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Heather19
04-27-2012, 07:24 AM
With our own constant reader polls closing, and with the New York Magazine publishing a ranking of King's works, I thought it would be interesting for us to post our own rankings. We all seem to disagree quite a bit on it, and I'm quite curious to see how others would rank his stories.

My list could really change at any moment (aside from the top 2). So I tried to break it down further. I left off The Dark Tower books and also some of the Collections as I haven't read all the stories in them.

Loved:
IT
The Long Walk
Duma Key
The Shining
11/22/63
Different Seasons
Pet Sematary
Cycle of the Werewolf

Really, really enjoyed:
Cell
Desperation
Dreamcatcher
The Green Mile
Night Shift
Bag of Bones
Under the Dome
The Regulators

Really good:
Christine
Full Dark, No Stars
Gerald's Game
Salems Lot
The Tommyknockers
The Dark Half

Good:
The Running Man

Average:
Just After Sunset
Carrie
Blaze

Didn't really care for:
The Colorado Kid
Rose Madder

Hated:
Lisey's Story
Insomnia

To Read:
Black House
Blockade Billy
Cujo
Dolores Claiborne
Firestarter
Fom a Buick 8
Four Past Midnight
Hearts in Atlantis
Misery
Needful Things
On Writing
Rage
Roadwork
Storm of a Century
The Dead Zone
The Eyes of the Dragon
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
The Stand
The Talisman
Thinner

Brice
04-27-2012, 07:34 AM
I was actually planning to start this very same thread after seeing that New York magazine list, Heather. Great minds....:D

Heather19
04-27-2012, 08:13 AM
:couple:
Post your list! :D

mae
04-27-2012, 08:46 AM
This is very tough to do, especially in a 1 though 64 format (Wind is King's 64th book by my count). Don't know if I can do it. If pressed, I can maybe come up with a Top 10, and with time add on to that...

Jean
04-27-2012, 09:08 AM
Books of my life:

IT
The Stand
Desperation
Black House
Duma Key
Roadwork

Loved:

Pet Sematary
Under the Dome
Blaze
Christine
The Long Walk
Carrie
‘Salem’s Lot
The Tommyknockers
From a Buick 8
The Dead Zone
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Misery
Needful Things

Really good:

The Shining
Cell
Dreamcatcher
The Dark Half
Different Seasons
Insomnia
Four Past Midnight

Good:

Cujo
Gerald's Game
Rose Madder
Dolores Claiborne
The Talisman

Average:

The Green Mile
11/22/63
The Running Man
The Regulators
Firestarter
Bag of Bones

Didn't really care for:

The Eyes of the Dragon
Just After Sunset
Full Dark, No Stars
Lisey's Story
On Writing
Hearts in Atlantis
Thinner

Hated:

Rage


To Read:

Cycle of the Werewolf
Blockade Billy
Storm of a Century
The Colorado Kid

mae
04-27-2012, 09:27 AM
01. Pet Sematary
02. The Green Mile
03. 11/22/63
04. The Shining
05. The Drawing of the Three
06. Skeleton Crew
07. Different Seasons
08. Insomnia
09. Four Past Midnight
10. Cujo

ur2ndbiggestfan
04-27-2012, 03:05 PM
Number 1: THE STAND (both versions)
Number 64: LISEY'S STORY

Too lazy to list numbers 2 through 63 at the moment

Brice
04-27-2012, 04:58 PM
I will soon. It might take a bit cause I'll be constantly changing my list.

Shannon
04-27-2012, 06:38 PM
Good idea for a thread. Out of the ones I've read:

1. Wizard and Glass
2. The Waste Lands
3. The Long Walk
4. On Writing
5. The Drawing of the Three
6. Night Shift
7. The Dark Tower
8. Skeleton Crew
9. It
10. The Shining
11. Wolves of the Calla
12. Gerald's Game
13. Misery
14. Cell
15. Insomnia
16. Cujo
17. Just After Sunset
18. Nightmares & Dreamscapes
19. Desperation
20. Carrie
21. Everything's Eventual
22. The Running Man
23. The Gunslinger
24. Song of Susannah
25. 'Salem's Lot
26. Rage

Brice
04-27-2012, 06:42 PM
Shannon has some reading to catch up on. :)

Garrell
04-27-2012, 08:28 PM
He's getting "better":tongue:

Cook
04-28-2012, 11:00 AM
Shannon........ The Stand?




Good idea for a thread. Out of the ones I've read:

1. Wizard and Glass
2. The Waste Lands
3. The Long Walk
4. On Writing
5. The Drawing of the Three
6. Night Shift
7. The Dark Tower
8. Skeleton Crew
9. It
10. The Shining
11. Wolves of the Calla
12. Gerald's Game
13. Misery
14. Cell
15. Insomnia
16. Cujo
17. Just After Sunset
18. Nightmares & Dreamscapes
19. Desperation
20. Carrie
21. Everything's Eventual
22. The Running Man
23. The Gunslinger
24. Song of Susannah
25. 'Salem's Lot
26. Rage

frik
04-28-2012, 11:30 AM
01. The Stand
02. It
03. Wizard and Glass
04. Lisey's Story
05. Bag of Bones

sk

pathoftheturtle
04-28-2012, 12:33 PM
The Waste Lands
It
Desperation
The Dark Tower (1-7)
The Stand
Black House
Bag of Bones
Hearts in Atlantis
Pet Sematary
Misery
Different Seasons
Under the Dome
The Dead Zone
The Shining
The Colorado Kid
'Salem's Lot
Cujo
Dolores Claiborne
Duma Key
Full Dark, No Stars
Needful Things
Firestarter
Christine
Thinner
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
The Tommyknockers
Four Past Midnight
The Green Mile (1-6)
Roadwork
Blaze
Cycle Of The Werewolf
The Talisman
The Eyes Of The Dragon
From A Buick 8
Carrie
Lisey's Story
The Long Walk
The Running Man
Rage
Cell
Insomnia
Gerald's Game
Dreamcatcher
The Regulators
Rose Madder
The Dark Half

Collections:
Skeleton Crew
Everything's Eventual
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
Night Shift
Just After Sunset

Screenplays:
Rose Red
Creepshow
Silver Bullet
Maximum Overdrive
Storm Of The Century

Non-fiction:
1 Danse Macabre
2 On Writing

To Read:
Nightmares In The Sky
Secret Windows: Essays And Fiction On The Craft Of Writing
Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle The Historic 2004 Season
Ur
Blockade Billy
11/22/1963
The Wind Through the Keyhole (8th in The Dark Tower)
Joyland

Jean
04-28-2012, 12:45 PM
well, at least we have It, The Stand, Desperation and Black House in common...

also, I am very happy to see Under the Dome so high on your list

pathoftheturtle
04-28-2012, 12:52 PM
... I am very happy to see Under the Dome so high on your listOh, yes; loved it. :)

sgc1999
04-28-2012, 05:48 PM
my pretty pony is is #1.........................................NOT!

Ben Mears
04-29-2012, 07:59 AM
Although I've read every SK book outside of Faithful I can't do justice to ranking every one of them. However I will give my top ten a tumble..

1. 'Salem's Lot
2. The Dead Zone
3. 11/22/63
4. Different Seasons
5. Blaze
6. Night Shift
7. Hearts In Atlantis
8. Needful Things
9. Cujo
10. On Writing

Heather19
04-29-2012, 08:14 AM
Good idea for a thread. Out of the ones I've read:

1. Wizard and Glass
2. The Waste Lands
3. The Long Walk
4. On Writing
5. The Drawing of the Three
6. Night Shift
7. The Dark Tower
8. Skeleton Crew
9. It
10. The Shining
11. Wolves of the Calla
12. Gerald's Game
13. Misery
14. Cell
15. Insomnia
16. Cujo
17. Just After Sunset
18. Nightmares & Dreamscapes
19. Desperation
20. Carrie
21. Everything's Eventual
22. The Running Man
23. The Gunslinger
24. Song of Susannah
25. 'Salem's Lot
26. Rage

Well at least you've got The Long Walk near the top. I guess there's 2 things we agree on ;)

Cook
04-29-2012, 09:15 AM
I agree, right there with the girl who loved TG & Blockade Billy
.... I always thought maybe his kids (when they were little) wrote them.



my pretty pony is is #1.........................................NOT!

CyberGhostface
04-29-2012, 07:11 PM
It'd be impossible for me to rank all of them individually just off the top of my head. If there's some sort of ranking site like Flickchart that would probably help sort it out for me. I'd say It and The Shining are definitely my top faves.

Other favorites are Insomnia, Hearts in Atlantis, Eyes of the Dragon, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and Black House. Including Dark Tower, it would be The Drawing of the Three, The Waste Lands and Wolves of the Calla.

Books I'm not too crazy on: The Dark Tower VII, Lisey's Story, Dolores Clairborne, The Tommyknockers.

pathoftheturtle
04-30-2012, 09:24 AM
It'd be impossible for me to rank all of them individually just off the top of my head. ...Nah. That's not literally impossible: Probably just impossible for you to rank them that way so that you'd continue to be satisified with the job you'd done at it for any length of time. Like, me; I'm having a few second thoughts about my above "off the top of my head" already. Oh, well...

Jean
04-30-2012, 09:32 AM
you know - it's not like someone is going to ban you now and make your lists our next marquee forever. You can post altered lists as often as you want to. No shit. I promise.

pathoftheturtle
04-30-2012, 09:35 AM
I actually like that this thread was started with no standard format and everyone is just organizing it whatever way they feel like, including whatever books they care to.

Do wish, tho, that we could hear from everyone giving any kind of list just what they have not read at all.

mae
04-30-2012, 10:04 AM
I think our Constant Reader Awards are a good gauge or an average of many of our membership here. I know I don't agree with it 100% but most of it is very logical, with some notable personal emendations.

RUBE
04-30-2012, 08:19 PM
This is what I think I think... for now:

1. IT
2. Wizard and Glass
3. The Gunslinger
4. Different Seasons
5. The Shining
6. The Stand
7. The Drawing of the Three
8. The Dark Tower
9. Lisey's Story
10. The Wolves of the Calla
11. Salem's Lot
12. Susannah's Song
13. The Wastelands
14. Under the Dome
15. Insomnia
16. Everything's Eventual
17. Pet Sematary
18. Desperation
19. Hearts in Atlantis
20. Black House
21. The Eyes of the Dragon
22. The Regulators
23. Bag of Bones
24. Skeleton Crew
25. From a Buick 8
26. The Talisman
27. Dreamcatcher
28. Night Shift
29. Cell
30. Rose Madder

Everything else I need to read or, in the case of On Writing and The Wind Through the Keyhole, need to finish reading.

Iwritecode
05-01-2012, 06:16 AM
#8 thru #40 can probably be shuffled around a bit depending on my mood.

1. Hearts in Atlantis
2. Bag of Bones
3. The Long Walk
4. It
5. Christine
6. Different Seasons
7. 11/22/63
8. The Dark Tower
9. Pet Sematary
10. Wolves of the Calla
11. Desperation
12. Duma Key
13. Under the Dome
14. The Running Man
15. The Stand
16. The Eyes of the Dragon
17. The Green Mile
18. Misery
19. Black House
20. The Drawing of the Three
21. The Waste Lands
22. Insomnia
23. Song of Susannah
24. Everything's Eventual
25. Wizard and Glass
26. Just After Sunset
27. Full Dark, No Stars
28. Cell
29. The Gunslinger
30. Rage
31. Carrie
32. The Shining
33. Firestarter
34. Cujo
35. Four Past Midnight
36. The Talisman
37. Nightmares & Dreamscapes
38. Cycle of the Werewolf
39. Needful Things
40. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
41. Thinner
42. The Dark Half
43. On Writing
44. Night Shift
45. The Regulators
46. Skeleton Crew
47. From a Buick 8
48. The Colorado Kid
49. Blaze
50. Rose Madder
51. Lisey's Story
52. Roadwork
53. 'Salem's Lot
54. The Dead Zone
55. Dreamcatcher
56. Gerald's Game
57. Dolores Claiborne
58. The Tommyknockers
59. Storm of the Century
60. Blockade Billy (never read)

Heather19
05-01-2012, 10:15 AM
Yeah, there was no way I could give them a number. I started out in a list format but quickly realized it was impossible as it would change on a daily basis and my mood. So I decided to put them into groups. I do love reading everyone's lists though as there's some similarities but drastic differences between them all.

CyberGhostface
05-08-2012, 02:41 PM
Alright. I'm going to try. This is literally off the top of my head. If there's some site like Flickchart that helps you organize by pitting one work after another that would probably be more accurate, but until then...


It
The Shining
Hearts in Atlantis
Insomnia
Black House
Eyes of the Dragon
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
The Dark Tower: Wolves of the Calla
The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower: The Waste Lands
Under the Dome
Duma Key
11/22/63
'Salem's Lot
Desperation
The Talisman
The Stand
Everything's Eventual
Night Shift
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
On Writing
Skeleton Crew
The Long Walk
The Dead Zone
Blaze
Rage
The Dark Tower: The Wind through the Keyhole
The Green Mile
Firestarter
Christine
The Dark Half
Bag of Bones
Roadwork
Different Seasons
Dreamcatcher
The Regulators
The Dark Tower: Wizard and Glass
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
From a Buick 8
Four Past Midnight
Cujo
Carrie
Danse Macabre
The Plant
Pet Sematary
Misery
Full Dark No Stars
Rose Madder
The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower: Song of Susannah
Just After Sunset
Needful Things
Cell
The Running Man
Lisey's Story
Storm of the Century
Cycle of the Werewolf
Rose Red
The Tommyknockers
Thinner
Dolores Clairborne
Gerald's Game
The Colorado Kid
Blockade Billy
Faithful

mae
05-08-2012, 03:45 PM
Insomnia at #4! High-five!

pathoftheturtle
05-09-2012, 05:31 AM
Hearts in Atlantis at #3 -- I didn't realize that. Good book.
Good list. Interesting.

(BTW tho, ATM you've got "Storm of the Century" listed twice.)

Brice
05-09-2012, 05:33 AM
He liked it that much.

pathoftheturtle
05-09-2012, 05:42 AM
#54 + #57 = high praise!

Oh, and if you want to do this, cyber, without having to reorder:

click
quote
to
see
formatting

Hammer
05-09-2012, 11:33 AM
Have not read them all but here are some of my favorites
1.the stand
2.dark tower series (all but the wind)
3.firestarter
4.cujo
5.under the dome
6.christine
7.thinner
8.the shinning
9.talisman
10.black house

A couple that i thought were ok
1.the wind through the keyhole
2.cell
3.eyes of the dragon

CyberGhostface
05-09-2012, 12:49 PM
#54 + #57 = high praise!

Oh, and if you want to do this, cyber, without having to reorder:

click
quote
to
see
formatting


Thanks, did that. :)

Faddah Callahan
05-09-2012, 09:18 PM
Heh. I'm glad to see "The Long Walk" getting such love. I still remember those jelly sandwiches in tin foil...

skyofcrack
05-09-2012, 10:57 PM
Tier I (15):
The Shining
Night Shift
The Stand
The Long Walk
The Dead Zone
Cujo
The Gunslinger
Different Seasons
Pet Sematary
The Talisman
Eyes of the Dragon
It
The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Half
The Waste Lands

Tier II (12):
'Salem's Lot
Rage
Firestarter
Roadwork
Creepshow
Christine
Skeleton Crew
Misery
The Stand (Unexpurgated Edition)
Four Past Midnight
Needful Things
Gerald's Game

Tier III (7):
Carrie
Danse Macabre
The Plant
Cycle of the Werewolf
Thinner
Dolores Claiborne
Nightmares & Dreamscapes

Tier IV (5):
The Running Man
Rose Madder
The Green Mile
The Regulators
Storm of the Century

Bottom Tier (3):
The Tommyknockers
Insomnia
Desperation

Unread Books (24):
Wizard & Glass
Bag of Bones
The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon
Hearts in Atlantis
On Writing
Dreamcatcher
Black House
Everything's Eventual
From a Buick 8
Wolves of the Calla
Song of Susannah
The Dark Tower
Faithful
The Colorado Kid
Cell
Lisey's Story
Blaze
Duma Key
Just After Sunset
Under the Dome
Blockade Billy
Full Dark, No Stars
11/22/63
The Wind Through the Keyhole

beam*seeker
05-16-2012, 05:51 AM
awesome, my love! :rose: :rose: :rose:

Here's mine:

Books of my life:

IT
The Stand
Desperation
Black House
Duma Key
Roadwork

Loved:

Pet Sematary
Under the Dome
Blaze
Christine
The Long Walk
Carrie
‘Salem’s Lot
The Tommyknockers
From a Buick 8
The Dead Zone
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Misery
Needful Things

Really good:

The Shining
Cell
Dreamcatcher
The Dark Half
Different Seasons
Insomnia
Four Past Midnight

Good:

Cujo
Gerald's Game
Rose Madder
Dolores Claiborne
The Talisman

Average:

The Green Mile
11/22/63
The Running Man
The Regulators
Firestarter
Bag of Bones

Didn't really care for:

The Eyes of the Dragon
Just After Sunset
Full Dark, No Stars
Lisey's Story
On Writing
Hearts in Atlantis
Thinner

Hated:

Rage


To Read:

Cycle of the Werewolf
The Colorado Kid
Blockade Billy
Storm of a Century

Bears didn't like Hearts In Atlantis???

Jean
05-16-2012, 07:32 AM
alas, no, they didn't...

Heather19
05-16-2012, 08:14 AM
You should read Cycle of the Werewolf Jean, one of my favorites.

Jean
05-16-2012, 10:18 AM
I will, as soon as I can have it in my paws!

mae
05-17-2012, 08:51 AM
http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/popcon-popular-conversation/2012/may/17/riding-king/

It feels as though I am always admitting my weakness for one thing or another in this space. Today is no different. I am a sucker for the writing of Stephen King.

I always feel defensive about this admission. I feel it necessary to make some assertion about his skill at creating compelling novels and short stories. And King does. But he has never been exactly the darling of the critics. He will never have the literary cache of David Foster Wallace, Don DeLillo or Thomas Pynchon. He has won relatively few of the top book awards, but he has dozens of bestsellers, and a cottage industry in print and film has risen up around him. It sometimes seems that about every third or fourth film or TV miniseries originated as a Stephen King novel, novella, short story or e-book.

He is, I would argue, the Charles Dickens of our time: a prolific and inspiring storyteller who can draw you into his tale in only a few paragraphs. He is a man who can take familiar ingredients and churn them into a stew you have never sampled before.

Some of his books are higher brow than others. Some have literary pretensions. And others just go for the throat.

I recently read King's e-book, "Mile 81." It focuses on a young boy who finds his way into a shuttered rest stop on the Maine Turnpike. It starts out as a lark and ends as a battle for survival. He doesn't really explain the source of the central villain, but in a few dozen pages, he creates a number of memorable characters. As someone who works with words, I marvel at his ability. Every story is distinct but each also carries some of the hallmarks of King.

Best of all, you never have to wait long to have more King to read. Next up for me is another short e-book called "Throttle" that King wrote with his son, Joe Hill. Hill is off to an impressive start of his own as a writer. "Throttle" is framed as an homage to writer Richard Matheson's "Duel." In "Throttle," a motorcycle gang does battle with a psychopath behind the wheel of a big rig. Any Stephen King fan would be intrigued.

After that, there is book eight of King's giant opus, "The Dark Tower." This book, titled "The Wind Through the Keyhole," is another entry on the amazing exploits of the gunslinger Roland Deschain and his ka-tet. In researching this blog entry, I discovered that King has announced he is working on an entirely new version of "The Dark Tower" series. Consider me awed. "The Dark Tower" is a mind melting agglomeration of elements: magic, time travel, and frequent encounters with characters from King's other books.

Wikipedia tells me that King has published 49 novels, five non-fiction books and nine story collections.

As if all that isn't enough, this human word processor is working on a sequel to one of his best-known novels, "The Shining." The new book will follow a now adult Danny Torrance as he tries to help terminally ill patients, apparently with some interference from a roving band of vampires. Titled "Dr. Sleep," no publication date has been announced for that book.

So what are my favorite King books?

1. "The Dead Zone"

2. "The Stand"

3. "The Shining"

4. "The Dark Tower" series

5. King's memoir "On Writing"

But there are lots more that I love. Recently, the New York Times Review of Books ranked all of King's books. It was intriguing to read a critical assessment of all the books. It made me want to enjoy these tales all over again. Perhaps someday I will.

beam*seeker
05-17-2012, 03:27 PM
I like the broad categories format since putting in a rank order would just get obsessively changed by rereads and just feelings in general.

Loved, Would Reread repeatedly:
tDT
Hearts in Atlantis
The Dark Half
Different Seasons
Dreamcatcher
Everything's Eventual
Dolores Claiborne
Insomnia
IT
Misery
The Talisman

Really, really enjoyed, probably could go to above category with a reread, for some it has been a long, long time since I have read:
The Dead Zone
Duma Key
Full Dark, No Stars
The Green Mile
Needful Things
Salems Lot
The Shining
The Stand
The Tommyknockers

Solid, but I am good, don't need a reread:
Bag of Bones
Carrie
Gerald's Game
Just After Sunset (with a minor exception--the story about the guy stuck in the porta pottie was awesome and belongs in the first category, ditto the cat from hell)

Average, probably won't read again:

Christine
Rose Madder
Thinner

Didn't really care for:
Cujo
Storm of the Century

I have not hated anything he wrote, but then again, have not read Lisey's Story yet, which is supposed to be bad?

To Read:
11/22/63
Blaze
Black House
Blockade Billy
The Colorado Kid
Cell
Cycle of the Werewolf
Danse Macabre
Desperation
The Eyes of the Dragon
Firestarter
Four Past Midnight
From a Buick 8
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Lisey's Story
The Long Walk
Night Shift
On Writing
Pet Sematary
Rage
The Regulators
Roadwork
Under the Dome
TWTtK

BROWNINGS CHILDE
05-17-2012, 05:14 PM
I expect this post to be very easy to start, and very difficult to complete: I have eliminated DT and short story collections

Best of the Best (in order)
1. IT
2. The Stand
3. Pet Sematary
4. Salem's Lot
5. The Shining
6. Different Seasons
7. The Long Walk
8. Misery
9. Needful Things
10. Under the Dome

Loved (no particular order)
11. Christine
12. Green Mile
14. Firestarter
15. The Tommyknockers
16. Black House
17. Geralds Game
18. Desperation
19. Insomnia
20. Cujo
21. Dreamcatcher
22. Blaze
23. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
24. The Dark Half
25. Roadwork
26. Cycle of the Werewolf

Good
27. Duma Key
28. 11/22/63
29. The Running Man
30. Four Past Midnight
31. Dolores Claiborne
32. Bag of Bones
33. Cell
34. The Dead Zone
35. The Eyes of the Dragon
36. Carrie
37. The Talisman
38. Rage

Average
39. Danse Macabre
40. On Writing
41 Full Dark No Stars
42. Blockade Billy

Below Average
43. From A Buick 8
44. Hearts in Atlantis
45. Thinner

Hated
The Regulators
Lisey's Story

Yet to Read
Rose Madder
Just After Sunset
Storm of the Century
The Colorado Kid
Faithful

Jean
05-18-2012, 03:27 AM
Average:

Christine
Roadwork




Below Average
43. From A Buick 8


: crying bear :

beam*seeker
05-18-2012, 05:54 AM
I expect this post to be very easy to start, and very difficult to complete: I have eliminated DT and short story collections


It was easy to start and I found myself rearranging the list obsessively--would have been a hundred times worse with a rank order (with numbers)!

Heather19
05-18-2012, 07:13 AM
I expect this post to be very easy to start, and very difficult to complete: I have eliminated DT and short story collections


It was easy to start and I found myself rearranging the list obsessively--would have been a hundred times worse with a rank order (with numbers)!

Agreed! I'm not sure I could ever do it. I even had a somewhat hard time putting them into groups :lol:
And I can't find The Long Walk on your list. Did I miss it, or do you still have that one to read?

beam*seeker
05-18-2012, 07:45 AM
I expect this post to be very easy to start, and very difficult to complete: I have eliminated DT and short story collections


It was easy to start and I found myself rearranging the list obsessively--would have been a hundred times worse with a rank order (with numbers)!

Agreed! I'm not sure I could ever do it. I even had a somewhat hard time putting them into groups :lol:
And I can't find The Long Walk on your list. Did I miss it, or do you still have that one to read?

I can't remember if I have read it! I cannot honestly remember if I read Rage or not. One good thing about the list, it reminds me I have lots of SK yet to read. Your list was the one I plagiarized to get the big groups. We agreed on most of them.

BROWNINGS CHILDE
05-18-2012, 06:55 PM
Below Average
43. From A Buick 8


: crying bear :

I thought you'd be more upset at my (somewhat) low ranking of Duma Key. I honestly need to reread both of those, especially From a Buick 8, its been more than a decade. I can no longer be very objective.

Jean
05-18-2012, 11:03 PM
I thought you'd be more upset at my (somewhat) low ranking of Duma Key. At least it was "good"... But, of course, seeing it in the same bracket with The Running Man and Rage was very sad...

WeDealInLead
05-21-2012, 07:54 AM
Top 10, in no particular order (changes depending on the mood):

The Stand
It
The Shining
The Dead Zone
'Salem's Lot
Black House
The Gunslinger
The Waste Lands
Skeleton Crew
The Long Walk

Runners-up:
Duma Key
11/22/63
The Talisman
Misery
Pet Sematary
The Storm of the Century
Hearts in Atlantis

Golden Middle:
most everything

To be Fahrenheit 451'd:
Lisey's Story
Gerald's Game
UR
Roadwork
Rage

Did I say Lisey's Story and Gerald's Game? Yeah? NVM, it had to be said again. WORST. BOOKS. EVER. As in, I was angry at them while reading them.

Jean
05-21-2012, 10:22 AM
To be Fahrenheit 451'd:

Roadwork

oh no!!!!!!!!

WeDealInLead
05-21-2012, 10:42 AM
Haha, sorry man. I know you have a soft spot for this book.

Jack Mort
07-29-2012, 10:37 AM
Top Ten:

1) The Long Walk
2) The Drawing Of The Three
3) The Stand
4) Salem's Lot
5) Different Seasons
6) Cycle of the Werewolf
7) The Tommyknockers
8) The Gunslinger (original)
9) Roadwork
10 ) The Langoliers (ok, ok, it's just one story!)

ok for some reason my #8 displays as a smiley face. Oh well!

BROWNINGS CHILDE
07-29-2012, 04:03 PM
Being that it is The Gunslinger, I think it is probably an autocorrect feature of the site.:lol1:

Merlin1958
07-29-2012, 04:44 PM
OK, this is very difficult, but here goes....

1 - Black House
2 - The Shining
3 - The Stand
4 - 'Salem's Lot
5 - TDOTT
6 - IT
7 - Cujo
8 - Firestarter
9 - The Green Mile
10 - Tie, Night Shift & Different Seasons

I know I will have regrets!!!! BH is my favorite though!!! Honorable mention to DT V and VII and "The Talisman" and "The Tommyknockers"

Jack Mort
07-29-2012, 08:57 PM
Being that it is The Gunslinger, I think it is probably an autocorrect feature of the site.:lol1:

Haha! Epic response, BC! I need an emoticon for everything I write. Would make life so much easier! Why did we ever transition from hieroglyphics, anyway? :)

Jack Mort
07-29-2012, 08:58 PM
OK, this is very difficult, but here goes....

1 - Black House
2 - The Shining
3 - The Stand
4 - 'Salem's Lot
5 - TDOTT
6 - IT
7 - Cujo
8 - Firestarter
9 - The Green Mile
10 - Tie, Night Shift & Different Seasons

I know I will have regrets!!!! BH is my favorite though!!! Honorable mention to DT V and VII and "The Talisman" and "The Tommyknockers"

Jeez I need to rethink my reading list and read BH. I have so much for school duties my fiction has been on hold forever....

Jean
07-30-2012, 12:42 AM
7) The Tommyknockers
9) Roadwork

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gif





Jeez I need to rethink my reading list and read BH.
Yes.

CRinVA
07-30-2012, 03:51 AM
Subject to change at any given moment.

1. The Stand
2. The Shining
3. The Wastelands
4. Bag of Bones
5. The Green Mile
6. Duma Key
7. IT
8. Wizard & Glass
9. Different Seasons
10. Misery

Honorable Mention (aka Just missed the cut!):

Desperation
The Long Walk
The Gunslinger
Black Hoiuse
11/22/63
The Dead Zone
Pet Semetery
Salem's Lot
Hearts in Atlantis

And the ones I'd most likely never read a second time!

My Pretty Pony
Lisey's Story
Faithful
Roadwork

Jack Mort
07-30-2012, 07:43 AM
7) The Tommyknockers
9) Roadwork

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gif





Jeez I need to rethink my reading list and read BH.
Yes.

Granted, Tommyknockers was the first SK book I read, and maybe for that reason it's still in my top ten, but I'm not sure - I think it needs a better rep than it usually gets!

BROWNINGS CHILDE
07-30-2012, 04:40 PM
I also really liked the Tommyknockers, despite is unpopularity on this board. Infact prior to UTD, it probably would have been in my top 10.

Merlin1958
07-30-2012, 06:37 PM
You know, it's about time for an "IT" re-read!!!!

BROWNINGS CHILDE
07-30-2012, 06:51 PM
It is always time for an "IT" reread...I never tire of "IT"!!!

Merlin1958
07-30-2012, 06:54 PM
Very true!!


You do know the Rangers will fall, right? LOL LOL LOL :YYY:

BROWNINGS CHILDE
07-30-2012, 06:56 PM
Very true!!


You do know the Rangers will fall, right? LOL LOL LOL :YYY:

Your probably right.
But so will the Yanks. :YYY: No Wait! :FU: GO RANGERS!!!

Merlin1958
07-30-2012, 07:00 PM
Very true!!


You do know the Rangers will fall, right? LOL LOL LOL :YYY:

Your probably right.
But so will the Yanks. :YYY: No Wait! :FU: GO RANGERS!!!

LOL LOL LOL


:FU: And I mean that in only the most respectable way!!! LOL

BROWNINGS CHILDE
07-30-2012, 07:01 PM
Hahaha

Jack Mort
08-04-2012, 02:16 PM
Okay I may get kicked off the site for this, but what the heck:

...i've never read IT....


Should I read IT or BH first? Thoughts?

Dan
08-04-2012, 02:20 PM
Okay I may get kicked off the site for this, but what the heck:

...i've never read IT....


Should I read IT or BH first? Thoughts?


Stop whatever you are doing and read IT! Now! :). Seriously though, it goes back and forth with The Stand as my favorite books of King. Many would probably agree.

Jack Mort
08-04-2012, 02:22 PM
I love Stand.... I guess of for all of those multiple readings I could have eventually gotten around to IT. I suppose I should try to find a nice S/L to page through and mark up a bit. :emot-cthulhu:

Jack Mort
08-04-2012, 02:22 PM
Yayyy for me I used Cthulhu!

Jean
08-04-2012, 09:32 PM
Okay I may get kicked off the site for this, but what the heck:

...i've never read IT....


Should I read IT or BH first? Thoughts?


Stop whatever you are doing and read IT! Now! :). Seriously though, it goes back and forth with The Stand as my favorite books of King. Many would probably agree.many do, including many a bear

Jack, really, there's no time like now. Reading - for the first time! - It, immediately followed by Black House is bears' idea of happiness. What a pity they'll never be able to do it for the first time again.

Brice
08-05-2012, 01:54 AM
Nick, read IT now...unless you can possibly do it sooner.

ur2ndbiggestfan
08-05-2012, 03:27 AM
I thought IT was great, but just to show how tastes differ, even among the most intelligent people in the universe, I thought BLACK HOUSE sucked. I could say I just disliked it, but it does go beyond that. I found the writing style very cliched, and I thiought the passages were drawn out beyond my capacity to still find them interesting. That's about all I can remember; it's been a while since I read it. IF I ever get time (which is doubtfull) I'll read THE TALISMAN and BLACK HOUSE again back to back and see if my opinion changes.

Jack Mort
08-05-2012, 07:22 AM
All right that's it. IT commencing today! I will provide updates as events warrant!

The Road Virus
08-06-2012, 07:10 AM
What I've been through so far (excluding short story books): The Stand, The Long Walk, DT as a collective, IT, Salem's Lot, Tommyknockers, The Shining, The Talisman----------------> Insomnia and TGWLTG

Jack Mort
08-06-2012, 09:08 AM
You might like Roadwork, if you like the other early writing...took me a while to get into it but in the end it was a pretty cool journey.

Merlin1958
08-06-2012, 08:24 PM
What I've been through so far (excluding short story books): The Stand, The Long Walk, DT as a collective, IT, Salem's Lot, Tommyknockers, The Shining, The Talisman----------------> Insomnia and TGWLTG

So, now you are due for "Black House". Great book!!!!!

FWIW You;ll really love the massive tie-ins to TDT story!!!!

BROWNINGS CHILDE
08-07-2012, 01:47 AM
Black House was much better than The Talisman IMO.

Jean
08-07-2012, 08:14 AM
no doubt

Brice
08-07-2012, 08:46 AM
I disagree! I think it matters which you read first.

Jack Mort
08-07-2012, 08:47 AM
I can't wait to read these! First IT, then Black House...

Brice
08-07-2012, 08:52 AM
I hope IT wasn't what you misspelled. :unsure:

:P

Jack Mort
08-07-2012, 08:54 AM
I hope IT wasn't what you misspelled. :unsure:

:P

Hahaha. :nope:

Brice
08-07-2012, 08:57 AM
Well, there are five letter words in that sentence professor. :P

Merlin1958
08-07-2012, 10:02 AM
I disagree! I think it matters which you read first.

I tend to agree with you though, technically you can get away with reading BH and Talisman out of order why do it if you don't have too?

I liked the way the authors transitioned Jack from young boy to grown man in the two books. I also thought the "groundwork" set in Talisman nicely segued to BH. But that's JMHO. Of course I read them as they came out so I didn't have a choice so to speak.

Merlin1958
08-07-2012, 10:02 AM
I disagree! I think it matters which you read first.

I tend to agree with you though, technically you can get away with reading BH and Talisman out of order why do it if you don't have too?

I liked the way the authors transitioned Jack from young boy to grown man in the two books. I also thought the "groundwork" set in Talisman nicely segued to BH. But that's JMHO. Of course I read them as they came out so I didn't have a choice so to speak.

The Road Virus
08-07-2012, 10:11 AM
Jack Mort, thank you for the suggestion- I'll be sure to put that one near the top of my SK books.

Merlin, you're right! I should read BH this semester while the Talisman is still fresh in my mind.

I also forgot to include On Writing in my list. However, I view this book as in a league of its own and more valuable than the rest because of its practical value. So, maybe I subconsciously left this book out on purpose :tongue:

Merlin1958
08-07-2012, 10:56 AM
Jack Mort, thank you for the suggestion- I'll be sure to put that one near the top of my SK books.

Merlin, you're right! I should read BH this semester while the Talisman is still fresh in my mind.

I also forgot to include On Writing in my list. However, I view this book as in a league of its own and more valuable than the rest because of its practical value. So, maybe I subconsciously left this book out on purpose :tongue:

Cool. You're in for a real treat!!!!

Jack Mort
08-07-2012, 01:03 PM
Well, there are five letter words in that sentence professor. :P

I spelled "then" as "than" - don't ask. My brain is fried!!!

Jack Mort
08-07-2012, 01:06 PM
Jack Mort, thank you for the suggestion- I'll be sure to put that one near the top of my SK books.

Merlin, you're right! I should read BH this semester while the Talisman is still fresh in my mind.

I also forgot to include On Writing in my list. However, I view this book as in a league of its own and more valuable than the rest because of its practical value. So, maybe I subconsciously left this book out on purpose :tongue:

You got it! It really took me a few years to enjoy some of those early works, but they're really strong character studies, like Long Walk and Rage, for example. It might not get a ton of love, but I'll even throw Running Man in there. One of the best quick reads I've had. And +1 for On Writing - I haven't gotten to it myself but it's definitely on my list!

Brice
08-07-2012, 02:15 PM
I disagree! I think it matters which you read first.

I tend to agree with you though, technically you can get away with reading BH and Talisman out of order why do it if you don't have too?

I liked the way the authors transitioned Jack from young boy to grown man in the two books. I also thought the "groundwork" set in Talisman nicely segued to BH. But that's JMHO. Of course I read them as they came out so I didn't have a choice so to speak.

I too read them as they came out. Talisman has a special place in my heart. I do like BH a lot too though.

Heather19
08-09-2012, 11:00 AM
All right that's it. IT commencing today! I will provide updates as events warrant!

Nice! Let us know how you're enjoying it!



I disagree! I think it matters which you read first.

Let's hope not or I'll never read Black House! :lol:
I tried to start it a few months ago, but was so bored by the first chapter I put it down. Sorry Jean :( I'll try again at some point.

Ricky
08-09-2012, 02:32 PM
Every time you say you didn't like Black House, I die a little. :(

:lol:

Jack Mort
08-09-2012, 04:50 PM
All right that's it. IT commencing today! I will provide updates as events warrant!

Nice! Let us know how you're enjoying it!



I disagree! I think it matters which you read first.

Let's hope not or I'll never read Black House! :lol:
I tried to start it a few months ago, but was so bored by the first chapter I put it down. Sorry Jean :( I'll try again at some point.

Thanks Heather! Starting tomorrow....yes a few days late. But I'll keep you up-to-date! Is that avatar Rebecca?

divemaster
09-10-2012, 08:02 AM
I really must get out of Calvin's Corner more often. I just noticed this thread for the first time. Here's my breakdown:

TOP SHELF; it doesn't get any better than this
Black House
Christine
Danse Macabre
Dead Zone, The
Desperation
Different Seasons
Duma Key
Firestarter
Misery
Night Shift
On Writing
Roadwork
'Salem's Lot
Shining, The
Stand, The
Waste Lands, The
Wizard & Glass


Good quality call brand; always very enjoyable
11/22/63
Bag of Bones
Creepshow
Dark Tower, The
Dolores Claiborne
Everything's Eventual
Four Past Midnight
Full Dark, No Stars
Green Mile, The
Hearts in Atlantis
It
Joyland
Just After Sunset
Long Walk, The
Pet Sematary
Rage
Rose Madder
Running Man, The
Secret Windows
Skeleton Crew
Thinner
Under the Dome
Wind Through the Keyhole, The
Wolves of the Calla


House brand--on sale; okay in a pinch
Blaze
Blockade Billy
Carrie
Cell
Colorado Kid, The
Cujo
Cycle of the Werewolf
Dark Half, The
Drawing of the Three, The
Eyes of the Dragon
From a Buick 8
Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, The
Gunslinger, The
Lisey's Story
Needful Things
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
Song of Susannah
Storm of the Century


Rockgut; swill to avoid forevermore
Dreamcatcher
Gerald's Game
Insomnia
Regulators, The
Talisman, The
Tommyknockers, The

Hmmm, did I leave any out?

Jean
09-10-2012, 11:00 AM
TOP SHELF; it doesn't get any better than this
Black House
Christine
Dead Zone, The
Desperation
Duma Key
Roadwork
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/0134-bear.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/0134-bear.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/0134-bear.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/0134-bear.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/0134-bear.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/0134-bear.gif

mae
09-10-2012, 11:55 AM
I always cry a little when I see Insomnia rated so low.

divemaster
09-10-2012, 11:58 AM
Well, if it's any consolation, it's not as bad as The Regulators.

:P

Jean
09-10-2012, 12:10 PM
I always cry a little when I see Insomnia rated so low.same with bears and The Tommyknockers

Merlin1958
09-10-2012, 01:36 PM
Well, if it's any consolation, it's not as bad as The Regulators.

:P



I always cry a little when I see Insomnia rated so low.same with bears and The Tommyknockers

Shame on you!!! I enjoyed both immensely!!! LOL LOL LOL

CRinVA
09-11-2012, 10:44 AM
I was saddened to see Drawing of the Three isted so low! Really??????

divemaster
09-11-2012, 11:12 AM
There are parts of The Drawing of the Three that I like a lot. Everything to do with Eddie and Roland. Jake in his world and Roland's. But the whole Detta/Odetta thing got old fast. If I never have to read "honky muhfucker graymeat blah blah blah" again it would be too soon. IMO the whole series would have been better without the Detta/Odetta/Susannah/Mia character (You'll see that I rate The Song of Susannah similarly.) Sure, you need a female hero and love interest and mother-figure, but I sure wished it would have been presented differently.

Don't get me wrong, I actually like the book overall. I could read the drawing of Eddie and Jake over and over. And the lobstrosities, Jake and Roland--some great stuff there. It's just that so much Detta sortof taints the whole experience. I'm content to skip all that and move right on to The Waste Lands!

Joka42
09-29-2012, 01:08 AM
1- It
2- full dark, no stars
3- Under the dome
4- The dead zone
5- Bag of bones
6- Rose Madder
7- Misery
8- Everything's eventual
9- Desperation
10- Cell

Joka.-

Stebbins
02-09-2013, 12:49 PM
So I know I've been saying I just finished my 28th SK book, and I honest-to-God still think I have, but I'm only coming up with 26. In any case, here is my order:


1 The Long Walk
1 The Stand
1 On Writing
1 Night Shift
1 Drawing of the Three
1 The Dark Tower
1 Wizard and Glass
8 Cell
9 The Gunslinger
10 The Waste Lands
11 The Shining
12 The Tommyknockers
13 Just After Sunset
14 IT
15 The Talisman
16 Everything’s Eventual
17 Salem's Lot
18 The Dead Zone
19 The Wind Through the Keyhole
20 The Colorado Kid
21 Four Past Midnight
22 Song of Susannah
23 Blockade Billy
24 Wolves of the Calla
25 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
26 Insomnia

I'd say after the tied 1sts, I would group 8-14 together, then 15-20, 21-23, and finally 24-26.

I love the selection separation Dive

Jean
02-09-2013, 11:36 PM
24 Wolves of the Calla
Don't talk to me.

Stebbins
02-10-2013, 07:08 AM
Lol, sorry bears. I can't change my tastes. That was a long time ago though so mb I'll enjoy more on my DT re-read?

mae
02-10-2013, 08:12 AM
And you rated Insomnia, one of King's best novels, the lowest? :cry:

Stebbins
02-10-2013, 10:14 AM
No one will have the exact same list. I absolutely hated Insomnia. It builds so slow and the payoff/climax is not worth the struggle of crawling thru the story IMO.

Jean
02-10-2013, 10:16 AM
That was a long time ago though so mb I'll enjoy more on my DT re-read?bears dearly hope so... for your own sake...

: ominous :

Mattrick
02-18-2013, 03:28 PM
I am considering The Dark Tower as one book with multiple volumes. I've left out his collaborations and his story collections, but if story inside a collection is of novel length (though not king novel length) then I will name the story, not the collection it came with. Non-fiction is also not included.


1. The Dark Tower
2. Bag of Bones
3. The Stand
4. Insomnia
5. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
6. Carrie
7. Hearts In Atlantis
8. Duma Key
9. Pet Semetary
10. The Shining
11. The Langoliers
12. Dreamcatcher
13. Gerald's Game
14. Rose Madder
15. Under The Dome
16. Firestarter
17. Secret Window, Secret Garden
18. Lisey's Story
19. Eyes of the Dragon
20. Low Men In Yellow Coats
21. Desperation
22. Cell
23. Thinner
24. The Dark Half


Still To Read:

- It
- The Tommyknockers
- Cycle of the Werewolf
- Blaze
- Christine
- The Regulators
- From A Buick 8
- Dolores Claiborne
- Misery
- Needful Things
- The Colorado Kid


These are the ones I own but haven't read. Not even sure where to start. Maybe The Regulators since the last King book I read was Desperation.

Merlin1958
02-18-2013, 03:34 PM
24 Wolves of the Calla
Don't talk to me.


Lol, sorry bears. I can't change my tastes. That was a long time ago though so mb I'll enjoy more on my DT re-read?

You really don't want to "Poke the Bear"!!!! LOL LOL LOL

And...... Shouldn't you be off reading? LOL When you have read ALL of King's books and 500 other authors call "Bears and I!! LOL LOL LOL

pathoftheturtle
02-18-2013, 03:35 PM
1. The Dark Tower
2. Bag of Bones
3. The Stand
4. Insomnia ... You should try It. I like your taste, basically, apart from the inexplicably low estimate of Desperation. It's interesting perspective, in any case. :) Thanks for sharing!

Merlin1958
02-18-2013, 03:37 PM
You should try It. I like your taste, basically, apart from the inexplicably low estimate of Desperation. It's interesting perspective, in any case. :) Thanks for sharing!

OK!!! Who stole, Path's login ID and is posting as him????? No debate? LOL J/K my friend!!!

pathoftheturtle
02-18-2013, 03:40 PM
I must be tired. :P

Mattrick
02-18-2013, 03:49 PM
I'm saving IT for reading before Cary Fukanaga's adaptation is released. It's been the one King book I'm hoping will be better the longer I let it age.

Iwritecode
02-19-2013, 08:27 AM
I am considering The Dark Tower as one book with multiple volumes. I've left out his collaborations and his story collections, but if story inside a collection is of novel length (though not king novel length) then I will name the story, not the collection it came with. Non-fiction is also not included.


1. The Dark Tower
2. Bag of Bones
3. The Stand
4. Insomnia
5. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
6. Carrie
7. Hearts In Atlantis
8. Duma Key
9. Pet Semetary
10. The Shining
11. The Langoliers
12. Dreamcatcher
13. Gerald's Game
14. Rose Madder
15. Under The Dome
16. Firestarter
17. Secret Window, Secret Garden
18. Lisey's Story
19. Eyes of the Dragon
20. Low Men In Yellow Coats
21. Desperation
22. Cell
23. Thinner
24. The Dark Half


Still To Read:

- It
- The Tommyknockers
- Cycle of the Werewolf
- Blaze
- Christine
- The Regulators
- From A Buick 8
- Dolores Claiborne
- Misery
- Needful Things
- The Colorado Kid


These are the ones I own but haven't read. Not even sure where to start. Maybe The Regulators since the last King book I read was Desperation.


Go ahead and read it but prepare to be disappointed.

Out of the rest of your unread list IT is probably the best followed by Christine and Misery. IMO of course.

Merlin1958
02-19-2013, 08:39 AM
I am considering The Dark Tower as one book with multiple volumes. I've left out his collaborations and his story collections, but if story inside a collection is of novel length (though not king novel length) then I will name the story, not the collection it came with. Non-fiction is also not included.


1. The Dark Tower
2. Bag of Bones
3. The Stand
4. Insomnia
5. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
6. Carrie
7. Hearts In Atlantis
8. Duma Key
9. Pet Semetary
10. The Shining
11. The Langoliers
12. Dreamcatcher
13. Gerald's Game
14. Rose Madder
15. Under The Dome
16. Firestarter
17. Secret Window, Secret Garden
18. Lisey's Story
19. Eyes of the Dragon
20. Low Men In Yellow Coats
21. Desperation
22. Cell
23. Thinner
24. The Dark Half


Still To Read:

- It
- The Tommyknockers
- Cycle of the Werewolf
- Blaze
- Christine
- The Regulators
- From A Buick 8
- Dolores Claiborne
- Misery
- Needful Things
- The Colorado Kid


These are the ones I own but haven't read. Not even sure where to start. Maybe The Regulators since the last King book I read was Desperation.


Go ahead and read it but prepare to be disappointed.

Out of the rest of your unread list IT is probably the best followed by Christine and Misery. IMO of course.

I also thoroughly enjoyed "Needful Things". The last Castle Rock book

pathoftheturtle
02-19-2013, 08:40 AM
Out of the rest of your unread list IT is probably the best followed by Christine and Misery. IMO of course.Sounds about right. And again, if my meaning was unclear, I think it is particularly likely that he'll share this opinion about It based on what he did list as his top few out of what he has read.



These are the ones I own but haven't read. Not even sure where to start. Maybe The Regulators since the last King book I read was Desperation.


Go ahead and read it but prepare to be disappointed. Totally. But perhaps the disappointment will eventually lead him to rethink and more respect Desperation.
Or not. I know some people still don't care for it. Just don't know really why.

pathoftheturtle
02-19-2013, 08:47 AM
I also thoroughly enjoyed "Needful Things". The last Castle Rock bookWell, yes, it's enjoyable. But not nearly as good of a novel as Dolores Claiborne.

(Happy now, sir? Debate away!)

Merlin1958
02-19-2013, 08:54 AM
I also thoroughly enjoyed "Needful Things". The last Castle Rock bookWell, yes, it's enjoyable. But not nearly as good of a novel as Dolores Claiborne.

(Happy now, sir? Debate away!)

LOL There's the "Path" we all know and Love!!! LOL

IDK that I would say DC is better novel than NT, just different. NT is classic King weaving many characters into the web as he did with The Stand, UTD and The Shining off the top of my head. DC was a little more of a study of one particular societal dark side. IMHO While NT is a little quicker, easier read it is still a great and almost classic horror story, where DC is more a comment on society's dark underbelly.

How was that? LOL

pathoftheturtle
02-19-2013, 09:00 AM
Not bad. But I don't know if being similar to other works is automatically a plus. Unless it's an especially good example the type, IMO, that actually counts for less than being different counts for. DC was quite a departure for King, being not only a more focused study, but also employing unusual narrative structure... and proving ultimately to be an especially good example of such usage!

Merlin1958
02-19-2013, 09:08 AM
Not bad. But I don't know if being similar to other works is automatically a plus. Unless it's an especially good example the type, IMO, that actually counts for less than being different counts for. DC was quite a departure for King, being not only a more focused study, but also employing unusual narrative structure... and proving ultimately to be an especially good example of such usage!

I didn't mean to infer similarity as a plus, just a style. In fact I consider NT to be more of a "Classic" horror story on a par with such "Classics" as The Exorcist, Dracula and Frankenstein. Not necessarily in writing style but for the subject matter. The Devil comes to town kinda thing, but that's JMO. You're right in that DC was something "new" to King. I always thought there was a touch of that scenario somewhere in his life that but for the grace of God he didn't fully experience. When reading DC I just got the feeling that the subject was very personal to SK. Just a hunch.

pathoftheturtle
02-19-2013, 09:36 AM
Well, I actually do believe the style you're talking about is SK's forte and is shared by his very best works. For the subject of NT, though, I don't think that's really all you make it out to be. Doesn't manage to eclipse Mark Twain's The Mysterious Stranger, for example. I would call it "classic King" only in the sense of "typical King." Not that I think it is below average: it does have some very effective parts.

Merlin1958
02-19-2013, 09:45 AM
Well, I actually do believe the style you're talking about is SK's forte and is shared by his very best works. For the subject of NT, though, I don't think that's really all you make it out to be. Doesn't manage to eclipse Mark Twain's The Mysterious Stranger, for example. I would call it "classic King" only in the sense of "typical King." Not that I think it is below average: it does have some very effective parts.

Well, I suppose I do have a preference for that type of story/plot where what I consider the Classic "Evil" is portrayed (The Devil, Demons, Original Vamps, Etc). I suppose it comes down to personal tastes. In any case, I think both are well written books just different. Though as I suggested perhaps, there was a "personal" agenda at work in DC as opposed to NT which may make it seem more impassioned, inspired writing.

pathoftheturtle
02-19-2013, 09:53 AM
Nothing wrong with subjective preference. :) Your "personal" hypothesis, idk about, but I do rather suspect the agenda behind NT was strongly a professional one. I mean, I might be wrong, but I don't think he wrote it and finally realized it would be the last Castle Rock story; (seemingly) it always felt like he began with that objective, to wrap up the stories of that setting, and devised a vehicle thereafter.

Mattrick
02-19-2013, 01:06 PM
Totally. But perhaps the disappointment will eventually lead him to rethink and more respect Desperation.
Or not. I know some people still don't care for it. Just don't know really why.

DESPERATION SPOILERS IN POST


Hopefully that spoiler warning will keep people away...hate having mutliple spoiler tags in a post. The first 200 pages of Desperation was excellent. What made it excellent was how much mystery there was; why was Entragion so insane? Why was he setting people up? Where is everyone in the town? The book had everything going for it: an incomprehensible villain, an isolated, secluded ghost town atmosphere, interesting characters, and true suspense: I mean true by the sense it was about a small town police officer running mad. I would have preferred if the visage of a desperate power struggle of innocence against someone drunk with authority remained. The stakes are very real, so the characters at first are honestly (we would be too) afraid. Then not long after NOSE DIVE.

The character of Tak should have been shrouded with mystery, but instead we basically read it's damn diary learning everything from how he killed everyone, how he takes the form of new bodies, we know what body we switches too (wasted moment there) and why that body starts to deteriorate rapidly due to it being on it's period. Mordred shitting on himself was realistic, he was a child without parents or any life skills, its pitiable; then you have Tak, who gets gratuitous mention of his shells vagina bleeding and ruining his plans, which is funny because doesn't reveal anything about Tak. We watch Tak go from this frightening, domineering, psychopathic force to something we laugh at because it just gets dumber and dumber and more pathetic as the novel wears on, to the point where I couldn't even take him seriously anymore and when Tak was gone I was happy for him, because King couldn't hurt him anymore.

Then we have the the entire 'god' storyline with David. A plotline like this, much like the force that was Tak, should have been handled with some ambiguity but King instead walks us by the hand through excruciating flashback sequences, all the way towards the final moments when he straight up says 'God did save them, here is the piece of paper to prove it' which makes the entire goddamn book pointless. So they were put there by God to kill Tak? Well, Tak was so retarded he would have died anyways. This entire exposition made all the characters completely redundant, except for David. This book could have been just David in the town, with his parents taken away and it would have been much more entertaining. The only aspect of the book I thoroughly enjoyed through was the assistance (can't recall his name) and the hitchhiker and their journey, as it expanded on the dread and mystery that the main plot line destroys anyways.

By the end of the book we aren't scared of Tak, because he's pathetic; we also discover what he is, where he came from, how he came from there and the characters pieces all this together better than Dexter Morgan pieces a crime scene together. Then the book is over and I couldn't believe how bad the book was, considering how much I was looking forward to it. Desperation was the name of the town; now I think it was how King felt trying to make this mess work. It is sad because Desperation started off as it could have been great; it was gritty and real with a hint of something otherworldly going on. By the end all realism and grit and humanity was ripped from this book and I walked away thinking that I'd never seen a great idea go so badly.

pathoftheturtle
02-19-2013, 03:20 PM
Well, touché: from a structural standpoint, I suppose a little more mystery could have strengthened the plot. Obviously, I think you're being too harsh with that, but it's a point. And I usually don't look at it from exactly the same angle. The metaphysical elements are rather more compelling in the context of Dark Tower material. I'm glad you liked Steve and Cynthia; I thoroughly enjoyed that, too, and certainly wouldn't go so far as to say that all the other characters were rendered redundant to the novel. Perhaps to the story, partially, in one sense. But that just brings up several more questions about the purpose of fiction and the meaning of life, doesn't it?
I loved it. Thanks anyway, though, for clarifying your point of view. Guess we're not going to agree at all on this one.

Shannon
02-19-2013, 11:27 PM
Hey, just wanted to hijack the thread, sorry in advance. I see that you guys like ranking things Stephen King-related. Nice, me too! That's why I set up a Short Story Battle Royale, featuring 128 Stephen King short stories, battling it out in four brackets until we get to a definitive winner! Please check my signature for the links, thank you! Carry on!

Mattrick
02-19-2013, 11:43 PM
Well, touché: from a structural standpoint, I suppose a little more mystery could have strengthened the plot. Obviously, I think you're being too harsh with that, but it's a point. And I usually don't look at it from exactly the same angle. The metaphysical elements are rather more compelling in the context of Dark Tower material. I'm glad you liked Steve and Cynthia; I thoroughly enjoyed that, too, and certainly wouldn't go so far as to say that all the other characters were rendered redundant to the novel. Perhaps to the story, partially, in one sense. But that just brings up several more questions about the purpose of fiction and the meaning of life, doesn't it?
I loved it. Thanks anyway, though, for clarifying your point of view. Guess we're not going to agree at all on this one.

I'm probably a little harsh on it because so many people love it and I waited a long time to get my hands on another copy (mine got lost in a move years back) so I had a lot of expectations for it. And with how good it was in the beginning I was sad with where I ended up. If I'm harsh it's because I felt King dropped the ball on this one like he did with Under The Dome. With Under The Dome it was because he didn't do enough (even at that length) with the idea he had to work with. In Desperation's case he did way too much with it; sometimes less is more and in this case it would have worked better. Sometimes I give more scorn to a work of fiction if I feel a golden oppourtunity is missed. I like my books to be about something, which is why the ones at the top of my list are, and the bottom ones are.

Unrelated to that but, do I have to read The Talisman before Black House? Black House sounds damned good.

Jean
02-19-2013, 11:46 PM
you don't really have to, but I think you'll enjoy BH more after The Talisman (I mean, even more)

Mattrick
02-19-2013, 11:51 PM
What'd you think of my list Jean? Always enjoy hearing bears perspective on things.

pathoftheturtle
02-20-2013, 03:04 AM
I can't object too much, because I know I was kind of asking for it. I realize it's an honest opinion; I respect that. It's just sort of funny that in general the ambiguity I like, you don't care for & the ambiguity you like, I don't care about.

Shannon: I am normally into those. Just been having a bit more trouble marshaling the energy. I'll try a bit harder when I get another chance. Thanks.

Jean
02-20-2013, 03:13 AM
What'd you think of my list Jean? Always enjoy hearing bears perspective on things.

I totally agree that The Dark Tower is a single novel, and that rating collections as a whole doesn't seem quite correct. Other than this, our lists are almost completely different! Happy to see TGWLTG and Carrie so high on the list, and both Lisey's Story and The Eyes of the Dragon so low; but still can't get over your low ranking of Desperation, which is in my Top Five (as is Duma Key). By the way, I agree with most, if not all, of what you wrote in your big SPOILERS post; somehow none of this subtracts from the book for me. I think I got to re-read it and try to put together some thoughts.

Read It and Black House!!!!!!!!!!!

divemaster
02-20-2013, 05:25 AM
...do I have to read The Talisman before Black House? Black House sounds damned good.

You probably should read The Talisman first--it helps set the stage and introduce characters and backstory. However, in my opinion, Black House is much much better. I really didn't care for The Talisman much at all, but I loved Black House.

Couldn't disagree more with you on Desperation. Another very top-tier King for me. It's funny, that a vast majority of people believe in God. In the U.S. and much of the "western world," that God is the Christian God. Almost everyone I know goes to church, prays, believes in some sort of divine guidance or intervention. But you watch TV or go to a movie or read a book, and no one does any of this. Is there a TV show where it shows a family going to church on a Sunday morning? Anywhere? When's the last time people in a movie facing a difficult family situation or hardship actually prayed?

It would seem to me that a piece of fiction trying to connect with "normal America" would not be so reluctant introduce a God aspect, at least some of the time. I give King tons of credit for doing so in a couple of notable works. Of course, people like to shit all over it when he does. Heaven forbid that God, who is a major factor in so many people's lives, actually be a major factor in a novel.

pathoftheturtle
02-20-2013, 08:27 AM
I feel like if you're reading Black House and you never read The Talisman, it would make you feel like the information you don't have might possibly be more essential than it actually is. But that's just my impression, uncertain because I did happen to read The Talisman first.

Stebbins
02-20-2013, 10:12 AM
Merlin, I have been reading. That's why Stebbins has been scarce around these parts the past week or so :tongue:

Mattrick: Not a fan of your list but I respect your right to have your own taste. Thank you for sharing.

Update:

1 The Long Walk
1 The Stand
1 On Writing
1 Night Shift
1 Drawing of the Three
1 The Dark Tower
1 Wizard and Glass
8 Duma Key
9 Cell
10 The Gunslinger
11 The Waste Lands
12 The Shining
13 The Tommyknockers
14 Just After Sunset
15 IT
16 The Talisman
17 Everything’s Eventual
18. The Dead Zone
19 Salem's Lot
20 The Wind Through the Keyhole
21 The Colorado Kid
22 Four Past Midnight
23 Song of Susannah
24 Blockade Billy
25 Wolves of the Calla
26 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
27 Insomnia

Mattrick
02-20-2013, 12:56 PM
It's just sort of funny that in general the ambiguity I like, you don't care for & the ambiguity you like, I don't care about.

haha yeah that's pretty funny.


Couldn't disagree more with you on Desperation. Another very top-tier King for me. It's funny, that a vast majority of people believe in God. In the U.S. and much of the "western world," that God is the Christian God. Almost everyone I know goes to church, prays, believes in some sort of divine guidance or intervention. But you watch TV or go to a movie or read a book, and no one does any of this. Is there a TV show where it shows a family going to church on a Sunday morning? Anywhere? When's the last time people in a movie facing a difficult family situation or hardship actually prayed?

It would seem to me that a piece of fiction trying to connect with "normal America" would not be so reluctant introduce a God aspect, at least some of the time. I give King tons of credit for doing so in a couple of notable works. Of course, people like to shit all over it when he does. Heaven forbid that God, who is a major factor in so many people's lives, actually be a major factor in a novel.

Well my point was that it would have been more effective if left open. The moment that David finds the hall pass, I almost vomitted, because it murdered any mystery the book had left I'm not opposed to any kind of God storylines (Frailty is one of my favourite movies) as long as they are done well. My issue with a literal (and built up) Deus Ex Machina is that eliminates human free will which is essential to any story.

As for your point on TV shows showing people going to church: The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Simpsons and Family Guy are shows that would regularily show their characters go to church. And as for praying, it has nothing to do with not showing realism, it has to do if that device fits story - most of the time praying in that situation in movies shows someone with no where else to go, often as a test of faith.

In Canada, God doesn't play much of a factor in our society...very little actually.


I totally agree that The Dark Tower is a single novel, and that rating collections as a whole doesn't seem quite correct. Other than this, our lists are almost completely different! Happy to see TGWLTG and Carrie so high on the list, and both Lisey's Story and The Eyes of the Dragon so low; but still can't get over your low ranking of Desperation, which is in my Top Five (as is Duma Key). By the way, I agree with most, if not all, of what you wrote in your big SPOILERS post; somehow none of this subtracts from the book for me. I think I got to re-read it and try to put together some thoughts.

I figured Desperation would be the controversial one on my list. I tried to put it higher but I just couldn't as I placed them. TGWLTG is a favourite of mine - the only book of King's aside from The Dark Tower I've re-read multiple times.

pathoftheturtle
02-20-2013, 01:19 PM
My issue with a literal (and built up) Deus Ex Machina is that eliminates human free will which is essential to any story.
You mean something like ka? The literal manifestations of that built-up principle don't seem to have ruined that other story for you.

Mattrick
02-20-2013, 01:40 PM
... a literal (and built up) Deus Ex Machina is that eliminates human free will which is essential to any story.
You mean something like ka? The literal manifestations of that built-up principle don't seem to have ruined that other story for you.

Because they are two entirely different things. None of the characters speak to God, there are no flashblacks directly related to how God will save the day, not to mention Ka or Gan didn't save ANYONE in The Dark Tower, and Roland is trapped in a prison. The closest The Dark Tower comes to Deus Ex Machina is Patrick Danville, which doesn't really save anyone

pathoftheturtle
02-20-2013, 01:58 PM
So Deus Ex Machina is okay so long as the supernatural is ultimately bad and not good for the protagonists? :unsure:

Iwritecode
02-20-2013, 02:01 PM
... a literal (and built up) Deus Ex Machina is that eliminates human free will which is essential to any story.
You mean something like ka? The literal manifestations of that built-up principle don't seem to have ruined that other story for you.

Because they are two entirely different things. None of the characters speak to God, there are no flashblacks directly related to how God will save the day, not to mention Ka or Gan didn't save ANYONE in The Dark Tower, and Roland is trapped in a prison. The closest The Dark Tower comes to Deus Ex Machina is Patrick Danville, which doesn't really save anyone

I have to disagree with this.

The Deus Ex Machina was the note Susannah found in the stack of towels which absolutely saved Roland.

Mattrick
02-20-2013, 02:15 PM
So the fact King wrote an entire book about saving Patrick Danville was pointless? Because you know, freeing Danville was pointless. That note was what saved Roland from The Crimson King, Patrick Danville just picked his nose. And even Danville was not a deus ex machina as he does not resolve the plot, that note you mentioned does not resolve the plot. The plot isn't really resolved at all in The Dark Tower, as we know Roland's Journey does not end when the book ends. In Desperation, God actually resolves the plot and there is evidence of it. Two entirely different things.

pathoftheturtle
02-20-2013, 02:35 PM
The question of mankind's free will is a pervasive theme throughout TDT. People who do not believe that we do have free will at all (of which there are actually many, theists and atheists) might not agree that it is essential to every drama. I am not so sure that Desperation conclusively dispenses with the concept, but now I am feeling the need for some re-reading, as well.

It would be great, IMO, if all of these issues were to eventually culminate in the opening of an exciting new thread.



You should try It. I like your taste, basically, apart from the inexplicably low estimate of Desperation. It's interesting perspective, in any case. :) Thanks for sharing!

OK!!! Who stole, Path's login ID and is posting as him????? No debate? LOL J/K my friend!!!And now you know why.

Mattrick
02-20-2013, 02:59 PM
Nice reason for editing, path haha.

The Dark Tower questions free will but it does exist. Susannah did choose to leave, afterall.

pathoftheturtle
02-20-2013, 03:09 PM
I'm glad you noticed. Not to be too patronizing, (I hope) just wanted to accurately represent the matter.

Merlin1958
02-20-2013, 07:07 PM
I'm glad you noticed. Not to be too patronizing, (I hope) just wanted to accurately represent the matter.

May as well just give up the ghost on this one, Path! IMHO

Jean
02-21-2013, 01:58 AM
So Deus Ex Machina is okay so long as the supernatural is ultimately bad and not good for the protagonists? :unsure:This discussion is for a different thread. Can't help saying right here, though, that Ka and Christian God being, as Mattrick observed, totally opposite (as far as human free will is concerned; also in terms of their own existence :bearwink: ), neither of them seems to me working as Deus ex machina in any of King books (I might be overlooking something, of course). [/offtop]

pathoftheturtle
02-21-2013, 05:22 AM
It will be a great thread! Ka, Gan, Christian God... and at least Jewish God will hopefully turn up, too. Greek tragedians common. Should be in Cara Laughs, I think, not Mid-World. Jean and I need to re-read Desperation first; Mattrick, The Regulators and IT. (Yeah, that's right, italicized, capitalized, bolded, AND underlined!)

Iwritecode
02-21-2013, 07:16 AM
So the fact King wrote an entire book about saving Patrick Danville was pointless? Because you know, freeing Danville was pointless. That note was what saved Roland from The Crimson King, Patrick Danville just picked his nose. And even Danville was not a deus ex machina as he does not resolve the plot, that note you mentioned does not resolve the plot. The plot isn't really resolved at all in The Dark Tower, as we know Roland's Journey does not end when the book ends. In Desperation, God actually resolves the plot and there is evidence of it. Two entirely different things.

I was going by the definition of deus ex machina only solving a complicated situation, not the entire plot. Which is what happened in DT.

It's been a while since I've read Desperation but does God actually resolve the plot? I seem to remember Johnny finding the hall pass in his pocket and giving it to David. But I thought the plot resolution was Johnny choosing to go down the hole and blow it up.

Iwritecode
02-21-2013, 12:49 PM
Discussion continued here. (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?17123-Free-Will-and-Desperation)

Merlin1958
02-21-2013, 05:52 PM
Uh oh!!! LOL LOL Glad you guys decided to move the discussion to another thread. I think it was a very wise decision. Enjoy!!!

Bryant Burnette
02-22-2013, 02:59 AM
A few cheats on here, but...

68 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
67 Blockade Billy
66 Faithful
65 The Eyes of the Dragon
64 Cycle of the Werewolf
63 Rage
62 Blaze
61 Secret Windows
60 Rose Madder
59 Lisey's Story
58 The Talisman
57 Dreamcatcher
56 The Colorado Kid
55 Feast of Fear: Conversations With Stephen King
54 The Plant: Zenith Rising
53 The Running Man
52 The Regulators
51 Thinner
50 Black House
49 Cell
48 Just After Sunset
47 The Dark Half
46 Desperation
45 Everything's Eventual
44 Four Past Midnight
43 Nightmares & Dreamscapes
42 Needful Things
41 Roadwork
40 Bare Bones: Conversations on Terror with Stephen King
39 Christine
38 Firestarter
37 Full Dark, No Stars
36 Storm of the Century
35 The Tommyknockers
34 The Bachman Books
33 Under the Dome
32 Danse Macabre
31 Insomnia
30 Gerald's Game
29 From a Buick 8
28 The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole
27 'Salem's Lot
26 The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
25 Hearts In Atlantis
24 Bag of Bones
23 The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
22 Misery
21 Cujo
20 Dolores Claiborne
19 The Stand
18 Pet Sematary
17 The Long Walk
16 Duma Key
15 11/22/63
14 Carrie
13 The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower
12 Night Shift
11 The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
10 Skeleton Crew
09 The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
08 The Shining
07 The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
06 The Green Mile
05 On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
04 The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
03 The Dead Zone
02 It
01 Different Seasons

Stebbins
02-22-2013, 05:41 AM
Solid list Bryant

Merlin1958
02-22-2013, 04:53 PM
A few cheats on here, but...

68 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
67 Blockade Billy
66 Faithful
65 The Eyes of the Dragon
64 Cycle of the Werewolf
63 Rage
62 Blaze
61 Secret Windows
60 Rose Madder
59 Lisey's Story
58 The Talisman
57 Dreamcatcher
56 The Colorado Kid
55 Feast of Fear: Conversations With Stephen King
54 The Plant: Zenith Rising
53 The Running Man
52 The Regulators
51 Thinner
50 Black House
49 Cell
48 Just After Sunset
47 The Dark Half
46 Desperation
45 Everything's Eventual
44 Four Past Midnight
43 Nightmares & Dreamscapes
42 Needful Things
41 Roadwork
40 Bare Bones: Conversations on Terror with Stephen King
39 Christine
38 Firestarter
37 Full Dark, No Stars
36 Storm of the Century
35 The Tommyknockers
34 The Bachman Books
33 Under the Dome
32 Danse Macabre
31 Insomnia
30 Gerald's Game
29 From a Buick 8
28 The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole
27 'Salem's Lot
26 The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
25 Hearts In Atlantis
24 Bag of Bones
23 The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
22 Misery
21 Cujo
20 Dolores Claiborne
19 The Stand
18 Pet Sematary
17 The Long Walk
16 Duma Key
15 11/22/63
14 Carrie
13 The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower
12 Night Shift
11 The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
10 Skeleton Crew
09 The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
08 The Shining
07 The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
06 The Green Mile
05 On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
04 The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
03 The Dead Zone
02 It
01 Different Seasons

Very interesting list, my good sir!!! Certainly not conventional. Some bold choices there. Good for you!!!

Bryant Burnette
02-23-2013, 12:50 AM
Thanks! I seem to have left American Vampire Vol. 1 off the list somehow, though. This troubles me.

Mattrick
02-23-2013, 01:51 AM
Girl Who Loves Tom Gordon at the bottom, excuse me while I shed a tear for that poor, unloved book :'(

Jean
02-23-2013, 07:40 AM
plus some bears' tears...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gif

Jean
02-23-2013, 07:40 AM
plus some bears' tears...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gif

pathoftheturtle
02-23-2013, 07:47 AM
Girl Who Loves Tom Gordon at the bottom, excuse me while I shed a tear for that poor, unloved book :'(

plus some bears' tears...

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gifhttp://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_cry.gifJust when you start to think that you really are almost completely different...

Jean
02-23-2013, 07:55 AM
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bear_original.gif

Stebbins
02-26-2013, 01:18 PM
Update:

1 The Long Walk
1 The Stand
1 On Writing
1 Night Shift
1 Drawing of the Three
1 The Dark Tower
1 Wizard and Glass
8 Duma Key
9 Cell
10 The Gunslinger
11 The Tommyknockers
12 The Shining
13 The Waste Lands
14 Just After Sunset
15 IT
16 The Talisman
17 Everything’s Eventual
18 The Dead Zone
19 Dolores Claiborne
20 The Wind Through the Keyhole
21 Salem's Lot
22 The Colorado Kid
23 Four Past Midnight
24 Song of Susannah
25 Blockade Billy
26 Wolves of the Calla
27 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
28 Insomnia

Stebbins
03-16-2013, 08:29 PM
Update:

1 The Long Walk
1 The Stand
1 On Writing
1 Night Shift
1 Drawing of the Three
1 The Dark Tower
1 Wizard and Glass
8 Duma Key
9 Cell
10 Black House
11 The Gunslinger
12 The Tommyknockers
13 The Shining
14 The Waste Lands
15 Just After Sunset
16 IT
17 The Talisman
18 Everything’s Eventual
19 The Dead Zone
20 Dolores Claiborne
21 The Wind Through the Keyhole
22 Salem's Lot
23 The Colorado Kid
24 Four Past Midnight
25 Song of Susannah
26 Blockade Billy
27 Wolves of the Calla
28 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
29 Insomnia

bmcmolo
03-22-2013, 09:11 AM
How can I resist?

FAVORITE DARK TOWERS:
8. Song of Susannah
7. The Dark Tower
6. Drawing of the Three
5. The Waste Lands
4. Wind Through the Keyhole
3. The Gunslinger
2. Wolves of the Calla
1. Wizard and Glass

FAVORITE NOVELLAS:
5. Good Marriage
4. Ur
3. 1922
2. Big Driver
1. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption

FAVORITE BACHMANS
3. The Regulators
2. Roadwork
1. The Long Walk

FAVORITE SHORT STORIES
3. Children of the Corn
2. N
1. Lunch at the Gotham Cafe

FAVORITE NOVELS:
12. Under the Dome
11. Salem's Lot
10. 11/22/63
9. From a Buick 8
8. Needful Things
7. The Tommyknockers
6. The Shining
5. The Green Mile
4. Hearts in Atlantis
3. It
2. The Stand
1. Duma Key

WHAT I DID WAS...
I separated King's work by decade (more or less: my divisions were to sequester the Bachmans and Dark Towers against one another, and divide King's work by decade (well, 74-83, 84-93, 94-03, then 04-now. I ranked all the short stories by book and then made mock-bracketology for myself. It was a lot of fun. Anyway! Of the Bachmans and the Dark Towers, Wizard and Glass would probably come in between It and The Stand on my overall King rankings...)

Jean
03-22-2013, 10:45 AM
Everyone who loves Duma Key is a friend to bears

Everyone who places Wolves of the Calla high on their list automatically becomes a honorary bear

Stebbins
03-22-2013, 02:31 PM
Bears, I'm glad we're friends and can live with not being an honorary bear, I guess :D. Thanks for posting bmc!

Update:

1 The Long Walk
2 The Stand
3 Duma Key
4 On Writing
5 Night Shift
6 Drawing of the Three
7 Wizard and Glass
8 The Dark Tower
9 Cell
10 Black House
11 The Gunslinger
12 The Tommyknockers
13 The Shining
14 The Waste Lands
15 Hearts in Atlantis
16 Just After Sunset
17 IT
18 The Talisman
19 Everything’s Eventual
20 The Dead Zone
21 Dolores Claiborne
22 The Wind Through the Keyhole
23 Salem's Lot
24 The Colorado Kid
25 Four Past Midnight
26 Song of Susannah
27 Blockade Billy
28 Wolves of the Calla
29 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
30 Insomnia

Jean
03-23-2013, 04:36 AM
and can live with not being an honorary bear, I guess :D.
Sour grapes.

bmcmolo
03-25-2013, 06:30 AM
On Writing (or Danse Macabre) are tough for me to "rank" alongside his fiction, but were I making a King time capsule for future generations/ alien civilizations, I'd definitely include both. Two of my favorite books!

Stebbins
04-06-2013, 05:03 PM
I love the short story picks; all three would make my top 10 (so far) for sure.

Merlin1958
04-07-2013, 07:33 PM
I love the short story picks; all three would make my top 10 (so far) for sure.

Not sure if you were around for these, but if you enjoy the "Short Story" by King well you may enjoy the illustrations here:

http://www.thedarktower.org/?page=test1

Not trying to "sell" you (they're sold out), but you may still enjoy what IMHO are some excellent illustrations of the stories. Enjoy!!!

Stebbins
04-08-2013, 05:36 AM
I did not see those; they look incredible though. Thanks for furthering my knowledge Professor Merlin :)

bmcmolo
04-08-2013, 10:44 AM
Fantastic pics! Thanks for the heads-up.

Does anyone know if (and please forgive me if this is common knowledge/ already covered. I did a quick search but couldn't find the answer) the artist Glenn Chadbourne was the inspiration for President Chadbourne from The Reploids/ Dark Tower?

Merlin1958
04-08-2013, 03:32 PM
I did not see those; they look incredible though. Thanks for furthering my knowledge Professor Merlin :)

You're welcome, my young apprentice!! LOL LOL

Stebbins
04-08-2013, 05:49 PM
:lol: I'd give you some rep-love for that comment if I didn't need to spread it around still.

Merlin1958
04-08-2013, 05:52 PM
:lol: I'd give you some rep-love for that comment if I didn't need to spread it around still.

Then, get to work!!! LOL LOL LOL

Stebbins
04-19-2013, 10:39 AM
Update:

1 The Long Walk
2 The Stand
3 Duma Key
4 On Writing
5 Night Shift
6 Drawing of the Three
7 Wizard and Glass
8 Under the Dome
9 Cell
10 The Gunslinger
11 Black House
12 IT
13 The Dark Tower
14 The Tommyknockers
15 The Shining
16 The Waste Lands
17 The Green Mile
18 Hearts in Atlantis
19 Just After Sunset
20 The Talisman
21 The Dark Half
22 Everything’s Eventual
23 The Dead Zone
24 Salem's Lot
25 The Wind Through the Keyhole
26 Dolores Claiborne
27 The Colorado Kid
28 Four Past Midnight
29 Song of Susannah
30 Blockade Billy
31 Wolves of the Calla
32 Lisey's Story
33 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
34 Insomnia

Jean
04-19-2013, 12:03 PM
Stebbins: can you highlight the newly added when you update?

Stebbins
04-19-2013, 02:21 PM
No problem Bears. Have done it for the previous post and will do so every time I update in the future :).

Jean
04-20-2013, 01:34 AM
ok, thank you, now one more thing to do: move It and Wolves from where you put them by mistake to the top where they belong

Stebbins
04-20-2013, 01:45 PM
:lol: I have been thinking of moving IT (the middle part of my list is already hard because of how much I like King's writing). However, WotC will not be moved until I go through the series again, which will not be happening until, Lord willing, I get through everything he has written first. [Currently reading, and liking 100 pages in, The Dark Half.]

Stebbins
06-21-2013, 03:16 PM
Update:

1 The Long Walk
2 The Stand
3 Joyland
4 Duma Key
5 Night Shift
6 Drawing of the Three
7 Wizard and Glass
8 Under the Dome
9 Cell
10 The Gunslinger
11 Black House
12 IT
13 The Dark Tower
14 The Tommyknockers
Fire-Starter
15 The Shining
16 Carrie
17 The Waste Lands
18 The Green Mile
19 Hearts in Atlantis
20 Just After Sunset
21 The Talisman
22 The Dark Half
23 Everything’s Eventual
24 The Dead Zone
25 Salem's Lot
26 The Wind Through the Keyhole
27 Dolores Claiborne
28 The Colorado Kid
29 Four Past Midnight
30 Song of Susannah
31 Blockade Billy
32 Wolves of the Calla
33 Lisey's Story
34 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
35 Insomnia

NR- On Writing

BROWNINGS CHILDE
06-21-2013, 03:29 PM
Best of the Best (in order)
1. IT
2. The Stand
3. Pet Sematary
4. Salem's Lot
5. The Shining
6. Different Seasons
7. The Long Walk
8. Misery
9. Needful Things
10. Under the Dome

Loved (no particular order)
11. Christine
12. Green Mile
14. Firestarter
15. The Tommyknockers
16. Black House
17. Geralds Game
18. Desperation
19. Insomnia
20. Cujo
21. Dreamcatcher
22. Blaze
23. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
24. The Dark Half
25. Roadwork
26. Cycle of the Werewolf

Good
27. Duma Key
28. 11/22/63
29. Joyland
30. The Running Man
31. Four Past Midnight
32. Dolores Claiborne
33. Bag of Bones
34. Cell
35. Rose Madder
36. The Dead Zone
37. The Eyes of the Dragon
38. Carrie
39. The Talisman
40. Rage

Average
41. Danse Macabre
42. On Writing
43. Full Dark No Stars
44. Blockade Billy

Below Average
45. From A Buick 8
46. Hearts in Atlantis
47. Thinner

Hated
48. The Regulators
49. Lisey's Story

Yet to Read

Storm of the Century
The Colorado Kid
Faithful

Jean
06-22-2013, 02:32 AM
Stebbins: wow, how high is Joyland! Better than anything DT??

Stebbins
06-22-2013, 08:26 AM
Jean: I loved it. Grant it, it has been too long since I read the DT series, but Joyland really spoke to me. I have come to love hard-boiled noir this summer, and a lot of King's messages hit home. I might flip it with Duma Key, but yes, it is firmly up there with the greats for me. To be fair, I think Salem's Lot and everything above it is amazing work (and, with one or two exceptions, everything below it is quite good).

Jean
06-22-2013, 12:30 PM
sounds like I must read it at last...

jhanic
06-22-2013, 02:00 PM
Jean, you won't regret it.

John

Jean
06-24-2013, 03:42 AM
will try to get it somewhere...

petnic01
07-04-2013, 06:34 AM
Brilliant/5 Stars/A+
1: It
2: The Dark Tower VII
3: The Long Walk
4: The Shining
5: The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands

Great/4.5 Stars/A
6: The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
7: The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
8: On Writing
9: Joyland
10: The Wind Through The Keyhole

Good/4 Stars/A-
11: Salem's Lot
12: The Dark Tower II: The Drawing Of The Three
13: Different Seasons
14: The Dark Tower V: Wolves Of The Calla

Average/2.5-3.5 Stars/B- to B+
15: The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
16: Carrie
17: The Colorado Kid
18: Blockade Billy

Jean
07-04-2013, 06:43 AM
so, you haven't read The Stand yet?

Stebbins
08-04-2013, 02:39 PM
1 The Long Walk
2 The Stand
3 Duma Key
4 Joyland
5 Night Shift
6 Drawing of the Three
7 Wizard and Glass
8 Under the Dome
9 Cell
10 The Gunslinger
11 Black House
12 IT
13 The Dark Tower
14 The Tommyknockers
15 Rage
17 The Shining
17 Fire-Starter
18 Carrie
19 The Waste Lands
20 The Green Mile
21 Hearts in Atlantis
22 Just After Sunset
23 The Talisman
24 The Dark Half
25 Everything’s Eventual
26 The Dead Zone
27 Salem's Lot
28 The Wind Through the Keyhole
29 Dolores Claiborne
30 The Colorado Kid
31 Four Past Midnight
32 Song of Susannah
33 Blockade Billy
34 Wolves of the Calla
35 Lisey's Story
36 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
37 Insomnia

NR- On Writing

Jean
08-05-2013, 01:23 AM
Rage so high above 'Salem's Lot? must be shitting me again?

Stebbins
08-05-2013, 07:59 AM
:lol: I shit you not, Comrade. SL was slow (and over-hyped) for me. I think it's a great vampire novel, but not one of King's best. Rage also hit me hard, and gave me encouragement as a writer. The writing is still superb, it's just not as expansive. And the themes spoke to me.

Also, every pick 30 and above is still rated 'Good' for me. My ranking is based mostly on which story captured me the most.

Jean
08-05-2013, 08:02 AM
Also, every pick 30 and above is still rated 'Good' for me.
Thank you for reminding me of the Wolves again.

: gnashing teeth :

sgc1999
08-05-2013, 08:11 AM
wow this is a daunting task. I will have to come back to it when im not working:)
LOL

Jean
08-05-2013, 08:19 AM
do it! do it!!!

bears love those lists

Merlin1958
08-07-2013, 04:15 PM
do it! do it!!!

bears love those lists


And yet, you wouldn't think that the ursine population were so intrigued by "lists, counting and ratings". I guess you really can't "judge a book by its cover".


:cool:

Jean
08-07-2013, 10:33 PM
No, bears are inrgued only by how their friends compose those lists

then, they are fascinated with statistics of all kinds... it always tells so much more than meets the eye (actually, it doesn't tell shit about its subject, but tells a lot about the participants)

Stebbins
08-15-2013, 03:26 PM
Update:

1 The Long Walk
2 The Stand
3 Joyland
4 Duma Key
5 Night Shift
6 Drawing of the Three
7 Wizard and Glass
8 Under the Dome
9 Cell
10 The Gunslinger
11 Roadwork
12 Black House
13 The Running Man
14 The Dark Tower
15 Rage
16 The Tommyknockers
17 The Shining
18 Fire-Starter
19 Carrie
20 IT
21 The Waste Lands
22 The Green Mile
23 Hearts in Atlantis
24 Just After Sunset
25 The Talisman
26 The Dark Half
27 Everything’s Eventual
28 The Dead Zone
29 Salem's Lot
30 The Wind Through the Keyhole
31 Dolores Claiborne
32 The Colorado Kid
33 Four Past Midnight
34 Song of Susannah
35 Blockade Billy
36 Wolves of the Calla
37 Lisey's Story
38 The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
39 Insomnia

NR- On Writing

RichardX
08-16-2013, 10:30 AM
I'm only including the books that I have: a) read and b) can still remember. As a result it should be considered definitive for future generations:

1) The Shining
2) It
3) The Stand
4) Salem's Lot
5) The Dead Zone
6) Christine
7) Pet Sematary
8) Cujo
9) Carrie
10) Green Mile
11) Dolores Claiborne
12) Firestarter
13) Misery
14) 11/22/63
15) Duma Key
16) Gerald's Game
17) Bag of Bones
18) Black House
19) Talisman
20) From a Buick 8
21) Needful Things
22) Insomnia
23) Desperation
24) Under the Dome
25) The Dark Half
26) Joyland
27) Rose Madder
28) Lisey's Story
29) The Tommyknockers
30) Cell
31) Dreamcatcher
32) The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

Tommy
08-16-2013, 10:48 AM
wow this is a daunting task. I will have to come back to it when im not working:)
LOL

I know what you mean, I've read nearly all of them and trying to rank them is giving me a slight panic attack :panic:

CyberGhostface
08-21-2013, 06:28 PM
Updating for Joyland.


It
The Shining
Hearts in Atlantis
Insomnia
Black House
Eyes of the Dragon
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
The Dark Tower: Wolves of the Calla
The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower: The Waste Lands
Under the Dome
Duma Key
11/22/63
'Salem's Lot
Desperation
The Talisman
The Stand
Everything's Eventual
Joyland
Night Shift
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
On Writing
Skeleton Crew
The Long Walk
The Dead Zone
Blaze
Rage
The Dark Tower: The Wind through the Keyhole
The Green Mile
Firestarter
Christine
The Dark Half
Bag of Bones
Roadwork
Different Seasons
Dreamcatcher
The Regulators
The Dark Tower: Wizard and Glass
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
From a Buick 8
Four Past Midnight
Cujo
Carrie
Danse Macabre
The Plant
Pet Sematary
Misery
Full Dark No Stars
Rose Madder
The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower: Song of Susannah
Just After Sunset
Needful Things
Cell
The Running Man
Lisey's Story
Storm of the Century
Cycle of the Werewolf
Rose Red
The Tommyknockers
Thinner
Dolores Clairborne
Gerald's Game
The Colorado Kid
Blockade Billy
Faithful

Jean
08-22-2013, 05:21 AM
I got to update mine with Joyland too, but I will have to wait a couple of days. If I do now, it will be in the top 5, and it probably shouldn't be. Loved it immensely.

DoctorZaius
08-23-2013, 05:22 PM
Well, here is my two cents. I hope it's all inclusive. I had to categorize things in my head a bit. Sorry!

NOVELS

IT
The Stand
Pet Sematary
Salem’s Lot
The Long Walk
The Shining
11/22/63
Joyand
Thinner
Rage
The Talisman
Christine
Misery
Blaze
The Dead Zone
The Green Mile
Carrie
Dolores Claiborne
Cell
Gerald’s Game
Cycle of the Werewolf
The Running Man
Firestarter
The Dark Half
Desperation
Insomnia
Rose Madder
Under the Dome
Needful Things
Eyes of the Dragon
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Cujo
Duma Key
Bag of Bones
The Regulators
Black House
From a Buick 8
The Colorado Kid
Lisey’s Story
Dreamcatcher
Road Work
Tommyknockers


DARK TOWER SERIES

Wizard and Glass
The Wastelands
Wind Through the Keyhole
Wolves of the Calla
The Gunslinger
Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower
Song of Susanna
Little Sisters of Eluria

FAVORITE NOVELLAS

The Mist
The Body
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption
The Library Policeman
Apt Pupil
Blockade Billy
1922
The Langoliers
Big Driver
Secret Window, Secret Garden
The Sun Dog
The Breathing Method
Fair Extension
A Good Marriage

COLLECTIONS

Night Shift
Skeleton Crew
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
Everything’s Eventual
Hearts in Atlantas
Just After Sunset


NOVELLA COLLECTIONS

Different Seasons
Full Dark, No stars
Four Past Midnight

Merlin1958
08-23-2013, 08:30 PM
DARK TOWER SERIES

Wizard and Glass
The Wastelands
Wind Through the Keyhole
Wolves of the Calla
The Gunslinger
Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower
Song of Susanna
Little Sisters of Eluria

I thought that DOTT was hands down the best "TDT" novel, but after that I can't really disagree. The best "related novel" IMHO was "Black House", but he totally disrespected that one in the series for what I assume are legal/contractual reasons

Plus, I may have listed TWTTKH a little lower as it has no real impact on the over-riding story. Otherwise, good job!!.

DoctorZaius
08-24-2013, 07:06 AM
I liken DOTT to that of the origin tale portion of the recent slew of superhero movies. I love to watch them, but they don't resonate as long with me.

pathoftheturtle
08-24-2013, 10:21 AM
Please check out: showthread.php?1780-Your-order-of-the-series. (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?1780-Your-order-of-the-series.)

To me, it's interesting that you place highly Pet Semetary and Thinner, and disheartening that you give Black House and Desperation such low position. I'm little hesitant to ask about Hearts in Atlantis.

Jean
08-24-2013, 11:08 AM
and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Merlin1958
08-24-2013, 02:45 PM
I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.

pathoftheturtle
08-24-2013, 03:28 PM
I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.I have not read Joyland yet, but I notice that Thinner, The Long Walk, and Rage all made his top 10.
:orely:
and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42Yeah, I wouldn't put either of those at very bottom. (Nor for that matter right at the top.)

Geez, this is all quite interesting, but I sure hope that Zaius doesn't start to feel like he's being ganged up on. More people's lists needed ASAP!

DoctorZaius
08-24-2013, 03:29 PM
Please check out: showthread.php?1780-Your-order-of-the-series. (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?1780-Your-order-of-the-series.)

To me, it's interesting that you place highly Pet Semetary and Thinner, and disheartening that you give Black House and Desperation such low position. I'm little hesitant to ask about Hearts in Atlantis.

I think that sometimes books just hit you differently at different points in ones life. Pet Semetary is a favorite because I was taking a course at Northeastern in horror fiction. The professor, Gary Goshgarian (who has written some fine horror novels under the name Gary Braver, brought in one of his friends to class to discuss a book we had read - yup, Stephen King. It was an amazing day. I still love the book, especially it's ending. I was actually in the middle of reading Thinner when word got out that it was actually Stephen King - so it resonates with me because I kept saying I should have known. Black House just didn't hit me well. I loved the Talisman and perhaps was hoping for more of the same. Desperation is great for the first 1/2 to 2/3, then it slows a bit. Still loved it, enough to have Don Maitz do his remarque in my limited edition.

DoctorZaius
08-24-2013, 03:30 PM
and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Sorry dude, but I really loathed (sorry for the strong wording) Tommyknockers! To each his own.

Thanks again for trying out Geek Love! ;-)

DoctorZaius
08-24-2013, 03:32 PM
I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.

Interesting, I didn't feel Joyland had a Bachman Feel at all. I felt it was like something from King's Different Seasons era.

Merlin1958
08-24-2013, 03:34 PM
I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.I have not read Joyland yet, but I notice that Thinner, The Long Walk, and Rage all made his top 10.
:orely:
and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42Yeah, I wouldn't put either of those at very bottom. (Nor for that matter right at the top.)

Geez, this is all quite interesting, but I sure hope that Zaius doesn't start to feel like he's being ganged up on. More people's lists needed ASAP!

He seems like a very good guy (for a fucking Boston fan!!! LOL) and realizes we are just having a discussion, but good looking out, dude.

DoctorZaius
08-24-2013, 03:37 PM
I enjoyed "Joyland", but I don't think I would rate it that high. It feels/reads like a Bachman novel to a degree.I have not read Joyland yet, but I notice that Thinner, The Long Walk, and Rage all made his top 10.
:orely:
and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42Yeah, I wouldn't put either of those at very bottom. (Nor for that matter right at the top.)

Geez, this is all quite interesting, but I sure hope that Zaius doesn't start to feel like he's being ganged up on. More people's lists needed ASAP!

I learned a long time ago not take this kind of stuff personally - it's too subjective. I love The Long Walk because I have read it so many times - each year a group of my students ends up reading it for a book club assignment and I find so much more each time I explore it. Rage too, resonates with the teacher side of me. School shootings are part of my life, luckily only on the periphery. I hate the fact that Stephen King pulled it from publication - it's actually a quite brilliant exploration of an all to real life situation.

I do agree though, that when these lists get posted you had better be prepared for the fallout.

Jean - I am genuinely honored that you are taking the time to read Geek Love!

DoctorZaius
08-24-2013, 07:34 PM
and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42

Sorry dude, but I really loathed (sorry for the strong wording) Tommyknockers! To each his own.

Thanks again for trying out Geek Love! ;-)

Here I am replying to myself. I meant to say I "loathed" the Tommyknockers MOVIE. The book itself was pretty good for the first 200 pages or so. The early parts reminded me of one of my favorite movies, The Thing (the original one from the 50s). Then the story became uninteresting for me.

jhanic
08-25-2013, 09:54 AM
I've never tried to rank King's works. What I like varies from almost day-to-day for me. There are some that I like more than others, but a ranking is out of the question.

John

DoctorZaius
08-25-2013, 10:15 AM
I've never tried to rank King's works. What I like varies from almost day-to-day for me. There are some that I like more than others, but a ranking is out of the question.

John

I agree with you but wanted to give it a go!

divemaster
08-25-2013, 11:05 AM
I've never tried to rank King's works. What I like varies from almost day-to-day for me. There are some that I like more than others, but a ranking is out of the question.

John

I hear ya. For me, using somewhat broad categories was the way to go. I can easily see movement within a category, but probably not between groupings.



TOP SHELF; it doesn't get any better than this
Black House
Christine
Danse Macabre
Dead Zone, The
Desperation
Different Seasons
Duma Key
Firestarter
Misery
Night Shift
On Writing
Roadwork
'Salem's Lot
Shining, The
Stand, The
Waste Lands, The
Wizard & Glass


Good quality call brand; always very enjoyable
11/22/63
Bag of Bones
Creepshow
Dark Tower, The
Dolores Claiborne
Everything's Eventual
Four Past Midnight
Full Dark, No Stars
Green Mile, The
Hearts in Atlantis
It
Joyland
Just After Sunset
Long Walk, The
Pet Sematary
Rage
Rose Madder
Running Man, The
Secret Windows
Skeleton Crew
Thinner
Under the Dome
Wind Through the Keyhole, The
Wolves of the Calla


House brand--on sale; okay in a pinch
Blaze
Blockade Billy
Carrie
Cell
Colorado Kid, The
Cujo
Cycle of the Werewolf
Dark Half, The
Drawing of the Three, The
Eyes of the Dragon
From a Buick 8
Girl who Loved Tom Gordon, The
Gunslinger, The
Lisey's Story
Needful Things
Nightmares & Dreamscapes
Song of Susannah
Storm of the Century


Rockgut; swill to avoid forevermore
Dreamcatcher
Gerald's Game
Insomnia
Regulators, The
Talisman, The
Tommyknockers, The

Stebbins
08-25-2013, 04:00 PM
Doctor Zaius, glad to have you in on this thread, and that your contribution has sparked it into discussion. I liked your list, a lot more than the one or two before it, but like everyone, we have some differing of opinion. With how much variance there can be in sixty-something choices, I felt the commonalities outweighed the differences though.

I thought of Bears when I saw those two so low, Jean. :lol:

Bill, I couldn't agree more about DOTT, total disagree on the Joyland analysis. I didn't see it as trying to return to Bachman, I thought it was King doing his take on crime-fiction--giving a tremendous homage to Westlake as well-- much like in [snippets of] The Dark Half. I also think it's top-shelf drawing on Dive's analogy.

Path, it's interesting, if I'm interpreting correct, that you hold Desperation in good regard while having contempt for Cell. I'm reading the former right now and the layout and writing of the book reminds me very much of the latter.

Jean
08-26-2013, 01:51 AM
Interesting, I didn't feel Joyland had a Bachman Feel at all. I felt it was like something from King's Different Seasons era.
Same here.



and he places my two personal favorites at 41 and 42Yeah, I wouldn't put either of those at very bottom. (Nor for that matter right at the top.)No, not the very top - that is reserved for It, The Stand, Black House, Desperation and Duma Key. But those two follow close.

Geez, this is all quite interesting, but I sure hope that Zaius doesn't start to feel like he's being ganged up on. we are! we are!!!



Thanks again for trying out Geek Love! ;-)
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gif (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mishemplushem/media/Facilitation/bearheart.gif.html)http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gif (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mishemplushem/media/Facilitation/bearheart.gif.html)http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k291/mishemplushem/Facilitation/bearheart.gif (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/mishemplushem/media/Facilitation/bearheart.gif.html)


Here I am replying to myself. I meant to say I "loathed" the Tommyknockers MOVIE. I loathed all King films with only two (possibly three) exceptions. Had nothing to do with how I felt about the novels, though.


I've never tried to rank King's works. What I like varies from almost day-to-day for me. There are some that I like more than others, but a ranking is out of the question.

John
Yes, but it is stull fun. I wish you would share which ones are those you like more than others, too.

Jean
08-26-2013, 01:55 AM
Updated List:

Books of my life:

IT
The Stand
Desperation
Black House
Duma Key
Roadwork

Loved:

Pet Sematary
Under the Dome
Blaze
Christine
The Long Walk
Carrie
‘Salem’s Lot
The Tommyknockers
From a Buick 8
The Dead Zone
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Misery
Needful Things
Joyland

Really good:

The Shining
Cell
Dreamcatcher
The Dark Half
Different Seasons
Insomnia
Four Past Midnight

Good:

Cujo
Gerald's Game
Rose Madder
Dolores Claiborne
The Talisman
Cycle of the Werewolf

Average:

The Green Mile
11/22/63
The Running Man
The Regulators
Firestarter
Bag of Bones
The Colorado Kid

Didn't really care for:

The Eyes of the Dragon
Just After Sunset
Full Dark, No Stars
Lisey's Story
On Writing
Hearts in Atlantis
Thinner

Hated:

Rage


To Read:

Blockade Billy
Storm of a Century

pathoftheturtle
08-26-2013, 05:35 AM
Path, it's interesting, if I'm interpreting correct, that you hold Desperation in good regard while having contempt for Cell. I'm reading the former right now and the layout and writing of the book reminds me very much of the latter.I never thought of that. Maybe because I first read Desperation years before Cell. On the other hand, maybe you won't feel that way all the way through the book. But, anyway, I'm not totally contemptuous towards Cell. Not my favorite by any means, that's all.


I loathed all King films with only two (possibly three) exceptions. Had nothing to do with how I felt about the novels, though.Did you ever watch The Green Mile?

BTW -- I just love The Colorado Kid. In fact, I just don't say so often enough. Love that book!

Jean
08-26-2013, 06:21 AM
I watched the Green Mile, and fell asleep... just like I did while reading... I am really sorry, I know that everyone loves it!

I would enjoy Colorado Kid much more if not for the first-person narrative which seemed to me horrible. Otherwise, its a nice little thing.

pathoftheturtle
08-26-2013, 06:51 AM
I watched the Green Mile, and fell asleep... just like I did while reading... I am really sorry, I know that everyone loves it!That's okay. It's what I thought you'd say. Must be the one case where your loathing DID have something to do with how you felt about the novel. Sure is a well-made movie, opinions of the story aside.

Jean
08-26-2013, 07:03 AM
I think so, yes. I loved Shawshank; I don't think it's a great movie, but it's a very good, sound movie. I also think that TGM is a good, sound film as well (if we overlook the stardust coming from the mouth), but that's how it usually it is with good (as opposed to great) films: if you don't like the characters and the story, you can't like the movie.

pathoftheturtle
08-26-2013, 07:19 AM
True, but even when I don't like a movie, I can like the acting. Comes from having been an actor, I suppose.

(And I apologize for falling completely off-topic.)

Stebbins
08-26-2013, 02:24 PM
Path, glad to hear you don't absolutely hate Cell. We'll see if I still feel that way after the last three quarters are read. I can't help but this it will be, at least partially, though. The voice is what reminds me of it the most. But there's also graphic gross-out scenes of violence; an artist (this one being one of many writers) through which King can speak of his craft and creativity; adolescence dealing with death; and the pacing (and even page layout) of the works.

Bears: Your Rage, On Writing, and Hearts In Atlantis are my Wolves and Insomnia. Rage really surprised me, based on your love for Roadwork. I love the 'Stories of my life' heading; when I read Joyland, that's exactly what I was thinking, (in a sane way) that it was written for me.

Merlin1958
08-26-2013, 05:14 PM
Stebbins, Maybe my choice of words was unfortunate. I have always felt that King writing as Bachman was more an attempt at the gritty, crime writer format. So I suppose I falsely associated them. I do applaud, King's ability to take on another writing persona, and I did enjoy "Joyland" immensely. If my post came off as criticism, I apologize that was not my intent. BTW no offense is taken (or was given) this is more as a clarification of sorts.

Jean
08-27-2013, 02:36 AM
Path, glad to hear you don't absolutely hate Cell.
Yes, bears too. Though I loved only the second half, while the first bored me almost to the point of dropping the book.


Bears: Your Rage, On Writing, and Hearts In Atlantis are my Wolves and Insomnia. Rage really surprised me, based on your love for Roadwork.
I fail to see any similarity whatsoever between Rage and Roadwork. From any point of view. The former is puerile, very poorly written and entirely meaningless; the latter is exactly the opposite. I always felt as if Roadwork was written by some third hypostasis of Sai King, different from both King per se and his Bachman identity.

Heather19
08-27-2013, 09:47 AM
Path, glad to hear you don't absolutely hate Cell.
Yes, bears too. Though I loved only the second half, while the first bored me almost to the point of dropping the book.

Funny, I absolutely loved the beginning of that book. It's probably one of my favorite openings to a King story.

Stebbins
08-27-2013, 05:40 PM
Bill, we're all aces, friend. :cool:

Bears, I definitely disagree. Rage is without a doubt "low-class," but it is not meaningless or unrelated to Roadwork (and other Bachmans). It's about growing up in American, and not being lucky enough to make it through with all your marbles. Isn't Roadwork's anti-hero also insane? I could argue that Rage is a more cogent story, but to what end? We won't change our views and the only thing it could do would be to heat tempers. I just think you gave it a bad shake, or didn't read it in a juvenile frame of mind.

Cell gripped me from the start, it certainly builds as the story progresses though.

Jean
08-27-2013, 11:03 PM
Funny, I absolutely loved the beginning of that book. It's probably one of my favorite openings to a King story.Next time I re-read it, I'll keep it in mind! What is good for heathers is good for bears! :rose:


I could argue <...> but to what end? We won't change our views and the only thing it could do would be to heat tempers.
No. Arguing is a great thing, for all parties involved. It's great to see someone present their argumentation. It's great to learn to discuss things civilly. It's totally great to keep an open mind and try to see the opponent's point of view. If we have a Rage thread, I would like you to post there.

Merlin1958
08-28-2013, 05:53 PM
Funny, I absolutely loved the beginning of that book. It's probably one of my favorite openings to a King story.Next time I re-read it, I'll keep it in mind! What is good for heathers is good for bears! :rose:


I could argue <...> but to what end? We won't change our views and the only thing it could do would be to heat tempers.
No. Arguing is a great thing, for all parties involved. It's great to see someone present their argumentation. It's great to learn to discuss things civilly. It's totally great to keep an open mind and try to see the opponent's point of view. If we have a Rage thread, I would like you to post there.

What? no flaming? :emot-flame: That's boring!!!


Just Kidding. You are 100% correct, Bears

DoctorZaius
08-30-2013, 11:15 AM
Path, glad to hear you don't absolutely hate Cell.
Yes, bears too. Though I loved only the second half, while the first bored me almost to the point of dropping the book.

Funny, I absolutely loved the beginning of that book. It's probably one of my favorite openings to a King story.

I gotta agree with you here. I loved how visceral the opening bloodbath was. Hard to forget, as was the insanely vicious killing of a major character...by a block of cement. I was traumatized. King really kills me when he takes away characters I have become attached to.

DoctorZaius
08-30-2013, 11:20 AM
Jean, like how you have put your list together. This format would have save me from the tedious nature of a full ranking, and much consternation from other users. Disappointed to see 11/22/63 so low on your list - I wonder if our nationalities play a role here because I love the book very much. Black House is much too high for my taste, as is Road Work. Duma Key does not surprise me, as it's one of those novels that really resonates.

Stebbins
08-30-2013, 07:04 PM
Fair enough, Jean. You strike me as a man that I could debate with in a civilized manner, and I appreciate your input. Do we have a Rage thread? I just returned the Bachman Books to the library, but I'd like to pose my argument while it's still relatively fresh in my mind.

Dr.Zaius: Agree about Duma Key, I think it was the most graceful way King injected what it is to make art into a story, and the villain was shades of Pennywise, for me.

Jean
08-30-2013, 11:58 PM
Do we have a Rage thread?
http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?3469-Rage-***Spoilers!***


Jean, like how you have put your list together. This format would have save me from the tedious nature of a full ranking, and much consternation from other users.
it wasn't my idea, it was Heather's :rose:


Disappointed to see 11/22/63 so low on your list - I wonder if our nationalities play a role here because I love the book very much.
I am sure it's the case. Only really good books (movies etc) don't depend on anything (well, other than the reader's experience and intelligence, but it somehow goes without saying) to be loved, while the ones that are not really great may be loved for a number of reasons, such as the reader's background, taste, religion, love for a particular genre, etc.

Two of my favorite books ever (and the ones I nominated first thing in the Top 100) are as American as they come... one set in a small Alabama town, the other along the Mississippi river... long before I was born... As a third book, a huge Sai King novel comes to mind, where American society was first destroyed and then recreated as best as it could... In none of these, or other (innumerable) cases did my total unrelatedness to the context prevent me from loving the books with all my ursine heart.

Merlin1958
08-31-2013, 02:15 PM
Fair enough, Jean. You strike me as a man that I could debate with in a civilized manner, and I appreciate your input.

.

I would heartily embrace that sentiment!!! I may not always agree with, Jean, but I always respect his respect for other's opinions and have learned much from him. He rarely (If, ever) makes others feel belittled or scorned. He is always respectful. I wish I could claim as much.

Jean
08-31-2013, 09:41 PM
: blushing bear :

Merlin1958
09-01-2013, 03:35 PM
: blushing bear :


:FU: You know its true!!! LOL LOL LOL

Stebbins
09-02-2013, 05:16 PM
Glad to have both you guys on this forum!

Bears: Is the thread locked? I could not post on it.

Jean
09-02-2013, 09:31 PM
which one?

Stebbins
09-03-2013, 10:51 AM
The RAGE one; there was no reply box.

pathoftheturtle
09-03-2013, 02:34 PM
Yeah, that's weird. Looks like a few of the threads linked from List-of-official-discussion-threads-for-SK-books (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?10260-List-of-official-discussion-threads-for-SK-books) have been moved out of Cara Laughs into the 2009-Constant-Reader-Awards (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/forumdisplay.php?181-2009-Constant-Reader-Awards) archive.

Jean
09-03-2013, 10:33 PM
weird. I most definitely did not move them. I've moved Rage where it belongs (Cara Laughs).

CyberGhostface
10-06-2013, 02:42 PM
Updating for Doctor Sleep


It
The Shining
Hearts in Atlantis
Insomnia
Black House
Eyes of the Dragon
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
The Dark Tower: Wolves of the Calla
The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower: The Waste Lands
Under the Dome
Duma Key
11/22/63
'Salem's Lot
Desperation
The Talisman
Doctor Sleep
The Stand
Everything's Eventual
Joyland
Night Shift
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
On Writing
Skeleton Crew
The Long Walk
The Dead Zone
Blaze
Rage
The Dark Tower: The Wind through the Keyhole
The Green Mile
Firestarter
Christine
The Dark Half
Bag of Bones
Roadwork
Different Seasons
Dreamcatcher
The Regulators
The Dark Tower: Wizard and Glass
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
From a Buick 8
Four Past Midnight
Cujo
Carrie
Danse Macabre
The Plant
Pet Sematary
Misery
Full Dark No Stars
Rose Madder
The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower: Song of Susannah
Just After Sunset
Needful Things
Cell
The Running Man
Lisey's Story
Storm of the Century
Cycle of the Werewolf
Rose Red
The Tommyknockers
Thinner
Dolores Clairborne
Gerald's Game
The Colorado Kid
Blockade Billy
Faithful

Merlin1958
10-06-2013, 03:24 PM
Really? You rate it behind "The Talisman"? Interesting. I would have slid it into EOTD's slot, personally. Then maybe I am still hyped from having just read it.

CyberGhostface
10-06-2013, 04:06 PM
It's been a while since I read it but some of my favorite SK moments (like Wolf) come from the Talisman.

Merlin1958
10-06-2013, 04:09 PM
It's been a while since I read it but some of my favorite SK moments (like Wolf) come from the Talisman.

Hey, not fair enough. I like them both as well, though Black House is a all time favorite. I suppose I have just fallen to "Dr. Sleep/The Shining" IMO a very good follow-up.