Worst Stephen King Book?
 

I'm a pretty big SK fan (haven't read them all, but well over half). And I've always wondered if he's ever mentioned what his least favorite is?

So that piqued my curiousity - what does everyone think the worst Stephen King book is that they've read - not including novellas/short stories. For me, I think I'd have to vote for Insomnia. I remember buying that thinking: "A book about a guy who's insomnia gets worse and worse? Cool!" But I thought the story turned in an odd direction after the main character started doing his investigative work.

Thoughts? And I could only list nine (plus "other") so I tried to list the titles that I've heard fans/people say what they considered the worst most often.

And on a side note, am I the only fan who thinks that The Long Walk is one of his best? I doubt that, but I think I AM the only person who thinks that TLW would translate into a great movie. I heard there was brief discussions about doing that, but the idea just went away. What a tense movie that'd be! :)

It's been ages since I read it, but I thought The Tommyknockers was pretty awful. I think that gets my vote.

Tommyknockers had such potential, but good god, man, edit.

Dreamcatcher, and the movie is even worse.

I picked Gerald's Game, but after thinking about it a few moments more, I should have chosen Rose Madder.

Tommyknockers...or Dreamcatcher (but I picked Tommyknockers).

Basically, any Stephen King book featuring
sucks.

Carrie is my least favorite. I can't believe there is a poll for worst SK book though. I really liked Tommyknockers, the movie on the other hand blew, I really dug how he stuck James Sawyer from the Talisman in there. The Long Walk is excellent and Insomnia is as well (IMO) and about putting the Gunslinger on that list, for shame! :mad:

Have you read the Dark Tower books? About a dozen of SK's non-Dark Tower books are tied in with the Dark Tower series.

I've read the first book. I got stuck around page 40-50 once or twice before I finally got over the hump and I really liked it. It's been years though. From what I remember, it's definitely a departure for SK, but he seems to like writing them... I wish he'd get back to some non-Gunslinger stories, but oh well. :)

Just wanted to add that The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is worthy of this list, IMO.
I picked Dreamcatcher, though.

I voted Dreamcatcher.

I voted the Dark Tower books....I just could not get into them.
Admitted, I haven't read many of the ones in the poll--perhaps because I've heard the general opinions :)
Wasn't Carrie his first novel written? I wonder if what many people call 'bad' is simply 'inexperience'.
From a Buick 8 wasn't all that bad--it was different, but not bad, imho.

And I agree, I loved The Long Walk--actually, a lot of the Bachman Books I really liked. It certainly wouldn't be as eye-catching or 'fun', but I would have liked to see a more accurate 'The Running Man,'...Actually, of those first four Bachman Books [TLW, TRM, Rage, Roadwork], they all have that in common--very good at quickly setting a level of tension, immovable object versus unstoppable force type tension, and staying there. Good reads.

I did like the Eyes of the Dragon, which somewhat refers to the Dark Tower books.

It's funny, though, because the only SK book I've NEVER been able to complete is Roadwork. I love the other "Bachman Books", but I just find Roadwork to be too slow at the building tension. I think I even got half way through it last time I tried reading it, but just set it down eventually...

I'd have to say "Dreamcatcher" of the choices given. I actually really dug "From A Buick 8," the first truly SCARY SK book in a long time and a short, smart read.

Yeah, Dreamcatcher was bad. I could never get into Gerald's Game, but of course I was like 12 when I first tried to read it ....

Well that was a good book, but that aspect of it was pretty lame (just that everything else about was good enough to make up for it).

Actually, I forget that , but that aspect, and the end in general, definitely wasn't the best aspect of the book.

come on people this should be a landslide here. Gerald
s Game. I mean a 300+ page book about someone strapped to a bed? The idea has potential... if he were to shave it down about 250 pages.

Almost voted Insomnia. I read this ties into the Dark Tower somewhat. I may have to go back and re-read it. And agreed, the Dark Tower series does not belong anywhere near this list.

I thought Bag of Bones was excellent, as well as Tom Gordon.

sidenote: I have read EVERY SK book except for Tommyknockers. And I never finished Dreamcatcher, Buick 8 or Dark Half. So that may say something about those books.

i went with dreamcatcher. i can't believe you even put the dark tower series on the list.

I put Dark Tower on there because I assume that some fans might not appreciate the departure for SK. It's been awhile since I read the first DT book, but it's definitely different than his mainstream horror/drama.

Thinner. Worst book ever by King (even though published under Bachman). Hated the story. Hated the end. But that's just me. On a side note, Insomnia shouldn't be on the list. It's a VERY important Dark Tower novel... ;)


EDIT: The Dark Tower books are King's crowning achievement. They combine all the elements within all his books. I love them and I am even re-reading them all in anticipation for the last 2 due out this summer. After that, King is probably done (he has said so in a few interviews). If you don't like them, then you don't. But I suggest trying to pick them up again, and finish the first three. If you aren't hooked by then, well....stick to his other books.

MG26

Dreamcatcher sucked but Gerald's Game was even worse. A whole book about a woman handcuffed to a bed? Umm no.

Gerald's Game was absolutely freakin' horrible. Almost turned me off King entirely.

Thinking about it harder I would have to say "Needful Things" is my least favorite, and I've read all his books. It reads like someone trying to imitate King and failing.

I agree. It is his swan song. Everything else is small potatoes.

Anyway, how important is Insomnia in the scope of the Dark Tower. I really didn't like it at the time. Should I re-read before Song of Susanna comes out.

I can't figure out how Bag of Bones and The Dark Tower books made this list- I loved them all. I also really liked Rose Madder, but I may be the only one.

The Regulators was one book of his I could never finish so I guess that'd be my vote.

I still haven't read Dreamcatcher though (been avoiding it) and I haven't read From a Buick 8 (haven't gotten around to it) and I'm currently stuck at the beginning of Black House and don't know if I can continue. The "We" narraration style in that book really is annoying me ('We look over her shoulder and see...", "This is the person we came to see", "We can't linger on this scene, though, because time is running short and there's other place we still need to see...") Ugh, stop telling me what "We" think or know and tell the damn story!

Insomnia gives readers more info about the Crimson King and further info (and sadly more questions) about the Dark Tower itself and what it means and what it's made up of. I suggest re-reading it and looking for the DT references. Oh yes, one VERY important this occurs involving a young boy with a drawing of a cowboy approaching a dark tower in a field of red roses.... That made me remember. Yep, definately an important book. Re-read immediately. :)

MG26

The Regulators and Desperation i think it's called are my favorites

Fully agree, Gerald's Game is by far the worst imo. However, about the 250 pages of one topic.....wasn't a lot of Cujo set inside a car? (been ike 15 years since I read it, but seemed like it). Sometimes it can work, sometimes it can't...GG is an exampe of it not working.

D'oh. I am in the middle of packing up and moving in about 3 weeks. Already packed all the books. MIght have to dig up Insomnia.

I've only read two King books.

I thought the Gunslinger was very good and I look forward to reading the rest of the Dark Tower series as people seem to think they get even better.

The Stand seemed to me to be quite average. I'm surprised people like it so much. The fact that it's supposed to be one of (or even the) best really puts me off trying any of his other novels.

I really thought that Gerald's Game was probably the worst book ever.

Can't really remember what else happens other than the woman tied/strapped to the bed and some huge eclipse. Wasn't that the same eclipse spoken of in Delores Claiborne?

Well if I remember correctly, Gerald's Game occurs during the eclipse timeframe however in Dolores Clairborne, a key event occurs in the same eclipse but the actual story is set 20 to 30 years later.

By the way, I voted for Gerald's Game also. Couldn't stand reading the book but I was able to finish. Don't even remember most of it (don't try to, anyways).

In regards to the Dark Towers series, I'm a huge fan of this series but I can also see why some people may dislike it.

I've read every Sk book except for Wolves of Calla, and I have to say that Dolores Claiborne completely sucked. i admit that Gerald's Game was more than a bit of a departure for King, but it was still better than that crap.

And if you're looking for reasons to appreciate the Stand, consider the current trend of writing books with multiple main character perspectives. I don't want to go out on a limb, but it's very possible that SK started it (for better or worse) with this book.

I would have also thought that Gerald's Game would be the winner by a landslide. That plot seems that it would make for a much better short than the novel it was.

I voted Tommyknockers. It was the only one of his I couldn't finish reading. Granted, I haven't tried Gerald's Game or Dreamcatcher yet. But I didn't think The Girl Who Love Tom Gordon was that bad. Just a cheesy little story.

I didn't really like the Wolves Of Calla but it was still better than most books I have read.

Like someone else said, Insomnia shouldn't be on the list. It is very important to the Dark Tower series.

dettam

Dreamcatcher blows rhino. I got halfway through it and I have never picked it up again (c'mon sh@# aliens) I like most of King's work but I also hated Geralds Game, Rose Madder (so bored with them that I couldn't finsh them) and I was disappointed with Bag of Bones and Hearts in Atlantis.
I always loved The Long Walk, but I loved Rage even more. I don't think Hollywood would make these two into movies since TLW has a high amount of violence, and people would be upset by the student taking class hostage in Rage.

I loved BoB and HiA. HiA because of the Dark Tower ties.

Gerald's Game is horrible, mainly due to the total lack of actual plot in it, so every little thing is stretched to the breaking point. I didn't actually read it, but instead heard it in its uncut books-on-tape version that a friend rented for a long road trip we were taking. By the end, when the main character Jessie is dictating a long, drawn-out letter to her friend, I had had enough and was screaming out loud at her to just finish it already!

Listening to the novel was bad enough, so I couldn't imagine actually reading it all the way through.

What is fun about this poll is that I have actually read 95 percent of Stephen King's books so I know if I like the ones in the list. Dreamcatcher is the only one from this list I haven't read. It came out when I thought I was going to quit cold turkey on King. I eventually bought it when the hardcover was on Waldenbook's "Hardbacks for paper back prices" clearance. I still haven't read it and may not after reading posts here. Anyway, I had the hardest time getting through Tommyknockers. I fought my way through it cause I didn't want to leave a King book unfinished.

Tscott, I highly recommend finishing Black House. I really liked it.