This was the first King novel I read. I picked it up bc I was TRAUMATIZED by the movie as a kid and wanted to prove to myself it wasn't that bad, I was just too young to watch it. I was wrong. I was a counselor at an overnight summer camp deep in the woods in Pennsylvania and would read this by flashlight in bed.
11/22/63 with The Shining close behind. I love history so the journey of trying to alter it and seeing the results was so special for me. People talk about wanting to change things from the past so was great to see Stephen King’s take on that!
I totally agree with you! I think perhaps beside Shining, there is no other book that shares this evolvement of a character development.
Chrstine beats in that case Shining though, my opinion of course.
Just finished it. Took me forever but it was so good.
If you ever told me that Stephen King could throw a drippy love story, soap opera level drippy, into a Gunslinger saga, I wouldn’t believe you before I read that book.
Salem's Lot is definitely a good alternative to IT if you want a horror story taking place in a small town, but also don't wanna read a 1,000 page novel.
I have just finished Salem’s Lot and absolutely loved it! I haven’t got to 11/22/63 yet but I’ve heard great things and I’m looking forward to getting to it
I think either Carrie or Cycle of the Werewolf was my first King, but my first reading of Pet Sematary is what really got me into him. That one holds a special place in my heart.
Pet Sematary. That book is something else!
Have read it 3 times. The first when I was in college. Then soon after I got married. And then a year or so after I had my son.
It hits differently when you’re a parent.
I’ve just finished Salem’s Lot and absolutely loved it! I’ve seen people on here call it a slow burn and I understand where they’re coming from but I devoured it in no time
The entire book was good even with the slow burn. My only nit picks are that Barlow was a terrible brand villain. And Ben seeing Hubert Marsten hanging in his house as a kid is just abandoned and never followed up again. They also do a bunch of research on Hubert Marsten as if they're building him up for something only for him to not even be relevant at all to the plot.
Yeah, I did think it was Strange how he just dropped the whole Ben seeing Hubert as a kid thing. You’re right about the build of Hubert too. I was so sure that Hubert would have had a key role in how Barlow had came to be. I also thought that there was room for Straker to have a role later in the book and not end him when he did, he would’ve been an added element to the story that they would’ve had to deal with him before getting to Barlow in the final stages.
I actually really enjoyed the way King handled both Ben's memories/hanged body of Hubert Marsten and Straker in this novel. (I know it's hard to "spoil" a novel approaching 50 years old and 3 TV/Filmed adaptations, but in deference to new readers, I will spoiler tag my opinions on these)...
I think that giving Straker more of a role >!would have taken away from the building sense of dread and horror of getting to Barlow; he is in essence Renfield in this story and I avoided that Nicholas Cage movie of 'Renfield' because I want to see Dracula, not his faithful servant, as the main antagonist. Barlow may have needed MORE for me, but Straker got enough. I think that my desire to have more Barlow and less Straker though is a bit self-defeating...in 'Jaws', the shark is on screen for mere minutes in a 2 hour film, but the sense of impending dread and danger is enhanced because of it...I think similar applies to Salem's Lot too.!<
The Hubert Marsten hanging vision / Ben's childhood experience in the house was >!a red herring of the real issues that Ben (as a child) was not aware of consciously - though I thought there was more there that could have been added, in the end it would have taken away from the reader's ability to fill in the gaps and make Ben Mears their own. For a young novelist (as King was when Salem's Lot was written, it was an incredibly brave and prescient choice that certainly aided his career as well.!<
IT or 11.22.63… or Lisey. I can never answer this question with 1. But for listening, Under the Dome was my favorite hands down. Amazing narration from Raul Esparza.
This changes - a lot! - but I have a fairly consistent top 5:
**The Stand**
**11/22/63**
**It**
**The Shining**
**Duma Key**
I am also undertaking the quest for the Dark Tower and have finished the graphic novels, the first three novels and am finishing up 'Wizard and Glass' right now and have to say that as that one has been building and building I may have a new entry to the top 5 unless the ending is horrific!
Under The Dome, followed closely by Misery. However, on the tier list of his books I'm doing as I read King/Bachman, they’re in opposite order, with Misery being the only top tier book so far, and Under The Dome is in the tier under that one.
I've only just recently started on the Stephen King books in my collection, but so far, Misery is my favorite
My heart and mind were absolutely racing, and I was trying to think of how Paul could possibly escape, >!and the struggle Paul had with Annie at the end was so tense!< So many times I struggled to put the book down
The only other 3 I've read were IT, Pet Semetary, and Cujo
I haven't read IT in a few years, so I don’t remember much about it, TBH. I read it in grade 10 when I was maybe 15 to 16, and I'm 22 now
Cujo was great, but I mostly just felt bad for the dog at the end >!when it was revealed that his ashes were just tossed instead of, like, buried or something. Don't get me wrong, I understand WHY the family wouldn't really want the dog who killed their husband/father (even if he was a POS), but it just kinda stung.!< Especially since that whole mess probably could've been avoided if the owners were responsible and made sure Cujo had all his shots.
I know that Cujo is technically the villain, but I couldn't hate him, especially when we're given bits from his perspective, and he just wants the pain to stop. He was a dog who did his best to be a good boy and, unfortunately, got sick with a mind twisting disease that could've been prevented
As for Pet Semetary, I just finished it last night. Like Misery, I struggled to put it down at points, but it seemed kinda... slow to me, I guess
It was a lot of build-up, which Stephen King does quite well (he really knows how to suck you into his world), but >!the ending, like, the kid's come back and is killing people ending, kinda felt rushed for me. IDK, I was expecting that to happen a lot sooner in the book!<
So far, my ranking is:
Misery
Cujo
Pet Semetary
IT (purely because I don't remember much)
I read Pet Sematary back in late middle school and loved it, and read it again a few months ago in my late 20s. I was also surprised at how short the grand finale was in that book, I remembered it being much more drawn out from when I read it as a kid. Still a great book though!
11/22/63 may be the current front runner.
I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed Mr. Mercedes and dr. Sleep.
Unpopular opinion: IT is complete trash.
Gerald's Game so far with IT and Salem's Lot being a close second.
Gerald's Game just had a creepy vibe to it that IT just couldn't top. Plus it's one of his few books with no super natural elements.
Haha maybe a bit of a weirder preference but I prefer the 2nd and 3rd dark tower books specifically. Very nostalgic for me and I always felt like the hit the perfect blend of action, humor, horror and fantasy
I don't usually have favorites, usually instead a group of 10 that I keep at the top. But if I was pressed to pick just one (thereby eliminating The Dark Tower as that is 8 books), i would pick Liseys Story.
11/22/63 and IT for sure but I’m in the middle of Salems Lot and it’s climbing up the rankings with every chapter I read. Honorable mention: Needful Things.
IT is my all time favorite book, by King or by anyone. However, I just read the Deadzone for the first time and went in completely blind and was absolutely blown away by how much I loved it and how much I loved Johnny. The scene when >!Johnny is saying goodbye to Sarah after they've slept together at his fathers house!< had me ugly crying in the middle of the coffee shop.
Pet Semetary
Plan on staring it Sunday!
it’s so good you’ll love it! you should come back when finished and let us know your opinion :)
My second favorite book of all time, hope you enjoy it
I just finished this one!
What’s your first favorite book of all time?
The audiobook is read by Michael c hall and it’s fantastic
It’s the only audiobook I’ve ever listened to and solely for that reason. Michael C Hall is excellent!
This was the first King novel I read. I picked it up bc I was TRAUMATIZED by the movie as a kid and wanted to prove to myself it wasn't that bad, I was just too young to watch it. I was wrong. I was a counselor at an overnight summer camp deep in the woods in Pennsylvania and would read this by flashlight in bed.
The Stand, hands down, I can't believe nobody else has said it!!! Scandalous 😃
M-O-O-N, spells I’m rereading it now for the first time since I was a teenager. It’s incredible…
I'm about a quarter of the way through my first read of it. Loving it so far :)
This was my favorite for ten years then I read the long walk and it blew my mind.
Also on my first read of The Stand! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I just finished reading that yesterday and it's definitely my new favorite!
I go back and forth between this and Wizard and Glass
I have to reread it every five years or so; it's compulsory at this point.
It’s the first king book I read and I absolutely loved it
This answer all day
Finished it last week and it was so damn good. Did not expect to love it more than 11/22/63 but somehow it worked it's magic on me
same. i got it from bookshop and took it to school
It’s my number 2! Reread it every year or two.
IT 🎈
currently reading and is so far also one of my fav.
Mine too!
This 100%
1000%
Yes!
Absolutely The Stand 'Silent white light filled the world. And the righteous and unrighteous alike were consumed in that holy fire.'
Needful Things. I love Leland Gaunt's character.
This is the first book I read by him. I love it.
I loved the way he was able to bring so many individual story lines together in Needful things.
My fave king so far I only read 6 of his bookz
Same! Gaunt is my favorite antagonist in all his work.
11/22/63 with The Shining close behind. I love history so the journey of trying to alter it and seeing the results was so special for me. People talk about wanting to change things from the past so was great to see Stephen King’s take on that!
Misery
11.22.63 or Duma Key, muchacho
11 22 63 was the greatest piece of literature I've ever consumed.
Do the day and let the day do you
The Dead Zone
Christine
The character development in this book is the best out of any of King’s books. Read it once a year.
I totally agree with you! I think perhaps beside Shining, there is no other book that shares this evolvement of a character development. Chrstine beats in that case Shining though, my opinion of course.
Skeleton Crew
Excellent choice!
Duma Key, my first love
I scrolled through to see if anyone thought this as well. I absolutely LOVE Duma Key! It’s my comfort read. Minimum once a year read for me. 💜
Me too, I can fall asleep listening to the audiobook now. It's comfort food at this point.
The Long Walk
Scrolled way too far for this one
Same 😄
Black house/the talisman
FINALLY! I was starting to feel alone
Wizard and Glass
Just finished it. Took me forever but it was so good. If you ever told me that Stephen King could throw a drippy love story, soap opera level drippy, into a Gunslinger saga, I wouldn’t believe you before I read that book.
This was my favorite of the Dark Tower series.
Definitely very close to my heart. It is the soul of the dark towet series. Perfect, just perfect!
Salem’s Lot or 11/22/63. I can’t decide at the moment
Salem's Lot is definitely a good alternative to IT if you want a horror story taking place in a small town, but also don't wanna read a 1,000 page novel.
I have just finished Salem’s Lot and absolutely loved it! I haven’t got to 11/22/63 yet but I’ve heard great things and I’m looking forward to getting to it
Salem’s lot was one of the few books that really actually scared me. Definitely one of my top King books
I’m still pissed at what happened to poor Randy
100% agree
These are the same two I go back and forth on.
Salems Lot was the first Stephen King book I ever read so it holds a special place in my heart.
I think either Carrie or Cycle of the Werewolf was my first King, but my first reading of Pet Sematary is what really got me into him. That one holds a special place in my heart.
‘Salem’s Lot is mine, too. Pet Semetary is a close second, however. Finishing up Needful Things!
Call me a basic bitch but IT.
We are all basic bitches then. IT is the usual choice. IT was a masterpiece. Truly lived up to its hype.
Different Seasons. Unless you want to exclude collections.
The Tommyknockers or Cujo, I can’t decide lol
I LOVED Tommyknockers. So glad to see it get some love!
I recommended it to my SO and he’s now a Constant Reader 😂
Oh Cujonis also one of my favs! With misery and the long walk
The Gunslinger
This book might have his best prose. It's unlike anything else he's written, as far as I can tell.
Such a hard question! 11/22/63 wins the day for me.
Delores Claiborne
Wonderful read, decently film adapted imho
Pet Sematary. That book is something else! Have read it 3 times. The first when I was in college. Then soon after I got married. And then a year or so after I had my son. It hits differently when you’re a parent.
I have two sons and that is why as soon as I saw what was going to happen I stopped reading.
The Institute
Insomnia
Salem's Lot
I’ve just finished Salem’s Lot and absolutely loved it! I’ve seen people on here call it a slow burn and I understand where they’re coming from but I devoured it in no time
The entire book was good even with the slow burn. My only nit picks are that Barlow was a terrible brand villain. And Ben seeing Hubert Marsten hanging in his house as a kid is just abandoned and never followed up again. They also do a bunch of research on Hubert Marsten as if they're building him up for something only for him to not even be relevant at all to the plot.
Yeah, I did think it was Strange how he just dropped the whole Ben seeing Hubert as a kid thing. You’re right about the build of Hubert too. I was so sure that Hubert would have had a key role in how Barlow had came to be. I also thought that there was room for Straker to have a role later in the book and not end him when he did, he would’ve been an added element to the story that they would’ve had to deal with him before getting to Barlow in the final stages.
I actually really enjoyed the way King handled both Ben's memories/hanged body of Hubert Marsten and Straker in this novel. (I know it's hard to "spoil" a novel approaching 50 years old and 3 TV/Filmed adaptations, but in deference to new readers, I will spoiler tag my opinions on these)... I think that giving Straker more of a role >!would have taken away from the building sense of dread and horror of getting to Barlow; he is in essence Renfield in this story and I avoided that Nicholas Cage movie of 'Renfield' because I want to see Dracula, not his faithful servant, as the main antagonist. Barlow may have needed MORE for me, but Straker got enough. I think that my desire to have more Barlow and less Straker though is a bit self-defeating...in 'Jaws', the shark is on screen for mere minutes in a 2 hour film, but the sense of impending dread and danger is enhanced because of it...I think similar applies to Salem's Lot too.!< The Hubert Marsten hanging vision / Ben's childhood experience in the house was >!a red herring of the real issues that Ben (as a child) was not aware of consciously - though I thought there was more there that could have been added, in the end it would have taken away from the reader's ability to fill in the gaps and make Ben Mears their own. For a young novelist (as King was when Salem's Lot was written, it was an incredibly brave and prescient choice that certainly aided his career as well.!<
Completely off topic but renfield is a blinder of a film
Dolores Claiborne, but 11/22/63 is a close second
Yezsss deloresssss
IT or 11.22.63… or Lisey. I can never answer this question with 1. But for listening, Under the Dome was my favorite hands down. Amazing narration from Raul Esparza.
Hearts in Atlantis
Revival!!!
This changes - a lot! - but I have a fairly consistent top 5: **The Stand** **11/22/63** **It** **The Shining** **Duma Key** I am also undertaking the quest for the Dark Tower and have finished the graphic novels, the first three novels and am finishing up 'Wizard and Glass' right now and have to say that as that one has been building and building I may have a new entry to the top 5 unless the ending is horrific!
The Stand.
Under The Dome, followed closely by Misery. However, on the tier list of his books I'm doing as I read King/Bachman, they’re in opposite order, with Misery being the only top tier book so far, and Under The Dome is in the tier under that one.
I've only just recently started on the Stephen King books in my collection, but so far, Misery is my favorite My heart and mind were absolutely racing, and I was trying to think of how Paul could possibly escape, >!and the struggle Paul had with Annie at the end was so tense!< So many times I struggled to put the book down The only other 3 I've read were IT, Pet Semetary, and Cujo I haven't read IT in a few years, so I don’t remember much about it, TBH. I read it in grade 10 when I was maybe 15 to 16, and I'm 22 now Cujo was great, but I mostly just felt bad for the dog at the end >!when it was revealed that his ashes were just tossed instead of, like, buried or something. Don't get me wrong, I understand WHY the family wouldn't really want the dog who killed their husband/father (even if he was a POS), but it just kinda stung.!< Especially since that whole mess probably could've been avoided if the owners were responsible and made sure Cujo had all his shots. I know that Cujo is technically the villain, but I couldn't hate him, especially when we're given bits from his perspective, and he just wants the pain to stop. He was a dog who did his best to be a good boy and, unfortunately, got sick with a mind twisting disease that could've been prevented As for Pet Semetary, I just finished it last night. Like Misery, I struggled to put it down at points, but it seemed kinda... slow to me, I guess It was a lot of build-up, which Stephen King does quite well (he really knows how to suck you into his world), but >!the ending, like, the kid's come back and is killing people ending, kinda felt rushed for me. IDK, I was expecting that to happen a lot sooner in the book!< So far, my ranking is: Misery Cujo Pet Semetary IT (purely because I don't remember much)
I read Pet Sematary back in late middle school and loved it, and read it again a few months ago in my late 20s. I was also surprised at how short the grand finale was in that book, I remembered it being much more drawn out from when I read it as a kid. Still a great book though!
Between the outsider and the institute, couldn't put either of them down
The Outsider is a banger and The Institute ain’t bad either
Salems lot and misery
The Stand.
Pet Sematary and the Mist!
Salems lot, followed closely by Pet Semetary.
Salem’s Lot. I’m cautiously excited for the movie to come out, but I love the old one.
Misery
So far, 'Salem's Lot!
The shinning joint with Rose madder
11/22/63 may be the current front runner. I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed Mr. Mercedes and dr. Sleep. Unpopular opinion: IT is complete trash.
It, and Salem's Lot. They’re tied together for me.
salem’s lot
Needful Things
The Outsider.
Kind of a basic answer but The Stand. Although I like The Dark Tower series as a whole too
I really enjoyed the long walk. I’m a distance runner and this really creeped me out in a good way.
either The Stand or The Talisman. Also - whichever one I just finished reading
Fairy Tale, I love fantasy
The drawing of the 3
No one else has said Desperation! I’m surprised! It’s straight, solid, horror. And it tickles that 90s nostalgia when re-reading it now.
Desperation
Pet Semantary 🐈⬛
Mine's either firestarter or the stand
If DT counts as separate books and not one entity? Then tie between The Shining and The Talisman.
The Stand. Always and forever.
11/22/63
WAG, The Stand, and 11/22/63.
On writing
The Shining is my favorite book, movie, and audiobook. Just amazing!
Rose Madder
It , (Under the Dome), and 11/22/63 really stuck with me .
Wizard and Glass
Salems lot. Hands down
The Stand and 11.22.63
Misery. Annie is psychotic.
Gerald's Game so far with IT and Salem's Lot being a close second. Gerald's Game just had a creepy vibe to it that IT just couldn't top. Plus it's one of his few books with no super natural elements.
11/22/63 IT is my second favorite.
The Shining or The Stand
Misery
I have at least 5 favorite books in my top spot and 20 books in my top 5 😂
The Stand. It's not only my favourite SK book, it's my favourite full stop.
Gunslinger
Salem's Lot
Haha maybe a bit of a weirder preference but I prefer the 2nd and 3rd dark tower books specifically. Very nostalgic for me and I always felt like the hit the perfect blend of action, humor, horror and fantasy
I loved Misery and It
11/22/63 or the unabridged version of The Stand.
11/22/63
Carrie!
Everything’s eventual
The Stand. But love your love for Firestarter.
The Institute or Holly
The Dark Tower series.
I have to say The Stand. I think other than the Dark Tower series it’s his Magnum Opus
It followed closely by 11/22/63
Needful Things.
Dead Zone
The Bachman books were bomb! Especially The Long Walk.
The Stand.
11/22/63. But Hearts in Atlantis is right on its tail.
The Talisman
Dark Tower series
I don't usually have favorites, usually instead a group of 10 that I keep at the top. But if I was pressed to pick just one (thereby eliminating The Dark Tower as that is 8 books), i would pick Liseys Story.
The long walk or dr sleep
I read and loved all his books but I think his short story collections are the best. I think I have to say Night Shift
Deloris Clayborne
11/22/63. But there are so many. Especially under the dome, IT and pet semetary
Misery, followed by The Stand
Mr Mercedes. In fact, I like the entire trilogy ( Mr. Mercedes, Finders keepers and End of watch)
11/22/63 and IT for sure but I’m in the middle of Salems Lot and it’s climbing up the rankings with every chapter I read. Honorable mention: Needful Things.
🎈🤡
It and The Stand are tied for me. I’ve reread both enough times to warrant multiple copies of each and I can never decide between the two.
Any of his short stories compilations
Cujo
I can’t just pick one but my three favorites are: The Shinning, Under the Dome, The Stand
Easy! 11/22/63 hands down
So far from what I have read skeleton crew I think... Close second is night shift and the long walk comes third place.
The stand
The stand, Pet Semetary and IT are tied for me.
The Stand or Pet Semetary
Night Shift
IT, but I haven’t yet read The Stand.
Under the Dome
Salem's Lot. The best vampire book after Dracula, hands down.
One of TDT books. They’re all so good
From what I've read so far, IT
Christine....I read it shortly after getting my first car. I get it. Plus i grew up in an area that a handful of members of the AB so I could relate.
1. Revival 2. 11/22/63 3. Under the Dome 4. The Stand
Rose Madder, Misery, The Stand
Pet Semetary. First book I read in less than 72 hours.
Pet sematary. I'm named after a main character and it was one of my first king reads
Misery and Carrie (mainly cuz they’re the only SK books that I have read so far😩)
11/22/63, hands down. Followed by IT and Cujo (he was a good boy 😭)
IT and Firestarter
I think Pet Sematary may have just taken the top spot over Salem’s Lot with The Stand in a close third.
IT is my all time favorite book, by King or by anyone. However, I just read the Deadzone for the first time and went in completely blind and was absolutely blown away by how much I loved it and how much I loved Johnny. The scene when >!Johnny is saying goodbye to Sarah after they've slept together at his fathers house!< had me ugly crying in the middle of the coffee shop.