The Stand
discussion
Please name the top ten books of Stephen King. Want to start reading.
Gregory wrote: "I am glad to see that Duma Key was mentioned in a number of people's lists. I think that the book is a great exploration in the Victorian Era without being stuck in that time period. It works th..."Not to be that guy but Duma key wasnt set past or present in Victorian era. Victorian is usually 1837-1901 and usually references Britain. The oldest parts of Duma Key took Place in Florida in 1920's-30's. My apologies for being correcting not being rude.
Danielle wrote: "My most favorite King book is The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It's never been one of his most popular, but it scared the ever living hell out of me. I loved it."I hated that book and can't understand why I kept it.
I can't decide which book to read this year, Under the Dome. Duma Key or 11/12/63
Aditya wrote: "Thanks for the enormous response for the question. You are really a great help to me and surely to many others (who visit this thread) regarding how to go about reading Stephen King books. He's sur..."Aditya, you are never forgotten. I hope you enjoy SK as much as all his fans do.
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Danielle wrote: "My most favorite King book is The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It's never been one of his most popular, but it scared the ever living hell out of me. I loved it."I hated that book ..."
of those 3- 11/22/63, then Duma Key then Under the Dome. Under the Dome should have had the first 200 pages edited down. Way too much at the beginning. It gets better and I ended up liking it but I don't understand how everyone praises this book- obviously that is MY opionion. I would suggest you start with 11/22/63 though- excellent book.
Aditya wrote: " But then, when I was searching for the Dark Tower series in the top twenties."I wouldn't let that bother you too much. Since they're less traditional fantasy novels, they're less likely to make those kinds of lists. Read and enjoy. (Or not. The Gunslinger is rather different than the rest and the last three are a bit different from 2-4.)
In no particular order, minus the DT series:
Carrie
The Shining
Full Dark, No Stars
Salem's Lot
The Dead Zone
The Stand
The Eyes of the Dragon (traditional fantasy)
It
Christine
Umm... it's 8:30am and I can't think of a tenth. Sorry.
Umm... i started reading The Dark Tower but wasn't concentrating perhaps because I switched to Cell; maybe I am not a massive "fantasy" reader. Anyway here are ten King books I either totally liked or found parts that I liked (in particular order):
The Dead Zone
Night Shift
It
Cujo
Pet Sematary
The Green Mile
Skeleton Crew
Carrie
Needful Things
Dolores Claiborne
The Dead Zone
Night Shift
It
Cujo
Pet Sematary
The Green Mile
Skeleton Crew
Carrie
Needful Things
Dolores Claiborne
i want to read all his older works. i was in high school when i read most of his books, and thats been years ago.the top 2 to read are tied of it and the stand.
Just start with Salem's Lot and The Stand (full version). If those two don't do it for you, then there's little point carrying on because you're difficult to please. After that, Rita's list above (message 50) is a reasonably good shout, though I'd probably replace Dolores Claiborne with The Shining.
i loved dolores claiborne, pet cemetery... and absolutley loved carrie. i have read the gunslinger series 1-3.
So happy to see The Girl Who loved Tom Gordon made the list. I really loved it, simplistic but so scary. My favorite is the Stand, then the Dark Tower Series, Tom Gordon, Misery, Cell, not sure of the order after those.
These Are the Best In Order1. The Stand
2. Misery
3. Dolores Claiborne
4. The Shining
5. Salems Lot
6. Carrie
7. The Tommyknockers
8. Needful Things
9. Rose Madder
10. Different Seasons
The Shining was epic...to not include it is an insult...even if the movie butchered the book.
Aditya wrote: "I've very recently finished reading The Gunslinger and found it very good. The work is of some depth. Promising a lot in the coming books. But then, when I was searching for the Dark Tower series i..."King wrote a column last week for "Entertainment Weekly," in which he said that, over the years, he's learned quite a few writer's "tricks," but he also acknowledged that his work no longer has the sense of "urgency" it had in his younger days. I've always felt that something was missing in his later work, but I attributed it to his getting clean and sober, because I think his books declined in quality right about the time he quit drinking/doping. Whatever the reason, I think any of his early output, from "Carrie" to about, say, "Misery," is the best work he's done.
Scott wrote:The Shining was epic...to not include it is an insult...even if the movie butchered the book. "
Agreed. There are so many people who love the movie and I can NOT for the life of me understand it was just insanely bad...one of the worst butcherings of a book Ive ever seen. I mean that movie was Nic Cage bad.
Yes, the Dark Tower series comes and goes. As said previously, the first four are killer. But so is the last. Personally I like them all. Next up dear to my heart is:The Talisman
The Stand
It
The Dark Half
The Regulators
The Shining (absolutely the scariest!)
Stepheny wrote: "Sara wrote: "Stepheny wrote: "Sara wrote: "Stepheny wrote: "Sara wrote: "I also have my top ten Stephen King books, but I am going to recommend you do something else. I am going to suggest a few b..."Oh..that is such a great idea!
Paul wrote: "Scott wrote:The Shining was epic...to not include it is an insult...even if the movie butchered the book. "
Agreed. There are so many people who love the movie and I can NOT for the life of me un..."
Geez, it's not just "people," but many respected critics who believe that Kubrick's movie is great. It changes the book somewhat, but hardly "butchers" it. King apparently had some kind of grudge against Kubrick, because he actually preferred the infinitely inferior TV movie to the theatrical version -- which tells you something about Stephen King's (horrible) taste in movies.
Grouchy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Scott wrote:The Shining was epic...to not include it is an insult...even if the movie butchered the book. "
Agreed. There are so many people who love the movie and I can NOT for the ..."
Hmmm, so we are comparing a low budget TV movie, with the guy from Spaceman? to a motion picture with Jack Nicholson? When I say they butchered it, is that Jack Nicholson, was awesome, however the rest of the cast was mediocre and the movie did not follow the book. It was a hack job, King preferred the TV version, because it more closely followed the novel.
Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Danielle wrote: "My most favorite King book is The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It's never been one of his most popular, but it scared the ever living hell out of me. I loved it."I hated that book ..."
Under the Dome bored me. Duma Key was much better!
Paul wrote: "Scott wrote:The Shining was epic...to not include it is an insult...even if the movie butchered the book. "
Agreed. There are so many people who love the movie and I can NOT for the life of me un..."
The TV version of the book was much better than the film
Scott wrote: "Grouchy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Scott wrote:The Shining was epic...to not include it is an insult...even if the movie butchered the book. "
Agreed. There are so many people who love the movie and I ..."
A "hack job"? Thank goodness you aren't a professional film critic. And I'm not the one comparing Kubrick's movie to the TV version; it was King who said he preferred that awful television version.
Tell you the truth, I thought the Kubrick film was a bit blah too. Haven't seen the TV version.
Grouchy wrote: "Scott wrote: "Grouchy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Scott wrote:The Shining was epic...to not include it is an insult...even if the movie butchered the book. "
Agreed. There are so many people who love th..."
Yes I MUCH preferred the TV series than the Movie...as did MANY King fans. Kubrick was an overrated, self-indulging, Hack. He always thought whatever he did was improving on the writers work. How Does Including that stupid talking finger crap, ruining The Caretakers role and destroying the ending improve a great book?
Kubrick was apparently a jerk, as a human being, but your conclusion that he was a directorial "hack" is laughable. I wish you'd make that statement to any reputable film critic or scholar. I would enjoy seeing your theory torn to shreds.
I would put The Stand at the top of the list. I like female protagonists and loved Dolores Claiborne, Rose Madder and Lisey's Story and would highly recommend all three of them. I was very engaged in the entire Dark Tower series...and with that I am over the ten you asked for already. Some of his novellas are fabulous, too. I am sure you will enjoy whatever you choose.
Grouchy wrote: "Kubrick was apparently a jerk, as a human being, but your conclusion that he was a directorial "hack" is laughable. I wish you'd make that statement to any reputable film critic or scholar. I would..."Hack: Noun- A writer or journalist producing dull, unoriginal work.
Ruining book after book to fulfill your own megalomaniac wishes may not be definitively hack but as above posters mentioned His Shining was Blah. Destroying Shining, Clock work Orange (turned that into a cross of Monty Python and a snuff porno). Lolita which he turned into, Well let's quote Adrian Turner on that (a Reputable film critic and scholar as you put it) "an epic comedy of frustration rather than lust," and if hours of stuff spinning in space to classical music isnt boring film making then I dont know what is.
And for god sake please tell me Eyes Wide Shut was a "classic", Great example of film making.
Grouchy wrote: "Scott wrote: "Grouchy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Scott wrote:The Shining was epic...to not include it is an insult...even if the movie butchered the book. "
Agreed. There are so many people who love th..."
I am not sure what the critics thought of the movie. But having read the book, I was anxious to see the film (one of those rare times when I enjoyed the book first without attaching the actors face to the character), however I didn't think the movie lived up to the book, and felt after watching it, that it butchered the book, and yea, I'd call it a hack job. It felt as tho the director and producers said "WOOT!!" We've got Jack Nicholson for the lead...the book was awesome, so we dont need to worry about much else...it'll sell
Lorenzo wrote: "It’s been a long while since I’ve read a Stephen King novel. But the books I liked are: It, The Eyes of the Dragon, and Different Seasons. For the most part I stopped reading King in the late 198..."the eyes of the drgon i read because of the wizard, flagg is the flagg thats in the stand. i thought the eyes of the dragon was a decent book, but so much back story.
Paul wrote: "Grouchy wrote: "Kubrick was apparently a jerk, as a human being, but your conclusion that he was a directorial "hack" is laughable. I wish you'd make that statement to any reputable film critic or ..."Well, congratulations. How many hours did you spend looking for negative comments about 2001 or Clockwork Orange, both of which most critics praise? As for Eyes Wide Shut, I again congratulate you because, as can be seen from my previous comments, I said that every Kubrick movie is a masterpiece, and it's commendable that you were able to point out how foolish I was for writing that ... wait ... it appears I never wrote that.
Are we at least agreed that the Shining...should be in the top ten list of King novels?
Top 10 King Favorites (in no particular order 'cept the first two).Night Shift
Salem's Lot
The Dead Zone
The Shining
The Stand
Skeleton Crew
The Bachman Books
Pet Sematary
It
Different Seasons
Grouchy wrote: "Aditya wrote: "I've very recently finished reading The Gunslinger and found it very good. "The Drawing of the Three and The Gunslinger were the best of the series. In the Gunslinger, where he kills every man woman and child in the town. In DOTT Where the Lobstrosity bites off his shooting fingers, then he ended up in Eddie Deans Head and helps him with the gun battle at the gangsters' house. I loved that series.
the standunder the dome
cell
cujo
needful things
the shining
the talisman
misery
the green mile
carrie
1. The Stand. I think EVERYBODY should read this whether they're a King fan or not. 2. Salem's Lot. The original vampire novel. They don't wear glitter in this one either.
3. Pet Cemetary.
4. The Shining. Especially if you're a writer.
5. Carrie.
6. Needful Things.
7. Cujo.
8. The Tommyknockers. Not many mentions of that one here, but I thought it was interesting.
9. It.
10. Christine.
Grouchy wrote: Well, congratulations. How many hours did you spend looking for negative comments about 2001 or Clockwork Orange, both of which most critics praise?Well couldnt have been a lot of hours since my post was 14 minutes after yours...unless I used my TARDIS or DeLorean maybe. :)
Actually, Kubrick's The Shining is one of the better King adaptations, despite the fact that it differs greatly from the book. Let's be honest here, the majority of King adaptations flat out suck. Especially the TV series (It excepted). And I'll never forgive King for remaking Lars von Trier's brilliant TV series Riget/The Kingdom as some kind of horrible Ally McBeal-like comedy show.
THE WHOLE KUBRICK, THE SHINING DEBATE: Lots of directors don't really care about story like the writer does, often why the book usually is better. I think Kubrick made a good film, but I imagine the book to be better (yes, still looking out for an old copy in a charity shop to read)!
You know what - apart from Dr Strangelove, I have either been unmoved, unimpressed or uninterested by Kubrick's work. Even A Clockwork Orange, which was almost as blah as The Shining. Ah The Shining...a comment related to the original question.
I've read them all, but I think "Heart in Atlantis" and "11/22/63" are his best.
1. The Stand2. Shawshank Redemption
3. Green Mile
4. Dead Zone
5. Salem's Lot
The Stand is a work of art.
Misery is absolutely amazing but was so horrifyingly creepy to me I have difficulty thinking about it even today.
The first Stephen King novel I read was "Eyes of the Dragon" it was exceptional but deceptive. Since it was my first I thought that all of his books would be like that. It deals with Wizards and kings, dragons etc. the next book I read was maybe "IT" which was fantastic. The dark Tower series is probably his best work and I have been a fan long enough that I had to wait for each book to come out. All of his books are fantastic with the exception of "The girl who loved Tom Gordon" didn't really like it. favorites areNeedful Things
The Gunslinger
Eyes of the Dragon
It
Tommy Knockers
The Stand
Under the Dome
The dark Half
Thinner
Misery
Tried to put them in order but it is hard as I like all of them.
My very personal reading list would be something like this:Night Shift
Different Seasons
The Dead Zone
Pet Sematary
Christine
The Stand
Four Past Midnight
Tommyknockers
It
Skeleton Crew
Gary wrote: "In DOTT Where the Lobstrosity bites off his shooting fingers, then he ended up in Eddie Deans Head and helps him with the gun battle at the gangsters' house"How can you do that? I didn't read DOTT yet.
No particular order: The Stand
The Gunslinger Series
Misery
The Green Mile
11/22/63
Duma Key
'Salem's Lot
Carrie
Under the Dome
The Shining
Then there are the short stories, particularly The Mist. I still don't quite trust fog.
Finish The Dark Tower series--well worth it.Top Ten:
1. The Stand
2. IT
3. The Shining (I know, you've seen the movie--NOT THE SAME)
4. Gerald's Game (some will disagree on this one)
5. Duma Key
6. Don't read 11/22/63 until you read IT. But then read it.
7. Cell (definitely! Page 7 all hell breaks lose)
8. Carrie
9. Four Past Midnight (short stories)
10. Misery
Stu wrote: "THE WHOLE KUBRICK, THE SHINING DEBATE: Lots of directors don't really care about story like the writer does, often why the book usually is better. I think Kubrick made a good film, but I imagine th..."Go to Amazon.com. That's where I got my copy of The Shining (original cover)
1. 'Salem's Lot2. The Stand
3. Pet Sematary
4. The Long Walk (as Ricahrd Bachman)
5. Eyes of the Dragon
6. Misery
7. Christine
8. The Green Mile
9. It
10. Night Shift
1. Pet Sematary2. The Stand
3. Salem's Lot
4. It
5. The Shining
6. Misery
7. Insomnia
8. Firestarter
9. Needful Things
10. Cujo
Rich wrote: "I've read almost all of his early work, but almost none of his later books (past the early ninety's). Couldn't get through Misery and never picked up another King novel after that. But for early ..."1408 LITERALLY scared me. Also I pretty much agree with this assessment, except I would move The Stand to #1. It is the absolute best book I have ever read, rivaled only by "Swan Song" by Robert R. McCammon.
Holly wrote: "I would move The Stand to #1. It is the absolute best book I have ever read, rivaled only by "Swan Song" by Robert R. McCammon. "After reading your book I went out and checked out this book 'Swan Song'. Nice to know that there are more good books available to read.
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I really want to but can't thank each one of you in person. I just want to say to Licha, really nice to hear from you again after a long time.
And Sara, yours (39th comment) is my favorite comment. It really opened up to me a lot about Stephen King and about how to read his books. It's fascinating to know that each of his books are interlinked and the place where they are all interlinked is the seven part Dark Tower series. That really made my intent a lot stronger to read all the DT books.
I thank every one for the response. All the comments really helped me. I read each and every comment. They are all very helpful.
Stephen King is a writer with a distant vision. Surely a genius. Nice to hear about him from you.