My Stephen King Top 10 books : 1. It (1986) 2. The Shining (1977) 3. The Green Mile (1996) 4. 11/22/63 (2011) 5. Pet Sematary (1983) 6. Needful Things (1991) 7. Salem’s Lot (1975) 8. Misery (1987) 9. The Stand (1978/1990) 10. Duma Key (2008) Honorable mentions: Dead Zone , Christine, Firestarter, The Institute, Different Seasons, Full Dark No Stars, Billy Summers.
I need to read Duma Key, Billy Summers and the Institute. Thanks so much for this I will move these up on my TBR. I gotta admit alot of your list was on my list at 1 time or another. I am continually second guessing myself! Thanks so much again!
@@mybruh8614ST's 11 63 is WONDERFUL BOOK. But honestly only if you are old enough to remember the 60's.... its helpful that he can take a person to a decade....especially events like the JFK horror that went down. His book is mesmerizing how he can take you back.....
I loved this list! As I have only read The Shining and now ready to take on It for the month of October, I’m so excited to the King experience again! Great video John!
Respect the list man! I’m 19 years old and started reading king when I was 17. So far I’ve read just under 40 of his works. I think these are my Top 10 at the moment: 1. The Green Mile 2. Pet Sematary 3. IT 4. The Shining 5. Cujo 6. Misery 7. Blaze (Richard Bachman) 8. Salem’s Lot 9. Gerald’s Game 10. Different Seasons Honourable mention: On Writing: Memoir of the Craft
Wow 40 in 2 years! I respect your list! I find it awesome that King keeps getting new fans like yourself. A great story is timeless! Thanks so much for sharing this list with me and for checking out the channel.
@@Talking_Story I became a super fan after my first read of his which was Misery. From there I was hooked and I’ve been obsessed ever since!! My copy of The Deadzone arrived today so that will be my next read!! I read mr Mercedes a few days ago and thought it was brilliant. I’ll also be writing my dissertation at university on Stephen king too as I study / am majoring in English Lit 😊
@@louisstorey3241 I have great memories of Dead Zone! Let me know what you think of it. Good luck on that degree program! U plan on writing, teaching or both?
Read it when it first came out and I don’t think I got it. If I re read now after being a parent and processing some loss myself I bet it would hit me hard and make the list. He is writer that I find puts so much of his own experiences and fears onto the page that if you are in the sweet spot with him of life experience the work hits you so differently.
@@Talking_Storymy grandfather has always been a big King fan and he told me that he got Pet Sematary the weekend it came out. Now, at the time, my mom and uncles were all under 10 and they lived right on a very busy road just past a blind culture. He got to the page where Gage died, immediately put the book down, grabbed his key, then went to go buy the lumber to put up a front yard fence. He's never finished reading the book.
Great list. I'd also have The Stand #1, with The Shining at #2. The Dead Zone would make the top 10 somewhere. He has so many great works that it's hard to limit it to just 10.
I love your list and agree the "The Stand" is King's best work. I would like to ask if you've ever read "Swan Song" by Robert McGammon. It is basically the same story except the apocalyptic event is nuclear war, not a virus. McGammon's description of nuclear war are incredibly vivid, and the character work is almost as good as that in "The Stand". I think that if you enjoyed "The Stand", and haven't read it, then you will love "Swan Song".
@@garythompson3223 He is not the strongest at endings at times I do have to agree. He is definitely the character journey is more important than the destination kind of writer.
Great list...thanks. Reading Stephen King becomes a very personal journey as he speaks to the reader at a level I've never experienced before. Pet Sematary was so disturbing...especially as I was a new dad when I first read it. The Dead Zone...which is not talked about much...is still one of my favorites. If you only watch the screen adaptations and never read the books you are missing out.
I completely agree with you. I think he puts a lot of himself into his characters. That makes them so recognizable and relatable. It also makes the books hit you differently depending on what stage of life you are in when reading. I read Pet Cemetery and Dead Zone when they first came out. Along with Firestarter I have a soft spot for them but I bet if I re read them they would make a different impression and I would have to re do my list yet again. Thanks so much for checking out the list!
I feel he does such a great job of channeling what he is going through in different periods of his life to the page that it just speaks to our experience. Let me know if you decide to pick up the Stand. @@pattic6077
There’s not a single booktuber I know who’s a stephen king fan that doesn’t have 11/22/63 in their top list. I’m currently 20% into it, and I am soooo anxious to know how it ties everything together since I heard a lot of people cried through the ending. Also, have you read Pet Sematary? What did you think about it? I really wanna read it next because I’ve heard great things about how King handled grief & loss in the story.
I read Pet Cemetery when it first came out and I don’t think I was in a place in life to appreciate all it did and the themes it has. I bet if I re read it now after being a parent and having to process loss it would make my list. I think that is the mark of a good writer though if their stuff hits differently through different periods of your life.
@@Talking_Story I completely agree. Having recently lost my dad, who I consider to be one of my best friends, drew me into reading books with themes exploring grief, so I was curious what you thought about it. Anyways, another great video, John! ☺️👌🏽
@@NellyVilla09 Thanks so much. So sorry to hear about your loss. I have had enough years go by since the loss of my father that I know he is not gone cause I see him every time I look in the mirror. Always worked to be my own person and now I find so much comfort to see him in who I am.
Nice! Thanks so much for sharing. I think the universal choice I am getting is Pet Semetary. I gotta go back and re read. I now see I read it to young and didn’t get was he was writing. Just finished Holly and will have a full review by next week. Thanks so much for watching!
Great video and nice list. As someone who has absolutely no ties to America, it always amazes me that Stephen King draws me in and makes me feel like I belong there. I think the criticism he received in some places re his ability to write perfect endings was possibly justified but he absolutely nails every other aspect and he has improved his endings too in my opinion. I started reading his books back in the late 70’s, getting his early novels from my sister who was a fan before me. And I have continued to be a fan up to the present day. On January 1st this year I decided to go back to the very beginning and read as many of his novels back to back as I can, starting with Carrie. I finished Pet Sematary yesterday so it’s going well and these rereads are bringing back so many memories!
I read those so long ago I think re-reads are in order as well. I bet they would hit me very differently now. Thanks so much for kind a words and checking out the list. I really appreciate this comment let me know how your walk down memory lane with King continues.
I am 59 years old and fell in love with Stephen King books with my readings of Night Shift, The Shining, The Dead Zone, Different Seasons, Salem’s Lot, etc. back when I was in middle school. I took a 25 year hiatus but have been catching up on audible. I feel that many of his post 2000 books are AMAZING! Similar to what you said, the list could change tomorrow but here is my top 10 list right now: 10 - Different Seasons 9 - Mr. Mercedes 8 - The Outsider 7 - Duma Key 6 - Misery 5 - The Shining 4 - Pet Semetary 3 - Night Shift 2 - 11/22/63 1 - Revival
Wow we almost have the same story. I found him young and had layoff as well. I just ordered a copy of Duma Key in yesterday as it I see on so many other’s list that have responded to mine. Thank you so much for sharing your list and for checkin out mine.
@@mybruh8614 I would say stay early King and move onto Dead Zone, Firestarter and The Shining. If you want a short story collection go for Night Shift.
Top 5 imo, 1, The DeadZone, 2 Different Seasons 3 The Drawing of the Three, 4, Cujo, 5, Christine. He actually is the best writer ever as he can do it all, not just horror. And he loves AC⚡️DC. Hehe. 🐀
I am with you he has been on my top fav list for decades. Dead Zone and Drawing of the 3 were on my list. Still second guessing some of my choices. Thanks so much for sharing your top 5 and of course for watching.
1. The Stand 2. The Shining 3. Different Seasons 4. Pet Sematary 5. IT 6. Misery 7. Firestarter (this one is really underrated for some reason) 8. Cujo 9. The Dead Zone 10. Christine If I could extend this list to 11, I'd choose Revival. For 12, I might actually choose Full Dark, No Stars, if only because of A Good Marriage, which is one of the darkest and strongest things he's written since Apt Pupil, imo. It's also very cool how many of us can agree on The Stand.
Had Firestarter on my list along with Dead Zone. Hated to cut those. They are really great early works. After so many people sharing their list it has made me think a lot and I am sure my list would be different if I made it again. Crazy how much great stuff is in 1 author’s catalog. Thanks so much for checking out the list and sharing.
1. Wizard and glass 2. The shining 3. Under the dome 4. Four past midnight 5. Night shift 6. Misery 7. The running man/the long walk..(4 X Richard Bachman) 8. The tommyknockers 9. The Dark tower final - The dark tower 10. Skeleton Crew This is my list..some are the same in ranking..I love to see. great video!
I’m curious where you would put the long walk and salems lot would they be top 20? I love the long walk I wouldn’t say it’s my number one or anything like that but it’s a piece of work that I can come back to over and over again like a really good sitcom or The Thing(1982)
Yes The Thing! Both of those were both on the list and it was so hard to cut them. He wrote Long Walk as a teen which blows me away. For sure they would make top 15. This list plagues me still cause there are so many I love not on it.
I loved this. I've only recently got into Stephen King and read 3 of his novels (misery, the shining and the institute) that were all brilliant! I'm hoping to read the stand next because the plot interests me so much and I feel that it would become one of my favourite books.
I've noticed that most people that do Stephen King rankings always have 11/22/63 ranked very high. I honestly couldn't get into it. I loved the time travel concept and the constant butterfly effects from the things he does in the past. I just felt like the love story between Jake and Sadie was too much for me. I felt it got to the point where Jake was making such dumb decisions because of his love for Sadie and his growing love for the time period. It honestly started to pull me out of the storyline and became distracting to the overall arc of the story. I find that not many people share my opinion so I would love to see what others thought of 11/22/63. Maybe I should give it a reread. Great video though brother, I love seeing the way different Stephen King fans view his stories. I'd probably replace 11/22/63 with Needful Things, or Under The Dome.
Thanks so much for the watch. I had Needful Things on the list up till the very end. I do like that 1 a lot. I bet if I re did the list it might stay on. I have been second guessing my list since it went up. You are so right he has such a catalog and been a part of our lives for so long he hits all of us differently depending on our own pasts and what part of our lives we read his stories in. Remarkable career!
@Talking_Story Absolutely! My favorite writer by far. I've been working my way through his catalog over the past year and a half, im about half way through Desperation and I'm going to read The Regulators next. I would love to see a video on Bachman vs King, comparing the changes in writing styles and tone he uses under his real name and his pseudonym, I find when he writes as Bachman he uses a totally different writing style, and I would love to hear others opinions on it.
Oh that is a great idea! I would love to do a re read of some of his stuff and do that when I get caught on some the stuff I have fallen behind on. Again thanks so much for the great tip! @@KB-jm8fs
My top 10 of only his novels. Many of his novellas and short stories are amazing and deserve their own ranking. 1. The Stand 2. Books 2, 3 & 4 of Dark Tower (I can't bring myself to rank them separately) 3. It 4. Misery 5. The Green Mile 6. Salem's Lot 7. Carrie (These last 3 are highly underrated, IMO) 8. Needful Things 9. Dorothy Claiborne 10. Duma Key
At 42 I just read King for the first time a few months back, Needful Things. Good read, great character development, great villain as well. Then I read IT, finished it a few hrs ago actually. Blown away. The ritual of Chud, the interdemsional demonic realm, a turtle puking up galaxies, that stuff took the book to another level for me, fucking incredible. And yea, the pre teen gangbang definitely caught me off guard. It’s a crazy fucked up book that I really enjoyed from start to finish.
Great list there. At the moment (although like you, it can change at any time), here is my current top 10. 1. The Stand 2. It 3. The Dark Tower VII - The Dark Tower 4. 11/22/63 5. Needful Things 6. Salem's Lot 7. Under the Dome 8. The Dark Tower II - The Drawing of the Three 9. The Dark Tower III - The Waste Lands 10. The Green Mile. If I was to include collections, I think the only one that would get close to the top 10 would be 'Full Dark No Stars', which I loved every minute of. Generally, I'm a fan of his full novels rather than the shorter works, although he's had some killer short stories/Novellas over the years.
Thanks so much for your list and for checking out my list. I as well am a huge Dark Tower fan and when I finally put out my all time fantasy series list it will for sure be on it. I tried to just put 1 Dark Tower book on to save slots. There was a time when I had under the Dome and Needful Things on there. I think every day commenting back and forth with others I should take another try😂. Again thanks so much for checking out the list always great to find another Tower fan!
@@Talking_Story It's weird, because I'm not really a fantasy fan at all. In fact, my only real dips into that world are the Dark Tower and the UK Fighting Fantasy gamebooks that were popular in the 80s. But there's something about the Dark Tower that goes beyond fantasy, as it delves into so many different genres. Also, as an aside, how much better is 'The Gunslinger' on a re-read after you've finished the whole series? It makes so much more sense!
@@StewartyMac Yes! It is genre bending in so many ways and at its heart is a love letter about storytelling and the importance of story to our species that it can move any kind of reader I think. Have never done a re read. I may have to schedule that. I bet it moves different if you are not waiting years between books.
I was about 16 I had just left school and I was lucky I went directly from school straight into my first job as a Butchers assistant . To go from the safety and comfort of school directly into doing 8 hour shifts and 12 hours on a weekend in my areas busiest Butchers was a shock to my system. I lasted 5 months before I left and still being 16 and out of work I had a ton of free time on my hands. My Grandfather had this huge bag full of old books his friend had given him. There was the Bachman Books, TheTommyknockers , Cuju and IT and some of the Clive barkers books of blood and many others. I always remember reading The Tommyknockers first and with being so young I could vividly imagine every character and scene in the book so clearly in my mind it was as if I was watching a movie in my mind . I was young and still lived at home so I had no problems or issues I Could just enjoy stories in such a pure and innocent form . I got another job working at sea and continued to work my way through a lot of books but unfortunately as I got older and had more responsibilities , stresses , worries and problems by about the age of 21 I couldn't visualise the story as beautifully in my mind as I could those first few years of reading
Thanks so much for sharing this. I like you discovered King at a young age and also I visualize what I read. So sorry you lost this ability as life went on. It is a big reason why I stay away from audiobooks. I can’t see what I read if I am listening to someone else’s interpretation of the text. Thanks again for sharing and checking out the list.
I reread a few SK classics a couple of years ago and all went down in my appreciation except one that now is my favorite, Pet Sematary. High on my list is The Long Walk and The Mist. But i have to agree that the first half of The Stand and Salem's Lot are as good as can get for a horror novel. Great Video
Thanks so much for the kind words. I am confident from talking with folks that I read Pet Semetary too young and did not get what he was laying down. Now having dealt with loss and helping to raise a son I must schedule a re read.
@@Talking_Story Exactly! i read it in my late teens and i liked it but it wasn't even one of my favorites. Reread it in my late 40's and became my number 1 SK novel. I find it better written than most of his classics maybe because something you mentioned in your video: it is a shorter novel than his usual, 374 pages in my edition. I think you are up to something. Subscribed!
My favorite is Salem's Lot. I love the Shining too. I didn't like The Stand. It just wasn't my kind of story. I have often thought about trying to read it again but it's such a huge book that every time I think about picking it up again I remember how long it took me the first time and I talk myself out of it 😂
Loved your video!! Subscribed!! This is a really good list. How did you like, You Like it Darker? I really enjoyed it. I was not a huge fan of Fairytale. I've read about half of his books. I feel like the oddball because I just really didn't like The Gunslinger. Everyone loves The Stand, that is the next one I'm going to read that I haven't read. Have you read Blaze? I think it's one of his earliest books that he wrote as a teen or something, I really liked it, gave me Of Mice and Men vibes. Some of my favorites were Duma Key, Needful Things, Later, Mr Mercedes, the institute, Billy Summers, and of course Different Seasons, IT, and The Shining. ✌️
@@casey7409 so awesome a lot on your list I have to catch up on. I am doing Duma Key in October. I am about half way through the new collection and am liking it quite a bit. Let me know your thoughts when you start the Stand.
THANK YOU! Stephen King's character work is impeccable. However, I got so disappointed by his endings that I haven't read him for a long time. I don't think I've read enough of his work at this point to put together an accurate Top Ten but my 2 favorites (for very different reasons) are The Dead Zone and It. Though that may have a lot to do with when I read them. I still have to finish the Gunslinger series and I do want to read 11/22/63.
It's so hard to make a top ten list for Stephen King. A lot of the ones you put on there would be on mine but a few would be different and in a different order except the #1.
My top 10: 1. It 2. 11/22/63 3. Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass 4. Pet Sematary 5. Lisey's Story 6. Salem's Lot 7. Revival 8. The Green Mile 9. The Stand 10. The Shining
My Top Ten: 1- The Stand 2- Pet Sematary 3- Different Seasons 4- Firestarter 5- Revival 6- The Dead Zone 7- Duma Key 8- Night Shift 9- Cujo 10- 22/11/63
Thanks so much for sharing. I have grabbed Duma Key since I see it on so many others list and it is 1 I have missed. Where we don’t cross over I bet if I re read we would be even closer. Awesome list!
It is really good and was on the list. So hard to make those cuts. Think he wrote that at a young age too. I need to re read that 1. I have been second guessing my list since it went up. 😂
@@teaguebates5807 I enjoyed cell. Pet Sematary and Carrie were so long ago for me. I don’t think I understood at the time what he was doing with Pet Sematary. Bet my mind would change with a re read.
1. Salem's Lot 2. The Shinning 3. Pet Sematary 4. Desperation 5. The Dark Half 6. The Green Mile 7. Different Seasons 8. The Stand 9. Needful Things 10. The Dead Zone
Alot of the ones we do not have in common I had on the list at 1 time. So hard to make those cuts!. Thanks so much for checking out the list and for sharing yours.
It is awesome how he has so much that connects with all of us individually in so many different ways. Mark of a an amazing storyteller. @@superkamigurualucardmckee6181
Top Ten for me, no order: The Shining The Green Mile 11/22/63 The Stand Hearts in Atlantis IT Carrie The Tommyknockers Joyland The Wastelands (Basically Dark Tower as a whole)
@@Talking_Story i was a teenager, felt super connected to the main character, and thought he perfectly executed the “spooky but really a book about relationships” vibe perfectly.
I used to watch horror movies but since I got sucked in by the Misery book I've been reading a lot of his stuff. I can't really get into movies anymore since once you get your mind working in a book after work it is far more scarier where I would get nightmares for a while every night after I read his stuff which was cool. The thing I like about your list even though I haven't read some of it is it's mostly all postmarked after the 70's and his earlier stuff like Cujo and Carrie which I don't care for. I couldn't get into Carrie and am currently reading Salem's Lot now and it's over fleshed out and trivial with gross shallow characters that I'm actually rooting for the vampires. Everybody wets them self, faints, turns pale, or dies of a heart attack when a silly vampire shows up. But it's like once you reach a certain page you just have to push threw and finish it like I did with Pet Semetary, which the last 100+ pages was also overly explained to death in a slow motion long winded process. Like something simple like grabbing your wallet and your keys before you head out turns into a 10 minute flash back about that time you left your wallet by your keys in your car and the brand of wallet was from Joe Blow that made it with his wallet machine that held two singles and a five that were saved up for this example. Just get in the car and go bro. I like details but it's very regressive. Did skim a lot towards the end. But Misery and Apt Pupil wow. I like the downhill pace. I'm looking forward to Duma Key and Desperation next.
I totally get it! He gets way better than his early books. But he got so popular I think no editor would ever tell him to cut anything. I bet you would love Robert Maccammon. He is alot like Stephen King but his action and pace never let up. Try out a book by him called Mine. It never lets up from page 1. It is more thriller than horror but I would put money on you will love it. Thanks so much for watching!
Great list. Here is my list of favourite King books (in no particular order) 11/22/63 Under The Dome It Misery The Dark Half The Shining Salem's Lot Cujo Pet Sematary The Stand
Reading Christine now. Never seen the movie. Always wanted to read the novel. Incredible book. I read IT, never seen the movie. Stephen King books are not easy to translate into movies. I stick to the books.
Good rule. Can’t go wrong sticking to the books. Shawshank, Misery, Green Mile are some of the best adaptations of you wanna give them a try. Let me know what you think when you wrap up Christine.
Good list but you’re a bit over theatrical when you speak. As a European that is a bit strange to me in Americans. Thanks for inserting the full list at the end, nice touch.
@@Talking_Story I am from Portugal 🇵🇹. We gesticulate a lot as well but we generally don’t speak with this much emphasis. Your style of communication is exactly what we picture an American sounds like ahaha. Sometimes it’s hard to filter out good recommendations based on cultural differences because as a rule Americans tend to exagerate and overhype what’s average whereas germans for example downplay everything and something that is great they say it’s just good. Additionally, Americans will sugarcoat or try to be positive even when something is garbage whereas Europeans will straight up say something is worthless without any mercy or care for anyone’s feelings without any disclaimer. Even in the book community this is noticeable. I find it quite funny actually.
@@Carolina-rd3gh Wow I find this fascinating. I have not travelled a great deal so I have not stopped and thought about trends in communication and how they would impact how people take these lists. Thanks so much for this thoughtful response. I really do appreciate it and I am not just trying to be a positive American 😊.
@@shahanashirin2638 I read it so young I am sure I did Germaine was doing. I know it is so many people’s fav. I need to do a re read and see how it hits me now.
I’m only a minute in but if #1 is The Stand I’m out Yeah nah, beautiful character work but way too extended for such a let down/rushed ending. As a whole it was a let down compared to his other work imo: The Shining, Salems Lot, Wizard & Glass, Drawing of the Three, Pet Semetary beat it out of the top spots for being well told stories. The Stand just rambles along in the back half….then a divine being decides to just reach down and stop all this…….cmon man. It’s still fantastic literature but feel it’s overrated
Wrapping up a tale is not always his strong suit I will agree but The Stand still hit me just right. I do love genre blending and this may be 1 of the first reads that opened the door to that love. Sure nostalgia plays a part in it taking the top spot but there it sits.
What can I say it worked for me😂. The cool thing about him is he has so much for all to choose from. Why there are so many different kinda lists out there. Thanks so much for checking out mine.
I am just a sucker for cosmic horror. Really enjoyed the homage it is to all the stuff I grew up reading. But I love how he has so much good work we can all have a different list to enjoy.
The Stand is your #1? yuck? a girl who done all she can to help flagg, only to be demon graped. and that deus ex machina ending is disappointing, disgusting, deplorable, shitty, cheap and downright lazy.
@@Talking_Story i really don't get the love for the Stand. in writing this book, SK wanted to do his own version of Lord of the Rings and/or Watership Down where a group of people traverse a great distance to accomplish something great. i bought the uncut 1500 pages edition of this book. i read from cover to cover (with the audiobook of this book playing in the background). Act 1 was great, Act 2 gets boring quick (even with those extra chapters of Trashcan man), Act 3 is stupid. i am a big big SK fan and the only reason i read The Stand is because it was recommended to me by people like you. people like you praise The Stand like its the best SK ever. i had SUCH high expectations. i literally avoided everyone in the world and shut myself in just to read this uncut version from cover to cover over the course of several days. it was supposed to be amazing. it turned out to be a turd. i hated this book. it is now my belief that ppl who praise this book are christians. i have no trouble with a good vs evil grand theme but it's no where as good as people make it to be. it's ridiculously overrated. none of the characters are particularly memorable. people like you who claims The Stand is his best work potentially harm new readers who wanted to try SK books. they are going to be disappointed. i met many people in my local book club who swore off SK after being recommended The Stand. ppl say 'oh, it's the journey that counts, not the ending'. really? i read 1500 pages just to get a shitty ending? imagine you watching 10hrs of Lord of the Rings trilogy and get an ending 'and Frodo woke up and realised it was all just a dream. He's safely in bed in Bag End, oh what a dream'. After all, it's the journey that counts right? i have read nearly 3 dozen of his books. 11/22/63, the shining, misery, different seasons. if i have to pick one book, it would have to be 11/22/63. his SCARIEST book in my opinion is the shining. i read this book in broad daylight with the sun shining on the beach and it stilll scared the crap out of me, till this day, i dare not pick up that book again, lest i have nightmares).
@@paulinelambert7780 11/22/63 is great and I agree and as a pure horror read you can’t beat The Shining. I know we don’t see eye to eye on The Stand. Have you tried his Dark Tower series where he tries his hand at a more epic fantasy tale as well? I would put it on my best fantasy series list although it gets a lot of criticism for the ending as well.
@@Talking_Story Dark Tower series? hell no, these books fall into the 'its the journey that counts, not the ending'. i aint gonna read 10 books just to get a crappy ending. i rather use those countless hours doing my nails, shopping, cooking, etc
Talisman and Black House hold a special place for me because they are so tied to the Dark Tower which would most assuredly be on my all time fantasy list. Did not consider them because I took off all books that are co written with someone. Just to narrow the field down for myself. Thanks so much watching and sharing!
The Talisman is a classic, I searched for a hardback copy. I read that after my coworker gave me a copy of Mystery by Straub, unbelievable how much those characters stay with you.
Mr Meredes is good, but Finders Keepers is by far my fav of that trilogy Love to see Night Shift so high! his best short story collection Revival is fantastic! likewise, love the ending! IT is great, but i think its overrated a little bit, a bit too long, and the ending isn't too great imo Misery is my 2nd fav King novel, awesome!!! The Shining is great, but I actually prefer the movie lol and I've actually enjoyed my rereads of Doctor Sleep more Wizard and Glass is fantastic, Drawing of the Three is my personal fav DT book though 11/22/63 is very overrated imo, love the premise but didn't love a lot of the middle section Different Seasons is also my favorite novella collection, totally agree with you that his shorter works are fantastic The Stand is King's most overrated book IMO, i love the first third of the book, after that its long winded and boring for me
Checked out your channel. Awesome stuff. I was excited to subscribe. I hope Holly is 1 of those we differ on as I have that set up for an October read. Thanks again for checking me out and all the feedback. I do like the way so many people have a different list for King. Speaks highly of his work that it impacts readers differently and hits us differently if we read in different times of our lives.
Love the passion! I have yet to really begin my King journey but this is getting me excited to try all the ones on my shelf! I’ve read Salem’s Lot and Apt Pupil so far and liked both and need to keep going!
Great list! My personal favorite King book is "Salem's Lot", if you haven't yet read that one, I highly recommend reading it. Especially during the early autumn months when it takes place.
@@Talking_Story "No story exists without its past and the Past of a story is what enables us to understand it,but because-precisely because,I am so aware of the past pressing in on my own story,I wish to allow it to leak in when it must,and not butter it over the beginning."-If You Can See Me Now- IMO the best book the most enjoyable book to the and reread over and again on the days it takes place.
I do like Bag of Bones and it was on the list but then I had to start cutting. It is like Pet Sematary. I think I read it a little young to get and appreciate all the themes he was exploring. I bet if I did a re read now I would have very different feeling for it.
…it’s like that Norman Rockwell, Frank Capra, Americana feel, but it’s through a funhouse mirror…” Great description of Stephen King’s vibe. In my 50s, been reading him since stumbling on Night Shift as a kid.
I'm in the process of finishing up 'Salem's Lot now. Great list! I haven't read any of them, but I plan on working through his books for The Dark Tower series. I'm looking forward to it.
I find his short stories most attractive with King. Most of my favorites are shorts. Also, when he keeps out the supernatural stuff, or at least keeps to a minimum.
I'm finding it so difficult to rank King books. I've become a Constant Reader recently and everything is so damn good!! IT is my favourite book ever. I recently devoured Misery. Really enjoyed Cujo, Christine, The Dead Zone. Pet Sematary, The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and Duma Key are all great reads for me. 11.22.63 was also fabulous. It's so difficult!!
Oh i made this list at least 10 times and looking back I still don't have it right. So many good choices. I have picked up Duma Key recently since I have heard so many say it is one of their favs and I have not read that 1 yet. If I revisit this list again in '24 I'm sure it will have changed.
Amazing video, only started reading King this year and now everytime i finish a book I get the itch to read another! And this video has amplified that itch 😂
I like Wizard and Glass, EXCEPT for the fact that it kind of "derails" the ENTIRE story. They are chugging along (Blaine is a pain) and then Roland just throws it into park and decides to tell them about his childhood. No!
I can see your point captain trips but also I’m universe it’s probably thrown in park for an hour or two or not at all if Roland’s telling this story as they’re traveling. It’s been a while since I read it so I can’t remember exactly how Roland’s telling is framed.
So nice to see "Revival" in there. It flew a bit under the radar, but for me it's even in his Top 5. Just a great horror novel and not too long either. Another underrated one for me is "The Wind Through The Keyhole". While it's not really necessary to the main Dark Tower plot, I love the layered storytelling, the fairytale feeling and the worldbuilding in there.
Thanks so much for checking out the list. Love the Dark Tower but I have not got to Wind Through the Keyhole. After your praise I will be picking it up soon.
I haven’t read it in decades, but Pet Semetary has the perfect. 11/22/63 could have been a great book, but his rules about time travel were just ludicrous. He could have taken a page from HG Wells and just let the time travel happen instead of trying to justify it.
There is a lot to learn from Wells I am with u! I think I have to go back and read Pet Semetary. I was too young for the themes to resonate with me. I had not experienced loss and fears that parenthood brings. His stuff can hit you differently in different stages of life.
I started my King journey this year. So far I've read The Shining, Billy Summers and Fairy Tale. Enjoyed all three of them. Now in October I'm actually planning on reading Revival so it's nice to see it in your top 10. If I have time I also want to read 11/22/63 this year. I've been looking forwards to that one for a very long time.
I loved 11/22/63 and then watched the TV series... thought it was one of the best screen adaptations of his. Normally I watch them and complain, not the case. My wife became hooked on the show. The tv mini series seems to be the best for his stuff because they have more time... was not disappointed with Mr. Mercedes tv series. The poison scene, just wow... more powerful than the book... don't want to go into to much detail with spoilers. So recommend watching them after reading..
@@--harry_ I have watched both those and enjoyed them a lot. His adaptations swing from great to not good for me. Mini series do seem to work well as they have more time for character growth. Actually thanks for reminding me I don’t think I ever caught the last season of Mr Mercedes I will have to find that 1!
Really good video, really good list. No disagreement and I learned some things. Wanna say though…. From a Buick 8… no, it’s not Top 10 but I love it. Wish people talked about it.
I think with the 10 you picked I would go: It > 11/22/63 > Different Seasons > The Stand > Wizard & Glass > The Shining > Revival > Misery > Mr. Mercedes > Night Shift But you cant really go wrong, all of them are great. I could easily switch around any of the top 5 on any given day. Plenty of others that probably would have made my top 10 vs a few of the ones you selected, but I'd have to think on it some.
I went back and forth so many times. 😂So awesome to compare lists with folks and see the impact and memories Mr. King has given us all with so many great reads!
@@hanjesse31 Both great! Both on my list during the war with myself to cut it to 10. I read Green Mile when it first came out in installments and I think the wait between those installments colored my enjoyment. I bet if I re read it straight through it would overtake something on the list. A curse with the single word of thinner whispered to someone? C’mon that is good stuff! I completely agree with you.
Today’s list: 1. The Stand 2. Different Seasons 3. 11/22/63 4. The Wizard in Glass 5. The Shining 6. Misery 7. It 8. Revival 9. Night Shift 10. Mr. Mercedes
Hey, great list! Switch Night Shift with Different Seasons and find a place for Pet Semetary in there and I agree 100%. I've always said that Stephen King and Edgar Allen Poe are the two greatest short story writers of all time. In his book, On Writing, King bemuses that the majority of his fans think The Stand is his greatest book, even though he wrote it many years ago. He may not like it, but I agree. I put The Stand among the greatest books ever written and definitely among the greatest books ever written by an American.
I bet if I re read Pet Semetary it would make the list. I was so young when I read it I don’t think I got it at all. Thanks so much for checking out the list.
Hi John, I am currently three books into the dark tower and planning on continuing with book 4 soon. After book four, i have seen some reading list which suggest i read other kings works like IT, salems lot, insomnia etc. before i start book 5. I did this in between 2 and 3 when i read the stand which i did enjoy but not sure it enhanced my dark tower experience. Would you suggest and king reads to enhance my dark tower experience? I hear the more the series goes on the more connections throughout. Thanks!
@@masonmclaughlin7905 I would say yes to Salems Lot between and then you can pick up Insomnia after. The others can be totally up to you. Depending on how much of a completists you are.
They filmed SALEMS LOT in Ferndale CA...Top Northern CA Area. My mother lived there and winded up in the movie they filmed. An actor named David Soul I think was in it. And an actress named Stephanie Powers back then....
Your take on King's work is admirable & I agree with 99% of it. However, IT & The Stand are damn near perfect until the end. Yes, his characters are amazing, I think of Bill Denbrough & Larry Underwood almost daily as different situations arise & those characters just pass through my mind. But both endings, especially The Stand were so bad I have no words. I don't have the words to explain how I felt about those endings. There are things he's written that I thought were perfect beginning to end, Hearts in Atlantis is foremost in my head right now. Different Seasons, as you mentioned, as well. Anyhow, I know my opinion counts for nothing in the great scheme of things but I just wanted to comment.
I guess it’s all about perspective. I loved The Dark Tower series. It was long and wordy but filled with literary dynamite. The split personality of Odetta Walker, Eddie climbing out of his addiction and Roland the gunslinger triumphant but with a great cost were page turning reads.
I think The Stand is the best fentasy book written by King. In many ways it is is much better than his Dark Tower series. I would probably place Stand second after Lord of the Rings of best fantasy novels ever written
1. The Stand 2. It 3. 11.22.63 4. The Shining 5. The Green Mile 6. Salem 7. Misery 8. Duma Key 9. Billy Summers 10. The Institute I love Desperation and The Dead Zone too. The order might change from 1 to 5, as well as from 6 to 10. I'm about to finish reading Holly and I'm going to buy Needful Things, which I watched the miniseries years ago. One of my favorite movies ever is The Shawshank Redemption.
HIs best book bar none is 11-22-63. The Stand was truly awful. Very drawn out and self-congratulatory narrative passages that do nothing to further the story.
The Stand has such a special place in my heart it blew me away when I read it. I did read it when I was much younger. I wonder if there are some hazy glasses in place due to time and I would feel differently with a re read. I am certain other of his books would hit differently now.
I agree, his short stories are awesome. They are very tight, focused, and compelling. Whereas a lot of Stephen King's longer novels are hit or miss for me because they take so long for anything to happen, and I lose interest.
Great list apart from The Stand; it's so overrated. The Road is much better. I strongly agree with you regarding King's best work is the short story and novella collections. Love Different Seasons.
If I was just doing a post apocalyptic list I cannot argue with you. McCarthy’s The Road would take top spot. For number 2 not sure which would win the scrap between Swann Song and The Stand? Can’t forget Canticle for Lebowitz! This could be a great list. Thanks for watching and the suggestion!
Great list! In my opinion, Wizard and Glass is definitely top 5 and the best book of the DTS by far! The series hit its peak with that book and then took a nosedive.
So cool to see Different Seasons at no. 2 and Night Shift in the top ten, couldn’t agree more. Great post.
His shorter stuff hits so hard for me. Looking forward to the novellas coming out later this year.
I think we had 6 in common! I always love seeing a Stephen King top 10. I get to the end and think "yeah, right on!"
So many I wish could fit!
My Stephen King Top 10 books :
1. It (1986)
2. The Shining (1977)
3. The Green Mile (1996)
4. 11/22/63 (2011)
5. Pet Sematary (1983)
6. Needful Things (1991)
7. Salem’s Lot (1975)
8. Misery (1987)
9. The Stand (1978/1990)
10. Duma Key (2008)
Honorable mentions:
Dead Zone , Christine, Firestarter, The Institute, Different Seasons, Full Dark No Stars, Billy Summers.
I need to read Duma Key, Billy Summers and the Institute. Thanks so much for this I will move these up on my TBR. I gotta admit alot of your list was on my list at 1 time or another. I am continually second guessing myself! Thanks so much again!
Hey man just finished pet sematary and am planning on reading 11/22/63 is it good or do you any other recommendations?
@@mybruh8614 it is very good IMO. A bit slower paced and not a horror more of a time travel story. If that sounds what u r looking for dive in.
@@mybruh8614ST's 11 63 is WONDERFUL BOOK. But honestly only if you are old enough to remember the 60's.... its helpful that he can take a person to a decade....especially events like the JFK horror that went down. His book is mesmerizing how he can take you back.....
It’s hard to argue. All are good stories.
I loved this list! As I have only read The Shining and now ready to take on It for the month of October, I’m so excited to the King experience again! Great video John!
Thanks so much for kind words. Means more than you can know.
Respect the list man! I’m 19 years old and started reading king when I was 17. So far I’ve read just under 40 of his works. I think these are my Top 10 at the moment:
1. The Green Mile
2. Pet Sematary
3. IT
4. The Shining
5. Cujo
6. Misery
7. Blaze (Richard Bachman)
8. Salem’s Lot
9. Gerald’s Game
10. Different Seasons
Honourable mention: On Writing: Memoir of the Craft
Wow 40 in 2 years! I respect your list! I find it awesome that King keeps getting new fans like yourself. A great story is timeless! Thanks so much for sharing this list with me and for checking out the channel.
@@Talking_Story I became a super fan after my first read of his which was Misery. From there I was hooked and I’ve been obsessed ever since!! My copy of The Deadzone arrived today so that will be my next read!! I read mr Mercedes a few days ago and thought it was brilliant. I’ll also be writing my dissertation at university on Stephen king too as I study / am majoring in English Lit 😊
@@louisstorey3241 I have great memories of Dead Zone! Let me know what you think of it. Good luck on that degree program! U plan on writing, teaching or both?
This is a very solid list! The Stand is my favourite too!
Thanks! Read it soooo many years ago and to this day it has stuck with me.
Great list! I’m surprised not to see Pet Sematary. One of only a few books that has ever made me cry.
Read it when it first came out and I don’t think I got it. If I re read now after being a parent and processing some loss myself I bet it would hit me hard and make the list. He is writer that I find puts so much of his own experiences and fears onto the page that if you are in the sweet spot with him of life experience the work hits you so differently.
@@Talking_Storymy grandfather has always been a big King fan and he told me that he got Pet Sematary the weekend it came out. Now, at the time, my mom and uncles were all under 10 and they lived right on a very busy road just past a blind culture. He got to the page where Gage died, immediately put the book down, grabbed his key, then went to go buy the lumber to put up a front yard fence. He's never finished reading the book.
@@caitlinbrewer4843 wow that is great story. Did he ever try another King book ?
@@Talking_Story Yes, plenty of them. He was the one to introduce me to King. Never finished that book.
@@caitlinbrewer4843 Ahhhh. Great memories sharing stories like that. Special to me you have shared it with me now.
Great job on this video. You're entertaining dude, great job.
Wow thanks so much for the kind words and for watching. Means more than you know.
Yeah! I agree. His enthusiasm makes me want to revisit some of these books. I’ve read them all but some it’s been awhile
One of the best commentaries in a top 10 stephen king video. Nice job
Wow! Thanks so much for that.
Great list. I'd also have The Stand #1, with The Shining at #2. The Dead Zone would make the top 10 somewhere. He has so many great works that it's hard to limit it to just 10.
@@MikeD_ so so hard. I really love Dead Zone as well.
I love your list and agree the "The Stand" is King's best work. I would like to ask if you've ever read "Swan Song" by Robert McGammon. It is basically the same story except the apocalyptic event is nuclear war, not a virus. McGammon's description of nuclear war are incredibly vivid, and the character work is almost as good as that in "The Stand". I think that if you enjoyed "The Stand", and haven't read it, then you will love "Swan Song".
McCammon's Swann Song is a fav. I love the Matthew Corbett series as well. I think I have almost read all of his stuff.
I didn’t like the ending. Stephen King isn’t the best at endings.
@@garythompson3223 He is not the strongest at endings at times I do have to agree. He is definitely the character journey is more important than the destination kind of writer.
Great list...thanks. Reading Stephen King becomes a very personal journey as he speaks to the reader at a level I've never experienced before. Pet Sematary was so disturbing...especially as I was a new dad when I first read it. The Dead Zone...which is not talked about much...is still one of my favorites. If you only watch the screen adaptations and never read the books you are missing out.
I completely agree with you. I think he puts a lot of himself into his characters. That makes them so recognizable and relatable. It also makes the books hit you differently depending on what stage of life you are in when reading. I read Pet Cemetery and Dead Zone when they first came out. Along with Firestarter I have a soft spot for them but I bet if I re read them they would make a different impression and I would have to re do my list yet again. Thanks so much for checking out the list!
I could not have said this better. His writing just resonates somehow.
I feel he does such a great job of channeling what he is going through in different periods of his life to the page that it just speaks to our experience. Let me know if you decide to pick up the Stand. @@pattic6077
There’s not a single booktuber I know who’s a stephen king fan that doesn’t have 11/22/63 in their top list. I’m currently 20% into it, and I am soooo anxious to know how it ties everything together since I heard a lot of people cried through the ending. Also, have you read Pet Sematary? What did you think about it? I really wanna read it next because I’ve heard great things about how King handled grief & loss in the story.
I read Pet Cemetery when it first came out and I don’t think I was in a place in life to appreciate all it did and the themes it has. I bet if I re read it now after being a parent and having to process loss it would make my list. I think that is the mark of a good writer though if their stuff hits differently through different periods of your life.
Also let me know what you think of 11/22/63 when you finish.
@@Talking_Story I completely agree. Having recently lost my dad, who I consider to be one of my best friends, drew me into reading books with themes exploring grief, so I was curious what you thought about it. Anyways, another great video, John! ☺️👌🏽
@@NellyVilla09 Thanks so much. So sorry to hear about your loss. I have had enough years go by since the loss of my father that I know he is not gone cause I see him every time I look in the mirror. Always worked to be my own person and now I find so much comfort to see him in who I am.
@@Talking_Story It might take a while since it’s a pretty thick book, but so far it’s well on its way to being a 5-star read!
1. The Stand
2. Misery
3. Pet Semetary
4. Salem’s Lot
5. Different Seasons
6. It
7. 11.22.63
8. Christine
9. The Dead Zone
10 The Shining
Nice! Thanks so much for sharing. I think the universal choice I am getting is Pet Semetary. I gotta go back and re read. I now see I read it to young and didn’t get was he was writing. Just finished Holly and will have a full review by next week. Thanks so much for watching!
Great video and nice list. As someone who has absolutely no ties to America, it always amazes me that Stephen King draws me in and makes me feel like I belong there.
I think the criticism he received in some places re his ability to write perfect endings was possibly justified but he absolutely nails every other aspect and he has improved his endings too in my opinion.
I started reading his books back in the late 70’s, getting his early novels from my sister who was a fan before me. And I have continued to be a fan up to the present day.
On January 1st this year I decided to go back to the very beginning and read as many of his novels back to back as I can, starting with Carrie. I finished Pet Sematary yesterday so it’s going well and these rereads are bringing back so many memories!
I read those so long ago I think re-reads are in order as well. I bet they would hit me very differently now. Thanks so much for kind a words and checking out the list. I really appreciate this comment let me know how your walk down memory lane with King continues.
I am 59 years old and fell in love with Stephen King books with my readings of Night Shift, The Shining, The Dead Zone, Different Seasons, Salem’s Lot, etc. back when I was in middle school. I took a 25 year hiatus but have been catching up on audible. I feel that many of his post 2000 books are AMAZING! Similar to what you said, the list could change tomorrow but here is my top 10 list right now:
10 - Different Seasons
9 - Mr. Mercedes
8 - The Outsider
7 - Duma Key
6 - Misery
5 - The Shining
4 - Pet Semetary
3 - Night Shift
2 - 11/22/63
1 - Revival
Wow we almost have the same story. I found him young and had layoff as well. I just ordered a copy of Duma Key in yesterday as it I see on so many other’s list that have responded to mine. Thank you so much for sharing your list and for checkin out mine.
Hey am planning on reading some
Stephen King books now am about to finish Carrie
Can you give me some recommendations?
@@mybruh8614 I would say stay early King and move onto Dead Zone, Firestarter and The Shining. If you want a short story collection go for Night Shift.
How could The Stand not make your list?
Your #2 is mostly my #1. He so expertly puts you right back to where and when history takes you where you cant forget nor unfortunately change.
Top 5 imo, 1, The DeadZone, 2 Different Seasons 3 The Drawing of the Three, 4, Cujo, 5, Christine. He actually is the best writer ever as he can do it all, not just horror. And he loves AC⚡️DC. Hehe. 🐀
I am with you he has been on my top fav list for decades. Dead Zone and Drawing of the 3 were on my list. Still second guessing some of my choices. Thanks so much for sharing your top 5 and of course for watching.
Aaaah yesss THE STAND! Couldn't agree more , my favorite book ❤
So gooood!
1. The Stand
2. The Shining
3. Different Seasons
4. Pet Sematary
5. IT
6. Misery
7. Firestarter (this one is really underrated for some reason)
8. Cujo
9. The Dead Zone
10. Christine
If I could extend this list to 11, I'd choose Revival. For 12, I might actually choose Full Dark, No Stars, if only because of A Good Marriage, which is one of the darkest and strongest things he's written since Apt Pupil, imo. It's also very cool how many of us can agree on The Stand.
Had Firestarter on my list along with Dead Zone. Hated to cut those. They are really great early works. After so many people sharing their list it has made me think a lot and I am sure my list would be different if I made it again. Crazy how much great stuff is in 1 author’s catalog. Thanks so much for checking out the list and sharing.
1. Wizard and glass
2. The shining
3. Under the dome
4. Four past midnight
5. Night shift
6. Misery
7. The running man/the long walk..(4 X Richard Bachman)
8. The tommyknockers
9. The Dark tower final - The dark tower
10. Skeleton Crew
This is my list..some are the same in ranking..I love to see. great video!
Thanks so much for checking out the list and sharing yours!
I’m curious where you would put the long walk and salems lot would they be top 20? I love the long walk I wouldn’t say it’s my number one or anything like that but it’s a piece of work that I can come back to over and over again like a really good sitcom or The Thing(1982)
Yes The Thing! Both of those were both on the list and it was so hard to cut them. He wrote Long Walk as a teen which blows me away. For sure they would make top 15. This list plagues me still cause there are so many I love not on it.
I loved this. I've only recently got into Stephen King and read 3 of his novels (misery, the shining and the institute) that were all brilliant! I'm hoping to read the stand next because the plot interests me so much and I feel that it would become one of my favourite books.
If you enjoy The Stand, and you will, check out Sean Song by Robert McCammon. 1 of my all time favs!
I've noticed that most people that do Stephen King rankings always have 11/22/63 ranked very high. I honestly couldn't get into it. I loved the time travel concept and the constant butterfly effects from the things he does in the past. I just felt like the love story between Jake and Sadie was too much for me. I felt it got to the point where Jake was making such dumb decisions because of his love for Sadie and his growing love for the time period. It honestly started to pull me out of the storyline and became distracting to the overall arc of the story. I find that not many people share my opinion so I would love to see what others thought of 11/22/63. Maybe I should give it a reread. Great video though brother, I love seeing the way different Stephen King fans view his stories. I'd probably replace 11/22/63 with Needful Things, or Under The Dome.
Thanks so much for the watch. I had Needful Things on the list up till the very end. I do like that 1 a lot. I bet if I re did the list it might stay on. I have been second guessing my list since it went up. You are so right he has such a catalog and been a part of our lives for so long he hits all of us differently depending on our own pasts and what part of our lives we read his stories in. Remarkable career!
@Talking_Story Absolutely! My favorite writer by far. I've been working my way through his catalog over the past year and a half, im about half way through Desperation and I'm going to read The Regulators next. I would love to see a video on Bachman vs King, comparing the changes in writing styles and tone he uses under his real name and his pseudonym, I find when he writes as Bachman he uses a totally different writing style, and I would love to hear others opinions on it.
Oh that is a great idea! I would love to do a re read of some of his stuff and do that when I get caught on some the stuff I have fallen behind on. Again thanks so much for the great tip! @@KB-jm8fs
@Talking_Story You're welcome! Keep on reading and keep up the great work
My top 10 of only his novels. Many of his novellas and short stories are amazing and deserve their own ranking.
1. The Stand
2. Books 2, 3 & 4 of Dark Tower (I can't bring myself to rank them separately)
3. It
4. Misery
5. The Green Mile
6. Salem's Lot
7. Carrie
(These last 3 are highly underrated, IMO)
8. Needful Things
9. Dorothy Claiborne
10. Duma Key
Amazing list! Thanks so much for sharing. Will be reading Duma Key this October.
At 42 I just read King for the first time a few months back, Needful Things. Good read, great character development, great villain as well. Then I read IT, finished it a few hrs ago actually. Blown away. The ritual of Chud, the interdemsional demonic realm, a turtle puking up galaxies, that stuff took the book to another level for me, fucking incredible. And yea, the pre teen gangbang definitely caught me off guard. It’s a crazy fucked up book that I really enjoyed from start to finish.
Crazy f’ed up book is a perfect description. 😂Such a fun read. Welcome to the world of King. Never too late.
@@Talking_Story haha happy to be here
Great list there. At the moment (although like you, it can change at any time), here is my current top 10.
1. The Stand
2. It
3. The Dark Tower VII - The Dark Tower
4. 11/22/63
5. Needful Things
6. Salem's Lot
7. Under the Dome
8. The Dark Tower II - The Drawing of the Three
9. The Dark Tower III - The Waste Lands
10. The Green Mile.
If I was to include collections, I think the only one that would get close to the top 10 would be 'Full Dark No Stars', which I loved every minute of. Generally, I'm a fan of his full novels rather than the shorter works, although he's had some killer short stories/Novellas over the years.
Thanks so much for your list and for checking out my list. I as well am a huge Dark Tower fan and when I finally put out my all time fantasy series list it will for sure be on it. I tried to just put 1 Dark Tower book on to save slots. There was a time when I had under the Dome and Needful Things on there. I think every day commenting back and forth with others I should take another try😂. Again thanks so much for checking out the list always great to find another Tower fan!
@@Talking_Story It's weird, because I'm not really a fantasy fan at all. In fact, my only real dips into that world are the Dark Tower and the UK Fighting Fantasy gamebooks that were popular in the 80s. But there's something about the Dark Tower that goes beyond fantasy, as it delves into so many different genres. Also, as an aside, how much better is 'The Gunslinger' on a re-read after you've finished the whole series? It makes so much more sense!
@@StewartyMac Yes! It is genre bending in so many ways and at its heart is a love letter about storytelling and the importance of story to our species that it can move any kind of reader I think. Have never done a re read. I may have to schedule that. I bet it moves different if you are not waiting years between books.
I was about 16 I had just left school and I was lucky I went directly from school straight into my first job as a Butchers assistant . To go from the safety and comfort of school directly into doing 8 hour shifts and 12 hours on a weekend in my areas busiest Butchers was a shock to my system. I lasted 5 months before I left and still being 16 and out of work I had a ton of free time on my hands. My Grandfather had this huge bag full of old books his friend had given him. There was the Bachman Books, TheTommyknockers , Cuju and IT and some of the Clive barkers books of blood and many others. I always remember reading The Tommyknockers first and with being so young I could vividly imagine every character and scene in the book so clearly in my mind it was as if I was watching a movie in my mind . I was young and still lived at home so I had no problems or issues I Could just enjoy stories in such a pure and innocent form . I got another job working at sea and continued to work my way through a lot of books but unfortunately as I got older and had more responsibilities , stresses , worries and problems by about the age of 21 I couldn't visualise the story as beautifully in my mind as I could those first few years of reading
Thanks so much for sharing this. I like you discovered King at a young age and also I visualize what I read. So sorry you lost this ability as life went on. It is a big reason why I stay away from audiobooks. I can’t see what I read if I am listening to someone else’s interpretation of the text. Thanks again for sharing and checking out the list.
Joe Hill’s (King’s son) the Black Phone is also an amazing collection of short stories. The very first one scared the absolute crap out of me.
I loved 20th Century Ghosts. I need to read the Black Phone.
I reread a few SK classics a couple of years ago and all went down in my appreciation except one that now is my favorite, Pet Sematary. High on my list is The Long Walk and The Mist. But i have to agree that the first half of The Stand and Salem's Lot are as good as can get for a horror novel. Great Video
Thanks so much for the kind words. I am confident from talking with folks that I read Pet Semetary too young and did not get what he was laying down. Now having dealt with loss and helping to raise a son I must schedule a re read.
@@Talking_Story Exactly! i read it in my late teens and i liked it but it wasn't even one of my favorites. Reread it in my late 40's and became my number 1 SK novel. I find it better written than most of his classics maybe because something you mentioned in your video: it is a shorter novel than his usual, 374 pages in my edition. I think you are up to something. Subscribed!
@@carlosbranca8080 Thanks for the sub!
My favorite is Salem's Lot. I love the Shining too. I didn't like The Stand. It just wasn't my kind of story. I have often thought about trying to read it again but it's such a huge book that every time I think about picking it up again I remember how long it took me the first time and I talk myself out of it 😂
It is a huge 1. Salem’s Lot and Shining are both great!
Loved your video!! Subscribed!! This is a really good list. How did you like, You Like it Darker? I really enjoyed it. I was not a huge fan of Fairytale.
I've read about half of his books. I feel like the oddball because I just really didn't like The Gunslinger.
Everyone loves The Stand, that is the next one I'm going to read that I haven't read.
Have you read Blaze? I think it's one of his earliest books that he wrote as a teen or something, I really liked it, gave me Of Mice and Men vibes.
Some of my favorites were Duma Key, Needful Things, Later, Mr Mercedes, the institute, Billy Summers, and of course Different Seasons, IT, and The Shining.
✌️
@@casey7409 so awesome a lot on your list I have to catch up on. I am doing Duma Key in October. I am about half way through the new collection and am liking it quite a bit. Let me know your thoughts when you start the Stand.
We have several in common and I have to agree that The Stand is phenomenal.
Have you given Swan Song by McCammon a try?
@@Talking_Story I haven't read that so will add it to my list. Thank you.
Oh I think you will love it if The Stand makes your list of favs. @@NerdyKathi
THANK YOU! Stephen King's character work is impeccable. However, I got so disappointed by his endings that I haven't read him for a long time. I don't think I've read enough of his work at this point to put together an accurate Top Ten but my 2 favorites (for very different reasons) are The Dead Zone and It. Though that may have a lot to do with when I read them. I still have to finish the Gunslinger series and I do want to read 11/22/63.
Dead Zone was on my list at 1 point as I debated myself. That and Firestarter are a couple early King books I have a great fondness for.
It's so hard to make a top ten list for Stephen King. A lot of the ones you put on there would be on mine but a few would be different and in a different order except the #1.
So many goodies to choose from! He has spoiled us
My top 10:
1. It
2. 11/22/63
3. Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
4. Pet Sematary
5. Lisey's Story
6. Salem's Lot
7. Revival
8. The Green Mile
9. The Stand
10. The Shining
We have quite a few on common! Thanks so much for sharing your list with me. Wonderful choices.
@Talking_Story Loved the video. You perfectly articulated what I love about these stories and Stephen King's writing in general!
@@HeroOfTheDay99 oh thanks so much!
ON WRITING! YES....THANK YOU!
My Top Ten:
1- The Stand
2- Pet Sematary
3- Different Seasons
4- Firestarter
5- Revival
6- The Dead Zone
7- Duma Key
8- Night Shift
9- Cujo
10- 22/11/63
Thanks so much for sharing. I have grabbed Duma Key since I see it on so many others list and it is 1 I have missed. Where we don’t cross over I bet if I re read we would be even closer. Awesome list!
@@Talking_Story Duma Key has a sentimental place in my heart. You either love it or you hate it :)
@@specialeducation8789 we line up so closely I am betting I end up on the side of loving it.
@@Talking_Story I believe :)
The Bachman Books: The Long Walk
One of King’s greatest stories.
It is really good and was on the list. So hard to make those cuts. Think he wrote that at a young age too. I need to re read that 1. I have been second guessing my list since it went up. 😂
Yes the long walk is so underrated
Revival is truly underrated!
It sure is! Needs to make more peoples fav list IMO
Pet Sematary and Carrie should be on there. Take out It and Mr Mercedes. This is an unpopular opinion, but I also loved Cell.
@@teaguebates5807 I enjoyed cell. Pet Sematary and Carrie were so long ago for me. I don’t think I understood at the time what he was doing with Pet Sematary. Bet my mind would change with a re read.
1. Salem's Lot
2. The Shinning
3. Pet Sematary
4. Desperation
5. The Dark Half
6. The Green Mile
7. Different Seasons
8. The Stand
9. Needful Things
10. The Dead Zone
Alot of the ones we do not have in common I had on the list at 1 time. So hard to make those cuts!. Thanks so much for checking out the list and for sharing yours.
@@Talking_Story no problem I find the differences fascinating
It is awesome how he has so much that connects with all of us individually in so many different ways. Mark of a an amazing storyteller. @@superkamigurualucardmckee6181
Top Ten for me, no order:
The Shining
The Green Mile
11/22/63
The Stand
Hearts in Atlantis
IT
Carrie
The Tommyknockers
Joyland
The Wastelands (Basically Dark Tower as a whole)
Rare Joyland appearance on a King top 10. I can dig it!
@@Talking_Story i was a teenager, felt super connected to the main character, and thought he perfectly executed the “spooky but really a book about relationships” vibe perfectly.
@@DustinHarrisWHBC he has such a catalog we can all find a perfect vibe somewhere. So amazing to me.
I used to watch horror movies but since I got sucked in by the Misery book I've been reading a lot of his stuff. I can't really get into movies anymore since once you get your mind working in a book after work it is far more scarier where I would get nightmares for a while every night after I read his stuff which was cool. The thing I like about your list even though I haven't read some of it is it's mostly all postmarked after the 70's and his earlier stuff like Cujo and Carrie which I don't care for. I couldn't get into Carrie and am currently reading Salem's Lot now and it's over fleshed out and trivial with gross shallow characters that I'm actually rooting for the vampires. Everybody wets them self, faints, turns pale, or dies of a heart attack when a silly vampire shows up. But it's like once you reach a certain page you just have to push threw and finish it like I did with Pet Semetary, which the last 100+ pages was also overly explained to death in a slow motion long winded process. Like something simple like grabbing your wallet and your keys before you head out turns into a 10 minute flash back about that time you left your wallet by your keys in your car and the brand of wallet was from Joe Blow that made it with his wallet machine that held two singles and a five that were saved up for this example. Just get in the car and go bro. I like details but it's very regressive. Did skim a lot towards the end. But Misery and Apt Pupil wow. I like the downhill pace. I'm looking forward to Duma Key and Desperation next.
I totally get it! He gets way better than his early books. But he got so popular I think no editor would ever tell him to cut anything. I bet you would love Robert Maccammon. He is alot like Stephen King but his action and pace never let up. Try out a book by him called Mine. It never lets up from page 1. It is more thriller than horror but I would put money on you will love it. Thanks so much for watching!
Thanks!@@Talking_Story
@@genosciacca1816 Let me know if you check it out.
The Stand. What a book. Incredible.
What a book indeed. If you have not tried Robert McCammon’s Swan Song and you like The Stand I would say give it a try.
Great list. Here is my list of favourite King books (in no particular order)
11/22/63
Under The Dome
It
Misery
The Dark Half
The Shining
Salem's Lot
Cujo
Pet Sematary
The Stand
Amazing list thanks for sharing! Dark Half is 1 I don’t see on many fav list. Nice!
Reading Christine now. Never seen the movie. Always wanted to read the novel. Incredible book. I read IT, never seen the movie. Stephen King books are not easy to translate into movies. I stick to the books.
Good rule. Can’t go wrong sticking to the books. Shawshank, Misery, Green Mile are some of the best adaptations of you wanna give them a try. Let me know what you think when you wrap up Christine.
Good list but you’re a bit over theatrical when you speak. As a European that is a bit strange to me in Americans. Thanks for inserting the full list at the end, nice touch.
😂I have worked in theatre for a long time so I guess it is hard to drop. What part of Europe do you come from?
@@Talking_Story I am from Portugal 🇵🇹. We gesticulate a lot as well but we generally don’t speak with this much emphasis. Your style of communication is exactly what we picture an American sounds like ahaha. Sometimes it’s hard to filter out good recommendations based on cultural differences because as a rule Americans tend to exagerate and overhype what’s average whereas germans for example downplay everything and something that is great they say it’s just good. Additionally, Americans will sugarcoat or try to be positive even when something is garbage whereas Europeans will straight up say something is worthless without any mercy or care for anyone’s feelings without any disclaimer. Even in the book community this is noticeable. I find it quite funny actually.
@@Carolina-rd3gh Wow I find this fascinating. I have not travelled a great deal so I have not stopped and thought about trends in communication and how they would impact how people take these lists. Thanks so much for this thoughtful response. I really do appreciate it and I am not just trying to be a positive American 😊.
I think kings long books are best the stand, it and under the dome
The Stand is great. I did really enjoy Under the Dome as well.
Okay, "The Stand" is number one, but for me, the best story from King is "The Long Walk"
The Long Walk is really good and he wrote it at a very young age I think. It was on the list and was one of the harder cuts for me for sure.
Night Shift! Yes!
He has always been able to pack such a punch in so few pages. Love his shorter stuff.
U didnt add petsematary😢..its my fav from him😅
@@shahanashirin2638 I read it so young I am sure I did Germaine was doing. I know it is so many people’s fav. I need to do a re read and see how it hits me now.
@@Talking_Story yay🤩
I’m only a minute in but if #1 is The Stand I’m out
Yeah nah, beautiful character work but way too extended for such a let down/rushed ending. As a whole it was a let down compared to his other work imo: The Shining, Salems Lot, Wizard & Glass, Drawing of the Three, Pet Semetary beat it out of the top spots for being well told stories. The Stand just rambles along in the back half….then a divine being decides to just reach down and stop all this…….cmon man.
It’s still fantastic literature but feel it’s overrated
Wrapping up a tale is not always his strong suit I will agree but The Stand still hit me just right. I do love genre blending and this may be 1 of the first reads that opened the door to that love. Sure nostalgia plays a part in it taking the top spot but there it sits.
11:22:63? Really? Good beginning, good ending, turgid 200 odd pages in between!
What can I say it worked for me😂. The cool thing about him is he has so much for all to choose from. Why there are so many different kinda lists out there. Thanks so much for checking out mine.
Revival is tied for my least favorite King book. With Insomnia
I am just a sucker for cosmic horror. Really enjoyed the homage it is to all the stuff I grew up reading. But I love how he has so much good work we can all have a different list to enjoy.
The Stand is your #1? yuck? a girl who done all she can to help flagg, only to be demon graped. and that deus ex machina ending is disappointing, disgusting, deplorable, shitty, cheap and downright lazy.
He has so many books out there no matter your taste he has plenty of favs for everyone. What is yours?
@@Talking_Story i really don't get the love for the Stand. in writing this book, SK wanted to do his own version of Lord of the Rings and/or Watership Down where a group of people traverse a great distance to accomplish something great. i bought the uncut 1500 pages edition of this book. i read from cover to cover (with the audiobook of this book playing in the background). Act 1 was great, Act 2 gets boring quick (even with those extra chapters of Trashcan man), Act 3 is stupid. i am a big big SK fan and the only reason i read The Stand is because it was recommended to me by people like you. people like you praise The Stand like its the best SK ever. i had SUCH high expectations. i literally avoided everyone in the world and shut myself in just to read this uncut version from cover to cover over the course of several days. it was supposed to be amazing. it turned out to be a turd. i hated this book. it is now my belief that ppl who praise this book are christians. i have no trouble with a good vs evil grand theme but it's no where as good as people make it to be. it's ridiculously overrated. none of the characters are particularly memorable. people like you who claims The Stand is his best work potentially harm new readers who wanted to try SK books. they are going to be disappointed. i met many people in my local book club who swore off SK after being recommended The Stand. ppl say 'oh, it's the journey that counts, not the ending'. really? i read 1500 pages just to get a shitty ending? imagine you watching 10hrs of Lord of the Rings trilogy and get an ending 'and Frodo woke up and realised it was all just a dream. He's safely in bed in Bag End, oh what a dream'. After all, it's the journey that counts right?
i have read nearly 3 dozen of his books. 11/22/63, the shining, misery, different seasons. if i have to pick one book, it would have to be 11/22/63. his SCARIEST book in my opinion is the shining. i read this book in broad daylight with the sun shining on the beach and it stilll scared the crap out of me, till this day, i dare not pick up that book again, lest i have nightmares).
@@Talking_Story oh and M-O-O-N that spells silly
@@paulinelambert7780 11/22/63 is great and I agree and as a pure horror read you can’t beat The Shining. I know we don’t see eye to eye on The Stand. Have you tried his Dark Tower series where he tries his hand at a more epic fantasy tale as well? I would put it on my best fantasy series list although it gets a lot of criticism for the ending as well.
@@Talking_Story Dark Tower series? hell no, these books fall into the 'its the journey that counts, not the ending'. i aint gonna read 10 books just to get a crappy ending. i rather use those countless hours doing my nails, shopping, cooking, etc
King is way overrated.
Who tops your author list?
The Talisman, written by King & another master of storytelling, Peter Straub. First time I ever cried at the death of a fictional being. (Wolf)
Talisman and Black House hold a special place for me because they are so tied to the Dark Tower which would most assuredly be on my all time fantasy list. Did not consider them because I took off all books that are co written with someone. Just to narrow the field down for myself. Thanks so much watching and sharing!
The Talisman is a classic, I searched for a hardback copy. I read that after my coworker gave me a copy of Mystery by Straub, unbelievable how much those characters stay with you.
Same - then Oy Died and i cried again in my 30s.
Me too! First time I ever cried from a death in a book. "Right here and now"
Mr Meredes is good, but Finders Keepers is by far my fav of that trilogy
Love to see Night Shift so high! his best short story collection
Revival is fantastic! likewise, love the ending!
IT is great, but i think its overrated a little bit, a bit too long, and the ending isn't too great imo
Misery is my 2nd fav King novel, awesome!!!
The Shining is great, but I actually prefer the movie lol and I've actually enjoyed my rereads of Doctor Sleep more
Wizard and Glass is fantastic, Drawing of the Three is my personal fav DT book though
11/22/63 is very overrated imo, love the premise but didn't love a lot of the middle section
Different Seasons is also my favorite novella collection, totally agree with you that his shorter works are fantastic
The Stand is King's most overrated book IMO, i love the first third of the book, after that its long winded and boring for me
Checked out your channel. Awesome stuff. I was excited to subscribe. I hope Holly is 1 of those we differ on as I have that set up for an October read. Thanks again for checking me out and all the feedback. I do like the way so many people have a different list for King. Speaks highly of his work that it impacts readers differently and hits us differently if we read in different times of our lives.
Gosh. You speak with so much passion I just have to add The Stand to my wish list. Fantastic video 👏👏👏.
Thanks so much I just checked out your channel. Excited to sub to it!
Love the passion! I have yet to really begin my King journey but this is getting me excited to try all the ones on my shelf! I’ve read Salem’s Lot and Apt Pupil so far and liked both and need to keep going!
The Stand is a post apocalypse, epic fantasy type duel between light and dark. With King's character work. It is massive but well worth it!
Great list! My personal favorite King book is "Salem's Lot", if you haven't yet read that one, I highly recommend reading it. Especially during the early autumn months when it takes place.
I have read it and it was on the list at 1 time. Hated having to make some of the cuts I had to do. Thanks so much for watching!
Yes I reread it every August to prepare me for Ghost Story by Peter Straub an even better story telling of what these creatures might be?
Peter Straub is pretty great!@@4thlinemaniac356
Peter Straub is pretty great!@@4thlinemaniac356
@@Talking_Story "No story exists without its past and the Past of a story is what enables us to understand it,but because-precisely because,I am so aware of the past pressing in on my own story,I wish to allow it to leak in when it must,and not butter it over the beginning."-If You Can See Me Now- IMO the best book the most enjoyable book to the and reread over and again on the days it takes place.
Extremely curious, where would you put Bag of Bones? That is easily one of my top 5, and I never hear anyone talk about it.
I do like Bag of Bones and it was on the list but then I had to start cutting. It is like Pet Sematary. I think I read it a little young to get and appreciate all the themes he was exploring. I bet if I did a re read now I would have very different feeling for it.
…it’s like that Norman Rockwell, Frank Capra, Americana feel, but it’s through a funhouse mirror…”
Great description of Stephen King’s vibe. In my 50s, been reading him since stumbling on Night Shift as a kid.
Right there with you!
That was so well said!
Just started Mr. Mercedes tonight. Seeing it on your list got me all the more excited for it!
Oh you r in for fun ride. Let me know what u think.
I'm in the process of finishing up 'Salem's Lot now. Great list! I haven't read any of them, but I plan on working through his books for The Dark Tower series. I'm looking forward to it.
@@thegreatwaugh have a wonderful journey and keep me updated as you move through please.
The stand is not that good.
Great thing about King he has so much work out there everybody can find a favorite that speaks to them. What is your favorite?
CUJO and CHRISTINE are very similar.....but wildly interesting....
Misery.
Right!!!!
I find his short stories most attractive with King. Most of my favorites are shorts. Also, when he keeps out the supernatural stuff, or at least keeps to a minimum.
Why I love Different Seasons so much. I always recommend it readers that haven’t tried him but want to
I'm finding it so difficult to rank King books. I've become a Constant Reader recently and everything is so damn good!! IT is my favourite book ever. I recently devoured Misery. Really enjoyed Cujo, Christine, The Dead Zone. Pet Sematary, The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and Duma Key are all great reads for me. 11.22.63 was also fabulous. It's so difficult!!
Oh i made this list at least 10 times and looking back I still don't have it right. So many good choices. I have picked up Duma Key recently since I have heard so many say it is one of their favs and I have not read that 1 yet. If I revisit this list again in '24 I'm sure it will have changed.
Amazing video, only started reading King this year and now everytime i finish a book I get the itch to read another! And this video has amplified that itch 😂
Thanks so much for watching. So many great reads waiting for you!
I like Wizard and Glass, EXCEPT for the fact that it kind of "derails" the ENTIRE story. They are chugging along (Blaine is a pain) and then Roland just throws it into park and decides to tell them about his childhood. No!
I feel you. It worked for me though in that let's tell a story while we are traveling trope. I was just hungry for Roland's back story I guess.
I can see your point captain trips but also I’m universe it’s probably thrown in park for an hour or two or not at all if Roland’s telling this story as they’re traveling. It’s been a while since I read it so I can’t remember exactly how Roland’s telling is framed.
So nice to see "Revival" in there. It flew a bit under the radar, but for me it's even in his Top 5. Just a great horror novel and not too long either. Another underrated one for me is "The Wind Through The Keyhole". While it's not really necessary to the main Dark Tower plot, I love the layered storytelling, the fairytale feeling and the worldbuilding in there.
Thanks so much for checking out the list. Love the Dark Tower but I have not got to Wind Through the Keyhole. After your praise I will be picking it up soon.
@@Talking_Story Hope you will enjoy it!
@@michaelleuchtenberger434 Sure I will. I find he is like pizza. Even a book that is not my fav is pretty good going down.
@@Talking_Story That's a good comparison. Actually having pizza right now. 😄
I agree , Survival is incredible, i love this and Duma Key
I haven’t read it in decades, but Pet Semetary has the perfect. 11/22/63 could have been a great book, but his rules about time travel were just ludicrous. He could have taken a page from HG Wells and just let the time travel happen instead of trying to justify it.
There is a lot to learn from Wells I am with u! I think I have to go back and read Pet Semetary. I was too young for the themes to resonate with me. I had not experienced loss and fears that parenthood brings. His stuff can hit you differently in different stages of life.
I started my King journey this year. So far I've read The Shining, Billy Summers and Fairy Tale. Enjoyed all three of them. Now in October I'm actually planning on reading Revival so it's nice to see it in your top 10. If I have time I also want to read 11/22/63 this year. I've been looking forwards to that one for a very long time.
I have not got to Billy Summers yet. Let me know what you think of 11/22/63 and Revival. Revival is a great October read for sure!
Revival is SO GOOOOD. Loved Fairy tale and of course the Shining as well
I hope Holly is a good time it is coming up for me at the beginning of October. @@PsilocybeJedi
I loved 11/22/63 and then watched the TV series... thought it was one of the best screen adaptations of his. Normally I watch them and complain, not the case. My wife became hooked on the show. The tv mini series seems to be the best for his stuff because they have more time... was not disappointed with Mr. Mercedes tv series. The poison scene, just wow... more powerful than the book... don't want to go into to much detail with spoilers. So recommend watching them after reading..
@@--harry_ I have watched both those and enjoyed them a lot. His adaptations swing from great to not good for me. Mini series do seem to work well as they have more time for character growth. Actually thanks for reminding me I don’t think I ever caught the last season of Mr Mercedes I will have to find that 1!
Really good video, really good list. No disagreement and I learned some things. Wanna say though…. From a Buick 8… no, it’s not Top 10 but I love it. Wish people talked about it.
I may have to re read that 1.
Revival is the darkest book he's written in ages, and the character work is phenomenal. I loved it so much, super underrated novel! Great list...
It does go to darkest places emotionally and otherwise. Thanks for watching!
Yes it totally is
I think with the 10 you picked I would go: It > 11/22/63 > Different Seasons > The Stand > Wizard & Glass > The Shining > Revival > Misery > Mr. Mercedes > Night Shift But you cant really go wrong, all of them are great. I could easily switch around any of the top 5 on any given day. Plenty of others that probably would have made my top 10 vs a few of the ones you selected, but I'd have to think on it some.
I went back and forth so many times. 😂So awesome to compare lists with folks and see the impact and memories Mr. King has given us all with so many great reads!
The green mile and Thinner
@@hanjesse31 Both great! Both on my list during the war with myself to cut it to 10. I read Green Mile when it first came out in installments and I think the wait between those installments colored my enjoyment. I bet if I re read it straight through it would overtake something on the list. A curse with the single word of thinner whispered to someone? C’mon that is good stuff! I completely agree with you.
1. Cujo
2. The Talisman
3. Salems Lot
4. Nightshift
5. Skeleton Crew
6. Christine
7. Pet Semetary
8. Misery
9. Bachman Books
10. The Stand
What an original list. Rarely see Cujo and Talisman so high. Awesome! I can dig it. Thanks so much for sharing.
Today’s list:
1. The Stand
2. Different Seasons
3. 11/22/63
4. The Wizard in Glass
5. The Shining
6. Misery
7. It
8. Revival
9. Night Shift
10. Mr. Mercedes
@@DKBiedron ohhhh what great minds we have thinking alike. I live the qualifier of today’s list.
Hey, great list! Switch Night Shift with Different Seasons and find a place for Pet Semetary in there and I agree 100%.
I've always said that Stephen King and Edgar Allen Poe are the two greatest short story writers of all time.
In his book, On Writing, King bemuses that the majority of his fans think The Stand is his greatest book, even though he wrote it many years ago. He may not like it, but I agree. I put The Stand among the greatest books ever written and definitely among the greatest books ever written by an American.
I bet if I re read Pet Semetary it would make the list. I was so young when I read it I don’t think I got it at all. Thanks so much for checking out the list.
Hi John, I am currently three books into the dark tower and planning on continuing with book 4 soon. After book four, i have seen some reading list which suggest i read other kings works like IT, salems lot, insomnia etc. before i start book 5. I did this in between 2 and 3 when i read the stand which i did enjoy but not sure it enhanced my dark tower experience. Would you suggest and king reads to enhance my dark tower experience? I hear the more the series goes on the more connections throughout. Thanks!
@@masonmclaughlin7905 I would say yes to Salems
Lot between and then you can pick up Insomnia after. The others can be totally up to you. Depending on how much of a completists you are.
"IT" was OK for me. Other books like The Shining and 11.22.63 impacted me more....LOVE HIM.
He is so good! I am reading his newest collection now between larger reads.
They filmed SALEMS LOT in Ferndale CA...Top Northern CA Area. My mother lived there and winded up in the movie they filmed. An actor named David Soul I think was in it. And an actress named Stephanie Powers back then....
So cool. I remember David Soul from Starsky and Hutch.
Your take on King's work is admirable & I agree with 99% of it. However, IT & The Stand are damn near perfect until the end. Yes, his characters are amazing, I think of Bill Denbrough & Larry Underwood almost daily as different situations arise & those characters just pass through my mind. But both endings, especially The Stand were so bad I have no words. I don't have the words to explain how I felt about those endings. There are things he's written that I thought were perfect beginning to end, Hearts in Atlantis is foremost in my head right now. Different Seasons, as you mentioned, as well. Anyhow, I know my opinion counts for nothing in the great scheme of things but I just wanted to comment.
@@brandonk6327 thanks so much this. I have to agree him being know at times as an author in search of an ending is well earned.
I guess it’s all about perspective. I loved The Dark Tower series. It was long and wordy but filled with literary dynamite. The split personality of Odetta Walker, Eddie climbing out of his addiction and Roland the gunslinger triumphant but with a great cost were page turning reads.
It makes my all time series list! Such a love letter to story of all kinds.
I just started Salems lot as my first Stephen king book
@@aidanscorner847 nice choice!
I think The Stand is the best fentasy book written by King. In many ways it is is much better than his Dark Tower series. I would probably place Stand second after Lord of the Rings of best fantasy novels ever written
Very high praise! Thanks so much for sharing.
1. The Stand
2. It
3. 11.22.63
4. The Shining
5. The Green Mile
6. Salem
7. Misery
8. Duma Key
9. Billy Summers
10. The Institute
I love Desperation and The Dead Zone too.
The order might change from 1 to 5, as well as from 6 to 10.
I'm about to finish reading Holly and I'm going to buy Needful Things, which I watched the miniseries years ago.
One of my favorite movies ever is The Shawshank Redemption.
Love this list. 8 through 10 I have not read but they are all on the stack. Thanks so much for sharing this!
I haven't read many Stephen King books yet, but i thought Under The Dome was amazing! have you read this one?
@@jennyjones5772 I have many years ago. It was very good!
Needful Things. 11.22.63. My two favorites.
Great ones!
HIs best book bar none is 11-22-63. The Stand was truly awful. Very drawn out and self-congratulatory narrative passages that do nothing to further the story.
The Stand has such a special place in my heart it blew me away when I read it. I did read it when I was much younger. I wonder if there are some hazy glasses in place due to time and I would feel differently with a re read. I am certain other of his books would hit differently now.
I agree, his short stories are awesome. They are very tight, focused, and compelling. Whereas a lot of Stephen King's longer novels are hit or miss for me because they take so long for anything to happen, and I lose interest.
He can meander and sometimes I feel it is in search of an ending. But his shorter stuff pack a concise punch most of the time for me.
I like your judgment on the books John bought up some good books Burnett county do all the books
Thanks!
Great list apart from The Stand; it's so overrated. The Road is much better. I strongly agree with you regarding King's best work is the short story and novella collections. Love Different Seasons.
If I was just doing a post apocalyptic list I cannot argue with you. McCarthy’s The Road would take top spot. For number 2 not sure which would win the scrap between Swann Song and The Stand? Can’t forget Canticle for Lebowitz! This could be a great list. Thanks for watching and the suggestion!
I agree with Different Seasons. Some of the best work he's ever done. Dolores Claiborne is on my list.
Yesss. Dolores is great!
Great list! In my opinion, Wizard and Glass is definitely top 5 and the best book of the DTS by far! The series hit its peak with that book and then took a nosedive.
It is my fav of the series for sure.
Overall, great list. I would definitely want some The Green Mile or Carrie representation up there though.
Those are both very strong choices I cannot disagree.
Thoughts on his newer fantasy "Fairy Tale"?
I liked the first half. The second half left me a bit cold.
Finally someone mentioned Revival, I loved that book.
@@flufftronable yes! Heck of a great read.