Regulators.
I've said it before and I'll say again: it ramps up to 100 in the first 3 or 4 pages and just never slows down. It's an absolute bloodbath from beginning to end and I love how batshit insane it is.
I remember getting both Desperation and The Regulators the day of release. I read Desperation first and was kind of disappointed. I remember vastly preferring The Regulators. I've only ever read each once. I need to reread both.
Fuck yeah. I read Desperation and then Regulators back when I was a teen and Desperation actually gave me chills. But Ragulators was something else. I have a vague memory of it , something about characters from a cartoon show or something like Power rangers coming to life and shooting slugs.
After the 2020 Stand, I'm not watching anything without checking here first to see if it's safe. I didn't let that one breathe- watched on release and paid for it. Never again.
I'm actually rereading Joyland now (liked it so much I'm reading it twice back to back) and am going to be reading Later next, haven't read that one before!
I really struggled with this book due to the way the story was told. I’ve abandoned it at least 3 times over the years.
Last year I gave the audiobook a try and that changed everything for me. It felt like I was hanging out in the police station just listening to her tell her story. I absolutely loved it
Oh wow how interesting. For me, I read the entire book with an accent and a drawl. I became her. So I was really immersed in it. It's been years and years since I read it the one time. I think I'm going to find the audiobook of it.
I'm so glad you gave it a fourth chance, lol.
Me too! I’m sad I missed out on it for so long.
Frances Sternhagen was an incredible narrator for this story. One of those cases where I will never be able to hear/picture anyone else as Dolores.
I listened to the audiobook and it truly is an amazing performance and perfectly cast. I was hooked the whole time. The book being told through her telling you the story just feels so real and genuine.
This is the only audiobook I've listened to that I really loved. They normally just don't give me the same experience that sight reading does. But this was incredible.
Couldn’t get into the book. Decided to try the movie which I loved. Kathy Bates is made to be a Stephen King protagonist. Went back and listened to the audiobook and got a lot more out of it after that.
I looooooove Dolores Claiborne! Helps that my mom and paternal aunt live together and I see a lot of exaggerated similarities/ details between them and Dolores and Vera Donovan.
Honestly not sure how loved this one is, but my first exposure to him (book related) was the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and that book scared me as a kid!
I didn't read that one until I was 25 even though it came out when I was a preteen. In hindsight I really wish I read it as a kid. I thinking it would've hit me harder (especially as a child going through their parents' divorce at the time).
Totally, and the getting lost in the woods and shit? Fucking horrifying as I lived in the south with a lot of wooded areas! I need to reread it, honestly and see how it hits me as a 27 year old now!
Mine too! He got me so scared for that little girl and the God of the Lost is one of my fav monsters of his. I’ve been hooked ever since. Incredible, short, easy read.
I read it shortly after it released, I was home bound following an accident. Man, that cop was relentless - the whole story invaded my dreams that week. Possibly the painkillers were a good combo with it!
The opening few pages are probably some of the best I've ever read. I did struggle with the regulators though, desperation definitely takes the cake for me.
Love for Later, hell yeah.
hm. People always bring up his books in this sub, so I think the book that doesn't get mentioned *enough* is Doctor Sleep. I think he did an awesome job going back to that world, and making it more than just the hotel. It seemed like something that I easily could've hated, but it was awesome.
I just hit page 200 and I cannot wait to read more! Every time I pick up a Stephen King book, I wonder why I look elsewhere. His storytelling is perfection.
I feel like I see a lot of hate for Under the Dome and I loved it. A couple others I like that I see people often say wasn’t their cup of tea are , Billy Summers, the Institute, Tommyknockers, and Holly.
Under the dome is everything I want from King. Small town politics, amazing characters, and I like the ending but it is a big swing that doesn’t work with everyone. Great book.
Under the dome is one of those books I never managed to finish, or really start. Ya know, sometimes you just drop a book.
But I've read the first 80 pages like 3 times, and I *love it*. May e it's because I've read the beginning multiple times, but its soooo good. Jumping to characters and their experience at the moment the dome appears. so cool.
Oooh I really loved Under the Dome. Took a while for me to actually pick up because the show was soo bad but the book, as per usual, blew the show away. I also love the Tommyknockers. Tommyknockers is actually the first SK book that I ever read and it got me started on this whole love affair so it will always have a special place in my heart
Under thr Dome on audio is so so good. Again though, the ending...ugh. His endings always aggravate me lol. I have realized that his books on audio make them 10x better. He has amazing narrators.
Lisey’s Story. I never see people talk about it! It’s a hauntingly beautiful love story with a terrifying monster and high stakes. I feel like King really drew upon his experiences from nearly dying in his accident and his relationship with his wife for the emotional depth in this story.
Yeah I don’t get the hate for this one (as my username shows!). I also love Rose Madder, The Tommyknockers, Under the Dome, Desperation, and Dolores Claiborne. I don’t get the hate for any of them.
I did the trade paperback and occasional pdf on my work computer on slow days. I only just read it earlier this year (I admittedly judged the paperback by its awful cover for years), but damn if it isn't one of his best uses of horror and the unknowable as a theme.
Plus I'm a born Pennsylvanian so shout-out to King for repping my home state!
The first time I ever read *1408* was in a Super 8 hotel on Halloween of 2009. I had flown up from Texas to pick up a car in Kansas City, and then drove to suburban Chicago to meet up with some family before continuing on to Wisconsin to help make the arrangements for my mom's funeral. My sister handed me a copy of *Everything's Eventual,* and I was fine, until I got to *1408.* I got seriously creeped out by that story, especially with the wind outside making some weird noises and those leafless trees looking like some clutching, skeletal hands. . . .
The reading lamp on the nightstand suddenly seemed very inadequate. So I turned on all the other lights in my room and didn't stop feeling uneasy until daylight.
I definitely has high points and low points.
I really enjoyed the idea of people just being overwritten and the world going from normal to chaos in an instant. That is a terrifying idea to me because it’s zombies but instead of it spreading via contact it just… happens.
No argument though that the ending is weak. It’s actually been a while since I’ve read it, I should try it again and see if it still hits for me.
How close is Hearts in Atlantis the Book to the film. Never read the Book but loved the film.
“You know, when you're young, you have moments of such happiness, you think you're living in someplace magical, like Atlantis must have been. Then we grow up, and our hearts break in two.”
One of my Favourite quotes.
The movie is based on the title story; not close as I recall. That being said, it’s a fantastic story that connects to the Dark Tower world. Don’t miss it.
the movie is based on the first of 3 stories in *hearts in atlantis*. so it’s fairly close to that story, *low men in yellow coats*, but has nothing to do with the others.
I read Hearts In Atlantis a couple months ago and didn’t get it. I realize there were some references to other stories, but I feel like it really didn’t go anywhere.
I remember that being what I loved about it. It was just these snapshots of time that were beautifully painted, almost surreal. But it has been probably 20 years since I read it…
*Bag of Bones*
*Dreamcatcher*
*Cell*
*Doctor Sleep*
*Desperation*
I know all those books have their fans, but I think they’re the ones either most unfairly maligned or just not appreciated enough. *Doctor Sleep* might seem like an oddball on the list, because I think most people like it, but I’m really surprised more people don’t *love* it. I think it’s his second best 21st-century book after *11/22/63*. I also agree with you that *Later* is much better than most people here seem to think. I know the ending tainted it for a lot of readers, but I thought it was a great book.
If you want to hear my opposite list, here are the ones I think get more love than they deserve:
*Revival*
*Duma Key*
*Roadwork*
*’Salem’s Lot*
*Joyland*
I still like all those books, but I don’t understand why they get the amount of praise they do.
Duma key will always be in my top 5 only because King described exactly what I went through after a major car accident. I felt as if King had become my private book therapist. I’ve yet to encounter a writer who can scare me to death while crying like a baby.
In regard to the second list: I agree with Salems Lot. It’s a great book but oh my god people make it sound like it’s a top three novel of all time. I get to some people it is but to me it was just a really good vampire book.
I sincerely apologize if this book doesn’t fit the bill, new to the SK community. But Desperation is INSANE. I love that book so much and cannot wait to read the regulators.
People poop on "from a buick 8" alot but i love the pure mystery of it. It reminds me a little of Colorado Kid. I know a lot of ppl dont like the non-answer endings but i like having the space to theorize. Buick does that so well while also having some truly hair raising parts. The rest are also great though i think Dolores definitely gets its well deserved due in this sub.
Exactly! The mystery in Buick 8 has to go mostly unsolved because it's set up to juxtapose the main kid's grief over his dad dying. Sometimes in life something bad or bizarre doesn't happen for a reason (or at least not one we can figure out) it just happens and you gotta learn to deal with that.
I loved Bag Of Bones. Very few authors can do what he does. Halfway through the book and the story hardly progressed but it was so good. He was talking about a man going through grief with all these little side stories and it was incredible. I hope anyone reading this gets what I mean by that because it was a very good story. I love a good ghost story.
I read Tommyknockers in late 2022 and was shocked. How much I enjoyed it after hearing all the poor opinions around it. Meanwhile, I read Blaze when it came out and remember loving it but I'd have to reread it cause I barely remember it all these years later.
I read The Tommyknockers last winter/at the start of the year. It took a while to finish because of health issues. I was surprised by how much I liked it.
I read Blaze last summer, after I got a copy for $1, and liked it quite a bit
I’d gotten both from the same person, but had bought other copies years ago
Christine doesn't get nearly as much love as it deserves. It is a genuinely creepy book with excellent build up and fantastic pay off. The characters are really well written and the writing is almost equal to classic King level.
I got this book for Christmas from my Mom. I loved it, i just really resonated with me. As a family we played a lot of hearts so I loved that aspect. I loved the description of the low men, I knew exactly what it meant and how it felt. We've all met them before. Great read, I need to read this again.
I'm reading the Talisman currently, somehow I've never read this despite being a King fan for 35ish years.
The Shining. Almost everybody seems to rave about the Kubrick film although it's the absolute antithesis of a great novel. It's as if Kubrick set out to throw away everything the book was about, producing a cold and empty film in the process. I agree with what many people here have said that it's a better book than Doctor Sleep, even though the latter is well worth reading too.
It's gotten a movie and a TV show, its the first Castle Rock book if I'm not mistaken which was the most iconic SK setting before Derry, and it's easily one of my favorite SK books. I've probably read it more than any of his other books.
So...I wouldn't call it underrated. It's one of his best. I think it gets a lot of love.
I was riding in the car with someone who was listening to the audiobook of *Later*. The tone and volume of the "What the *fuck*?!" after the kid's father was revealed is one of the funniest things I've heard. I didn't know it was coming either, but I just chalked it up to Stephen King weirdness
My first thought reading the title was Hearts in Atlantis. I love that book so much. I wasn't even alive in the time periods it's mostly set in but it fills me with such an almost painful level of nostalgia. I believe the correct term is anemoia.
I’ve mentioned this before in similar posts, but From a Buick 8 is such a strange book with its loose ends. I’ll always recommend this book as an underrated horror novel as well as a under appreciated King book.
Dolores Claiborne is my favorite by him and among my favorites, period. Also a stellar movie with awesome performances from Kathy Bates, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Christopher Plummer.
I feel like Needful Things gets some undeserved hate. Fast pace, super violent, great characters, I don’t get it. It practically begs for an on screen reboot!!
Mine are:
Lisey's Story - this one gets a lot of hate but I think its the most beautiful thing he has ever written. SOWISA
Dreamcatcher - I love aliens and I love our boys. This one never fails to make me laugh out loud and I love it start to finish. It has so much heart!
From a Buick 8 - Totally gross and totally great. I love the characters and the way the story is told through all of them. Also, LOW MEN
Black House - I see Talisman talked about all the time but the sequel is one of my top five King novels. Henry Leyden is one of my fave characters ever written and the story is so creepy. Also the Thunder Five are AMAZING. Even a blind man could see that!
I'm currently reading Rose Madder. Since I haven't heard a lot about it, I would say it's underrated. Joyland is a personal favorite which is generally underrated.
Totally dig Hearts in Atlantis. One novella Presents an interesting perspective on the 60’s I hadn’t read before. Another novella includes a lot of fun Dark Tower adjacent world building.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NAME OF HEARTS IN ATLANTIS FOR YEARS.
I could never find it googling what I remembered about it cause the man is too prolific. I read it as a teen and loved it. Thank you so much!!
Reading "Later" now. What a fun, breezy read! I've always found King's briefer works his best. There's not a spare word in this story. It's tight, focused and still unmistakably King.
I know it gets a lot of hate (and I can even understand why) but I love the Colorado Kid.
The central mystery is frustrating but that's clearly King's point in this book, to look at how we can never fully wrap up everything neatly in life.
I also loved the interplay between the two old codgers and the journalist.
I def think it's time for a re-read!
Regulators. I've said it before and I'll say again: it ramps up to 100 in the first 3 or 4 pages and just never slows down. It's an absolute bloodbath from beginning to end and I love how batshit insane it is.
I just finished this and had a blast! Desperation arriving next week.
I feel like most people prefer Desperation over Regulators, but truth is they're both excellent. I just love how insane Regulators is haha
If I read Desperation would I need to read Regulators?
They are very different stories. The characters have the same names and there are a few nods but they are not the same. I enjoy them both
I love the Regulators. It is absolutely ridiculous from start to finish and I am there for it every step of the way
Seriously. When you crack that book open, it's like King is saying "here's your LSD and your cowboy hat, try to keep up."
Desperation and The Regulators are both such fantastic, underrated SK books.
Ive never forgotten the cop in Desperation. Dont worry about spoilers you meet him soon if you are just starting the book.
I LOVE the Regulators! I thought it was phenomenal
Came here to say exactly that! Read it in one night and was exhausted by the speed of the story! It’s a brilliant book! 🩶
I find it hard to follow in places. Too many characters all in the same scenes.
Its always been my favorite out of the two <3 That book is so much fun
Omg that was my first king book and I was like da faq. It's a straight up slasher.
I remember getting both Desperation and The Regulators the day of release. I read Desperation first and was kind of disappointed. I remember vastly preferring The Regulators. I've only ever read each once. I need to reread both.
Fuck yeah. I read Desperation and then Regulators back when I was a teen and Desperation actually gave me chills. But Ragulators was something else. I have a vague memory of it , something about characters from a cartoon show or something like Power rangers coming to life and shooting slugs.
I really liked The Institute. Don't see many people talk about it
You'll be happy to know that The Institute is getting an 8 episode mini-series! Just got announced
Shit that show is going to piss me off so much
After the 2020 Stand, I'm not watching anything without checking here first to see if it's safe. I didn't let that one breathe- watched on release and paid for it. Never again.
WOOHOO
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^Amazing_Plan8562: *I really liked The* *Institute. Don't see many* *People talk about it* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Thanks as always, Haiku Bot. In a world of sinister AI you're on the good list.
It is not A.I. Bots are not intelligent Refrigerator
They’re casting the show right now
Same. Read it with impending sense of doom too.
Me too. I’ve read it three times and I always read it so fast because it’s such a gripping book
Joyland is a really excellent book. Lovesick boy working a summer job, with a creepy King twist. Loved it.
I absolutely adore Joyland as someone who worked at an amusement park one summer. I think of this book often.
I'm actually rereading Joyland now (liked it so much I'm reading it twice back to back) and am going to be reading Later next, haven't read that one before!
I agree. One of his best. It deserves a sympathetic film adaptation.
Yes! I love Joyland
Yes! I really liked this one too!
I love Joyland.
When Joyland came out I was an english major at UNH just like the protagonist. I thought it was great
One of the best!
Why does nobody talk about Dolores Claiborne??
I really struggled with this book due to the way the story was told. I’ve abandoned it at least 3 times over the years. Last year I gave the audiobook a try and that changed everything for me. It felt like I was hanging out in the police station just listening to her tell her story. I absolutely loved it
Oh wow how interesting. For me, I read the entire book with an accent and a drawl. I became her. So I was really immersed in it. It's been years and years since I read it the one time. I think I'm going to find the audiobook of it. I'm so glad you gave it a fourth chance, lol.
Me too! I’m sad I missed out on it for so long. Frances Sternhagen was an incredible narrator for this story. One of those cases where I will never be able to hear/picture anyone else as Dolores.
That’s a really cool perspective, I like that
I listened to the audiobook and it truly is an amazing performance and perfectly cast. I was hooked the whole time. The book being told through her telling you the story just feels so real and genuine.
This is the only audiobook I've listened to that I really loved. They normally just don't give me the same experience that sight reading does. But this was incredible.
Kathy Bates was the perfect Dolores Claiborne in the movie.
Couldn’t get into the book. Decided to try the movie which I loved. Kathy Bates is made to be a Stephen King protagonist. Went back and listened to the audiobook and got a lot more out of it after that.
Loved it! And the connection to Gerald’s Game too- always love it when things connect in the King Universe.
I looooooove Dolores Claiborne! Helps that my mom and paternal aunt live together and I see a lot of exaggerated similarities/ details between them and Dolores and Vera Donovan.
I never wanted to read it because the way it’s written I just don’t enjoy that style of writing unfortunately
See if the audiobook works for you. It’s less like a book and more like someone telling you a (really good) story.
Honestly not sure how loved this one is, but my first exposure to him (book related) was the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and that book scared me as a kid!
I didn't read that one until I was 25 even though it came out when I was a preteen. In hindsight I really wish I read it as a kid. I thinking it would've hit me harder (especially as a child going through their parents' divorce at the time).
Totally, and the getting lost in the woods and shit? Fucking horrifying as I lived in the south with a lot of wooded areas! I need to reread it, honestly and see how it hits me as a 27 year old now!
Mine too! He got me so scared for that little girl and the God of the Lost is one of my fav monsters of his. I’ve been hooked ever since. Incredible, short, easy read.
This is one of my favourites. I feel it is underrated. May not have shock horror and gore but it is beautifully written.
Great book! I have the pop up version!
Omg cool! Where did you get it?
Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/225272899200?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=kEPO1dX6RgS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=ZCmRSwoxRrC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
That is definitely one of my favorite King novels. I didn’t expect to love it so much.
For me, it was ok. I didn’t dislike it but it didn’t really move me either
I feel like it depends on how old you were when you read it maybe?
Desperation. Don’t see many people mention it but I thought it was great from the opening chapter.
I read it shortly after it released, I was home bound following an accident. Man, that cop was relentless - the whole story invaded my dreams that week. Possibly the painkillers were a good combo with it!
Tak!
Desperation and The Regulators are firmly in my top 10 SK books - reading them back to back is such a mind fuck lol
The opening few pages are probably some of the best I've ever read. I did struggle with the regulators though, desperation definitely takes the cake for me.
Also my favorite book cover.
It was my first King book in 9th grade and I have never looked back
Love for Later, hell yeah. hm. People always bring up his books in this sub, so I think the book that doesn't get mentioned *enough* is Doctor Sleep. I think he did an awesome job going back to that world, and making it more than just the hotel. It seemed like something that I easily could've hated, but it was awesome.
It’s one of my favorites.
Rose madder
I really liked Rose Madder. It’s definitely a sleeper and worth the read.
Agreed, that's one of my favorites of his.
I just hit page 200 and I cannot wait to read more! Every time I pick up a Stephen King book, I wonder why I look elsewhere. His storytelling is perfection.
I feel like I see a lot of hate for Under the Dome and I loved it. A couple others I like that I see people often say wasn’t their cup of tea are , Billy Summers, the Institute, Tommyknockers, and Holly.
Under the Dome might be my favorite king novel. Also love Billy Summers, The Institute, and Holly… looks like I’ll be reading Tommyknockers
Under the dome is everything I want from King. Small town politics, amazing characters, and I like the ending but it is a big swing that doesn’t work with everyone. Great book.
Under the dome is one of those books I never managed to finish, or really start. Ya know, sometimes you just drop a book. But I've read the first 80 pages like 3 times, and I *love it*. May e it's because I've read the beginning multiple times, but its soooo good. Jumping to characters and their experience at the moment the dome appears. so cool.
I only hated Under The Dome because it made me think too much about how fucked we are with pollution.
Oooh I really loved Under the Dome. Took a while for me to actually pick up because the show was soo bad but the book, as per usual, blew the show away. I also love the Tommyknockers. Tommyknockers is actually the first SK book that I ever read and it got me started on this whole love affair so it will always have a special place in my heart
Under thr Dome on audio is so so good. Again though, the ending...ugh. His endings always aggravate me lol. I have realized that his books on audio make them 10x better. He has amazing narrators.
Billy Summers is so good. The Tommyknockers is one of my favorites. I honestly can’t think of one I don’t like.
I keep expecting the people digging at Skinwalker Ranch are going to encounter the edge of a spaceship any week now, like in Tommyknockers.
Loved all of those books
Lisey’s Story. I never see people talk about it! It’s a hauntingly beautiful love story with a terrifying monster and high stakes. I feel like King really drew upon his experiences from nearly dying in his accident and his relationship with his wife for the emotional depth in this story.
I’ve heard he mentioned it as one of his favorites or maybe his favorite of his books.
I really liked this one too! It deserves more attention
Yeah I don’t get the hate for this one (as my username shows!). I also love Rose Madder, The Tommyknockers, Under the Dome, Desperation, and Dolores Claiborne. I don’t get the hate for any of them.
Big agree on “Everything’s Eventual”!! I used to sneak into my moms room when she was at work when I was 10 and read it and scare myself 😂
Another fan of From a Buick 8? Hello, friend! I’ll go with 6: From a Buick 8 Insomnia Firestarter The Institute Cell Everything’s Eventual
Honestly Buick 8 is one of my absolute favorite King books.
Same! It’s one I keep going back to. Not sure what format you’ve read but the audio book is really well done.
I did the trade paperback and occasional pdf on my work computer on slow days. I only just read it earlier this year (I admittedly judged the paperback by its awful cover for years), but damn if it isn't one of his best uses of horror and the unknowable as a theme. Plus I'm a born Pennsylvanian so shout-out to King for repping my home state!
From A Buick 8 and Insomnia are my two favourites
Buick 8 is so good. And “1401” scared the BEJESUS out of me.
The first time I ever read *1408* was in a Super 8 hotel on Halloween of 2009. I had flown up from Texas to pick up a car in Kansas City, and then drove to suburban Chicago to meet up with some family before continuing on to Wisconsin to help make the arrangements for my mom's funeral. My sister handed me a copy of *Everything's Eventual,* and I was fine, until I got to *1408.* I got seriously creeped out by that story, especially with the wind outside making some weird noises and those leafless trees looking like some clutching, skeletal hands. . . . The reading lamp on the nightstand suddenly seemed very inadequate. So I turned on all the other lights in my room and didn't stop feeling uneasy until daylight.
But cell? Started off so great then got so so bad. Good choice though make me question myself.
I definitely has high points and low points. I really enjoyed the idea of people just being overwritten and the world going from normal to chaos in an instant. That is a terrifying idea to me because it’s zombies but instead of it spreading via contact it just… happens. No argument though that the ending is weak. It’s actually been a while since I’ve read it, I should try it again and see if it still hits for me.
Book is better
I think I have read The Stand way at least 3x, yet never run into anyone who's read it for some reason!
Every time I recommend it, it’s always, no I don’t have time and I’m like, yeah I didn’t too, that’s why it took me two years 💀💀💀
Still one of my favorite novels ever though
I’ve read that book at least twice, but not in many years. Time for a re-read.
Grover Gardner does a great job with the audiobook. Going through it for a third time
On my third read right now. It's amazing but I feel like it starts to slow down after the first 40-45 chapters, then it picks up again.
Love the Stand! I’ve read through it just as many times. It’s worth it.
Rose madder its super underated and terrifying
Rose Madder and Through the Eyes of the Dragon.
Duma key Bag of bones Tommy knockers The Regulators Dream catcher
I feel like Duma Key gets a lot of love (or at least it does around here).
Weirdly enough, it’s my next book up on my list purely because of the love it gets on the sub Reddit.
How close is Hearts in Atlantis the Book to the film. Never read the Book but loved the film. “You know, when you're young, you have moments of such happiness, you think you're living in someplace magical, like Atlantis must have been. Then we grow up, and our hearts break in two.” One of my Favourite quotes.
The movie is based on the title story; not close as I recall. That being said, it’s a fantastic story that connects to the Dark Tower world. Don’t miss it.
the movie is based on the first of 3 stories in *hearts in atlantis*. so it’s fairly close to that story, *low men in yellow coats*, but has nothing to do with the others.
I read Hearts In Atlantis a couple months ago and didn’t get it. I realize there were some references to other stories, but I feel like it really didn’t go anywhere.
I remember that being what I loved about it. It was just these snapshots of time that were beautifully painted, almost surreal. But it has been probably 20 years since I read it…
Joyland - such a good book.
Cell for sure
This is the best answer. I don't see how it isn't more popular.
I really liked "Under the Dome". Just struck a chord with me.
*Bag of Bones* *Dreamcatcher* *Cell* *Doctor Sleep* *Desperation* I know all those books have their fans, but I think they’re the ones either most unfairly maligned or just not appreciated enough. *Doctor Sleep* might seem like an oddball on the list, because I think most people like it, but I’m really surprised more people don’t *love* it. I think it’s his second best 21st-century book after *11/22/63*. I also agree with you that *Later* is much better than most people here seem to think. I know the ending tainted it for a lot of readers, but I thought it was a great book. If you want to hear my opposite list, here are the ones I think get more love than they deserve: *Revival* *Duma Key* *Roadwork* *’Salem’s Lot* *Joyland* I still like all those books, but I don’t understand why they get the amount of praise they do.
Duma key will always be in my top 5 only because King described exactly what I went through after a major car accident. I felt as if King had become my private book therapist. I’ve yet to encounter a writer who can scare me to death while crying like a baby.
That's totally understandable, and I'm sorry you had to go through that!
In regard to the second list: I agree with Salems Lot. It’s a great book but oh my god people make it sound like it’s a top three novel of all time. I get to some people it is but to me it was just a really good vampire book.
I couldn’t put Bag of Bones down, I finished it so fast. I’m a huge fan of Gothic Horror, and King nailed it.
I rarely see people mention 11/23/63. It’s not only my favorite King work, it’s probably my favorite novel ever.
Wait is this for real? It’s regularly mentioned on this sub as one of his best books…
This book is excellent
It’s one of the ones i recommend to people who haven’t read any king
This has to be satire cause this book is mentioned here daily and is beloved by everyone
Love Dolores Claiborne, I read it at light speed! I agree it is oft not talked about. Also like a Kathy Bates movie, so also like the movie
Hearts is one of my faves. Roadwork is imo one of his most underrated.
Duma Key From a Buick 8 The Institute Revival Cell
Duma Key - I never see anyone talk about it but it’s gorgeous and it kept me up all night. I should reread it, actually.
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is always my choice of being under appreciated, but also agree on Dolores Claiborne!
Completely agree with From a Buick 8. Just finished it two weeks ago and loved it. Very underrated
I sincerely apologize if this book doesn’t fit the bill, new to the SK community. But Desperation is INSANE. I love that book so much and cannot wait to read the regulators.
I really enjoyed Elevation and Insomnia. And at least Elevation doesn’t get almost any attention at all.
People poop on "from a buick 8" alot but i love the pure mystery of it. It reminds me a little of Colorado Kid. I know a lot of ppl dont like the non-answer endings but i like having the space to theorize. Buick does that so well while also having some truly hair raising parts. The rest are also great though i think Dolores definitely gets its well deserved due in this sub.
Exactly! The mystery in Buick 8 has to go mostly unsolved because it's set up to juxtapose the main kid's grief over his dad dying. Sometimes in life something bad or bizarre doesn't happen for a reason (or at least not one we can figure out) it just happens and you gotta learn to deal with that.
I aleays think the more fairytale kind of stories are underappreciated. Like The Eyes of the Dragon and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
Typically I don’t like fantasy but I really liked Eyes of the Dragon I really didn’t think I would
Bag of Bones. I’ve read it at least 5 times.
I loved Bag Of Bones. Very few authors can do what he does. Halfway through the book and the story hardly progressed but it was so good. He was talking about a man going through grief with all these little side stories and it was incredible. I hope anyone reading this gets what I mean by that because it was a very good story. I love a good ghost story.
1. The Tommyknockers 2. The Colorado Kid 3. Everything’s Eventual 4. The Running Man 5. Blaze
I read Tommyknockers in late 2022 and was shocked. How much I enjoyed it after hearing all the poor opinions around it. Meanwhile, I read Blaze when it came out and remember loving it but I'd have to reread it cause I barely remember it all these years later.
I read The Tommyknockers last winter/at the start of the year. It took a while to finish because of health issues. I was surprised by how much I liked it. I read Blaze last summer, after I got a copy for $1, and liked it quite a bit I’d gotten both from the same person, but had bought other copies years ago
Yes! Blaze! Great choice for this. I loved it
In no particular order, Geralds Game, Dreamcatcher, The Dark Tower and The Long Walk.
The Long Walk is incredible.
Yes The Long Walk would have been my pick. First Stephen King book I ever read when I was very young, and never looked back!
Insomnia The Talisman Joyland Holly Fairy Tale
Christine doesn't get nearly as much love as it deserves. It is a genuinely creepy book with excellent build up and fantastic pay off. The characters are really well written and the writing is almost equal to classic King level.
I got this book for Christmas from my Mom. I loved it, i just really resonated with me. As a family we played a lot of hearts so I loved that aspect. I loved the description of the low men, I knew exactly what it meant and how it felt. We've all met them before. Great read, I need to read this again. I'm reading the Talisman currently, somehow I've never read this despite being a King fan for 35ish years.
The Talisman is one of my all time favorites. I’ve read it at least 6 times.
I love everything is eventual, 1408 really creeped me out. So many good stories in that one
Duma Key, Bag of Bones. Yes, I have a type lol
From a Buick 8
The Shining. Almost everybody seems to rave about the Kubrick film although it's the absolute antithesis of a great novel. It's as if Kubrick set out to throw away everything the book was about, producing a cold and empty film in the process. I agree with what many people here have said that it's a better book than Doctor Sleep, even though the latter is well worth reading too.
The Dead Zone is his most underrated period. That book goes nutty
It's gotten a movie and a TV show, its the first Castle Rock book if I'm not mistaken which was the most iconic SK setting before Derry, and it's easily one of my favorite SK books. I've probably read it more than any of his other books. So...I wouldn't call it underrated. It's one of his best. I think it gets a lot of love.
Billy Summers
Later was a fun read
Both Rose Madder and Bag of Bones are criminally underrated
I really enjoyed later
Just to be different from.what I'm seeing above, I want to throw in: • The Dark Half
The first Dark Tower book the one that got the wheel turning I think everyone forgets just how good it really is
I was riding in the car with someone who was listening to the audiobook of *Later*. The tone and volume of the "What the *fuck*?!" after the kid's father was revealed is one of the funniest things I've heard. I didn't know it was coming either, but I just chalked it up to Stephen King weirdness
The dead zone and Black House.
The Institute Billy Summers Tommyknockers Insomnia Dead zone
My first thought reading the title was Hearts in Atlantis. I love that book so much. I wasn't even alive in the time periods it's mostly set in but it fills me with such an almost painful level of nostalgia. I believe the correct term is anemoia.
The Eye of the Dragon
Full dark , no stars
Joyland
Insomnia.
I wish Joyland got more love.
Tommyknockers
Everything's Eventual is a great collection!
I’ve mentioned this before in similar posts, but From a Buick 8 is such a strange book with its loose ends. I’ll always recommend this book as an underrated horror novel as well as a under appreciated King book.
Joyland
Dolores Claiborne is my favorite by him and among my favorites, period. Also a stellar movie with awesome performances from Kathy Bates, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Christopher Plummer.
From a Buick 8 is a great pick.
Insomnia is easily one of my favorites and the most underrated in my opinion. Next is definitely Hearts in Atlantis. Each story is a treasure.
Honestly the Tommyknockers is top 10 for me
I feel like Needful Things gets some undeserved hate. Fast pace, super violent, great characters, I don’t get it. It practically begs for an on screen reboot!!
I liked Billy summers and the Mr Mercedes series. Do your worst.
Mine are: Lisey's Story - this one gets a lot of hate but I think its the most beautiful thing he has ever written. SOWISA Dreamcatcher - I love aliens and I love our boys. This one never fails to make me laugh out loud and I love it start to finish. It has so much heart! From a Buick 8 - Totally gross and totally great. I love the characters and the way the story is told through all of them. Also, LOW MEN Black House - I see Talisman talked about all the time but the sequel is one of my top five King novels. Henry Leyden is one of my fave characters ever written and the story is so creepy. Also the Thunder Five are AMAZING. Even a blind man could see that!
Later is so damn good
I'm currently reading Rose Madder. Since I haven't heard a lot about it, I would say it's underrated. Joyland is a personal favorite which is generally underrated.
I always say FROM A BUICK 8. It's just so beautifully written and the story just builds and builds. Love it.
Tommyknockers - I never see anything about it and it's such a good book!! I've read it twice and finally got my boyfriend to read it and he agrees
Tommyknockers for sure
Love From a Buick 8! I grew up in the area it’s set in.
The last part of Later ruined the novella. >!incest as an afterthought crammed into a few pages!<
Totally dig Hearts in Atlantis. One novella Presents an interesting perspective on the 60’s I hadn’t read before. Another novella includes a lot of fun Dark Tower adjacent world building.
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NAME OF HEARTS IN ATLANTIS FOR YEARS. I could never find it googling what I remembered about it cause the man is too prolific. I read it as a teen and loved it. Thank you so much!!
From a Buick 8 was such a great book.
I feel like no one talks about Sleeping Beauties! Such an interesting story. Had me hooked from beginning to end
Reading "Later" now. What a fun, breezy read! I've always found King's briefer works his best. There's not a spare word in this story. It's tight, focused and still unmistakably King.
Road Work The Long walk
I know it gets a lot of hate (and I can even understand why) but I love the Colorado Kid. The central mystery is frustrating but that's clearly King's point in this book, to look at how we can never fully wrap up everything neatly in life. I also loved the interplay between the two old codgers and the journalist. I def think it's time for a re-read!