The Stephen King Thread (non Dark Tower series)

Discussion in 'TMB Book Club' started by RegimentML, Mar 3, 2016.

  1. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    I'm sure I will at some point, but I'm a horror boi and it's guilty by temporal association please respect my irrational takes.
     
  2. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Well, if youre like me and have good opinions, I too hated Under the Dome. So it's looking good for you and 11/22/63!

    edit - it's not really a horror book, so maybe you'll be less into it. It's still damn good.
     
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  3. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    What’s wrong with Under the Dome? Doesn’t that have a cult like following?
     
  4. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    I dont read a lot of horror but the last one I read was pretty good. Hex by Thomas Olde Heuveux (sp)

    Check it out Iron Mickey
     
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  5. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    Have you read the troop? My buddy said it’s pretty fucked up
     
  6. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    I found it kind of boring. Idk remember my exact criticism. I mean it was made into a TV show, so I think that's where a lot of the following comes from. idk
     
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  7. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    Thanks, always looking for recommendations.
     
  8. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    It was the epitome of how King is caricatured by detractors. Incredible concept, fantastic buildup, comically two dimensional morality, and the dumbest fucking conclusion.
     
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  9. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    I have not, but I have it on my list. It's been mentioned on a book podcast I listen to a few times.

    Im not really into Horror all that much, but that one sounds good.

    Lock Every Door is more suspense than Horror, but that's another good quick read that was pretty fucked up
     
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  10. NCHusker

    NCHusker We named our yam Pam. It rhymed.
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    Read Misery then.
     
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  11. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    11/22/63 my friend
     
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  12. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
     
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  13. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Wow that was a lot of responses in a short period of time
     
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  14. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    How’s the dark tower series?
     
  15. NCHusker

    NCHusker We named our yam Pam. It rhymed.
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    Just stop fighting it.
     
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  16. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    This has been some good book talk. Good stuff fellow nerds
     
  17. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    the highs are high and the lows are low. I enjoyed it.
     
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  18. Gonff

    Gonff Prince of Mousethieves
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    Dark Tower IV is an elite tier King book
     
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  19. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    Probably in the minority here but I liked Dolores Claiborne a lot (8/10). Thought it was an interesting narrative in first person and the story was fun. Recommend if you want a quick read. It’s pretty different than the movie so don’t feel like you already know what happens.
     
  20. Lorne Malvo

    Lorne Malvo Aces!
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    Under the Dome was garbage. Second book of his I read (after 11/22/63) and tbh I'm happy it wasn't the first.
     
  21. TheGrifter

    TheGrifter It's a trick. Get an axe.
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    Wizard and Glass is the book of King’s I enjoyed the most.

    If you liked The Shining, then read Dr. Sleep. The movie is also an enjoyable watch.
     
  22. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Wizard and Glass is an all time favorite of mine. Not just among King books.
     
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  23. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    Misery and Tommyknockers are both great standalone ones
     
  24. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    I’m collecting all of his books, I can’t wait to read his most fucked up book
     
  25. smeegsgreen

    smeegsgreen Big fan of Koalas
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    Salem’s lot is incredible
     
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  26. Fargin' Icehole

    Fargin' Icehole 50% soulless
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    Read 11/22/63 due to the love it got on TMB. 1st King book I'd read since Wizard and Glass (<3) when it came out. Thought 11/22/63 was kinda meh. Good in parts and then just dragged in places.

    Main gripe was we were made to believe that changing the past didn't affect the future much as it wanted to remain as it was. I was cool with time trying to stop the changes, thought that was a cool concept. I didn't like how once he got back to the present it was "Nope the future is way effected, huge butterfly effect. The groundwork laid down for you to accept about time during the book was wrong"
     
  27. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    it’s been years since I read it so I’m not going to argue the finer points since they’re not that fresh for me but that is not at all the feeling I got when I finished the book nor when I look back on it. I absolutely loved it and thought it was one of the few endings King got right.

    Wizard and Glass is one of my all time favorite books
     
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  28. Lorne Malvo

    Lorne Malvo Aces!
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    Just finished reading this. I loved it. Characters were great and I thought the ending was awesome. Makes me want to get back on a King kick.
     
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  29. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Going to read it next. Just finished watching the Doctor Sleep movie which was really good. Was a big fan of the book.
     
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  30. Lorne Malvo

    Lorne Malvo Aces!
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    Seems like others itt disagreed with my take on it but I thought it was a fun book with an interesting plot.
     
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  31. LuPoor

    LuPoor Cuddle with the homies watching Stand By Me
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    What do y'all recommend as a good jumping off point with King? Have never read him and figure it's time to give it a try.
     
  32. RonBurgundy

    RonBurgundy Well-Known Member

    Based on what I think you'll like, start with Dark Tower series. Book 1 The Gunslinger, is the worst book in the series, but definitely gets good.

    https://www.goodreads.com/series/40750-the-dark-tower

    Then I would do 11/23/63 next, or The Stand

    I think Wizard and Glass is my favorite King book, and it's in the middle of the Dark Tower series.
     
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  33. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    11/23/63 is my fave King novel
     
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  34. Truman

    Truman Well-Known Member
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    Wrong thread
     
  35. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    If you just want to dip your toes into King, Pet Sematary, Misery, ‘Salem’s Lot, Revival are all somewhat shorter King books.
     
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  36. RonBurgundy

    RonBurgundy Well-Known Member

    Pet Semetary is the best of those 3 imo
     
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  37. TheGrifter

    TheGrifter It's a trick. Get an axe.
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    Eyes of the Dragon is very different than most of Kong’s work, but it’s an outstanding book and will always be one of my favorites.

    There is one character in particular who plays a large role in many of his books, but the novel is definitely completely stand alone.
     
  38. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    I would say Misery. I like that it's scary as hell without anything supernatural
     
  39. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    Did anyone like Firestarter? I remember that being badass but I was like 12 so idk how it holds up
     
  40. RonBurgundy

    RonBurgundy Well-Known Member

    I like Pet Sematary because of how amazing King is able to keep up a sense of dread and foreboding. Like, he completely 100% unflinchingly telegraphs/foreshadows what's going to happen and yet it's still terrifying. Really well done keeping the tension up throughout the entire second half of the book.
     
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  41. ukcats8

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    2nd this rec. These were my first king books, and the same order as well. Would add The Shining and IT as his other "masterpieces."
     
  42. BP

    BP Bout to Regulate.
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    While I love The Stand and TDT would be tough intros IMO. Really enjoyed Cell, Thinner, Misery, Insomnia and the Mr. Mercedes series.
     
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  43. TheGrifter

    TheGrifter It's a trick. Get an axe.
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    I think The Stand would be a good into, but I agree on Dark Tower. Dark Tower is his magnum opus, and it touches on so many of his novels that I think someone would appreciate it a lot more of they had read some of his more popular books before tackling it.

    Also, The Talisman and The Black House and The Shining and Doctor Sleep are both novels/sequels which are pretty easy to digest on their own. The Talisman, in particular, is a really fun and easy read.
     
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  44. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    I read Carrie first but that's because I was in 7th grade and wanted to pick the shortest one
     
  45. LuPoor

    LuPoor Cuddle with the homies watching Stand By Me
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    Update: my Ebay copy of Pet Sematary arrived on Tuesday. As I read it last night the original sales receipt from November 7, 1984 from a store at the Lihue airport in Kauai, Hawaii, fell out. This seems ominous.
     
  46. RonBurgundy

    RonBurgundy Well-Known Member

    Don’t worry that’s pretty much the opposite side of the globe from New England
     
  47. The Blackfish

    The Blackfish The Fish in Black
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    Reading Misery right now. Somehow never read it
     
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  48. Fargin' Icehole

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    Haven't read it since high school but it was always one of my favorite of King's.
     
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  49. Lorne Malvo

    Lorne Malvo Aces!
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    This is my next book.
     
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  50. TC

    TC Peter, 53, from Toxteth
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    “Misery” bonus points if you get the paperback that has the hidden romance novel cover