I have to say that Mr. King is an amazing author and I consider him to be the BEST of ALL TIME. My mother started reading and collecting his books when they first came out and continued getting every book as soon as it was released until she passed away in 2012. She allowed me to read each book only AFTER she finished with it. When she passed, I continued collecting his works not only to honor my mother but because I love how I get totally lost in the worlds of his imagination (and my own). My oldest sister fell in love with his writing and now I have 3 others in my family that have begun collecting his works as well. I really wish I had the words to express just how much my entire family has enjoyed his wonderful way of entertainment and cannot say THANK YOU enough for sharing.
His books transport you to the time and place they are set. They have such familiarity to me. The places and people could be your next door neighbours. Have every book and like many here The Stand is my favourite. Read it five times so far. Simply the best writer.
best stephen king book ever
I have every book on this list except 2. I have to say that a few of my favourites are definitely Desperation and Needful Things. Stephen king IS the master of horror.. Long time fan and slways will be!
Of course, when it comes to King, the big question is: where do I start? To help you out, we've put together this list of the best Stephen Kings books, ranked from least popular to most popular based on each novel's Amazon reviews. If you think a certain book deserves to be higher or lower on the list, you know what to do: head to Amazon and leave your own review.
Years before The Hunger Games hit the shelves, King introduced the world to The Running Man: a dystopian gameshow wherein contestants attempt to stay alive for thirty days while being hunted by an elite strike force. No one has ever survived past day 8, but for Ben Richards, the desperation of his life may just provide him with the edge he needs to make the attempt. Told through 101 counting-down chapters, this tense and targeted thriller will have you on the edge of your seat straight through the shocking conclusion.
King said: "A terrific book...I've never read anything remotely like it. Trying to imagine what might have happened if Raymond Chandler had written The Exorcist is as close as I can come."
Not everyone is a dog person, and this film is probably why. When a friendly St. Bernard gets bitten by a rabid bat, he goes wild and starts killing anything that moves. This ravenous rampage leaves a mother and her child trapped in a car, struggling to survive both the heat and the hound. Cujo displays King's talent for taking an everyday thing and turning it into an absolute nightmare, making it a great intro to him and his work.
Given the novel's extremely dark nature, Pet Sematary has been a challenge to successfully adapt it into a film. However, the most recent film is arguably the better one. The 2019 version deviates from the source material, with Ellie dying instead of Gage, but it still makes a great villain out of her, while also making the demonic Wendigo the story's true antagonist. All in all, the film still stands out thanks to its terrific performances, frightening scares, and a new ending that proves that sometimes, dead is better.
This acclaimed film follows a death row prison guard when he encounters an inmate gifted with magical healing powers but wrongfully convicted of murdering two white girls. Yes, the film perpetuates the "Magical Negro" stereotype with John Coffey. However, the story is still a modern retelling of Christ's death, and its portrayal of racism in America still hits hard today, making for an unforgettably dark film.
It's hard to imagine someone making a great sequel to Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, but director Mike Flanagan proved that he was the man for the job. Set almost 40 years after the original film, an adult Dan Torrance must protect a young girl who shares his "shine" from a cult of psychic vampires known as the True Knot. The film pays homage to Kubrick's film, but at the same time, it feels like Flanagan actually made King's book into a novel for the big screen. And it gives audiences the ending to the saga that fans of The Shining have been waiting to see on film for years.
Whether you're a hardcore reader or you only pick up a book every now and then, chances are you'll have heard his name. Not only is the horror master one of the best selling, highest-earning authors in the world, but he's also responsible for some of the most famous movies ever made.
Never read a single King book? Here are a few good places to start. Below we have two very famous novels (one short, one long), and a lesser-known novella that's one of my all-time favourite King stories.
During the early part of his career, King had to face his own demons. While his childhood fears inspired his writing, drugs and alcohol became intertwined with his working practise. During the 1980s, drugs took over to the point that his wife, Tabitha, staged an intervention with his family and friends in 1987. King has been sober ever since.
Overall: (21/25) I think this is one of the more autobiographical books that SK has written, mainly because of his personal trials with alcohol and cocaine abuse. What I truly love about this book is that the writer is forced into recovery and ends up writing his best work through fear. Also, some amazingly grotesque riding-lawn-mower-related homicide.
To keep it simpler, we picked the best Stephen King novels only and excluded short stories, novellas, etc. Also, for your reference, I included a complete list of Stephen King books in order at the end of this post.
Hey there! I'm Rachel Kamery, a lifelong reader who devours fast-paced, fun, escapist books. I'm sharing my best book recommendations that will bring joy (and maybe a little romance!) to your reading life!
From the big screen to television to graphic novels to stage, the number of his adaptations is just way too many to count. Stephen King remains a master storyteller even after all these years. This is why this article and the list below are made to help ease your way around his world of fascinating stories and characters. We look at some of the best movies and TV series that have been adapted from his books and stories.
Brian De Palma captures the different aspects of the original story with mastery, be it the coming-of-age aspect or the high school drama. From the brilliant set pieces in the climactic scene to the camera movements, the movie never loses its momentum at any juncture. Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie shine in their portrayal of the titular character Carrie White and her mother, Margaret White. You can get the book here! ?
The novella was adapted into one of the most critically acclaimed King movies, Stand By Me, directed by Rob Reiner. It was nominated for the Academy Awards and also won two Golden Globes. Not just that, King has, time and time again, shown his approval and admiration for this adaptation and for truly capturing his voice. A coming-of-age story that is simultaneously charming and nostalgic, the movie has something for everyone who chooses to watch it. You can get the book here! ?
The story was first released in serialized volumes before being published as a single book. Set during the great depression, death surrounds every moment of this piece, and concepts of racism and justice in our legal system form the crux of the story. The story follows Paul Edgecombe, a death row supervisor, who meets John Coffey, an inmate with supernatural abilities.
Developed by Richard Price, the television adaptation of the novel turned out to be a hit, critically and otherwise. The setting and design of the adaptation are atmospheric, which, in turn, is both intense and chilling. The episodes directed by Jason Bateman are particularly eery and thrilling. The entirety of the cast gives some of their best performances here, with Cyntia Erivo and Ben Mendelsohn standing out. You can get the book here! ?
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Stephen King is the modern master of horror and an incredibly prolific writer. For almost 50 years, he's been producing masterpieces of the macabre, and there have been thousands of debates over which Stephen King books are the best. Well, we're throwing our hat into the ring with top choices of our own.
They say misery loves company, and Annie Wilkes proves that in spades. King was somehow prescient about toxic fandoms because when Wilkes finds her favorite novelist, Paul Sheldon," after a car accident and nurses him back to health, she begins to demand that he start writing the books to her liking. Unfortunately for him, she uses a hammer instead of mean tweets. The movie is an absolute classic, but the source material is definitely worth a read as well.
As with It, The Shining takes readers deeper than The Shining film ever could. It's evident that Jack Torrance is somewhat of a King self-insert if you know his history of addiction. As a result, the novel is a bit more sympathetic to him, making the end result much more tragic. It also drives home the isolation and the growing madness Jack feels, which makes his inevitable rampage that much scarier. 2ff7e9595c
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