Horror Aficionados discussion

Hi everybody!
No offense to anybody, but I was kind of surprised at how many people liked Stephen King, yet no discussion came up on him. So, I'll start one if nobody minds.

Anyway, what's your favorite Stephen King book? Anything you would've done better, or not have done at all, if your were him? Wish he would do something in particular? Any thoughts you have on Stephen King whatsoever, you can put them in here! Thanks!

Well I've only read a few of his books but I really liked Misery. Superb tension. Also The Dark Half was good.

Favourites, The Stand, Desperation, Misery, It.

It's hard to choose favourites as I've read him over vastly different periods of my life, but I suppose if I hadn't loved Carrie and Firestarter I wouldn't have gone on to read anything else. And The Shining was one of the few books to actually scare me back then.

Later on, my favourite for a while was The Eyes of the Dragon. At the time I was still more into fantasy than horror.

For more recent reads, Bag of Bones is the one I liked most.

I think "Apt Pupil" is one of the best stories he's written. And "The Last Rung on the Ladder" (in Night Shift) is one of the best short stories anyone has ever written.

As for ones I didn't like, I thought Gerald's Game was tedious beyond belief, and unlike most people I didn't like 'Salem's Lot or The Green Mile.

How could I have forgotten The Shining and Carrie! Guess it's because he's written so many.

I've only read a couple but I've got a ton I keep picking up at used bookstores I haven't read yet. "It" was the second scariest book I've ever read. "Carrie" was phenomenal. "The Gunslinger" I didn't care for much but I want to give it another try eventually. I loved "Bag of Bones" too. Of his short stories "The Mist" is the one that made it's biggest impact on me; until I saw the movie I couldn't remember much of the story except the grocery store, the mist and the overwhelming sense of dread. Next on my list to read in "The Shining."

I wasn't overly fond of his 'middle' period - Gerald's Game, Dolores Claiborne, The Green Mile, and so on, and I wasn't very enamoured of the Dark Tower series either.

But Bag of Bones and Insomnia were, good, Lisey's Story was OK, and apparently Under the Dome is him back at his best.

I loved The Mist, but my favourites by him, ever, were It and Salem's Lot.

I haven't read much King, and am planning to spend time with SALEMS LOT soon. But of his I have read, I think THE STAND is my favorite.
PET SEMETERY - I liked it quite a bit. Good creepy stuff in it for sure.

I also read, is it CYCLE OF THE WOLF or whatever SILVER BULLET was based on? I liked that one a bunch.

Loved CREEPSHOW, but am not sure if that counts.

IT I read, and liked (to the best of my memory).

I think I read CHRISTINE...but can't remember now. I think I did, and I think I liked it.

I'm 53, so King and I go way back. Salem's Lot will always have high ranking for me, because it was the first one I read, about the time it came out. At the time I remember saying to myself, "This is a perfect horror novel." It isn't, but it's a real good one. The others I would rank high (but in no particular order):

The Shining
Pet Sematary
The Stand
Cell
It
Night Shift (short stories)
Skeleton Crew (short stories)
Thinner

There was a period, after Tommyknockers (which really sucked), where I stopped reading King. So there are number of books I haven't read. But recently I've been catching up. I still haven't been able to crack his Gunslinger series.

As a younger generation (I'm 24), I will admit to watching a few Stephen King movies first, and then discovering they were books! (Pet Sematary, The Shinning)
My love for these movies actually interested me in the author. From there, I read everything of his that I could get my hands on.
I have no top favorite, because I think all I have read by him, have in some way been good.
I think though, that his writing the past few years has changed so drastically! I wish sometimes he would go back to the writing he did in the days of Cujo, It, and The Stand.
i won't give up though! I still read everything that he comes out with and Under the Dome, I thought, was pretty "Bangin!"

Semi-Dislikes would have to be: Lisey's Story and The Cell.

I had never gotten round to reading Stephen King , then I read Needful Things , which I chomped through in a couple of days , I just couldn`t get enough of it , read quite a few since then some hits (The Stand) and misses (From a Buick 8) , but nothing turned me off more than the Gunslinger Books , Tried the first one , got bored but finished it , thought this must get better ,started the second one , managed 80 pages and threw it in the bin ,still waiting to read Under the Dome , but hope he`s back to his best.

There have been numerous discussions on Stephen King, but they just popped up in other threads. Thanks for starting his own thread.

I love:
The Stand
The Dead Zone
Carrie
'Salem's Lot
Bag of Bones
Gerald's Game
Different Seasons
The Shining
It
The Green Mile
Misery
Rage
The Talisman
Delores Claiborne (very underrated, IMO)

I like:
Cycle of the Werewolf
Night Shift
Cujo
Christine
Insomnia
Desperation
The Regulators
The Long Walk
Pet Sematary
Rose Madder
Danse Macabre
The Eyes of the Dragon
On Writing (great book even for non-writers)

I hate:
The Cell
Tommyknockers
Firestarter
Duma Key
Creepshow
Thinner

Over the years he fell out of favor with me and I haven't bothered to keep up with his newer books--the exception being Duma Key, which bored me to tears. Have never had a desire to read The Dark Tower series nor most of his short stories.

*GASP!* You hate CREEPSHOW!?! But it's just so fun! The art is so beautiful! How can you hate it???

There is a Stephen King group here at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2...

Group is quite active, with 1,000+ members.

Hi all. Most everyone here knows how I feel about KING. I'll defend him no matter what! My first book was The Gunslinger, and from there i've never looked back. My very favorite of all time is IT. Then The Stand, and The Gunslinger series for second place. I could name them all but whats the point when everyone else has done it for me.

Some that people didn't like I find curious, like Cell, a good fast read IMO and I liked the story. Tommyknockers, UFO's what's left to say! Thinner, I loved the gypsies getting even for once. The Green Mile, I read as a whole book, didn't care for the first way it came out in little chapters, and fell for the gentle giant, and was saddened about the ending. Gerald's Game, I can see why most men didn't care for it, but as a woman I loved it, to see that SOAB get what was coming to him, priceless! To those of you who don't like the Gunslinger books, all I can say is WTF. Try them again their worth the reading.

There's a few I haven't read yet, Under The Dome, Duma Keys, Black House, and Just After Sunset. I have them, I try to get them as soon as they come out, just haven't read them yet. I went on a Dean Koontz trip a few years ago and i'm just now coming back. And for reasons I can't put into words, i've not read anything so far this year. I started Dracula but haven't finished it yet.

IMO King has not written any bad books, just some not to everyone taste. He can't please everyone all the time. But he knows what his constant readers like.

Lori wrote: "IMO King has not written any bad books, just some not to everyone taste. He can't please everyone all the time. But he knows what his constant readers like ..."

touche! I've been reading Uncle Stevie since the very beginning.

Before I met King I read only Historical Romances. A friend of mine gave me The Gunslinger after he finished reading it. He said it was ok, but I thought it was off the hook. Then I was pissed because there was no second one, so I went looking. OMG the books, I started with IT, and have not looked back.

I would have to say my favorites are:

1. Salem's Lot
2. The Firestarter
3. Under the Dome
4. Duma Key
5. The Stand
6. Night Shift

Lori wrote: "IMO King has not written any bad books, just some not to everyone taste. He can't please everyone all the time. But he knows what his constant readers like."

I know you love King, but can't a fan of any author say this exact same thing? *cowers in fear* Don't hurt me!

Tressa wrote: "Lori wrote: "IMO King has not written any bad books, just some not to everyone taste. He can't please everyone all the time. But he knows what his constant readers like."

I know you love King, but..."

yeah, i think they can.

Lori wrote: "MO King has not written any bad books, just some not to everyone taste. He can't please everyone all the time. But he knows what his constant readers like. "

A friend on here, D_Davis, said it best for me. He's a great story teller, but not necessarily a great author.

T, Yes I believe they can. If I loved, lets say Edward Lee, I would say the same thing about him and defend him no matter what. But it just so happens i'm a King fan. What was it Annie Wilkes said " I'm your number one fan."

Jerrod I think I can live with that. But to me he'll always be a great author and story teller.

T, I couldn't hurt you, i'm your number one fan. * puts head back in crazy laughter *

Hola!!! As some of you know... I love KING!

Tom wrote: "There is a Stephen King group here at:
http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/2...

Group is quite active, with 1,000+ members."

:)

Lori, you're so right about that Ed Lee example. Chris does that ALL the time! I think he gets paid by Lee to mention him in threads here.

It's all good that you're a King fan. I feel the same way about Michael McDowell. He never wrote a bad book, IMHO. But I'm sure there are some out there who might think otherwise. Eh, but they're wrong. I'd say the same thing about Anne Tyler but she just wrote an awful book called Noah's Compass. *weeping* What's happened to you, Anne?

Angie, I'd join that group in a second but I don't read King any longer. And it's been so long since I've read the ones I like/love by King.

I'm a member of that group, and Angie does a good job as the mod, especially by herself.

Angie does a fantastic job as a mod at Goodflicks, too. Angie rocks!

Angie, King, and goodreads make a great combination! :)

I'm a huge Stephen King fan and I have to say that there isn't anything I've read by him that I didn't like. Sure, I have the ones I "love" versus what I "like", but nothing I dislike in any way!

The ones I love are:
The Stand
Salem's Lot
The Shining
Pet Semetary
Carrie
Creepshow
Night Shift
The Cell
Duma Key
Under The Dome
It
Long Walk
Eyes Of The Dragon

There are still a few that I haven't read yet, but I'm working on finishing up. And I'm really looking forward to it! :)

I finally got all my books out of storage. I have 63 King books, and 57 Koontz. Along with a handfull of Ann Rice, Clive Barker, and Sidney Sheldon. I also have quite a few Dragonlance books, other fantasy books, and a whole lot of historical romance.

Yea another King junkie!!! Whats up Kathy?

Hey, Lori! How are you? King Junkies all the way! Or should I say....Constant Reader!? :)

Both of them fit us. I'm fine today, thanks. How about you?

Lori wrote: "Both of them fit us. I'm fine today, thanks. How about you?"

I'm good, thanks. At work, being bad on the computer. lol.

Wish I had a job to go to. Hope you don't get caught.

Lori wrote: "Wish I had a job to go to. Hope you don't get caught."

Me too. I hear what you are saying, Lori, though I most of the time wish I didn't. I want to win Lotto and retire to read full time. :)

Now there's a dream to inspire to. I play sometimes but haven't won anything yet.

I don't play that often....and you have to be in it to win it, right? lol

You guys are great... and I love you. So glad Tressa joined back up in Goodflicks.. it wasn't the same without you !

Tressa wrote: "Lori, you're so right about that Ed Lee example. Chris does that ALL the time! I think he gets paid by Lee to mention him in threads here.

It's all good that you're a King fan. I feel the same way..."

Tressa, did you read the book that Michael McDowell co-wrote w/ Tabitha King?

We heathens in Alabama have been told we can't have a lottery, or I'd be playing every week. Am I dumb enough to spend my entire paycheck on it? Hell, no. But it's up to the individual to play a lottery however or how often he wishes.

Angie, glad I'm back at GF. It's my next favorite group after this one. Thanks for the re-invite.

Kathy, I started that last McDowell/King book, but couldn't get into it. It didn't seem like it was HIS, kwim?

Tressa wrote: "We heathens in Alabama have been told we can't have a lottery, or I'd be playing every week. Am I dumb enough to spend my entire paycheck on it? Hell, no. But it's up to the individual to play a lo..."

I understand that. Did she finish it? I've never read anything by her. Have you?

Yeah, Tabitha King finished McDowell's last book he was working on: Candles Burning, I think it is. She's a very good writer. I think she should get more praise and recognition than she has. She wrote a delicious little horror novel called Small World. And I enjoyed another of hers called The Trap. Writing wise she's better than King, but probably not better in the imagination part of being a novelist.

Tressa wrote: "Yeah, Tabitha King finished McDowell's last book he was working on: Candles Burning, I think it is. She's a very good writer. I think she should get more praise and recognition than she has. She wr..."

Interesting. I'll check out those books. I've wanted too, but didn't want to be disappointed and have it affect how I feel about himj....which is totally unfair, I know. lol

I have a fondness for King. I've only read a few I didn't like, but I have to take his books in fits & starts. I will really get in the mood and read 2, then get tired for a couple months.

Favorites: Needful Things, IT, The Shining, Night Shift, Skeleton Crew, Nightmares & Dreamscapes, Cujo, Cell, The Gunslinger & Pet Sematary

Ok: The Tommyknockers, Misery, Lisey's Story, Firestarter, Dreamcatcher, 'Salem's Lot, Cycle of the Werewolf, Drawing of the 3, Duma Key

Hated: From a Buick 8, Christine, Gerald's Game

Lol...so OCD

Everybody hates Gerald's Game. I loved it.

Tressa wrote: "Everybody hates Gerald's Game. I loved it."

That's one that I haven't gotten to you ......working on finishing them all! :)

The only parts of Gerald's Game that I liked were the flashbacks. The rest was so tedious. Reading for ten pages about how she is trying to knock something off a shelf...gah.

Some that I really remember fondly and always recommend are; Misery, Cujo, Gerald's Game, Pet Sematary...but I still have tons of him to read so I'm sure there will be many more.

Tressa wrote: "Everybody hates Gerald's Game. I loved it."

One of my faves!

I think Gerald's Game is a good idea but there's only so much you can do with a lady handcuffed to a bed by herself.