Pat C. answers “I read a couple of Stephen King novels a...”

Lea Ann Cornman asked this question about Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1):

I read a couple of Stephen King novels a few years back....Needful Things and Insomnia. I had a very hard time getting through these and frankly found them boring. I then heard great things about 11/22/63 and I read it earlier this Spring and LOVED, it. What is this one like? I have not read any older King either, Cujo, Firestarter....etc. I want to like King's novels, but I don't want to be disappointed either.

Pat C. I feel compelled to throw in my two cents worth. I went through a Stephen King phase starting about 10 years ago which began with the audiobook versio…moreI feel compelled to throw in my two cents worth. I went through a Stephen King phase starting about 10 years ago which began with the audiobook version of "Dreamcatcher" while commuting. I really liked it (the narrator might have had a lot to do with my enjoyment as he did a great job.) in fact I think that King's books come off particularly well in audiobook format (as long as King isn't the reader - too nasal). I also listened to "Insomnia", and "Rose Madder" and liked both and they aren't usually on 'favorites' lists. I read and loved the Dark Tower series. I think they stand up to the test of time better than some of the earlier books. I didn't think "The Stand" was that great and "It"...well there's a sexual scene towards the end that disgusted me and also it needs some serious editing. I might have liked "It" better if it had been wrapped up in 600 pages. Definitely read "The Green Mile". If you aren't much into the supernatural you might like "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon". I enjoyed "The Black House" a lot so I read it's precursor, "The Talisman" and although I liked it, I thought it was a little dated. My favorite book from the last 5 - 10 years is "Dr. Sleep" which has a character from "The Shining" but isn't precisely a follow up in that I think a person can enjoy "Dr. Sleep" without reading "The Shining" first. "The Shining" is a great and creepy book but if you've seen one of the movie versions the impact will be diluted.
Good luck with all this advice you are getting :-)(less)

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