The Stand
discussion
Please name the top ten books of Stephen King. Want to start reading.
Can you believe it?? All these awesome books. I've read most of them as they came out over the years, and they're STILL with me - memorable and some of my favorites of all time. King is amazing. Not including Dark Tower Series or short stories:
1. The Stand
2. The Talisman
3. Pet Sematary
4. It
5. The Shining
6. Needful Things
7. Hearts in Atlantis
8. Duma Key
9. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
10. Misery
Stepheny wrote: "Paul wrote: "Why so Few Mentions of Christine...Thats my Favorite work by him along with Stand and Shining (2nd & 3rd).Its a fantastic book. One of the handful of books Ive read more than once."
..."
Christine is a great read. Really creepy.
I don't understand the huge number of people listing the Talisman in their top ten. I found it very dry and somewhat scattered in its delivery. Almost pieced together if you will. My top ten:1. The Stand
2. Pet Sematery
3. It
4. Dead Zone
5. Duma Key
6. Night Shift
7. Under the Dome
8. Insomnia
9. Dark Tower Series (Who can choose just one?)
10. Misery
I also agree with Rich. You can't go wrong with one of his short story collections, Night Shift being my fav.
Personally, I liked the Talisman. Pet Sematary is the one King book I would never reread. Scared the crap out of me.
1, 11.22.63 (not sure why so few had in on their list2, The Stand
3, It
4, Cell
5, Dolores Claiborne
6, Skeleton Crew (The Mist is his best ss)
7, Under the Dome
8, read the Stand again
Afh-The Mist! I loved The Mist!! and I loved 11.22.63 and Under the Dome!! 10 is not enough... :)
You know, I've read the gunslinger books and they were good but not my favorites of King, so balance my thoughts on his writing with that information. My thoughts:1. The Stand (one of my favorite books ever, I love an end of the world book and this one is maybe the best).
2. Under the Dome. (I read recently and I loved it).
3. Misery (A classic)
4. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (I adore this book and could talk about it all day).
5. Pet Sematary (A favorite and the ultimate "be careful what you wish for" book).
6. The Shining (classic and the only book that got a better movie, in my opinion).
7. It. (I love this book beyond reason and I think maybe even a bit more than it deserves)
I'm going to stop because it's not that I don't have three more, it's that I can't really rank three of the 15 or so that would be next.
Skip Duma Key and Lisey's Story. Awful.For anyone fan who has not read 11.22.63 yet, read it next. Great story and visits with old characters.
Has the usual silly King wrap-up ending, but really a great story about time travel.
My favorite top ten:1.) It
2.) Carrie
3.) Full Dark No Stars (my favorite collection of short stories, and I think short stories is what he's best at)
4.) Misery
5.) Bag of Bones (best ghost story I have read)
6.) The Stand
7.) Insomnia
8.) Pet Semetary
9.) Salems Lot
10.) The TommyKnockers
You knew this would start an avalanche, right? Ah ha ha haaReally, you have to consider what it is about King that you like. Some people are really in it for purely scary stuff. That's one list. Character development and a sense that the good guys won? That's another list. I suggest you start with his memoir, On Writing, and there he talks about the different things he had written up to that point, and what his mindset was when he did it. This caveat aside, here's my personal list of favorites:
1. On Writing
2. Rose Madder
3. Under the Dome
4. The Tommyknockers
5. Lisey's Story (more of a love story than supernatural)
6. Bag of Bones
7. Duma Key
8.From a Buick 8
9. It
10. The Stand
10. The Shining (a tie)
One further consideration: King's readers can probably be divided between those who love the Gunslinger series and those who don't. If you have read some of that series and formed an opinion, cut out the reviews that either don't/do feature them--mine included--and go from there. Happy reading!
Ruth wrote: "Personally, I liked the Talisman. Pet Sematary is the one King book I would never reread. Scared the crap out of me."Word. The Talisman was awesome! It should be on my own list, but can't figure out which one I'd chop out to make room for it.
I haven't started Pet Sematary and it isn't on my to-read list either. It sounds like it might be similar to Cujo, which I must admit I did not finish. (I peaked at the end).
Jim wrote: "Nobody mentioned Different Seasons book had two great movies made from it Stand By Me and Shawshank Redemption."Not sure I'd choose a book on the basis of whether or not it has its own movie.
Deanne wrote: "Afh-The Mist! I loved The Mist!! and I loved 11.22.63 and Under the Dome!! 10 is not enough... :)"
Whoa, Deanne, now you've done it. I haven't read The Mist! It has to go on my list.
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..."
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..."
The Stand is the greatest Stephen King book. I recommend reading it only if you plan on putting everything else in your life on the back burner. The book will possess you.
The Stand is the greatest book by Stephen King. If you plan on reading it, I'd recommend putting the rest of your life on the back burner. It will possess you.
1. Stand (obviously)2. It
have read insomnia and dark half but they are not his best, have to read other books by him and then only can decide, but this two will always remain my favourite.
My personal favorites:1. Dark Tower Series (otherwise it would take up more than half the list)
2. It
3. The Stand
4. Salems Lot
5. Desperation
6. The Regulators
7. Under The Dome
8. Pet Cemetary
9. The Mist (short story, I think in Everythings Eventual)
10. The Talisman (with Peter Straub)
I loved The Stand and thought it was my favorite until I read 11/22/63. The time travel element was really interesting. I practically read the entire book while on the elliptical machine at the gym. I swear I did some time travel myself because the hours flew by!
My all time favourite is Christine. The idea of a car having a mind of it's own was fascinating.. I liked Misery - but I preferred the movie :)And of course The Stand is the King classic :)
Mine go like this:1. 'Salems Lot
2. The Shining
3. The Stand
4. IT
5. The Eyes of the Dragon
6. Pet Semetary
7. Needful Things
8. Misery
9. Dolores Claiborne
10. The Gunslinger
1. My all time favorite is The Stand. You should read it in the summer when it is bloody warm, because mostly in the story it is the summer heat as well.2. Under the dome has a great storyline, and possibly the best SK characters ever. Unfortunately, the ending is disappointing - at least I see here I am not alone with this opinion.
3. Shawshank redemption, of course
4. Bag of bones, The Shining, Salems Lot, they are all great.
5. Geralds game
6. The girl who loved Tom Gordon (because it was translated to my mother tongue by my friend :o))
One unfortunate disappointment was The Cell.
I guess if you want to start reading now and it would be your first SK, I suggest it should be The Shining, and then The Stand.
If you would like to see some movies too, start with Misery, Kathy Bates is a genius.
My favourite was also The Stand, but Pet Cemetery comes in as a close second. Also please read The Green Mile, I loved the story and the characters.
Eye of the Dragon. Characters cross with Dark Tower
I am not a huge Stephen King fan, but there are his books that stick out to me, so here they are:1) The Stand
2) Salem's Lot
3) Dead Zone
4) The Talisman
5) Firestarter
6) Misery
7) IT
8) Insomnia
9) On Writing
10) Danse Macabre
I agree that I also was disappointed with Cell and I was disappointed with Hearts of Atlantis, which I read recently. With the number of books I read of Stephen King, rarely have I not liked one of his books.
I have been in the process of reading Stephen King's books in order, starting with Carrie, and I am currently on Dark Tower IV. My top ten list (of what I have read so far) :1. Salem's Lot
2. Pet Semetary
3. It
4. The Shining
5. The Gunslinger - Dark Tower 1
6. The Drawing of the Three - Dark Tower 3
7. Christine
8. Carrie
9. The Stand
10. The Dead Zone
Here are my favorites...not necessarily in order because I loved them all...but I would recommend starting with On Writing...The Stand
Misery
IT
Rose Madder
The Green Mile
Needful Things
Dolores Claiborne
Duma Key
Salem's Lot
1. The Stand2. Needful Things
3. The Running Man
4. Dolores Claiborne
5. Salem's Lot
6. Under the Dome
7. The Langoliers (short story)
8. Misery
9. Duma Key
10. Hearts in Atlantis
The Dark Tower didn't appeal to me. My favorites are Salems Lot, Christine, It, to name a very few.
Donna wrote: "Really, you have to consider what it is about King that you like. Some people are really in it for purely scary stuff. That's one list. Character development and a sense that the good guys won? That's another list. I suggest you start with his memoir, On Writing, and there he talks about the different things he had written up to that point, and what his mindset was when he did it.
..."
Thanks for the tip, Donna! Haven't read his memoir, put that top of the list.
My favorite is The Stand, also (as many before mentioned) read during a summers holiday.
Right now I am reading 11/22/1963, loving it so far!
I also liked Under the Dome. During teenage years I have read a lot of books by Stephen King. I remember The Apt Pupil and The Green Mile.
I also want to read Gunslinger, but I have been putting it off.
Thanks for the great lists!
I've read Carrie, The Mist, The Long Walk, a portion of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, a few short stories from Everything's Eventual, Under the Dome, some of 11/22/63, Cell, and Joyland. I'm currently reading Thinner. They're all pretty good.
1. Under the Dome2. Carrie
3. The Long Walk
4. The Mist
5. Cell
6. Joyland
7. Everything's Eventual (so far)
8. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
I might have read other SK books, but I forget. I read a small portion of 11/22/63, and am reading Thinner at the moment. All of them were pretty good, but let me just say, SK kinda dragged Cell on. Under the Dome is the best SK for me so far.
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..."Great undertaking ---- I have read many 'King's and enjoyed each one - one of the creepiest ones, I thought, was Cujo...and I did enjoy Pet Semetary as well.
Sam wrote: "The Stand was the first Stephen King book I read when I was fifteen. I read it lying out in the garden over the summer hols and it blew me away. During my teens and early twenties I was a King addi..."Sam
Your explanation is quite similar to my thoughts of King as well, loved him in early 80's lost interest in 90s and haven't yet picked him back up \ I love your list...forgot about SAlem's Lot/Shining/Carrie - I believe those are amongst his 'first' classics
I really recommend reading all of Stephen King's stuff, but...1. Salem's Lot
2. The Shining
3. The Stand
4. Pet Sematary
5. IT
6. 11/22/63
7. Joyland
8. Bag of Bones
9. Dolores Claiborne
10. Different Seasons
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 books for you to read BEFORE you continue reading the Dark Tower series, b..."WOW, YES Sara - how did you analyze this list of reads so well??? I only ever read them as interest not as 'intention' but thanks very much!!!\
Aditya wrote: "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 t..."
As did I - thank you
I just started reading Doctor Sleep. The first book I read by King was The Shining so I'm looking forward to this one.
I can't believe the Dark Tower is not in the top 20. It could have something to do with the fact that the series isn't strictly in the fantasy genre. In my opinion The Dark Tower series takes all the best elements from multiple genres- Horror, Science Fiction, Western, Fantasy- and mixes them all together. It truly is one of the most original stories I've ever read. The Dark Tower Saga actually got me to read a lot of King's other works. Here is my list of King books that begin and end well ( unfortunately some of his endings really suck)1. The Dark Tower 1-7
2 . The Wind Through The Keyhole ( technically book 4.5 of the DT series)
3. The Stand ( long but good and ties in with The DT)
4. Eyes of The Dragon ( ties in to the Dark Tower Novels)
5. The Talisman
6. Black House ( Ties in with the DT)
7. Hearts in Atlantis ( especially "The Low Men in the Yellow Coats")
8. Salem's Lot ( Ties into the DT series)
9. IT ( ending really sucked, but loosely ties into book 7 of DT)
10. Everything's Eventual " Short story entitled "little sisters of Eluria" is a prequel to The Dark Tower Series)
Everything else I've read by King has been disappointing due to shitty endings. Although I would like to read " The Green Mile".
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..."
One of my all time favorites, actually. Thanks for mentioning that!
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..."I adored Duma Key. It's so poignant, it almost doesn't belong on the horror shelf...until it does.
SUCH a hard question! If you have never read ANY of King's work, I almost think you should go with the first copyright date, which I think is Carrie. But if we're listing favorites...I advise avoiding the Gunslinger Series till you know how you feel about his other work, which is separate and very different. You may like his other work but not GS and vice versa. My favorites:* Rose Madder
* The Tommyknockers
* Under the Dome
* Duma Key
* Lisey's Story (sort of a supernatural love story)
* It (not for you if you are afraid of clowns)
* The Stand
* Carrie
* Salem's Lot
* The Shining
Donna wrote: "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 peri..."Donna, I had never heard of this SK novel but picked it up from library just today - hope to get to it before the weekend - I have to finish my life book club read first...glad to hear someone liked it - I am very curious about this one...
Its hard to rank them, but ten of my favourites are:Insomnia (1994)
The Stand (Complete and Uncut, 1990)
It (1986)
Desperation (1996)
Misery (1987)
11.22.63 (2011)
Under The Dome (2009)
Pet Sematary (1983)
Firestarter (1980)
Dolores Claiborne (1992)
There's more, but that's just ten of them.
Novellas
As for short stories and novellas:
Apt Pupil (Different Seasons, 1982)
The Body (Different Seasons, 1982)
Mr Harrigan's Phone (If It Bleeds, 2020)
Rat (If It Bleeds, 2020)
Short Stories
The Boogeyman (Night Shift, 1978)
Graveyard Shift (Night Shift, 1978)
You Know They Got A Hell Of A Band (Nightmares and Dreamscapes, 1993)
Riding The Bullet (Everything's Eventual, 2002)
Popsy (Nightmares and Dreamscapes, 1993)
These are my top 10 favorites (and I'm sure I'm forgetting one or two): 1. The Stand
2. 'Salem's Lot
3. Christine
4. Night Shift
5. Under the Dome
6. Desperation
7. 11/22/63
8. The Tommyknockers
9. The Shining
10. Four Past Midnight
The Stand11/22/63
Skeleton Crew (the mist!)
Hearts in Atlantis (very underrated)
Under the Dome
The Shining
1. The ShiningSalem's Lot
(tie)
2. Carrie
3. Dead Zone
4. Dolores Claiborne
5. Green Mile
6. Shawshank Redemption
7. Thinner
8. Misery
9. Pet Cemetery
The Stand
Really did not like IT. 1. Its way too long. 2. The real villian is Henry Bowers, who appears more than Pennywise. 3. The adult's story line and the kid's story line took away from the tension and suspense. 4. Sex acts with children? 5. There is a scene where some kid wants Henry Bowers, disgusting. IT will not even be in my Top 101. Pet Sematary
2. The Stand
3 The Shining
4. Different Seasons
5. Salem's Lot
6. The Wastelands
7. Firestarter
8. Night Shift
9. Cujo
10. The Long Walk
Bottom
1. Roadwork - no point and depressing
2. IT - Ramble
3 The Talisman
Granted, I haven't read a lot of his books, bet these I've read. I am currently going through the The Dark Tower Series. I've read the first three books and I'm currently reading Wizard and Glass. So far, its pretty good. If you get past the gunslinger, then about mid way through the Drawing of the Three, it gets better, much better.
The StandThe Green Mile
The Dark Tower series
The Body
The Shining
Misery
The Talisman
It
Pet Cemetery
Cujo
Really, you can't go wrong with any of his books.
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You are so right. I love that collection of short stories.