Thread: The Best Stephen King Books?

Well, I'm going on vacation on Friday down to Virgina Beach. The ride is about seven hours long, maybe less, maybe more. Every year I go down there with my friends, I bring about three books. This year, I'm bringing the Stand and two other Stephen King novels. Though, I've heard that not all of his stuff is great. So, can any one recommend me his best books? Thank you!

Try Duma Key. I never finished it, but it seemed good enough.

Originally Posted by JHB

Try Duma Key. I never finished it, but it seemed good enough.

Hell no. Duma Shit starts strong and turns to steaming shit halfway through. Cujo and Misery are vintage King. If you're new to him, pick up The Shining and Salem's Lot. I didn't care for either but they're not considered classics just because. That said, I recommend Cujo and Misery. Read Cujo last, as it is the best of all three.

Don't bring The Stand. For the love of God, don't bring The Stand! The first five-hundred pages are good. The following fifteen-hundred or so are complete and utter tosh.

Bring The Shining or Cell.

I hated Cell! It even stunk up my house when I burned the awful thing!

I don't read much Stephen King, anyways.

I'd say Thinner was probably the most edge of the seat for me.

I prefer his drama's more: apt pupil and the long walk

Or how about the books he wrote as Richard Bachman? I forget the names - I read them years ago - but they were pretty good

I agree with Sam - don't take the Stand...or Needful Things!

Dolores Claiborne, IT, any of the short story/novella collections, The Green Mile, The Stand, Eyes of the Dragon

I'd recommend his Dark Tower series, except the first (the gunslinger) isn't that great (I suppose as he wrote it when he was 19). The others are fantastic however - the gunslinger is only about 200 pages anyway - perhaps you could skim read that and move on to Drawing of the Three after! I liked Carrie and Cell, but don't try Lisey's Story; it is boring.

I'd save Salem's Lot from a fire...one I'd started with his other books.
*snore*

Thanks for all the suggestions! ;]

Originally Posted by Sam Winchester

Don't bring The Stand. For the love of God, don't bring The Stand! The first five-hundred pages are good. The following fifteen-hundred or so are complete and utter tosh.

Bring The Shining or Cell.

I'm only up to page 325 or so and it seems good to me. I think I'm going to bring it and the two other books just as a back up. I get pretty crazy when I can't read on the beach. Hmmm, I really like The Shining movie. So, I think I might bring that.

So far, I'm thinking about the Shining, Salem's Lot, Misery and Cell. Only Cell though because I've heard it's one of his bests. I don't really know what's it about.

Geeze, this is such a hard decision.

I've read every novel suggested in this thread, and I've said it once, and I'll say it again; Cujo is above and beyond all of them. When I first picked it up I laughed at the idea of a rabbid dog, but the novel is one of King's best.

The Stand is fine save for the cheap ending, so ignore Sam's comment regarding it. The Shining is okay, so I recommend that. But don't, whatever you do, leave Cujo behind.

I'd recommend
Cell, the beginning was great , and the middle part was just as good but towards the end it became a little flaky. Still a fun read though.
NightShift, it's actually a collection of short stories but they're all very entertaining
The Shining, very good book from start to end.

Dead Zone, Misery, Nightshift, Carrie. His short fiction is the bomb-diggity, so if you can find collections ala Nightshift, read them

Oh, I read a little bit of Nightshift. It was a year or so ago, maybe two. I remember that I really liked the first story and maybe another but the rest I didn't quite like. And I'm more into novels than short stories, anyway. But thank you for the suggestion.

I think I'm going to buy the Shining just because I LOVE the movie. It's one of my favorites ;]

What do you guys think: Cujo, Misery or It?

Thanks for the help.

Read them in that order.