The Best Book by Stephen King? > Likes and Comments

Hi guys, I was wondering if I could get your opinion on what you think the three best books by Stephen King are? I recently published a list, by asking some great authors like Ramsey Campbell and Kristi DeMeester: http://www.thereadinglists.com/best-b...

Do you think they got it right? Which would you include?

It and the stand and rose madder is mine Phillip

Somewhat objectively speaking I would say 'Salem's Lot, The Stand and The Green Mile are the best novels that showcase SK's talents. Skeleton Crew is probably the most consistent collection. As a personal favourite I would include Pet Sematary, though I'm under no illusion that's it's a terrifically written novel, though extremely terrifying.

11/22/62 Green Mile, Mr. Mercedes and the other 2

'Salem's Lot is my favorite, but the books I think are most representative of his talent are The Dead Zone and the DT series.

The Dead Zone, Misery, Pet Sematary. Best collection Night Shift. I might replace Pet Sematary with Salem's Lot but won't budge on the other two choices.

Wow — all I can say from seeing this list is "different strokes"! The list you pointed us to is the first "Stephen King" list I've seen that includes The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon as one of his very best. And while I'll certainly agree with the inclusion of Revival, this book strikes me as one that mostly long-time King fans would agree with. Regarding some of the titles mentioned in replies #2-6 above, I'll echo Pet Sematary, but I'll stop short of saying that either Revival or Pet Sematary are in his "top 3". Top 10, definitely, Top 5, possibly. But all of these choices, by the renowned authors and by the goodreaders alike, all of them, scream "idiosyncratic!" to me.

For example, I'm of the opinion that King's "shorter" fiction is best represented by novella-length pieces, and that the two prime feasts of stuff of that length from SK are Different Seasons and Four After Midnight. Other examples of great King "novellas" are "The Mist" (from Skeleton Crew) and "Low Men in Yellow Coats" (from Hearts in Atlantis). But what do I know? I love Duma Key, Under the Dome, and From a Buick 8, and nobody has mentioned those yet!

"Different Strokes", with a vengeance, in other words.

I also enjoyed from a Buick 8 but with so many works to choose from it couldn’t make my top 10

My favorite three Stephen King novels would be (in order):

1. The Stand
2. Dead Zone
3. Misery

So with some deep thought
#3.) Dreamcatcher because I do love SYFY
#2.) Hearts in Atlantis because I’m s baby boomer and I get IT.
#1.) The Stand because captain trips is real

It is so very hard to reduce King's body of work down to a favorite 3 or 4. I am pretty old school so my choices should be no surprise. On any given day I could swap them up.

1. Pet Sematary
2. It
3. The Stand

In no particular order:

The Shining
The Stand
Pet Sematary.

I definitely agree with The Girl Who Lived Tom Gordon and Misery. The Shining is also a classic that I'm surprised didn't make the list. But my number one favorite by Stephen King is Bag of Bones. It had me up all night with because I couldn't put it down and because I was creeped out so much!

No question in my mind...Salem's Lot! Scary as expected; can't really go wrong with vampires; King has some really beautiful imagery paired up with his no nonsense style. Needful Things is right up there too.

I'm really glad to some of my favorites, 11.22.63, Salem's Lot, the long walk, the girl who, on the list. I've never quite gotten over IT, but otherwise, these are great choices. Still, not sure short story collections belong, even though N is in a class by itself... a short story masterpiece.

Jerry wrote: "Wow — all I can say from seeing this list is "different strokes"! The list you pointed us to is the first "Stephen King" list I've seen that includes The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon as one of his ver..."

Loved Duma Key, and Under the dome, AND the girl who loved TG. and would never be surprised to find them on anyone's list. Different Seasons may be one of King's very best, but as you say, it's not a novel.

even though The DT series is my fave, I must go with IT. I think it's his most complete novel, his masterpiece. But I can hardly speak from a mere tecnical point of view, coz I'm no critic or whatever.
Salem's lot is one of his most terrifying, together with Pet sematary, The Green Mile is one of hus most touching, Skeleton crew is probably his best short stories and Different seasons his best novella.
I could tell others but I'll stop here.

Anarchic Rain wrote: "even though The DT series is my fave, I must go with IT. I think it's his most complete novel, his masterpiece. But I can hardly speak from a mere tecnical point of view, coz I'm no critic or whate..."

Yes that can be a problem knowing when to stop listing his books no matter the book, ok with one exception, I find when I read it, it is my favorite. The one exception is Gerald's Game, just don't like it.

For me it has to be the Stand unabridged, Fire starter, The Green Mile, The long walk, and the mist just to name a few of my favorites.

Salem's Lot, The Stand and Nightmares and Dreamscapes

1) The Stand
2) IT
3) 11.22.63

Unless I can take the Dark Tower as one book

Pet Sematary. I read King for a visceral thrill. I read him to jump when I hear a noise in the dark. Pet Sematary does this more than any other. Maybe it's me, but what's scarier than the dead that come back to life? No morality tale in this story, just plain old terror.

1) Salem’s Lot
2) It
3) Pet Sematary

My number 2 should be “It”...for some reason it did not show up.

The Stand
IT
Pet Sematary
The Shining
Dreamcatcher

Misery, It, Gerald's Game, The Shining

I don't know why people almost never mention GG, but I found it creepy and disturbing. The fact that people don't usually list it as their favorite definitely contributed to the surprise effect it had on me.

(I think I like all 4 of them the same so I couldn't list only 3, sorry :)

The Stand
IT
The Dark Tower series (if I had to pick one book out of that, then it would be book 1)

Novenda wrote: "Misery, It, Gerald's Game, The Shining

I don't know why people almost never mention GG, but I found it creepy and disturbing. The fact that people don't usually list it as their favorite definite..."

I thought people always mention Gerald's Game, it is very popular in lists such as Worst King Books and Proof the Guy can get his Shopping List Published. Just goes to show how wildly preferences vary when it comes to King. You like Misery which is one of my absolute favorites while I think GG is very bad.

The Stand, IT, Dr Sleep.

I really enjoyed GG as well. Like Misery, it's one of a handful of King books that could really happen. Nothing supernatural, just reality.

I loved Gerald's Game as well. No one can get inside someone's head quite like Stephen King. My favorite will always be The Stand, followed by The Long Walk and then IT. My least favorite The Talisman.

I loved The Tisman. What a great book.

Novenda wrote: "Misery, It, Gerald's Game, The Shining

I don't know why people almost never mention GG, but I found it creepy and disturbing. The fact that people don't usually list it as their favorite definite..."


Novenda, I am one of those who have never finished Gerald's Game, It just wasn't for me I've read almost very other Stephen King book though.

Jeanne25 wrote: "I loved Gerald's Game as well. No one can get inside someone's head quite like Stephen King. My favorite will always be The Stand, followed by The Long Walk and then IT. My least favorite The Talis..."


I loved the Talisman I love how it ties onto his other books.

It amazes me how we all love SK, but we're not into the same books. I loved hearing your opinion on Gerald's Game, especially Aditya's since it's completely different compared to mine

Novenda wrote: "It amazes me how we all love SK, but we're not into the same books. I loved hearing your opinion on Gerald's Game, especially Aditya's since it's completely different compared to mine"

I think a large part of his appeal and popularity is his diversity, hence the differing opinions. We've mentioned here many time that most people don't even realize that Stand By Me, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile are adaptations of his work. That's because he has a reputation as a horror writer, but that is so much shoving a square peg into a round hole as to be ridiculous!

I think there is something of King's to appeal to any reader.

Novenda wrote: "Misery, It, Gerald's Game, The Shining

I don't know why people almost never mention GG, but I found it creepy and disturbing. The fact that people don't usually list it as their favorite definite..."

I'm with you, I really liked Gerald's Game too. Thought the villain was really scary. Super work by King in making him so. Thought King's portrayal of the woman's thought processes and survival instincts was very strong. Time for a re-read.

I've have so many King books on my yet-to-read list that I can only offer my top 3 favorites so far:

ONE:

Wizard and Glass
As it stands now, Book IV of The Dark Tower series is my favorite SK book. I still think about it often, a year after I finished it for the first time!

TWO:

The Stand
I know, I know, everyone wants this one on their list... and for good reason!

THREE:

Revival
My from-left-field selection. Loved this one.

With that said, I still need to read IT, Gerald's Game, Pet Cemetery, Dead Zone, and a number of others that are candidates to shuffle my top 3 around.

(I'm already sitting here thinking, "Holy crap, why isn't The Shining or Salem's Lot on my list???)

Jason wrote: "I've have so many King books on my yet-to-read list that I can only offer my top 3 favorites so far:

ONE:

Wizard and Glass
As it stands now, Book IV of The Da..."

Damn Jason, I thought I was the only person with WIZARD AND GLASS at the top of my list. Glad to hear from a fellow traveler. That being said, my top 3 are:

1) W & G
2) The Shining
3) It

and if I were allowed to add a 4th it would be Salem's Lot.

Making a top 3 is very hard, there are just so many books to choose from. I'd have to say,

1) The Stand
2) 11/22/63
3) The Shining

I haven't read IT in awhile, but I will be reading it soon. I have a feeling that once I remember how the book goes, I'd have to add it to the list.

@Tracy... great top three.... IT was a GoodRead; I did find that it was written on a different level than Kings other works... bottom line Stephen King is the King of fiction...

It's amazing to see all these lists for only one author. It means surely that sai King knows how to play with our hearts.

But what I can never understand is the first place for The Stand. I mean, I loved that book until the end. Until that cheap (too cheap) deus ex machina King farted out (can I say so?) to solve the problems. COME ON!!! Really, uncle Steve? You plan on escaping all your duties with the hand of God???? REALLY?? And that's when I got disappointed.
He build a strong, powerful novel just for ruin it in the final pages. It made me so sad and then angry.
So I cannot list the Stand, and surely not in the first place...

Sorry if I went too far.
Now I go back to my cave.

Lately It and Pet Semetary have been vying for top spot in my heart.

I agree the ending was horrid.. but the trip or should I say captain trip was so good...

Marc question I have seen the original pet cemetery movie and enjoy It immensely... how close is the book?

Book is definitely better. I also enjoyed the movie, but I adore the book

Thanks this is going to be my October scar read...

11/22/63, Doctor Sleep, and The Talisman. Oh and an HM to Duma Key

Anarchic Rain wrote: "It's amazing to see all these lists for only one author. It means surely that sai King knows how to play with our hearts.

But what I can never understand is the first place for The Stand. I mean, ..."

Deus ex Trashcan?

Kenneth wrote: "@Tracy... great top three.... IT was a GoodRead; I did find that it was written on a different level than Kings other works... bottom line Stephen King is the King of fiction..."

Thanks Kenneth. He has written quite a collection of stories.