The Stand
discussion
Please name the top ten books of Stephen King. Want to start reading.
I believe ALL of Stephen Kings books are amazing in their own way. However, if you are new to Stephen King there are quite a few books that might scare you away! Some are dry and slow. My favorite is The Stand, but it takes about 200+ pages to get good. I would start out with:Cujo
The Eye of The Dragon
The Shining
Misery
Baylie wrote: "I believe ALL of Stephen Kings books are amazing in their own way. However, if you are new to Stephen King there are quite a few books that might scare you away! Some are dry and slow. My favorite ..."I read Pet Sematary when I was 14 and it literally made me sleep with the lights on! I even remember the line: "It's like the hand that slips out from under your bed to grab you in the dead of night..." or something to that effect. Scared the sh*t out of me! LOL!
Article Titled: Script pages from the shining reveal ending that Kubrick destroyed...http://io9.com/5979278/script-pages-f...
The Stand is his best book. IT, Shining, Pet Cemetary, Misery also great. Hated Insomnia & Dreamcatcher. Couldn't finish Gerald's Game too disturbing for me couldn't get passed the beginning when the woman was handcuffed to the bed, trapped with her dead husband & the dog comes in (shudder)
Lesley wrote: "The Stand is his best book. IT, Shining, Pet Cemetary, Misery also great. Hated Insomnia & Dreamcatcher. Couldn't finish Gerald's Game too disturbing for me couldn't get passed the beginning when t..."Agreed on everything but your hates & Gerald's Game, I powered through... It was generally f*cked up, so I don't think you missed much there LOL.
Definitely keep reading the Dark Tower series!! But be aware that almost all of his books are connected to the DT series, esp. The Stand, It, The Talisman, and Insomnia. I'm not a big fan of his sci-fi attempts, however (Tommyknockers, Dreamcatcher). I also love his short stories.
My favorite is The Stand, it is long but well worth it. After that I would say:Carrie
Bag of Bones
Blaze
IT
Dolores Claiborn
Gerald's Game ( has an interesting tie in with Dolores Claiborn)
Rage (short story)
The Long Walk (short story)
Duma Key
I also like Insomnia, Hearts in Atlantis, and The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon
Top 10 SK Books:1. The Stand (absolute fav)
2. The Dark Tower Series
3. Delores Claiborn
4. The Dark Half
5. Gerald's Game
6. The Langoliers
7. Needful Things
8. The Eyes of the Dragon
9. Desperation/The Regulators
10. Misery
These are in no particular order
Gerald's Game is one of my all time favorites of his.The Dark Tower Series (1st three.) And Insomnia. If anyone is reading or has read The Dark Tower Series then I recommend Insomnia. It isn't exactly a part of the series but like so many of King's books it has elements of the storyline woven into it.
1. the stand (by far this is my favorite)2. Needful Things
3. It
4. The Shining
5. Desperation
6. Rose Madder
7. The Green Mile
8. Hearts in Atlantis
9. Different Seasons (For The Shawshank Redemption)
10. Insomnia
Not necessarily in that order though. The Gunslinger saga is great but it quite the commitment if you are not a King fan.
The Green MileCarrie
Insomnia
The Bachman Books
The Dark Half
Four Past Midnight
Thinner
The Regulators
Dreamcatcher
Gerald's Game
The Tommyknockers
Stephen King has written so many good books that it is hard to make a top ten list. I have to agree with the lists that a lot of people have posted. I think The Stand is probably my favorite but I would not suggest starting with it. It is a really long (the complete uncut is 1150 pages). Unless you have time to read it relatively uninterrupted, it might be hard to remember all of the characters and groups. When the uncut version came out, I was a student on summer break and I read the book in two days, stopping only to eat and sleep.
Being honest, I have not enjoyed every Stephen King book. Probably considered blasphemy but I did not enjoy the Gunslinger series. I got bogged down in the second book and stopped reading after book 3. I know a lot of people love it but I just could not get into to. With so many books in the world to read, I just let them lie. I may try again to read again now that it has been
Having said that here is my list not necessarily ranked because my "favorites" change over time:
The Stand
The Shining
Salem's Lot
Dreamcatcher
Dead Zone
11/22/63
Cujo
Needful Things
Firestarter
The Dark Half
Insomnia
I have to be the only one who hasn't began the Dark Tower series... Am I missing out bigtime??
This exact same list may exist, since I didn't read through every response, but I have been reading Stephen King since my teens, and he's still my go-to favorite when I just want to forget the real world. My favorites:1. The Talisman
2. The Stand
3. Dark Tower series (Wizard & Glass is my favorite; it tells the story of a young Roland in love)
4. It
5. The Green Mile
6. The Long Walk
7. 11/22/63
8. Rose Madder
9. Misery
10. Different Seasons (a collection of 4 novellas that includes "The Body" and "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption"
Vicky wrote: "Robbert wrote: "Am I the only one that really likes Rose Madder?"Loved Rose Madder, but a few of my friends couldnt get on with it. Obviously not one of the most popular King books but one that I..."
I loved it, too. Maybe it has to touch a nerve? It's one of my mom's favorites as well.
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..."You might try out Joyce Carol Oates's "Bellefleur." It's odd and gothic, one of my favorites of her many novels.
AAAugh!! Can't believe I forgot The Eyes of the Dragon
The gateway drug to Stephen King. I read this aloud to both my children when they were elementary age. Excellent fairy tale, starring Flagg as the dark magician. Love this book.
Cell was fantastically disturbing for me and I can't help but think the movie "The Crazies" was loosely based on it...
Holly wrote: "Cell was fantastically disturbing for me and I can't help but think the movie "The Crazies" was loosely based on it..."Not likely since The Crazies was a remake of a George Romero movie from 1973.
Speaking of which, I'm pretty sure Cell was inspired by Romero's Living Dead movies.
Robbert wrote: "Holly wrote: "Cell was fantastically disturbing for me and I can't help but think the movie "The Crazies" was loosely based on it..."Not likely since The Crazies was a remake of a George Romero m..."
I'm humbled. I am not the movie/book fanatic I thought I was. I bow to you, Robert! :) I was unaware that George Romero made one in '73. I hope I can find it!!
Either way, though, Cell was fantastic - I couldn't put it down.
Copper_Wings wrote: "I prefer the short stories. The Mist and The Moving Finger are quite good. He's quite adept at taking small, normal things and making them horrifying. Apparently cymbal-playing monkeys scare him."Don't they scare everyone??
Susan wrote: "Copper_Wings wrote: "I prefer the short stories. The Mist and The Moving Finger are quite good. He's quite adept at taking small, normal things and making them horrifying. Apparently cymbal-play..."LMAO YES!
Holly wrote: "I have to be the only one who hasn't began the Dark Tower series... Am I missing out bigtime??"Yes, you definitely are. How can you navigate your life if you don't know the "face of your father"? To be fair, when I first read "The Gunslinger," I was probably too young and impatient for it, and at that time, there was no series yet, just this weird standalone book. I didn't get it. But when the others came out, I went back to the beginning and started reading again, and it was amazing. I love a story that just seems to never end (in a good way), one that takes you on a journey with it. And it weaves together so many others of King's works, it feels like you're in on everything. The concept of a world that has moved on is unbearably sad, but it also feels true.
Susan wrote: "Holly wrote: "I have to be the only one who hasn't began the Dark Tower series... Am I missing out bigtime??"Yes, you definitely are. How can you navigate your life if you don't know the "face..."
I will definitely get ahold of them, then... and I know the face of my father (I know that's not what you're referring to)... It screams liar, cheater, gold digger, and ruthlessly evil... LOL (I laugh but the word I really want to use is d**chebag...)
Holly wrote: "Susan wrote: "Holly wrote: "I have to be the only one who hasn't began the Dark Tower series... Am I missing out bigtime??"Yes, you definitely are. How can you navigate your life if you don't ..."
Ha! But Roland would beg to differ... Best figure of speech in the whole series. To have forgotten the face of your father means that you've behaved shamefully. It is used in all sorts of situations... from a small plea for forgiveness when one has broken social protocol to a plea from the heart for an unforgivable offense: "I have forgotten the face of my father!" To be fair, in my life to have forgotten the face of my mother would be a much graver sin... but there ya go. Roland definitely lives in a patriarchal society!
Holly wrote: "Susan wrote: "Holly wrote: "I have to be the only one who hasn't began the Dark Tower series... Am I missing out bigtime??"Yes, you definitely are. How can you navigate your life if you don't ..."
Holly, I don't know whether to laugh or be...horrified. Oh well, the laughter won. I don't know if I should feel bad for laughing, but I think I'm going to also pick up The Dark Tower series. I'm another one who's never read those.
Licha wrote: "Holly wrote: "Susan wrote: "Holly wrote: "I have to be the only one who hasn't began the Dark Tower series... Am I missing out bigtime??"Yes, you definitely are. How can you navigate your life..."
Laughing is fine. I have absolutely no emotion toward him - just call it like it is LOL... I laughed while writing it so... Perhaps there's something wrong with me, in hindsight.... LOL
I'm still laughing Holly. It was just a funny statement that you probably had to get off your chest at that moment. You were just being honest.
In no particular order:Duma Key
It
The Stand
11/22/63
Hearts in Atlantis
The Green Mile
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
The Shining
The Talisman (co written with Peter Straub)
Stand By Me
My list...The Long Walk
Misery
Dolores Claiborne
The Shining
Pet Sematary
Dreamcatcher
Gerald's Game
The Stand
Dark Tower Series
Licha wrote: "I'm still laughing Holly. It was just a funny statement that you probably had to get off your chest at that moment. You were just being honest."This conversation tickled me so much I had to read it to my mom... Her response, "I called him a DIRTbag" LOL!!
The STAND is one of my all-time favorites. But I think a lot of his short stories are also fantastic. Check out Skeleton Key.
Holly wrote: "Licha wrote: "I'm still laughing Holly. It was just a funny statement that you probably had to get off your chest at that moment. You were just being honest."This conversation tickled me so muc..."
That was funny Holly. Thanks for the laugh.
I started reading Dolores Claiborne. I have Salem's Lot with me, and a lot of people recommended to read it first, but I want to leave the better books for later, so I started reading Dolores. Hope that it will be a good read
Christine was the very first adult novel I read at 13 years old. It terrified me and awakened a thirst in me for the King.Difficult to top ten his works but in no particular order:
Christine
Carrie
The Stand (IMO the King universe is created in this book)
Dark Tower III: The Wastelands
Skeleton Crew (contains short story The Mist)
Dolores Claiborne
Misery
The Bachman books (containing: Rage, The Running Man and The Long Walk)
The Dead Zone
The Green Mile (in it's original series format)
Rita wrote: "My favorite King books:1. IT
2. The Stand
3. Christine
4. Different Seasons
5. Dead Zone
6. Salem's Lot
7. Misery
8. Dolores Claiborne
10. Pet Sematary
Of his more recent works, I very..."
The Stand is King's magnum opus.
1. The Stand (unedited)2. It
3. The Gunslinger Series
4. The Talisman
5. Insomnia (I think I'm the only one who loves this book)
6. The Green Mile
7. 11/22/63
8. The Tommyknockers
9. Pet Semetary
10.The Dark Half
1. 11/22/632. The Stand
3. The Shining
4. The Green Mile
5. Misery
6. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
7. It
8. The Talisman
9. Pet Cemetery
10. Different Seasons
1. IT2. The Shining
3. The Stand
4. Pet Sematary
5. Under The Dome
6. Different Seasons
7. Skeleton Crew
8. Eyes of the Dragon
9. Bag of Bones
10.Cujo
I've read a lot of Stephen King. My all time favorite is MISERY.
My all-time favorite Stephen King book is The Stand. The scariest book I have ever read happens to be a Stephen King book and it is Salem's Lot. Enjoy!
1. IT2. Bag of Bones
3. Dolores Claiborne
4. Misery
5. The Stand
6. Pet Sematary
7. The Mist
8. Skeleton Crew
9. The Talisman
10. Carrie
I would agree wholeheartedly with Rich. Some of his short stories are outstanding, so I would start with a collection of these as a 'taster'. After that my absolute favourite, although not an obvious choice, would be Dead Zone, followed by The Shining (way better than the film) or The Talisman (co-written with Peter Straub). I think the ealier novels are far superior to the later ones but whatever you choose, you are in for a reat treat!
I'm of the opinion that King books should be read in chronological order of publication. That being said, I've never read Carrie, but beginning from 'Salem's Lot and just going in order has been more satisfying than when I was just picking them randomly. They are mostly stand-alone, but there are always references. Then when you get to the Dark Tower, you find that he ties a lot of the old stories together as part of that mythos.
King has been such an influence in my life and in my writing. My top ten King novels would be:1.The Stand
2.Christine
3.Insomnia
4.1/22/63
5.The Dark Tower 3: The Wastelands
6.Needful Things
7.It
8.Duma Key
9.Bag of Bones
10.The Shining
The stand- the best!It
Salems Lot
Duma Key
Dolores Claiborne
Under the Dome
Rose madder
Bag of Bones
Cujo
Pet Sematary
IT,Green Mile,The Stand, Green Mile is one of my favorite books by anyone.
Not having read all of his novels, I will offer my opinions on his works.At the top, at the top of my all time favorite stories, King or otherwise, is The Stand. It's indescribable. It has to be read to be appreciated. The characters are so rich and in depth, I would expect to meet them at the local grocery store. The story line is simple yet amazing.
Next is the Gunslinger series. I'm going out on a proverbial limb with this one, but again this is a batch that has to be read to be appreciated. I am certain I am not the only fan that held their proverbial breath when he was in the accident with the van, his series not yet finished. The story got a bit weird along the way, bits & pieces having to be appreciated on faith, but overall it is such a terrific body of work I consider this his opus magnum. And as a note, when you get to the last book, do NOT read the end part that he cautions agains reading, trust him. Leave it to the imagination.
In my opinion, he's had a lull in quality of stories for a while post-van run in. I am thrilled to read Duma Key. Fantastic story, classic yet reinvented King. Breathes new life into his body of work.
I've read Misery at least six times. I nearly got thrown out of 10th grade math class because of that story, and I don't regret a second of that.
Cujo literally made me have nightmares about my own dog. That's enough to make my top list.
The Bachman quartet is terrific. Rage is eerie in this unfortunate age of mass school (and other) shootings. The Long Walk is still memorable to me, having read it over 20 years ago (am I that old?)
I'm basing this opinion on the paperback books I've kept after I purged my physical library of books in favor of digital copies. I don't still have it, but I really enjoyed the story Green Mile, and how it was presented.
Having been an absolute fan of The Gunslinger series, I was definitely glad to buy Wind Through the Keyhole. The expectations on my part were fairly huge, and it certainly didn't disappoint. I absolutely loved this story, and was thrilled to visit old friends again.
Again, this is purely my opinion. Stephen King is one of the reasons I am a rabid reader. My son started The Gunslinger series when he was 11. He actually dressed as Roland Deschain for Halloween that year. I was VERY proud. Thank you, Mr. King.
The Stand is my fav - read it twice.Misery 2nd
Salem's Lot 3rd
Shining
Dead Zone
Needful Things
+++ Remeber that I read this books when they came out .. 70-80-90's so i.e. - Salem's Lot may be tame by today's standards but for its time ...it was and is Great.
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After reading your book I went out and checked out t..."
Glad I could reccommend something :) It's fantastic! If you liked "The Stand" you'll love "Swan Song". I'm all about apocalyptic/postapocalyptic novels lol :)