Stephen King

[Michelle]

This guy seems to crop up alot when people I know talk of their favourite authors.. and at least he gives us plenty of varied books to discuss!

Which are your favourites, which don't you like?

As I said in another post, The Shining is one of only 2 books which really scared me.. and is probably due a re-read soon.

Bag of Bones is one I simply enjoyed, and really got involved with the characters.

It is also a good one, but if I recall correctly, I watched the film first.. which always means you come to the book with preconceived ideas.

The Dark Tower series I struggled with.. in fact I don't think I finished the first book.

I could go on... but I'll pass this over to others now! :D :)

[Acesare*]

I can't post on this board yet. Louise, it's your turn! :lol:

Jo xx

[Michelle]

C'mon, I'm sure we have much more to say about Mr King!

[Debbie]

I loved The Green Mile, and I thought the film was the best book adaptation I had ever seen.

I also liked Carrie, The Stand, Tommyknockers, and the one I can't remember the name of with the clown that was an alien spider like creature (was it 'IT'?)

Debbie

[Michelle]

Yep, that was 'IT'. :D

[Louise]

I have read good books and bad books by this guy

I really loved Green Mile and Bag of Bones

I didnt like desparation

I have a whole load of books of his yet to read, im sure there will be more good than bad

[Stuart]

Stephen King - awesome author, came to give a talk to our society at Uni. IT is an awesome book, completely let down by the film. I remember being scared witless by the book - completely engaged.

[Louise]

I might read IT then

[The Wizard Of Oz]

I haven't actually read any of his books, but have watched a few of his Mini-Series like "Kingdom Hospital" and "The Stand", I've watched "Night Shift" which I thought was terrible and have seen "IT" which is quite scary.

[Michelle]

Kingdome Hospital was just WEIRD! I gave up with that one, and I generally like weird things.. I liked Hex, for example! :lol:

[The Wizard Of Oz]

Kingdome Hospital was just WEIRD! I gave up with that one, and I generally like weird things.. I liked Hex, for example! :lol:

Yeah Kingdom Hospital was a bit weird, seeing as he based it on his own accident when he was knocked down whilst jogging.

Talking about Hex don't forget the new series starts at 9pm on Sky One tonight. :mrgreen:

[Acesare*]

Weird - I thought I'd posted here - must have been a previous board incarnation.

I am a HUGE King fan. I own most of his books and have read all of them (except Firestarter, which I hated) at least 4 times. My favourite has to be a close call between The Stand, IT and The Green Mile - all three books are very well written and very emotive.

Do read IT, Louise, it's a brilliant book and a gripping read.

And I think that the Dark Tower series are great, although I found the ending was a real let down. It seems like King couldn't think of a way to end it and had run out of steam for the big final showdown, so he rushed and then took an easy way out. Booo!

Jo xx

[CrustyGeek]

Another big King fan here. My most read King book has to be The Stand. He seemed to capture real people living in extraordinary circumstances perfectly and I felt really connected to the characters.

My other favourites are the ones he wrote as Richard Bachman - The Long Walk was truly inspired and stayed with me a long time after I finished it.

[Debs]

I love the Dark Tower Series, I've finished the first 5. For others who enjoyed it, don't miss The Talisman and The Black House, which are Stephen King/Peter Straub collaborations and tied into the Dark Tower books.

My favorite...that's a tough one. I loved Bag of Bones, The Stand, and IT. Also, another one that a lot of people miss is Eyes of the Dragon (?) I think! It's really great, fantasy, evil warlocks, etc.

I absolutely, totally, completely abhorred Dreamcatcher. I was so disappointed in it I almost cried.

[sf1818]

I used to like his work when I was a kid. He was never a great writer but he always developed good concepts. Ever since his accident he has gone downhill in a big way.

[Acesare*]

I love the Dark Tower Series, I've finished the first 5. For others who enjoyed it, don't miss The Talisman and The Black House, which are Stephen King/Peter Straub collaborations and tied into the Dark Tower books.


Other books you might like to read (connected to the Dark Tower Series) are Hearts in Atlantis (Low Men in Yellow Coats) which is HUGELY connected to the last book in the series, plus Desperation. Also, Father Callahan is in Salem's Lot (yes, the same character), so you can find out what happened to him prior to his arrival in the Dark Tower Series.

IT mentions the Turtle (a guardian of the beams), and you can also read another story about Roland in the short stories book Everything's Eventual (Little Sisters of Eluria).

King also has another 2 books due for publication called 'Cell' (US - February 2006) and 'Lisey's Story (US - November 2006). Nighmares & Dreamscaoes is going to be a TV series (US only, I think).

NB. The Tailsman is being made into a film and is currently in pre-production, and Desperation has been made and should be screened (on TV, made by abc) in the US in May.

Jo xx (AKA She who knows all about King - aparently!)

[Michelle]

:shock: You certainly are our resident King expert! :D

[Acesare*]

I do know my King novels, but I cheated with all the future publications stuff - http://www.stephenking.com/index_flash.php

Oh, and another Dark Tower related book is Insomnia which explains more about the Crimson King (there's also the Mike Hanlon/Derry link to IT).

Jo xx

[Kell]

My favourite King by far is The Stand. I have the complete, unabridged version which clockes ni at well over 1000 pages & it totally rocks!

After that, I loved the anthology Different Seasons - it's the book which has spawned 3 films so far: The Body (became Stand By Me), Rita Hayworth & the Shawshank Redemption (obvious which movie that became) & The Apt Pupil (the film of the same name wasn't as good as I expected).

[Michelle]

Long articles, but interest some..

The Case For Stephen King as Literature (http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/news/index.php?itemid=30)

[Maureen]

............I am enjoying "The dead Zone"so far............

[Kell]

i just got myself a copy of Pet Semetary, so it's been added to my to read" list...

[scottishbookworm]

The other thing titles of stephen king I read were " The dark half" "Tommyknockers" "IT"


:readingtwo:

[kitty]

Just started IT, after reading all of the comments im really looking forward to it. Only read one chapter so ive got a long way to go:readingtwo:

[~V~]

i've not read any stephen king in years. i kind of got fed up of his formulaic plots (guy comes to town/meets girl/romance ensues/guy saves town) but did enjoy them for a long time.

i think 'needful things' is the one that creeped me out the most (along with 'it', of course, but i'm not overfond of clowns anyway)

[O's]

I like needfull things, its one of his best.

I like how mr kng references Lovecraft in this one as well, IT also gets my vote.

The stand is good, excellent in fact up till the civic meetings, then it turns boring. Same with dreamcatcher, like the plot till the end where mr king decides to take some mind altering drug and disappear off to a tangency.

[Casper the friendly goat]

I just restarted the dark tower from the beginning again. It's a long time since I started, so it's actually good to go back and spot all the little references to things that come in later books.

[muggle not]

For those that have not read the Dark Tower Series I recomennd buying the Box Set of the first 4 books. It has new material in them and has been expanded. I have the Box Set and really enjoyed the books.........From Amazon:

Book Description
Now Available in a box set-the first four Dark Tower Books -- with new material from the author!

The Gunslinger
The Drawing of the Three
The Waste Lands
Wizard and Glass

In this brilliant series, Stephen King introduced readers to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger. Roland's quest for the Dark Tower took readers on a wildly epic ride-through parallel worlds and across time. A classic tale of colossal scope-crossing over terrain from The Stand, The Eyes of the Dragon, Insomnia, The Talisman, Black House, Hearts in Atlantis, Salem's Lot, and other familiar King haunts-the adventure took hold with the turn of each page...

In a major publishing event, the quest for the Dark Tower continues in Wolves of the Calla (Volume V), Song of Susannah (Volume VI), and The Dark Tower (Volume VII), coming from Scribner, beginning in November 2003.

Now readers can go back to where it all began with this box set of the first four Dark Tower titles, each featuring a new packaging and new introduction. Plus Book I, The Gunslinger, has been completely revised and expanded throughout.

[Acesare*]

I loved the Dark Tower series, the first 4 more than the last 3. Thought the ending was a real cop out though.

[Casper the friendly goat]

I loved the Dark Tower series, the first 4 more than the last 3. Thought the ending was a real cop out though.

I quite liked the ending, but I did think he tended to lose it in the last couple, wolves of the Calla and Song of Susannah especially.

I loved the Drawing of the 3 and Wizard and Glass though. But hopefully the last few will read better the second time round

[Mia]

I loved the Dark Tower series, the first 4 more than the last 3. Thought the ending was a real cop out though.

:I-Agree:

[KW]

I finally settled on a King book to read, tho I've noticed no one has mentioned it here! That may be good or bad...The Girl that Loved Tom Gordon came highly reccommended to me as a first read by a friend.
Any thoughts?

I haven't started it yet.

Just FYI, her fav was The Stand, tho she hesitated to reccomend it to me as a first read for some reason.

Katherine

[Lilywhite]

I like TGWLTG, it's a good place to start. It's very psychological in it's horror and thankfully it's not as long as The Stand :)

[Michelle]

I remember liking it, but not much detail.

Thanks for starting an interesting thread.. even if you didn't choose any of our recommendations! :roll: ;)

[Acesare*]

TGWLTG is a good book. More psychological that outright or obvious horror, and you can't help but like poor little Trisha

[Kell]

I agree with Jo - I very much enjoyed TGWLTG when i read it a few years ago - not overtly horror in the expected sense, but quite tense & very well paced & constructed.

And I think some folks think that The Stand is quite long to recommend for an introduction to King, so it can be quite a daunting prospect, but I truly think it's King's masterpiece. :)

[KW]

If I like TGTLTJ I'll read the Stand. It seems to be his masterpiece in a lot of folks' minds.

[pontalba]

I just can't read SK any more. I read a few of his years ago, one of which was a book of his short stories, it began with a novella....The Fog, and I did enjoy that and Thinner. But I tried about three times to start IT, and couldn't get past the first 10 or 15 pages.
I realize he is tremendously popular but he is just not my cuppa.

Maybe I shouldn't post what can be construed as a negative post for an author, but I........oh phooey! You guys know what I mean. :lurker:

[Acesare*]

You can say what you like about authors here - it called having an opinion and it is allowed! :)

[pontalba]

Thanks for adding that, and it's a good thing, I am certainly opinionated! :mrgreen:

[Liz]

I've only read The Green Mile - thought that was pretty good. I would like to try another one of his, but cannot decide which one to have a go at.

[Kell]

There have been a few King books I didn't enjoy so much - It being one of them & The Tommyknockers being another. I don't tend to be a fan of his novellas & short stories, but I did love 3 of the 4 in Different Seasons which was something of a record for me. Then again, that one book did spawn 3 movies: Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption & The Apt Pupil...

[Acesare*]

I wasn't keen on Firestarter - bit too government conspiracyish for my taste (that's why I went off the X Files).

If you liked The Green Mile, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon might be a good book to read next - it's another story about people rather than focusing on situations or baddies.

[Mia]

I loved Firestarter - I quite like the government conspiracy thing and love reading about people with paranormal powers such as telekinesis etc. I liked the film too, Drew Barrymore did a fantastic job as Charlie. Of course, I realise that all this puts me in a minority!

[Kiwimellon]

I've read a few of his books. I've seen many of his movies though. Sometimes I have trouble getting into a book after I've seen the movie. One of the books on my TBR pile is The Stand. Is that one as good as I've heard it is?

[Acesare*]

One of the books on my TBR pile is The Stand. Is that one as good as I've heard it is?

In a word, yes. Read it. :mrgreen:

[Kell]

I loved Firestarter - I quite like the government conspiracy thing and love reading about people with paranormal powers such as telekinesis etc. I liked the film too, Drew Barrymore did a fantastic job as Charlie. Of course, I realise that all this puts me in a minority!
I quite liked Firestarter too - I just read it last year. I've never seen the film though.

[Kell]

In a word, yes. Read it. :mrgreen:I agree - The Stand remains one of my faves, not just of Stephen King's books, but of all the books I've read. In my opinion, it's the most complete of King's novels & it warrants it being that bit longer than his others as you get such in-depth character study - you feel you know the people involved. To top it all off, it's an excellent story too. Definitely worth a read!

[muggle not]

I guess that almost everyone has their favorite. I enjoyed both Firestarter and IT, although the Dark Tower series is still my favorite, I think. :D

[KW]

Okay, now you guys are REALLY confusing me! LOL!:lol:

[Michelle]

And to confuse you even more, I don't recall liking The Stand that much. In fact, I'm not sure if I even finished it....

[KW]

*buries head in hands* Uh-oh...I'm lost now...;)

[kitty]

:jump: Yay, I finally finished IT at the weekend, I did enjoy it in the end though. Its just so thick. I then watched the film and thought it was awful, was really fake. Pennywise really made me laugh throughout it though which I liked, but it kind of made it not so scary. Did anybody else hate the film? :irked: I really wish I hadnt watched it because it spoilt it for me a bit.

[Mia]

I can't really remember much about the film, except that I thought Tim Curry (?) did a pretty good job as Pennywise the clown. I think it was quite good, and not as bad as some of the awful King adaptations you get, but it was no Shawshank!

[fantasyfun]

I watched the film IT first then read the book. See my theory on films is watch the films first then read the book. I know it can be lame but I enjoy doing it because the film chops up the book so much when you read the book it expands on everything and makes things exciing to me.

[scottishbookworm]

my favourite stephen king book is "The dark half":readingtwo:

I've seen the film "IT" with Tim curry that was one long movie 3 hours to be exact.

but good entertainment

[Gyre]

Hello,

I have read most of Stephen King's book, the first book I ever read of Stephen King's was 'The Dead Zone' which is still my favourite now, I also enjoyed The Stand, Cell, Nightmares and Dreamscapes..

But my all time favourite is The Dark Tower..

:readingtwo:

[Acesare*]

IT was shown on TV here in 2 installments. The Stand is much longer though, 4 parts on TV, 2 vhs cassettes and a grand total of almost 6 hours - lots cut out too!

[dididave]

I cannot get past the first few pages of Lisey's Story!:roll:

[Michelle]

As soon as I get my Jodi Picoult book read, I'll be moving onto Lisey's Story.. I'll let you know how I get on.

[Acesare*]

I cannot get past the first few pages of Lisey's Story!:roll:

Why? Is it awful?

[Gyre]

Yes do tell, I am considering in buying it or asking for it for my birthday.

:readingtwo:

[dididave]

Well I made a conscious effort to read it last night. It is not awful per say, just bloody hard to start reading! The characters are on the dull side of dull and I can tell it is going to be a KIng novel were nothing happens until page 800! It might well turn out to be a cracker but at the moment it is a lesson in patience and perserverance!

[muggle not]

I am about 400 pages into The Stand and enjoy it very much. only 738 pages to go. :) It may be one of his best, or at least one of the best, excluding the Dark Tower Series. But, I still have to finish the book.

[slywaka1]

Pet Semetery was the first I read, and is probably my favourite, I have the first 4 Dark Tower books, but I really struggled with book 1 so haven't read the others.

The only thing that sometimes annoys me with SK is that he turns a perfectly scarey horror story into a supernatural alien thing. I find it can get a bit disappointing when it happens all the time!

Anna

[mrstrecool]

I have only read Misery which I really enjoyed. Lately, I've been wanting to read Salem's Lot after seeing a lovely illustrated version on Amazon. I might have to treat myself!

[Jeannette]

I'm on the last 20 pages of Cell right now.....the tension is rising.....gotta run! :readingtwo:

[Gyre]

I bought 'Lisey's Story' but it is still sitting on my book shelf x

[mrstrecool]

I'm on the last 20 pages of Cell right now.....the tension is rising.....gotta run! :readingtwo:


A shop by me has got Cell for £2.99. Is it worth getting?

[muggle not]

I am on page 680 of The Stand and so far it is the absolute best book by King that I have read, and I have read many of his.

[Kell]

I am on page 680 of The Stand and so far it is the absolute best book by King that I have read, and I have read many of his.It's not only my favourite King, it's one of my all-time favourites. I must have read it at least a half-dozen times & every time it feels just as fresh and freaky as the first time.

[Michelle]

A shop by me has got Cell for £2.99. Is it worth getting?

If you search, my review is somewhere. Basically, I thought it was a good enough story, but not 'classic King'. For £2.99 it probably is worth it, but don't expect too much.

[Jeannette]

If you search, my review is somewhere. Basically, I thought it was a good enough story, but not 'classic King'. For £2.99 it probably is worth it, but don't expect too much.

The ending! Argh! He nicely built up the tension....but that ending!!!!!:irked: :motz: :censored: :fight: :badmood: :rant:


Need I say more??

[Raelou]

The ending! Argh! He nicely built up the tension....but that ending!!!!!I'm reading this at the moment,I better hurry to find out what you mean!

[Essexgirl]

I have everything Stephen King has written. My favourite is Insomnia, closely followed by The Stand, which is one of the best books I have ever read. Carrie and The Shining were the ones to give me nightmares (both overdue for a re-read). The Dark Tower series is, for me, the failure. Went on for too long and a very poor ending.

If you want to start with a "classic" Stephen King then Needful Things or The Tommyknockers are good ones - not too long but have the unmistakeable King touch

[angerball]

^I loved Insomnia too, though a lot of people didn't enjoy it. Rose Madder is another good one. I definately prefer his earlier stuff, but I'll always give anything he writes a go. I'd love to re-read alot of his books, as many of them I read when I was a teenager, and have forgotten about. :blush:

[FishAndChips]

So whats the deal with the Stand and its unabridged and abridged versions? Why is there more than one?

I've only read Dolores Claiborne but quite enjoyed it. Was quite short and easy reading though no chapters just a single blob so its hard to know when to stop :lol:

I'd really like to read the Stand though the length is daunting.

I'd also like to try IT but think it might be too scary (and long)

And I quite fancy giving misery a go.

[Fay]

The only King I have read was Needful Things, and I havent read another of his since. Unfortunately it didnt really do anything for me, it was okay, but I had imagened that reading a Stephen King book would leave me shaking in my slippers, but it didnt.

The book itself was all tattered and torn too, so maybe that had something to do with it.

I will read another Stephen King eventually Im sure.:readingtwo:

[Emi226]

I love IT , its my favourite king and although it is a bit long and jumps about a bit its definatly worth it.
Never quite got round to the stand , i think i have it sitting on a shelf somewhere though so mayb il finally read it this summer

[Raelou]

Fay I do recommend trying another of Kings books before you give up on them,Try Pet Sematary or Misery, the first one I ever read was Pet sematary, and I've been hooked since that was 16 years ago:readingtwo:

[Nici76]

I will read another Stephen King eventually Im sure.:readingtwo:

The Shining is a guaranteed good read! :hide:

[Nici76]

I am watching The Langoliers on Sci Fi at the moment - it's a bit corny!!! But accurate so far with the book.

[Kell]

I am watching The Langoliers on Sci Fi at the moment I've been watching The Stand on Thursday nights. It's preceded by Nightmares and Dreamscapes. Sci-fi are having a bit of a Stephen King-fest at the moment...

[muggle not]

I am going to vacation up in maine sometime in September. Hope that I have time to visit the locales of many of his books. Th last time I was in Maine I got an eerie feeling when driving in areas where his books took place.

[Nici76]

I've been watching The Stand on Thursday nights.

Yes I saw that it was on but I decided not to watch it as I haven't read the book yet.....

Desperation is also being re-shown as well this week.

[supergran71]

Hi there, I am new to BCF and you all sound a great crowd. Have any of you read "Cell" by Stephen King? I caught an excerpt in a newspaper when it first came out and found it rivetting, but I have never got round to actually getting the book. Never read Stephen King before.:D

[angerball]

I've read Cell. Wasn't all that impressed with it really, though I am a Stephen King fan. The premise was interesting, and it started off great, but then it just dwindled into your average "zombie horror story" IMO.

For a great introduction to Stephen King, I'd have to suggest The Stand. :D

[Nici76]

For a great introduction to Stephen King, I'd have to suggest The Stand. :D

Yes I have The Stand on my bookshelf, however I am building myself up to it as it is huge!!!! Definately a doorstop! I don't think I have ever seen a book that big! :lol:

[angerball]

Yes I have The Stand on my bookshelf, however I am building myself up to it as it is huge!!!! Definately a doorstop! I don't think I have ever seen a book that big! :lol:

Oh, you have to read it! :D The size of it is intimidating, but it's such a gripping and relatively easy read, that you will probably fly through it. Just great storytelling, and utterly compelling. :D

[carm]

hi -nici- angerball is right- the stand is such a great book- once you start reading it you'll get caught up in it- dont let the size get to you- it really is a great book and in my humble opinion the best thing that he's written- carm

[Michelle]

Hi there, I am new to BCF and you all sound a great crowd. Have any of you read "Cell" by Stephen King? I caught an excerpt in a newspaper when it first came out and found it rivetting, but I have never got round to actually getting the book. Never read Stephen King before.:D

My review is here (http://bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=963&highlight=cell). As you can see, I don't rate it as one of his best.

[carm]

i agree with you michelle- the cell was ok nothing great- i think what makes the stand, well, stand out for me is that there is depth of character and plot in that book- carm

ps. you're welcome nici

[Sedge]

The Stand is my all-time favourite, but I was disappointed with Cell. What did everyone make of the ending? I think a sequel is a possibility.

[Kell]

I've not read Cell yet, but I have to agree with the others about The Stand - it's well worth the 1000+ pages of the completer and unabridged edition. I'm another one who rates it as one of my all time favourite books - not just of horror/chillers either - of all genres! I really do believe it to be King's masterpiece.

[Sedge]

I have all of SK's books and The Stand is a long way ahead of the others, but I do have a soft spot for his short stories and novellas - Skeleton Crew and Four Past Midnight are espcially worth checking out.

[Kell]

A real treat on the novella collection side of things is Different Seasons - three of the stories within have been made into films, (The Body - which became Stand By Me; Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption - which became The Shawshank Redemption; and The Apt Pupil - which kept it's original title) and the fourth story, The Breathing Method, isn't too shoddy either.

[Sedge]

I've seen Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption and was pleasantly surprised. Come to think of it, I've been quite impressed with a few film adaptations. The Green Mile was excellently done. Many people may disagree, but I was also impressed with Christine.

[Gyre]

I did enjoy 'Cell' but I thought the ending was a bit rushed in all honesty, but there was potential for a sequel x

[Nici76]

Well it sounds as though I will have to move The Stand by my TBR pile then!!!

I will let you all know when I start reading it! :D

[Kell]

Thought you guys might like this: Which Stephen King Book Are You (http://www.testriffic.com/rtest/Dakotah56/3748)?

I got: What Stephen King Bo
The Stand
http://www.testriffic.com/resultfiles/3748The%20Stand.jpg
The novel of your life is the end of everything, after a flu epidemic that you find yourself unable to receive (?) you attempt to bring civilization back and stop the devil himself.

Well, whaddaya know? My favourite! I'm not awfully sure about the comment attached to it (hence the question mark I stuck in there), but what the hey?

[Nici76]

I am:-

What Stephen King Book are You? http://www.testriffic.com/resultfiles/3748The%20Dark%20Tower.jpg
The Dark Tower Series
The novel of your life, is actually a series, one in which you are on a quest to find the answer to everything with a band of gunslingers and some tricky enemies.

[angerball]

I am....

The Stand!

Yay! :exc:

[Sedge]

I'm The Dark Tower Series - I think that's fair!:)

[kitty_kitty]

I am the Dark Tower series

I must read it - i must actually find it first!!

[clockwork frog]

I've read and enjoyed Pet Cemetary, The Dark Half, Misery and The Green Mile. One of my current reads is The Cell, I am a third of the way through but it hasn't really done much for me yet.

Regards,
Lee.

[Benjamin]

My favorite SK books are The Shining, Gerald's Game and The Long Walk. I am slowly making my way through all his books.

The only one I didn't care for was Pet Semetary.

[Kell]

I found Gerald's Game very chilling. I think King is at his best when he's focusing more on things that are well within the realm of possibility.

[Gyre]

What Stephen King Book are You? http://www.testriffic.com/resultfiles/3748The%20Stand.jpg

The Stand
The novel of your life is the end of everything, after a flu epedemic that you find yourself unable to receieve you attempt to bring civilization back and stop the devil himself.

I can honestly say, I would be helpful in that situation plus I would not
take any of Randall Flagg's shenanigans...:lol:

[Sedge]

Not only would I not take any of his shenanigans, I also wouldn't be having any of his jiggery pokery!:lol:

[carm]

my favorites of his are the stand and the green mile-the only thing of his i refuse to read is the book he wrote when the blasted red sox won the world series in 2004- as a life long devoted yankees fan i just can't bring myself to read that- carm:irked:

[Echo]

The Stand is on my list as one of my all-time favorites. I also loved Rose Madder, The Dark Half, Dreamcatcher, and Talisman.

[Sedge]

The Talisman is the book that introduced me to Stephen King 20 years ago and it's still one of my favourites.

[Leona]

i love stephen king but rarely admit it-does that make me a book snob?!!!
i loved the stand,shawshank redemption(the film is my favourite ever film adaptation-love that bit where they're all on the roof drinking beer),the green mile. loved that teenage/kids one was it 'eyes of the dragon'?
i love the way he mentions characters from other books in passing IYKWIM-, i think that's so clever.
loved 'needful things'- some dastardly friend snaffled it on me years ago
i think some of his stuff's awful though, definately don't think he' s been as good since that head injury a few years ago

[lovesreading06]

Are his books scary? I can't read scary books because i have nightmares.

[Kell]

Not all of them, Lovesreading - King has been classified as a horror writer all these years, but really, I think he's more an observer of the human condition. If you read his collection of novellas under the title Different Seasons (which includes The Body, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Apt Pupil and The Breathing Method), you'll find a collection that concentrates more on people and how they react and interact with each other, and that they have profound moments of beauty and drama within them.

The Stand looks at a possible end-of-the-world scenario, where the majority of the human race is killed off by a virus. Those people left are divided into two groups - one led by Mother Abigale (who is an old woman who talks to God), the other led by Randall Flagg (who is a rum character who could be in league with the devil). Again, it's more about the relationships between the people and how they cope with the situation in which they find themselves.

Personally, i don't consider King a horror writer in the traditional sense - I just consider him a bl**dy good writer. ;)

[wrathofkublakhan]

<snippage>
If you read his collection of novellas under the title Different Seasons (which includes The Body, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Apt Pupil and The Breathing Method), you'll find a collection that concentrates more on people and how they react and interact with each other, and that they have profound moments of beauty and drama within them.
</snippage>


Right on, Kell - thanks for naming the book that I've actually read by King.

It's been a struggle, someone gave me The Stand many years ago - dog-eared and obviously cherished, I quit half-way through. I've always felt a little shame quitting on that book, but I just couldn't bear the burden anymore of having to love it.

I read the first of the Dark Tower series (Gunslinger, right?) and sorta felt ho-hum. The collection that Kell mentions was very good and I enjoyed them all, even though a little creeped out at The Apt Pupil.

I also read a book called The Colorado Kid, which had an awesome vintage cover. It's hard for me to discuss my feelings about that book. King tells us that he won't give us the solution to the mystery - which could come across as rather arrogant and hint that he felt it was merely an exercise in story-telling. There is an old adage, "a comp exercise shouldn't make it to the stage", and if his publisher is taking stuff he's just fooling around with: I feel suckered.

I like his writing style, it's almost conversational and not "a novel" at all. Someday I'll come across some of his books that I like, so far it's been the short stories in the collection that Kell mentioned - and that, seems to be that.

[Ian1607]

I've liked Stephen King for a while now and got a few of his books, I bought Salem's Lot yesterday and am currently reading it. It's pretty good so far. My favorite books by King are IT, Pet Semetary, Needful Things, Four Past Midnight. I've not read The Shining yet which is the book I planned on buying yesterday but couldn't find it so settled for Salem's Lot which I am happy with. I've seen the movie adaptation of The Shining with Jack Nicholson which is pretty cool and also seen the TV movie of IT which I enjoyed also.

[Kell]

Hello and welcome tot he forum, Ian! I loved Needful Things too - the tension slowly building up as the whole town gets ready to implode is fantastic!

[Echo]

Hello! Needful Things, Pet Cemetery, and Salem's Lot are three of my favorite Stephen King novels, but my all time favorite is The Stand. I haven't read It yet, but it's on my TBR list! Welcome to the forum! :)

[Gyre]

'IT' is still one of my favourites, I love the story, the characters are cool too. x

[Sedge]

I agree - The Stand and It are 2 of his best. Does anybody prefer his novellas or short stories? I personally think you'd have to go a long way to beat The Langoliers from Four Past Midnight!

[Kell]

I agree - The Stand and It are 2 of his best. Does anybody prefer his novellas or short stories? I personally think you'd have to go a long way to beat The Langoliers from Four Past Midnight!
My favourite King novel is definitely The Stand, but my favourite SK collection of novellas/short stories is Different Seasons - some of the best writing I've read by ANY author is in that book!

[Sedge]

Apt Pupil is one of his creepiest stories, but my favourite from Different Seasons is The Body - although it's set in 1960 it's somehow evocative of my own childhood in the seventies and eighties (although I don't recall ever coming across a dead body!).

SK's shorter works definitely deliver more of a punch!

[Michelle]

The Long Walk is one of my favourites.

[scottishbookworm]

As soon as I get my Jodi Picoult book read, I'll be moving onto Lisey's Story.. I'll let you know how I get on.I'm just starting to read lisey's story

[Sedge]

I've recently read Blaze, written as Richard Bachman. King didn't exactly give it a great build-up in the introduction, but it wasn't a bad story. I can see why it wasn't published earlier in his career though - average is the best I can say about it.

[Ratna]

The only book I remember that scared me was Salem's Lot (I hate vampires). I liked Pet Sematery too. I remember reading Desperation, but I don't remember what it was about..

[Mia]

I've just finished Lisey's Story, and wasn't too impressed (I preferred Blaze, to be honest). I just couldn't really take to the character of Lisey (or any of the characters, for that matter), and it wasn't until about three quarters through the book that I began to care a little about Lisey.

What really drove me mad though, were the made up words - "smuck" and "bool" being the main offenders - and Lisey's sisters' names! Trivial I know, but they just grated.

I did love the parallel world of Boo'ya Moon - I found it quite fascinating and would have liked to have seen more of the book take place there.

All in all, not one of my favourite Kings at all.

[malefic]

Evening all :)

I have been an avid Stephen King reader for many years, but is it only me that, since Buick 8, the standard of his books are going downhill?

I have read elsewhere that some of the books published under his name are in fact the works of his wife Tabitha - this, if true, may explain things.

I remember the days when I would get through one of his books in three evenings because they are that good you get the 'one more chapter' thing going on where you can't put the book down.

I always thought of him as a brilliant horror / thriller writer but haven't picked up his books (I have a stack left to read) for a while.

Saying that I did get Duma Key for Christmas that after a quick read of the summary seems that he may be shifting back on track.

Just wanted to make sure it wasn't me going mad :)

[ChrisJ]

I was a huge King fan (and still am i think) but have'nt really been able to get into some of his recent novels. I thought it was maybe my tastes changing rather than the quality of his work.
Desparation is one of my fav books though will have to read again one day.

[malefic]

Desparation was a cracker - that was one of the finished in a week type books.
Must admit I did enjoy the Dark Tower series as well - still have a few of the later ones to pick up and read.

[ChrisJ]

Loved the early Dark tower, Drawing of the Three and rest of early ones especially. May try Duma Key soon a friend recommended it also.

[malefic]

Sorry for not spotting this thread and starting another (only realised when I saw 11 pages on it!!)

Well, after I finish my current book I will be onto Duma Key so hopefully will give a review shortly!

[Michelle]

I will look forward to that review, as I gave up on King when I couldn't get into Lisey's Story.