Celebrating Fifty Years of Stephen King Books! My Favourites plus the books I still want to read!
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- Fifty years ago this month (April 2024) Stephen King’s first book, Carrie, was published! I’m here to gush about one of my favourite authors of all time and discuss which of his 65 novels/novellas and 200+ short stories I’ve read, which are my favourites as well as talking about the ones I still want to read!
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• 11.22.63! Spoilers all...
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🤴👑 I admire and enjoy King’s writing. I’ve read most, but not all, of his books. My clear favorite is 11/22/63-it was absolutely brilliant.
I so agree! One of the things I loved about it was how sensory it was like with that little shop he stop in and had a soda or something at the start.
@@RovingReader the senses of time and place were just amazing in that book!
Hard agree on the brilliance of 11/22/63! Hadn’t read any SK for years when I picked that up and it blew me away!
Fifty years ago! I remember buying Carrie with my own money when it was a new book. I was a young teen then. Oh my! 😬 We used to teach The Green Mile to high school students, and it was enormously successful especially with reluctant readers.
What a great book to teach with - I can imagine students loved The Green Mile! And fantastic that you bought Carrie when it came out! It must have been hugely popular on release!
@@spreadbookjoy Carrie was a very big book among my friends in junior high school. I remember that we all were reading it. I don't remember if adults read King in those early days, but teenagers definitely did. And yes, my students LOVED The Green Mile. I will never forget this one class of seniors that I had one year. I had this one student who was barely hanging on in his last year of high school, and he LOVED Green Mile. It may have been the first book that he read in its entirety. I remember how he kept reading ahead of where we were in class. It was incredible. Whenever people question the quality of King's writing, I always think about that example and how he was able to get even the most reluctant readers to read. That says something in my book. 😊
I read and reread Night Shift as a kid. It was one of the first books that I bought with my own money. Enjoyed your video celebrating King! 👑
Thank you so much! I think Stephen King must have been a formative author for so many people!
I can't believe you actually met SK! That's brilliant. I'd highly recommend Dolores Claiborne wonderful book, especially on audio. I'd also recommend Revival for a higher quality more recent release.
I still find it a very surreal moment in my life! I imagine he does very few book signings if any these days, so am pleased that I had the privilege of meeting him. So many people have told me that Dolores Claiborne is wonderful - I’ll have to get to it. Thank you for the recommendations!
That’s amazing that you got to meet Stephen King and that your manager did that for you! I used to work around the corner from the Waterstones in Leadenhall Market, it’s a nice store! I’ve only read 4 of King’s book (Carrie, the Stand, The Shining and Misery), but I really want to read Salem’s Lot and Pet Sematary 👑
It is a lovely bookshop! Visited it last year for the first time in over 20 years and I was surprised to see that the ground floor is half the size it was when I worked there - one side of the shop is now another business and the stairwell which used to be in the centre is next to a wall! I was very fortunate to get that copy - that manager was a lovely guy and I’m forever grateful he got me that signed proof!
I’ve only read 4 of his books - On Writing (loved it), and the 3 in the Mr Mercedes trilogy (1st two were great the last one not so much). Very cool to have met him and have a signed book!
I’ve head so many great things about the Mr Mercedes books - they are on the list! Meeting Stephen King is a real highlight from my time as a bookseller!
I read a lot of Stephen King in the late seventies and eighties, my favorites are the Long Walk and the Shining. I haven't read much recently, I did try out audible listening to the Stand.
The Shining is such an excellent book! I hadn’t read any of his books published since the late 90s until the last couple of years and I am glad I picked up 11/22/63 - reminded me of how much I like his writing!
I love this video! I want to read them in order, but need to get to Salem's Lot haha! I read a few others before I decided on this plan though and my favorite is 11/22/63 :) OH, I also loved On Writing! I loved The Shining and Pet Sematary too! I remember Pet Sematary was so much deeper than I expected.
Thank you so much! I was blown away by 11/22/63 - it was the first new to me King book I’d picked up in years and the scope and detail was just amazing. On Writing is one of my favourite memoirs! I know many people who were deeply affected by Pet Semetary because of the grief focus.
I went through a really big phase of reading SK too, I remember watching Carrie when i was on a sleep over with my school bestie. It's been 50 yes ohmgosh
He was such a formative author for so many of us! A great writer!
@@spreadbookjoy Yes indeed :)
Hello Jack, I’m not a Stephen King fan, but I have read misery, and my favorite book was Dolores Claiborne. It was more of a mystery, then horror. I saw the movie, Carrie, Misery which scared me so much, the shining and parts of the Shawshank redemption. I’m too much of a coward for horror books or movies. Aloha friend.
Dolores Claiborne is on my list of ones to get to - so many people speak highly of it. I think his best stories are probably the non-horror books and I would class Misery in with that as well because, although horrific, it is more a psychological thriller with none of the supernatural elements. People can be far scarier than supernatural monsters!
Great video! Stephen King has had such an enormous impact on literature and film, even if some don't believe he has literary merit.
I've read SK for about 25 years, and some were amazing, some just okay, and some DNF. My faves are The Stand, 11/22/63, and Fairy Tale.
I tried reading The Gunslinger but I literally had no clue what was happening so I quit 😂 I might just read the second book because I am reckless like that😊
When you list the amazing films and tv shows that have come from his imagination, I’m still incredulous when people dismiss him as a writer! Same as you I have books I love, ok books and books that I really did not enjoy but given how prolific he is, it is unsurprising that not every book is going hit for everyone. With regards to the Dark Tower books, you can totally start at book 2. In fact, years ago I read The Drawing of the Three before I read The Gunslinger and it was great. I then went back and read The Gunslinger which only makes sense once you have read further into the series. Though purists who have read all of the books might disagree! 😂I wish you many more happy years of read SK!
Awesome that you got a signed copy and got to meet him. I used to read a lot of King starting with Carrie, lol, not long after it was published 😉 Misery is the book that creeped me out the most- unlike the others which were fiction and supernatural elements, Misery had the scariest human element. Just getting back to reading him again, last month read The Dark Half and Mr Mercedes for the first time.
That’s a really good point about Misery and probably what I found most disturbing about it as well! I’ve heard so many great things about Mr Mercedes, so it’s on my list!
@@spreadbookjoy I like the character of Holly - met her when I read, If It Bleeds - great short stories. Now I need to read Finders Keepers next in the trilogy
Hi Jack 🙋🏻♀️, What a great topic for a video! I love Stephen King. I agree that some people dismiss him , but I think he is a writer that even if he misses the mark for me personally, I always take something away.
I read the book Carrie, after years after I saw the movie . I think the Bathroom scene can hold up because there are girls that are still bullies . I don't know how common it would be for a girl not knowing about her Period, but I did come come across some young girls around age 13 & 14 who didn't know about menstruation.
It is my favorite because I adore the friendship between the main characters. Stephen King really did an amazing job.
I could go on and on! Tim Currie is my favorite version !!
I also read The Green Mile When it was being seralized.
I have to stop, or I will fill up all the comments 😂.
PS- Jack , that is amazing that you met Stephen King!!
I love this Kelly! IT will always be a special book to me for the portrayal of those special childhood friendships - I think King captures childhood very well! I may have to reread Carrie at some point - it has been many years. I could also talk about Stephen King books all day! 😂
@@spreadbookjoy It's so true!! Each of his books or Novellas lend themselves to discussion, whether the topic is what we love or what we really don't particularly like!
It is special to me also. I think the way King captured those friendships from that time in life & how he used music & movies was brilliant! 🙋🏻♀️💕💕💕
I’m relatively new to Stephen King, but I’ve been enjoying him enough to want to read through his books. I’m taking a random approach to it, and I have list of all the books of his I need to read and then have a random generator pick for me. It’s been a lot of fun, not knowing which one I’ll read next! I first read 11/22/63 when it came out as it seemed really good and quite different from what I thought his books were about. Then it took me a quite a few more years before I tried another. But after a couple more I was hooked!
That does sound fun! I think a lot of people who have never read any SK think they know what his books are like but actually reading his work can take people by surprise. Glad to hear you’ve been hooked into his work! Happy reading! 👑
@@spreadbookjoy Now that I think about it, the books of his that really got me hooked were the Bill Hodges trilogy, and then I went on to read his books that had Holly Gibney in them. Then I started reading randomly through his work. The Bill Hodges books are my favorites so far! And I love Holly, she's such an interesting character.
@ArtBookshelfOdyssey those are on my list of ones I need to get to! I’ve read so much early Stephen King and very little that was published since the late nineties - only 11/22/63, Joyland and a couple of his short story collections. I had kind of resigned him in my mind as an early reading obsession that I’d moved past but reading 11/22/63 reminded me just how much I like his writing and made me realise I’ve missed out on lots of great books!
@@spreadbookjoy Books I haven't read yet that I'm looking forward to are It, The Green Mile, and The Stand
Really enjoyed this, your enthusiasm was great! I’ve really not read a lot of King but the ones I have (apart from The Colorado Kid which I hated) I have really liked. My first one was Cell, which I loved (apocalyptic), then I read Carrie, Skeleton Crew (short stories), The Shining and The Outsider. I’d like to get to Misery (I have watched the film of that and Gerald’s Game). Maybe I should get to IT but I watched the new films and I’m not that keen. You almost have me convinced to read 11.22.64 even though it’s such a chunker, as I love time travel. I meant to read Different Seasons last month but didn’t get to it. Stand by Me is one of my very favourite films so have always wanted to read The Body. Great video! 😊📚
Aww thanks mate! I think you will absolutely love 11.22.63 Alice - the audiobook is awesome as well so highly recommend. It’s one of those chunkers that whizzes by because it’s so good. Also recommend it as a buddy read because sooo much to talk about.
I read a lot of Stephen KIng in my youth. I haven't kept up at all. The only book of his I read fairly recently was a re-read of Pet Semetary before the most recent movie version of it came out. And I partly re-read both It and Salem's Lot. Your video got me thinking I may want to read a recent book of his. Just to see where his writing has taken him
I recommend 11/22/63! I realised that I thought of him as an author I used to enjoy - just a part of my formative reading years - until I read 11/22/63 a couple of years ago and realised that he is a writer that I still enjoy and should still be reading! So many books published in the last two decades that I missed out on but going to make up for it!
@@spreadbookjoy Thank you. I placed a Libby hold on it
Read his "Duma Key", you won't be able to put it down! Edited to mention his "Holly", terrific crime novel.
Thanks for the recommendations!
It took me a long time to get thru Tommyknockers. I’ve read quite a few of his earlier books but not later ones 👑
That’s one I’ve not read! I’m looking forward to reading some more recent KIng books and I see he has just released a new short story collection in the past couple of weeks!
Oh wow I've read a few Stwphen King novels in my time. The first novel I've read by Mr. King was the dark half when I was a teen. Right now I'm reading Delores Claiborne. 🙂❤📚👑
I’ve heard such good things about Dolores Claiborne!
@@spreadbookjoy Oh I just finished it last night at 11:30PM it's another King novel that I'll gladly keep in my mind for years. That's all I'll say about my experience with the book. :)
YOU MET HIM?!!!!!!!
I did indeed! Seems very surreal now! 😂
Have you read Cathy Rentzenbrink's book, she worked in London Waterstones and sounds like a it's a mixed bag when it comes to celeb visits 😂 I've only read the stand and it, and both had terrible endings indeed, I have the JFK one too but not read it yet.
The Stand was so enjoyable until the last quarter or so of the book! I actually read an old edition and I’ve been told that it was revised at some point but I don’t know how different a later edition would be. I dislike the end of It but the rest of the book was so amazing that I still loved it overall. Definitely recommend 11/22/63 - great book, great ending! The only book I read of Cathy Rentzenbrink’s was The Last Act of Love but I have Dear Reader on my tbr and her book on writing. Must get to them. Definitely a very mixed bag when dealing with celeb book signings! We had one celeb turn up super hung over who had to keep going to the toilet to throw up! 😂
@@spreadbookjoy Dear Reader is great, I think you will relate to some of her stories by the sound of it!
Stephen King 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
You almost make me think I might be wrong 😂 I will try Misery at some point, but that will be his very last chance 😂😂
I think you should try one of his non-horror (though technically Misery is also probably not horror as it’s about a psychopath) like 11/22/63 or The Green Mile.
@@spreadbookjoy 11/22/63 has got me intrigued after you and Ange raved about it last year, it’s a big commitment for an author I don’t like though 😂
The Green Mile might be a good shout though, I loved the film!!
@@GemofBooks it’s also episodic - he released it in six small parts I think, so you could try part one without too much commitment!
Though it’d be far cheaper to just buy the whole thing 🤣
@@spreadbookjoy 😂😂😂
Sorry, just me.. I have more on my TBR👑
😁