Hi folks

I've only ever read one Stephen King book (Misery...years ago...enjoyed it) and i'd like to try another. Which do people think is his best and why? I don't plan to read the full Dark Tower series.

Thanks for your thoughts

I haven't read many of his books, but I really enjoyed his collection of novellas entitled Different Seasons. Carrie was also pretty good.

There is the Your favorite King book? thread as well as a Least favorite King book? thread in the King’s Dear Constant Readers group that may give you some insight.

I've always been partial to It and The Stand, but these are favorites of many readers.

Duma Key is a recent favorite for me. 'Salem's Lot, The Shining and The Stand are really good too.

I *loved* Duma Key - which is now my favorite.
Second favorite: Hearts in Atlantis
Third Favorite; the Green Mile
Honorary Mention: EveryThing is Eventual - short stories

It's amazing to see which different King books appeal to different people.

Really liked his early novels: Carrie, The Shining

I listened to Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption years ago and still remember it vividly.

scarper - I'm in exactly the same position you are, except that my first was Duma Key!

I've gotten a couple of suggestions, and have bookmooched Bag of Bones and The Shining. I also found It and The Tommyknockers at the thrift store for 50 cents each.

Haven't started a new one yet, though.

Like a lot of his older fans I still think his earlier books are the best; I'm talking Carrie to The Talisman, after that things got a bit erratic but I still believe a bad Stephen King book is better than a good one by an awful lot of other authors. Shawshank Redemption (from Different Seasons) is great, as is The Body from the same book. The Stand is considered by many to be his masterwork and his new novel, Under the Dome is getting a lot of comparisons to that one, which is quite exciting. I don't think you can fail with King, unless it's by reading Lisey's Story or Gerald's Game both of which are uncharacteristically tedious. You're starting out on quite a literary adventure. If your liking of Misery had anything to do with the 'writer in trouble' theme, you might also enjoy The Dark Half but I'd suggest you stand in front of the Stephen King shelf, close your eyes and grab. You'll have a lot of fun.

Stephen King can be amazing or awful.

His older stuff is often good because he hasn't resorted to gimicks yet.

My favorites are christine, the stand, firestarter, the langoliers a short story...and yes...the gunslinger series.

Thanks everyone. I think i'll check out The Stand and The Shining.

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Oh, yes! "The Langoliers" is one of my favorite King short stories. I have a few that I think are just great.