The Shining question

I recently started reading Stephen King again after a really long hiatus. He's still my favorite and it's hard to pick a Top 5...

1. Salem's Lot. I'm not a vampire fan, but this was the first book of his I ever read and it's still my favorite.
2. The Stand (Uncut version) I read this the first time in 1992 when I was pregnant and often awake all night. I just re-read it and had forgotten how awesome it was.
3. The Shining. So much better than either movie, despite Jack Nicholson, whom I also love.
4. Dolores Claiborne. Love it; I think because something about it reminds me of the part of Nova Scotia I grew up in.
5. Different Seasons. The first short story compilation I had read, and still the best of all.

Reading Rose Madder for the first time now. It's pretty good so far.

1. IT That book shows how banding together you can do it.
2. Needful Things This book was a blast! The possession of an object and need to have it.
3.The Stand-Amazing book! Re-read every year.
4. Misery Every authors number 1 fan nightmare.
5. Tommyknocker drove me nuts but still finished it
5.1 His Novellas are excellent-The Body, Rita Hayward Pin-up,etc.

1. Cujo
2. Pet Semetary
3. Misery
4. IT
5. The Dead Zone/The Dark Tower series

I prefer his pre-90s work for the most part.

Of course, 1.The Stand, 2. and 3.The Talisman and its sequel The Black house. 4.It and 5.Pet Semetary. I can't go wrong with Stephen King, even if it is not one of my favorites it is still on the top of the list.

1. Christine - lyrics quoted from some of the greatest music in history and a jealous, psychotic car - what's not to like?

2. Desperation - for the random nature of those who became involved and the build up from "something out of place" to "wtf?"

3. Needful Things - because it is a masterfully skilled examination of human nature

4. The Tommyknockers - for the display of osessional behaviour - whether it's picking a scab or digging up an alien spaceship in your back yard, somethimes you should just know when to quit!

5. Nightshift - so many classics in one tome - The Boogeyman scared the living daylights out of me as a kid, Children Of The Corn, The Mangler, Strawberry Spring, I Know What You Need, Sometimes They Come Back, The Lawnmower Man, The Ledge, Quitters Inc and Grey Matter to name just a few - it's a fantastic read!

1) Dolores Claiborne- despite being written in first person it is an amazing tale. Dolores is one of my all time favorite characters in literature.
2) Carrie- It is a great story that is written beautifully.
3) The Stand- A Masterpeice...
4) Needful Things- I think everyone has their vices or own Needful Things
5)Misery- Everyone has someone that reminds them of Anne Wilkes.

1) Insomnia: I always will have a soft spot for Ralph, the old fart who is the main character! Plus its metaphysical-other dimensional concepts were original
2) Needful Things: The ultimate King novel on human greed and selfishness
3) Wizard & Glass: Unquestionably the best of the Dark Tower novels and such a poignant & epic story - who knew King had such a romantic streak in him?
4) The Dead Zone: a classic tragic hero tale, and one of the few novels that turned into an even better film.
5) Night Shift: While King has written all sorts of excellent short stories, none of the collections have quite topped this first one in terms of sheer energy and originality.

Footnote: I really wanted to put IT on this list as I still consider it one of his top books, but the horrendous movie version has forever ruined it in my mind - putting John Ritter and Richard Thomas in it all but imploded the cast and every time I saw Tim Curry I kept thinking 'Rocky Horror' and started laughing...a shame.

The Feast of Saint Anne

I started reading Stephen King in the 8th Grade as well. I'm still in the process of updating my Goodreads list of read novels, so my answers might not reflect my list at the time.

My favorite so far was The Shining (strong characters, interesting plot), Misery (loved Annie) , Skeleton Crew (great short story collection), The Green Mile (I read it in the monthly installments as it came out, Four Past Mignight (a few solid short stories). My next King novel to read is Doctor Sleep which I got for Christmas, and I've always meant to read The Stand.

It - Absolutely loved this one.
Christine - Brings back memories that are hilarious.
Cujo - This one really got to me because it could happen.
The Shawshank Redemption - Great story
Salem's Lot - First one I ever read and started me on a great journey of many books.

There are so many that it is hard to pick and there are very few that I did not enjoy. I still look forward to each of his new books and have been known to sit and read until I am done.

1.The Stand (Complete and Uncut) is my favourite King book to date. Such a good story, epic in scale.

2.The Dark Tower series. Yeah the ending was a bit naff in comparison with the rest of the books (imo) but books two and three are amazing.

3.Talisman. Written with Straub, I really enjoyed this. Still not read the sequel yet.

4.The Shining. Excellent on so many levels. Can tell this is a very personal story. The sequel was a bit "meh" in comparison.

5.IT. Loved this too, I never really considered clowns as creepy til I read this!

I am really looking forward to Under the Dome too. Need to rattle off the last two Game of Thrones books and then will make a start on it :)

1.Dark tower series. the most imaginative fantasy epic I have read.

2.Pet Cemetery. King's scariest novel in my opinion.

3.It another terrifying tale.

4. The Stand. arguably his best.

5. Salem's lot.

The Stand
IT
Dreamcatcher
Carrie
The Langoliers

all of them except for the stand I like for most of the same reason they have to do with sci-fi fantasy
it has to do with aliens along with dreamcatcher, carrie is telekinesis, the langoliers time and space bending, and the stand I like because it is an ultimate showdown between good and evil. not to mention in some of these books they kill off some of my fave characters & yet i still continue to love the story. not many authors and or books can pull that off.

Very hard to pick just 5, here goes;
Rose Madder, first King book that landed on my hands when I was about 12
Wizard in glass, though I love the whole Dark Tower series
Misery
The Mist
1408 These are short stories on different collections, but they hold a special place.

Not particular order

1) Carrie - great book, start of an amazing career
2) Salem's Lot - vampires are everywhere now, it was scarier then
3) Different Seasons - Shawshank redemption, Stand By Me are amazing movies and from this book
4) Can I have a tie - Christine and Cujo, because they have very real characters a dog and a car
5) Joyland - this was a very well written story, and proves he is not just "mailing it in" but still writes great stories now.

tough question:

Salems Lot- I simply couldn't put it down. Everything about it was vintage king.
Under the Dome- Great Characters, great plot, and flat out gruesome at times.
It- The only book that kept me up at night. I literally stopped reading it at night.
Carrie- Just king at his best. Loved it.
The Stand- Great plot, compelling story, Flagg is a great villan.

Salems Lot is my clear cut favorite, but two through five could change on a daily basis.

A1! The Stand! Best book I have ever read!
2. Gunslinger series.
3. The shinning and dr who.
4. Duma key.
5. hmmmmm.... all the rest of them!