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I used to like Stephen King's writing very much, but I haven't liked any novels written by him in at least ten years -- at least nothing I have read. The last book I read by him was 11/22/63 which I absolutely HATED -- don't even get me started! -- and I could not get into the Dark Tower series at all. (I dislike almost all sci-fi fantasy, btw.)
So, because I have been so disappointed in all the novels that he wrote after 2000 that I read, I have actually read only a few -- so I am wondering if I might have missed something that I actually might like. (I did like the Just After Sunset collection of short stories, though, for the most part.)
My favorite Stephen King novels (and novellas) are The Dead Zone, The Green Mile, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and The Body -- and, to a lesser extent, Carrie, The Shining, and The Stand. (Obviously, I like his work with strong psychological themes more than just his horror stuff.)
So, any suggestions? -- and if anyone would like to suggest any other books or authors, based on the above, I would greatly appreciate it!
Last edited by katharsis; 06-05-2015 at 08:03 AM..
Location: IN>Germany>ND>OH>TX>CA>Currently NoVa and a Vacation Lake House in PA
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If you liked The Stand check out Justin Cronin's The Passage and The Twelve. It's a trilogy, and the third book should be released sometime this year. Also, I'm guessing you have read him, but I have always liked Dean Koontz better than King.
If you liked The Stand check out Justin Cronin's The Passage and The Twelve. It's a trilogy, and the third book should be released sometime this year.
I tried reading THE PASSAGE and couldn't finish it. It started out great. The first half of the book is actually very Stephen Kingish. But then about halfway through the book, the story takes a big turn (you know the one I mean), and the latter half of the book is totally it different.
Whereas the first half of THE PASSAGE was a great horror thriller with some very touching human elements, the latter half of the book turned into THE HUNGER GAMES WITH VAMPIRES.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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I don't like horror stories. I don't like sci-fi. That means that I'm not a Stephen King fan, which is too bad because whenever I read an article about him, I love the way that he writes (or speaks, I guess).
I enjoyed his book On Writing, mainly because I write and edit for a living. His style of talking about writing is fabulous. I had never before gotten through a book about "how to write" -- it's more boring than I can even explain in words. (If you saw my facial expressions, though, you'd get it.)
I enjoyed two of the "short" stories (SK's short stories are other authors' full-length novels) in Full Dark, No Stars, but the best part of that book is the Afterward.
Thanks to all who answered! I did read both Duma Key and Needful Things, but I thought both of those were just so-so. I think I might try the other suggestions, though!
If you liked The Stand check out Justin Cronin's The Passage and The Twelve. It's a trilogy, and the third book should be released sometime this year. Also, I'm guessing you have read him, but I have always liked Dean Koontz better than King.
I haven't read anything by Koontz for ages. Which is your favorite novel of his that you would recommend for me, please? (I'm not sure, but I think the only one of his I have read so far was Intensity, and I think I remember thinking it was good -- it was a long time ago.)
Btw, I also don't like graphic novels at all. (When I was looking over the list of Koontz's books, I noticed he has written quite a few of them.)
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