49 comments (!) later, and after rounding up all the titles you bloggers mentioned, I have decided to pick up Pet Sematary by Stephen King. It didn't get the most recommendations (The Stand and The Shining did, with 11 and 9 people saying it was good, respectively) but it's the one with the highest number that the library has. :P If I decide I like his writing, I'll try some of the others mentioned.
And here's the rest of the tally, in case you were wondering:
Salem's Lot: 5 (almost everyone who mentioned it said it was scary)
Night Shift: 2 (I'll have to look into his short stories)
The Green Mile: 3 (I'm curious. They made a movie out of this one?)
The Long Walk: 1 (I didn't know he'd written anything under a pen name . . .)
The Gunslinger: 2 (Fantasy--I didn't know he wrote Fantasy, either)
Carrie: 4 (I want to read this one, actually; I like the sound of it)
Needful: 1
The Regulators: 1 (another one written under the pen name Bachmann)
Dead Zone: 1
Misery: 5
Children of the Corn: 1
The Dark Tower Series: 5 (I've never read dark fantasy, you know)
It: 3
Rose Madder: 1
Bag of Bones: 1
Dreamcatcher: 1
On Writing: 5 (I need to get around to reading a book on writing)
Under the Dome: 2
Tommyknockers: 1
Firestarter: 1
The Running Man: 1
Thinner: 1
Christine: 1 (this is the one about the car, right?)
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon: 3
The Eye of the Dragon: 2
The Darker Half: 1
Insomnia: 1
The Body: 1
Thanks to everyone who came by and answered my question! And in case any of you are also looking for information on his books, I hope this list and the comment thread comes in handy.
-----The Golden Eagle
27 comments:
I didn't care for Pet Cemetary, but Salem's Lot is creepy. And you're not the only one who hasn't read On Writing yet...
I don't think I'd rate this as one of his best (others are more scary). I'm surprised that IT didn't make your list.
Curious to hear your reaction but I don't think one likes or diskes King by one bok.
Thanks for giving us the tally, that's interesting. Looks like a lot of Stephen King fans here!
Enjoy your Stephen King!!! I really liked Green Mile the film!! He did write Stand By Me too didn't he? Awwwww once more, the film of this is lovely - my first glimpse of the late great River Phoenix!! Sigh!
Yay! take care
x
I know I'm late to the party, but I'm a Stephen King FANATIC (about to start my PhD on his works, actually), and I would say "Pet Sematary" would not be one to start with. It's really gory and depressing and sort of goes with the (totally erroneous) King as Horrormeister.
For what it's worth, I'd start with "The Eyes of the Dragon" or "The Dead Zone".
He is MUCH better than "Pet Sematary" ... it's just been well-read because of the movie.
When you made up your list, Eagle, you forgot On Writing.
Was that one just too scary to count?
I think most fantasy, scifi, and horror authors have read at least one King novel. I didn't like most of the movies made from his books but I do like the TV show, Haven, based on a really boring short story.
Let us know how you get on with it, I'd be interested to hear your opinion :)
Alex: Hmmm. The reception to the decision to read Pet Sematary first seems to be rather lukewarm . . .
GigglesandGuns: Um, I believe it's on the list--after The Dark Tower Series and before Rose Madder, with the 3?
Probably not. :P
KarenG: You're welcome!
LOL. It does seem that way. :)
Old Kitty: Thank you!
I've never heard of Stand By Me--book or movie. It sounds interesting, though. :D
KLo: Feel free to add your thoughts to this! :)
Really?
I may just have to track down more than one book when I visit the library next. :P
Rob-bear: I believe I did put it on the list--17th one from the top? It's one book I do want to get around to reading, for sure. A lot of writers I know have said it's good.
Susan: Probably. All except me, of course. :P
I've never heard of Haven.
Sarah: I will! :)
How in the world did I miss this? I guess I have been rearranging and working too much after I get home!
Here is an opinion from a person who has the complete collection.
My favorites in this order are The Stand, The Shining and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gorden. Salem's Lot is scary and one of the first I read. The Shining was in first place until The Stand came out.
The Regulators should be read before Desperation.
Never watch the movies. What is in Mr King's mind is way scarier than anything on screen.
There seemed to be a slump for awhile but he is back in full swing with his latest Duma Key...a must read!!!!!!!
I'm sorry that I missed it! I'm a big fan of King's older novels. Enjoy!
I'd definitely recommend "The Stand", but then I've only read a few of SK's books - including the Dark Tower series. "The Stand" is brilliant.
I think I will try more Stephen King books. I really enjoyed Salem's Lot, even though it scared me quite a bit.
you managed to educate me !!! thanks for that list!!! interesting!
I, too, am late to the party. I've never read PS. I loved Thinner and The Green Mile. 'It' was pretty great, too.
Hope you enjoy SK!
Oh I love SK. I liked Pet Cemetery, but it wasn't my favorite SK book. I am quite a fan of his short stories too. He has one heck of an imagination, that guy. I'd love to hear what you think of PC when you're done.
...I've read nearly every book on that list. Loved "The Stand," loved "Tom Gordon," (I think you'd love that one too, Eagle ;) and very much enjoyed Salem's Lot. Wasn't as fond of "Pet Sematary" though.
Keep in mind, the Bachman works tend to be far bloodier, and a bit odd at times.
And you may want to consider, "Horns," written by Joe Hill, (Stephen's son.) Truly an awesome read!
Hope this helps!
EL
I hope you enjoy reading Stephen King. I hear that his work is quite captivating.
And thanks for becoming a follower on my blog! It's nice to meet you! :)
My reviews and thoughts on many of these are posted on Goodreads.
I haven't read any of his books...The movies I've watched were scary enough. I would expect I'd have serious nightmares if I read any of his books. :)
Happy Reading! (Sharon hides under blanket after thinking about Salem's Lot.)
Gail: No worries--I'm open to comments on this anytime. :)
The complete collections? Wow. That must be a whole lot of books!
Those three seem to be popular, from what I've been hearing from bloggers. The libraries don't seem to have The Shining--but I think I will try The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon at some point.
Will keep the recommendations in mind. :)
Heather: For some reason, I thought his novels were mostly newer than that--I really don't know much about him or his books. :P
Thanks!
Trisha: Okay, so The Stand seems to be quite popular . . . I may end up picking up that one.
Misha: I'm not a big fan of scary stories, unless I'm in the mood for it--LOL.
Flying high: You're welcome!
The Words Crafter: Thanks for the recommendations! :)
Steven: I'll be sure to post my thoughts when I'm done with the book--good or bad.
Elliot: I'm going to watch to see if I can find one of those three at the library, besides Pet Sematary; it wasn't listed when I searched for it, but sometimes the library has the book anyway. :P
Hmm. I don't really like a lot of blood--thanks for that!
I didn't know his son wrote books.
It does! :)
Lauren: Thanks!
You're welcome! Your blog wasn't one I could pass up following after I followed a link and checked it out. :)
Charles: I'll have to head over to Goodreads. Thanks for mentioning that.
Sharon: Not many books have given me nightmares . . . but hey, there's always a first, isn't there? :P
Thank you!
Solid choice, pretty typical of his style so should give you a pretty good idea. Let usknow what you think of it.
mood
Moody Writing
@mooderino
Good luck with reading Pet Sematary! I found it to be boring and returned it unfinished. o_O
Aww, I meant to toss my vote in too! I'd have gone for The Stand. Or Eyes of the Dragon. But hey, I haven't read Pet Sematary either - DH has a copy though, so maybe I'll start it too!
I haven't read many Stephen King books, but I have read both THE SHINING and PET SEMETARY. THE SHINING is the scariest book I've ever read (I haven't read many scary books though!). I remember it taking a little while to get going, but then it got grippingly terrifying (probably not helped by the fact that I was reading it late at night when everyone else was asleep...). PET SEMETARY was disturbingly creepy too.
These days I value my sleep a lot so I try not to read/watch anything horror related!
It'll be interesting to see what you think!
Enjoy your reading. He definitely has some great books.
www.rebeccabany.com
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