Michael Corvin

King is probably my favorite author but I've fallen behind on his post accident work. Prior to his accident I had devoured everything but Tommyknockers. Post accident I've had quite a few starts and stops (Cell, Buick, Just After Sunset, Joyland, Wind through Keyhole). I loved Under the Dome (probably favorite since mid 90's King, and obviously finished and loved the Dark Tower series.

So what say you dvdtalkers? What should I read next? Should I revisit one I never finished or forge ahead on a newer novel? Or even go back and knock out Tommyknockers?

JAA

I think most King fans would agree that 11/22/63 should be on that list. While I don't hold it to the elevated status that some give it (the love story portion bogged it down for me), it is still a very impactful read.

Ringmaster

I read it over the summer and loved it. I definitely would put it on the list.

auto

I think Duma Key is underrated although I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority on that one.

I think I'm going to give From A Buick 8 another try. My least favorite King book yet I've heard others really enjoyed that one.

Keith6601

11/22/63 was great except for the love story but I went with From A Buick 8. It's not the most compelling characters or story, but there's just something about it that I enjoy enough to just pick up and read for no reason.

thecrazydude

If you have not read 11/22/63, then its my pick. Excellent story. King is in top form!

brainee

I guess I'm the sole vote for Joyland. Not that others aren't worth reading. But if you're struggling getting through them, it makes more sense to try a 200 page book versus a 1000 page book.

Liver&Onions

11/22/63 was great. Do it.

PhantomStranger

Tommyknockers is a solid King novel, though I don't think anyone ranks it amongst his best work.

Shannon Nutt

Another vote for 11/22/63...one of King's really good efforts where his ending was as strong as everything leading up to it.

starseed1981

Joyland is alot of fun. A very easy, entertaining and nice read. Perfect if you're on some type of winter vacation.

11/22/63 is great...but be prepared for a time suck.

Mr.Mercedes is weird......I didn't realize it was just a crime book til I was halfway through it.

Still....every fan of the Shining should read Doctor Sleep. Some very spooky things going on in that book.

His newest, Revival, is another good one. Very old school King horror there. It felt like it came out in the late 70's so that's the one I voted for.

Michael Corvin

Good stuff guys. Looks like 11/22/63 is the winner. And a good ending as well? I'm pumped now.

lwhy?

I voted for Joyland too. Like you, Michael, I really enjoyed Under The Dome. I think you'll like Joyland. I loved it and I thought it had a good ending too. I've owned 11/22/63 for a couple years now, but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet since I know it'll devour a lot of my time. I'll probably start it soon since football season is about to end and I'll have a lot more time to read during the winter weekends. The ebook version of 11/22/63 is on sale for $2.99 on Amazon right now.

benedict

I've not read any of his post-accident stuff but, when I finish my current backlog (2016?), I may well give the top choices here a go.

[Insert, this thread will still be on page one wittticism here].

As a teen, for years I eschewed King in the mistakien belief that he was "just a horror writer".

At some point I happened across "Firestarter" and thought hmmm, maybe there's more to this guy than meets the eye but didn't take it any further. I was also gloriously spooked by the David Soul/James Mason tv version of "Salem's Lot".

Some years later a work colleague loaned me, would you believe, "The Tommyknockers" and I again was surprised by the science-fictional element. I probably read half a dozen more from his oeuvre - including the very impressive (and long) "It".

Somewhere along the line I picked up some or all of the Dark Tower series but never got around to reading them and think I may have passed them on to my nephew when I heard that there was an extended edition!

So, er, anyway, ... great thread!

Michael Corvin

at this still being on page one in 2 years.

Started 11/22/63 last night. About 100pp in so far. This is right up my alley. It's also a unique one in that usually 100pp in a King book means we're still meeting new characters. In this one there are 3 players and the story just is off and running. It's a nice change of pace for King.

As for the reason I brought up Tommyknockers, well not just because it's the only 'classic King' I never read, but I also read that King has said he had never been more coked up/drunk(? don't recall which) than when he wrote that one. Knowing that going in versus finding out after you read it makes it more intriguing for some reason.

JAA

Not to cast a negative shadow over your reading enjoyment, but I actually enjoyed the very portion of the story you are in right now the best. The characters and early storyline took me right back to the classic IT - and I couldn't put it down! That said, it lost steam dramatically in the middle portion when that damn "romance" starts. While I found that portion a bit long and dragged out, it was still critical to the overall story. Anyway, enjoy!

Keith6601

Let's not forget that King's son Joe Hill gave him the idea for the ending of 11/22/63 after reading the original and King changed it. King has gone back to his shitty endings since then in my opinion.

Shannon Nutt

I think for the length of the book, King took time to give us a great ending...unlike say, Under the Dome, which was just as long, but the ending seemed rushed and unsatisfying.

I see a lot of people don't like the love story aspect of it, but that's the point of the whole book...it IS a love story.

maxfisher

I'd disagree with this entirely on Revival's ending. It fit perfectly and worked very well.

Also, speaking of Joe Hill, any fan of classic King horror owes it to themselves to check out N0S4A2. I enjoyed the hell out of that book, more than any of King's post-accident work except maybe 11/22/63. And for those who also read graphic novels, Hill's Locke & Key was excellent as well.

Michael Corvin

Finished 11/22/63 last night. Fantastic book. I think I liked the first two thirds (testing things, living in the past, the love story) more than anything that dealt with Kennedy/Oswald. Oswald was easily the weakest part of the story, and kinda boring as well. I couldn't wait until Jake would go back to Jodie. I also loved every bit of the ending, especially the final couple pages to the final words.

Ending talk:


So do we know how much of the ending Joe Hill had input on? There are a couple different areas you could point to where things could have taken a different course.

Anyway, I'm surprised at all the folks that didn't enjoy the love story. Having finished, it's what the entire novel is... a love story. I loved it. The Kennedy assassination was the hook to get people to pick it up off the shelf but was nothing more than something to kick the story in motion and give it an end game.

This might be my favorite King book in quite some time, and I loved Under the Dome (but gets dinged for the ending).

Thanks for the suggestions folks. I think I'll start Joyland next. Looks short enough to breeze through.

Shannon Nutt

See, I told ya.

The going back to stop the assassination is just a classic "McGuffin" that King uses to tell the story he really wants to tell.

collven

I agree, it was a love story. I loved 11/22/63. It might be my favorite post-accident novel of his. Admittedly, I haven't read as much of his recent stuff as his earlier (80's and 90's) work.

Michael Corvin

aaaand Joyland is done. Another good one. Started off pretty slow though. First hundred pages or so were rough. Maybe a little too much back story before kicking in.

Keith6601

I just finished Revival this morning. While it's probably my least favorite recent King novel, I agree that the ending is perfect.


King put the original ending on his website.

http://stephenking.com/other/112263/112263.html

Michael Corvin

Wow, that's a terrible ending. Thanks for posting it.