My first audiobook/book of Stephen King's was11-22-63and I was blown away, incredible to listen to. Dude made me feel like I was in 1950s America, and like the lead character was a real person who I could meet in a bar.

I got burned out reading (unabridged)The Stand, after civilization collapsed, and we were being introduced to all the survivors and the supernatural parts of the novel. The first part about how civilization breaks down though compelling and vivid.

Now I'm listening to the audidobook ofThe institute, and I now understand what someone was talking about when someone said that Stephen King is able to write child characters like no other. Incredibly skilled at created an atmosphere, again the dude makes me feel like the institute could really exist and I could walk the halls. It's also a poignant portrayal of how people will justify cruelty in the name of 'the greater good'.

Finally I've read the1922novella, and it was gripping and eerie description of how guilt can consume a person's heart and mind. On the same level as11-22-63for me. Hypnotic.

I'm looking forward to reading The Long Walk because I've heard it's as hypnotic as1922.



Please share your top 5 Stephen King novels.

It's not reading if you're listening to audiobooks. lol @ opie the illiterate.

Anyhoo, I love SK. In order of favs:

- The Dark Tower Series (7 books)
- Salem's Lot
- The Talisman
- Black House (with Peter Straub)
- The Tommyknockers


Ps: I started reading the Dark Tower when I was 14. I had to wait a long azz time to read the rest because of the releases.

Pet Semetary and Salem's lot. GOAT horror books, negging all other opinions

OK???Interesting thing I've seen is that SK fan's top 5 are often wildly different. But that's also probably due to the volume of his works.

What's more interesting is his books are inter-related. For example, the Talisman and Salem's lot books are related to the dark tower.

I've gotta bring out all my old paperbacks and re-read some of these.

I could give you my 5 favorite movies? lol @ reading

Tldr

I've heard that, and that does make things interesting. Must be exciting to see the connections, and the 'universe' that King is creating.

I keep hearing about how good The Dark Tower series is.

You've committed the cardinal sin if you haven't read it. Srs.

My first novel I ever read in my life was SK, and I've followed him up all the way to recent modern times.

There's 3 eras to SK - Drug binge (ends/peaks at tommyknockers), clean of drugs and post-car accident (buick 8 onwards). I would rate each era as a 10, 7 and 2 respectively.

The best are:

1) Hearts in Atlantis - Most of it is non-horror. A series of short stories following a group of people through their childhood to Vietnam war to the end of their lives. Its not some boomer novel talking how young people are chit, but its actually a tragedy about the 60s era. It really reflects life in the modern era. Its non-conventional, so if you skip it, I wouldn't blame you, but its the best book I've read in my life.
2) Tommyknockers - No one can write this novel without drugs, serious. Read it, its something completely different to any other novel you've picked up in your life. Literally the only novel where I've hated the protagonist (I think the did it on purpose), but loved the entire novel.
3) Dark Tower I to III - Specifically I and III. Same comment as the above. I know you'll be worried that its part of a series, but each book is pretty self-contained. This is creative writing unrestrained. You can literally see which parts he wrote high.
4) Christine - This book is about blue jeans, steel capped boots and heavy metal. Reads really classic and fun, captures the spirit of the 80s perfectly.
5) Salem's lot - This is his 2nd book ever published. Basically Dracula, except more hopeless, more eerie and more scary.

Honourable mentions:

- Firestarter
- Pet Semetary
- IT
- Dark Half

Only 1 out of the 9 is in the post-drug era, and for good reason - it wasn't even really a horror novel.

I actually think he should drop out of horror altogether. He's actually really talented in writing other stuff. Drugs are obviously very bad for him, but he can't write good horror clean. He can write other stuff well while clean though.

Love King, Read 'em all crew.

#1. The Dead Zone
#2. 'Salem's Lot
#3. Pet Sematary*This was the first English book I finished @16
#4. The Stand
#5. It

Thanks to King, I never have misspelled the word, "cemetery."

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#Honorable mention.

⭐Cell
⭐The Langoliers (Four Past Midnight)