Stephen King - Best Book??

[jeffy]

All time Favorite: The Long Walk

Other favorites: The Stand (only read "short" version), The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Black House (follows Talisman)

Excellent: The Talisman (precedes Black House), [the short where the guy eats himself to death on the deserted island...don't know title]

Good: It, Cell (lame ending though), The Gunslinger and Drawing of the 3 (Dark Tower 1 & 2), Rose Madder

Fair: Insomnia, Carrie

Read them too long ago to remember: Thinner, Cujo, Christine, Pet Semetary, Salem's Lot, Firestarter, Misery

Also read On Writing, which was excellent non-fiction.

 

[IrishWriter]

It's amazing, I've just went through these last three pages on the so called "King fans" and I haven't even seen the words Bag of Bones on the pages. How you can have a discussion about King's best book without recommending that one is kind of strange. And On Writing? My god that was the best book I've read in my life. I really can't understand how that guy has got any critics at all. They all should want to be his foot massager. The man is the reason I get up in the morning.

 

[HoopyFrood]

I am certainly a King fan, but Bag of Bones isn't one of my ultimate favourites, although it is a still a good book. Besides, everyone has their different tastes, you could put all the really hardcore fans of any author in a room together and, although they'd agree that he/she is the best thing since sliced bread, I'm sure there would be much arguing about the best book!

 

[Urien]

Irishwriter,

"I've just went through these last three pages on the so called "King fans" and I haven't even seen the words Bag of Bones on the pages. How you can have a discussion about King's best book without recommending that one is kind of strange." IW

I guess the "so called" King fans don't think it's his best book. Neither do I. As you're (on this unscientific poll) in a minority of one, then I suspect you're the one in the strange and unusual position.

 

[sci-fi girl]

I've read almost all of King's book and though I like the story, I really can't consider "Bag of bones" as one of my favourites. Just my opinion of course, but there are just too many others which are simply better.

My top 3
The Dark Tower
It
Pet semetary

 

[deathwizard]

Everything is awesome. I loved Cell. The scariest is Pet Semetary. But the best is probably the Dark Tower series.

 

[sci-fi girl]

200 % agree with you deathwizard

 

[IrishWriter]

Just a note for andrew.v.spencer. I'm not suggesting that you change your mind(you apparently are the minority of one who has to defend himself when somebody makes a comment,"Oh wait, I'm sorry am I quoting your words,how rude of me!!!!!!!!!!!) but I'm saying that it's kind of unusual to have a discussion about so many of his books and not even a mention of that book comes up.I'm just saying show the man some respect.But of course I don't need to tell you to do that.You're one of the "so called" King fans.Ass

 

[Connavar]

I was wondering how is The Dead Zone compared to the movie? Is it better storywise? Or is the movie's story pretty much the same?


I was wondering cause the tv show is one of my absolute favs but i found the movie bad despite C.Walken.

 

[HoopyFrood]

Just a note for andrew.v.spencer. I'm not suggesting that you change your mind(you apparently are the minority of one who has to defend himself when somebody makes a comment,"Oh wait, I'm sorry am I quoting your words,how rude of me!!!!!!!!!!!) but I'm saying that it's kind of unusual to have a discussion about so many of his books and not even a mention of that book comes up.I'm just saying show the man some respect.But of course I don't need to tell you to do that.You're one of the "so called" King fans.Ass

But we are giving the man respect, plenty of it, we have an entire forum here where we can celebrate the man and his writing abilities. Just because one of his books isn't mentioned does not mean we are not showing him respect. Apparently it just isn't considered a favourite by the people who have posted on the thread.

Also, please, no personal attacks on members of this site. That's not how we do things here at Chronicles.

 

[Sathai]

I think his best works are...The Shining, Salem's Lot, The Stand, The Talisman (with Straub), The Eyes of the Dragon, and the Dark Tower series.

 

[IrishWriter]

Oh it's not a personal attack. I don't think andrew feels like a victim anyway. I'm sure he likes to think of himself(herself, maybe I don't know) as an antagonist. And please, I made a harmless point so my deepest apologies if people can't contain a burst of rage because of an innocuous comment. I'll tell you what, anyone that doesn't want to argue, don't respond then to my "aggrevating" comments. How bout that? Seems fair.Because I, unlike Andrew, will not suffer due to a lack of attention over futile points being made. Whatever we say here doesn't matter.It's not as if Stephen King reads these things.And rightly so.He hasn't written a bad book really.There isn't such a thing.Everything is a matter of opinion.

 

[that old guy]

It's amazing, I've just went through these last three pages on the so called "King fans" and I haven't even seen the words Bag of Bones on the pages. How you can have a discussion about King's best book without recommending that one is kind of strange.

I thought Bag of Bones was okay, but nothing special, personally. In the same class as The Dark Half, Christine or Firestarter. Entertaining and a pleasant way to pass the time, but not really the sort of work that made me say "wow." As was the case with most of the Dark Tower series, The Stand, The Shining, The Green Mile or even Misery and Pet Sematary...all of which I'd rate ahead of Bag of Bones, at a minimum. But that's me. Everybody's got their own favorite.

And On Writing? My god that was the best book I've read in my life.

I thought it was well done, but hardly immune from criticism. It was almost as though he couldn't figure out whether to write an autobiography or a how-to manual. And personally I thought that lack of focus took away from the work.

I really can't understand how that guy has got any critics at all.They all should want to be his foot massager. The man is the reason I
get up in the morning.

ohh..kayy.

 

[j d worthington]

Oh it's not a personal attack. I don't think andrew feels like a victim anyway. I'm sure he likes to think of himself(herself, maybe I don't know) as an antagonist. And please, I made a harmless point so my deepest apologies if people can't contain a burst of rage because of an innocuous comment. I'll tell you what, anyone that doesn't want to argue, don't respond then to my "aggrevating" comments. How bout that? Seems fair.Because I, unlike Andrew, will not suffer due to a lack of attention over futile points being made. Whatever we say here doesn't matter.It's not as if Stephen King reads these things.And rightly so.He hasn't written a bad book really.There isn't such a thing.Everything is a matter of opinion.

Okay... I'm stepping in as a moderator here. Name-calling is a personal attack, and not allowed here. Disagreements about things are fine, debates on these things are good and healthy -- differing points of view make for more information for people new to a writer's work, and may also add to views even of established fans.

However -- leave the personalities at the door. Expressing opinions strongly, fine. Put-downs, insults, name-calling, etc. are a violation of the rules we all agreed to uphold when we signed on here, and will not be tolerated. Please refrain from such comments in future.

 

[Lacedaemonian]

I never bought into Stephen King. Some of his Novella's play around with some good ideas that, I guess never had enough about them to build a fuller story. He is most certainly not the worst writer out there but he is perhaps one of the most overhyped. I enjoyed the film, Misery but have never read the book.

 

[N3croscope]

Think Kings greatest achievment was Shawshank - tho how much credit he can take, im not sure - the short story was a shadow of the film. The Stand was brilliant until the end - v poor. Thought IT and perhaps the Green Mile were my fav's. Tho Short story - Dolans Cadalac (not sure what collection) was brilliant, oh and of course Stand by me (The body)

 

[HoopyFrood]

Do you mean Dolores Claiborne? That's a short novel rather than a short story in a collection.

Edit: Whoops, no, I see! Dolan's Cadillac. Very sorry. Now, have I read that one...I didn't recognise the title...I shall go and find out!

 

[N3croscope]

Nah - think its Dolans Cadalac (as in the car). This ordinary guy's wife is killed by a mafia boss. Useless to turn to cops - he trains, works in desert. Digs hole - car falls in and buries Mafia boss alive. Much better than my short desc tho : ). Its the first story in 1 of his collections - could be nightmare n dreamscapes or skeleton crew - but im not 100%. D Claiborne - seen the film - not read the book - excellent story tho

 

[Urien]

I pop in for a sparkling white wine with cranberry juice and discover I'm an "ass" and that I shouldn't worry because "Oh it's not a personal attack."

If I was a Vulcan, and not a lowly beast of burden, then I might have issues of logic with that.

 

[N3croscope]

Hey HoopyFrood - its in Nightmares and dreamscapes acc to wikipedia. Brilliant story