Top 3 Stephen King books
TOP 3 STEPHEN KING BOOKS
This is a topic that could be debated, well, forever I suppose but I’m going to give my input. While I haven’t read everything by King, I have read quite a bit and here’s my three favorite books in no particular order.
The Shining
The first movie review I wrote was about the film adaptation, so we’ll start this list with the novel as well. The discussion always involves the differences between his novel and Kubrick’s film and the fact that King was not the biggest fan of the film. So much so he went on to write the screenplay for The Shining miniseries in 1997. The novel does explore so much more and grows the characters. We learn so much about the Torrance family’s previous life in New England and Jack’s struggles with alcohol. Expanded hedge maze frights and not to mention vastly different endings between book and movie too. I think this may be the book that people who don’t read King may have read – possibly Carrie though. I envy anyone (although not sure I’ve met anyone) who hasn’t seen The Shining, so my advice is please read the book first.
Pet Sematary
The only King book I’ve read multiple times – 3 in fact. I really love this book. The overall story is just so spooky. Imagine living in a place that holds that kind of power. Maine is a wonderful and ancient place and the idea that there could be a burial ground that brings loved ones and pets back is extraordinary. As I’m writing this, I’m going through a personal loss that is very painful and can’t even comprehend if there was a place like that. Would I really consider something like that.. The woods are creepy enough but come on. This book goes all in on death and King really didn’t like it. Too personal for him. His family really did live somewhere just like this and his kids did get way too close to a busy road. Love the original movie adaption, can tolerate the sequel, but was disappointed with the remake.
Needful Things
The book I finally read before I saw the movie. I don’t think this gets much love and not sure why. Great stuff. Screwed up stuff. The devil has come to open up shop in Castle Rock, Maine. Leland Gaunt opens a new store in town that has everything you could ever want. That special baseball card, or maybe the nice jacket you used to have in high school. It can all be yours for just a small, harmless prank. This book shows how crazy and hurtful people can be towards one another and how entertaining it is to the person perpetrating it. Watching a town unravel throughout the novel was too crazy to put down and I remember reading this one quickly. While it’s a story that seems impossible to fully believe, there are parts of it that we as society can and have done to each other for as long as we’ve been a society. The film won’t win any awards but give it a watch after you read the novel.
HONORABLE MENTION – Different Seasons
I really like King’s collections since they have so many good short stories and we’ll add Different Seasons since it may be the heaviest hitter of them all. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, The Body, and The Breathing Method is the lineup. Enough said I’d say.