree with the positive response on Langoliers. I don't enjoy them as much as his regular novels and, for some reason, when it's one that's got thousands of pages, i feel almost giddy.

    I don't really know how to paste others comments so i'm kind of talking to people without putting your comments here, but I can understand "I knew this would hurt" - I'm going to take a look at the rankings now and i know i'm gonna be pissed off, but I'm curious. I've been reading King for at least 20 years also and I can't recall how i felt after most books - Needful Things (not on my list, but i stuck to 5, sorta) still sticks with me >:) . I cant even remember the plot to some of them. Perhaps the list will jiggle something in my brain. :-B

  • MayDay10
    MayDay10 Posts: 11,852
    Grey Matter
  • madtowndave
    madtowndave Minneapolis, MN Posts: 4,013
    The Stand without a doubt
    Nashville-00
    Nashville-03
    Chicago-07
    E.V. Milwaukee-08
    Chicago 1 & 2-09
    Alpine Valley 1 & 2-11
    Wrigley-13
    St. Paul-14
    Milwaukee-14
    Denver-22
    St. Paul 1 & 2 - 23
  • eeriepadave
    eeriepadave West Chester, PA Posts: 43,179
    http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/readers-poll-the-10-best-stephen-king-movies-20150722
    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
    10/31/09- Philly
    5/21/10- NYC
    9/2/12- Philly, PA
    7/19/13- Wrigley
    10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
    10/21/13- Philly, PA
    10/22/13- Philly, PA
    10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
    4/28/16- Philly, PA
    4/29/16- Philly, PA
    5/1/16- NYC
    5/2/16- NYC
    9/2/18- Boston, MA
    9/4/18- Boston, MA
    9/14/22- Camden, NJ
    9/7/24- Philly, PA
    9/9/24- Philly, PA
    Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
    Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
    RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA

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