To me, Black House and the Outsider are cousins, I feel like if you have Black House here then Outsider needs to be here as well. I love Black House, I won’t pretend it’s a great book but it’s not bad either.
Hi Dave. I've just discovered your channel and am liking your content so far. You've earned a new subscriber. Keep up the good work. Been a Constant Reader of Stephen King for 35 years. Could you do a list of what you consider to be King's darkest stories?
I LOVED Eyes of the Dragon I read it in one sitting. I understand it is a departure to a more kid-friendly save the kingdom story, but I loved the characters and their ministories, I loved Flagg as a villain.
Hi!!😂 Ever click on a post knowing that you came back specifically just to fight and get angry because you both enjoy the topic so much this is why I'm here thanks for inviting us.😂😂😂 I just found a channel.❤❤!
Kind of liked the Talisman myself but Roadwork was a stain on a great career. Judging by books I have struggled to read the worst 3 in no particular order are Roadwork, Eyes of the Dragon, and Tommyknockers. All took considerably longer than they should have done to read for me. I do generally look at the Bachman catalog differently as they are an outlet for something a bit different like some of the comic companies that release things that are deemed a little too different to be released by Marvel/DC. They are strange interludes. How about a list of the top 10 events in King books (obvs there could be spoilers in there so warnings are required). Personal faves are the prom from Carrie and the tunnel from the Stand,
Would you ever do a ranking on your favorite adaptations from Kings work in either tv or movies or a video on which books should be adapted next 🤔👑👻☠🧟♀️🧟♂️🧛♂️
So, this is something I've had on my ideas list for a while - definitely which books deserve an adaptation, and maybe which movies need a remake and which movies should be left along because they're great already!
@@DaveReadsKing Tim Hutton was phenomenal in that movie as Thad. And to have Michael Rooker as sheriff Pangborn ... I still love that movie. One of my favorite King adaptations.
I've been waiting for sleeping beauties 😂 that one was a drag!!! While I enjoyed some of the ones in your list, they're all not favorites of mine, so I am cool with the list haha
@@LilFoxyCosplay While I found Sleeping Beauties tough with all the characters, I actually tore through it really fast and enjoyed it. It was weird, it was different, but it was fun too. Not one of my favorites, but, I enjoyed it.
Totally agree with you on Dreamcatcher. It was so good with the friends, then the guy craps out an alien, and I couldn't even continue. I never picked it up again. I watched the movie, it sucked. Most of the books you've mentioned, I've never read so no comments on those. Thanks for your reviews!
The eyes of the dragon was the only book I really struggled to get through so far (I think I've read 15 books so far). I probably have some odd takes because among my least favorite books are Pet Semetary and Dead zone and Carri and the girl who loved Tom Gordon are among my favorites afer The stand and It.
i love fantasy so naturally talisman, eyes of dragon, and dark tower are all in my top 10 lol. my least favs are dead zone, long walk, cujo, girl who loved tom gordon, and all bachman books besides thinner. im sure there are others but cant think of them off top of my head. nice video!
Tommyknockers for me must be the worst one because it’s the only Stephen King book I don't remember reading. I know I did, but I don't remember a thing which for me is weird and only happens with things I deem irrelevant. Most have been a bad read if my mind decided I'm better without a memory about it.
Thanks for sharing your list! Personally, I love Lisey's Story and Rose Madder, but I also love seeing everyone's rankings too, so thanks for posting yours!
Interesting to hear which books to leave until later in the books. Ive only just started my King journey, and Im about 6 books in... The 'worst' one so far was probably "The Long Walk"... lots of people like it but, apart fromt he character stuff, the story sort of sucks, makes on sense, and then ends really quick and badly... just feels like he gave up at the and though sod it, that will do lol
Interesting! Personally, I love The Long Walk but I know plenty who don’t like the ending. Still, for something that King wrote as a teenager it’s pretty darned impressive!
For me, number one would have been the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It was ok until it came to the ending. It reads like King just got bored and wrote The End when it needed a last chapter. Number two would have been The Cell for EXACTLY the same reason as the other one :-) Gerald's Game would have been in there somewhere as well.
Fair enough - thanks for sharing. I agree with you on Cell. Tom Gordon is kind of mid-tier King for me, whereas I’m a big fan of Gerald’s Game, but I love hearing everyone else’s list 👍
Im only about nine and a half books in (currently reading Revival). If I had to choose a least favorite it would be Night Shift, but I still love it. I’m just not a big fan of short stories. But. I grew up spending my summers with a cornfield and Children of the Corn made me never want to revisit those childhood memories. Where did you get your shirt?
Nice, thanks for that. I got my shirt from the awesome Loud Mouth Threads - who also designed the cover for the Quiz Book I published last year. His Instagram username is loudmouththreads and links to his shop are there - I can highly recommend!
Wow ... it's funny to see how these lists differ between all us constant readers. I agree with about 4 of these, I disagree with the rest, mostly in small ways. I loved Roadwork. I agree with Rage, I felt the EXACT same about the Running Man on 2nd read as well. The Long Walk is top of the list bad King book for me. That was the first King "WHAT THE SERIOUS FUCK!?!?!?" endings that make you throw the book across the room. I've read it twice, and It made me just as angry both times.
I agree with your list I couldn't finish The Tommy Knockers I couldn't get past what they did with the old man and the dog it was a little too graphic for me.
Out of the 18 Stephen king books I’ve read, the only one I didn’t enjoy was The Tommyknockers. My bottom three books are The Tommyknockers in dead last Then The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon And The Eyes of the Dragon Tom Gordon isn’t a bad book and it’s a lot better than Tommyknockers, but compared to the other king books I’ve read it’s just alright I’m not too into fantasy so that may be why I didn’t enjoy Eyes very much, but it’s still a good books just not as good as some others I feel And yes I have read dreamcatcher but I’m of the 1% that liked that book and it’s relatively high on my list
I loved Dreamcatcher! Here's my list of the 10 worst King books: Under The Dome/Bag Of Bones/Dark Half/Tommyknockers/Insomnia/From A Buick 8/Needful Things/Skeleton Crew/If It Bleeds/The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Special mention to Gerald's Game, Cell, Lisey's Story, Duma Key, Four Past Midnight.
Honestly, I would reread Dreamcatcher and The Tommyknockers rather than Cell and Sleeping Beauties (because I just can't stand Cell or Sleeping Beauties). While I do agree with Dreamcatcher and The Tommyknockers because of how objectively bad and messed up they are, they are both however so fun to me, which is why I would love to reread those two. 4:58
Agreed. I actually liked Dreamcatcher and though I’m not a fan of Tommyknockers I’d gladly read it again rather than the dreadful torturous reading of Sleeping Beauties or Cell. FWIW I found Revival horribly bad also.
Sometimes I just have a feeling I won't like certain books. A few are Gerald's Game, Lisey's Story, and Dream Catcher but I guess you can't know for sure till you try.
I actually thought the sun dog was really good I didn't read it in the Four Past Midnight Collection but I have my own copy because they released it as one whole novel
I've just started reading The Talisman and I must confess that it's not getting me. I don't know whether to persist or stop, pick up another book and try it later. Normally King's books catch my attention from the first few pages, but not this one 🤔
Bottom Ten: From a Buick 8 (2002) Cell (2006) Revival (2014) The Outsider (2018) Needful things (1991) Under the Dome (2009) Doctor Sleep (2013) The Tommyknockers (1987) Dreamcatcher (2001) Rage (197) (Bachman)
I’ve yet to read all of Stephen Kings books, but I have a list so far 1. Cell (it’s The Stand Lite. Catastrophe happens, then people start walking in groups towards a far-away destination, and they all talk too much). 2. Dreamcatcher (The Alien in the dudes head and that stupid mental “room” he’s hiding from it in) 3. Tommyknockers (alien book with practically no aliens) 4. Misery (I _know_ it’s clever and well written and edge of your seat the whole way...but I just found it infuriating, tedious, and frustrating. Shoulda stayed the short story that he intended it to be) 5. The Talisman (overly-descriptive and clunky writing. Can I get an amen, Dave? Lol) 6. I don’t want to read Revival because it involves two things that I really don’t care to hear King talk about: religion and music. Also, there are too many short stories to list here that I just don’t care for.
Misery is an interesting choice - I always love something different! Revival is actually pretty fucking sweet (in my opinion) - dark and scary, and not overly religious. And you *know* I'm with you on The Talisman!
I loved Misery, it's the only horror book that me feel like stop reading it for a minute because the ankle-breaking scene disturbed me and I actually felt anxious while reading his escape agtwmptsu. And I read many disturbing books with graphic horror gore, blood and guys. More than that act of violence I believe it was just the sum of the entire book making (at least me) feel on edge. It's psychological horror done right. I also liked Cell, it won't be on my top 10 but I enjoyed the read. It just kept getting worse and worse and hopeless for the protagonist but I understand people not wanting to read something like that.
Overall I agree with King regarding Tommyknockers - cut out half the material there is a decent enough story. Enjoyed the mini-series though from what I remember. Good review, thanks.
Well this is good news, I really enjoyed cell a lot despite its short comings (I did think the ending was very good however). But if that's one of his worst then I'm ready to be absolutely blown away by a lot of the others.
Lol I haven't been able to bring myself to read Roadwork. I've had it for about 10 years, but nothing about the premise of the story intrigues me in the slightest.
Oh wow, The Langoliers is the reason Four Past Midnight is one of my favorite King story collections :D I love its unique take on time travel. Also Dreamcatcher was the first King book I ever read, so it holds a special place in my heart for that. My least favorites would be: 10. Skeleton Crew 9. From a Buick 8 8. Elevation 7. Revival 6. Thinner 5. The Dark Tower 4. Song of Susannah 3. Wizard and Glass 2. Christine 1. The Gunslinger
Langoliers is good (the TV movie is a slog) but it is not unique. As back in the 80s there was an episode of the 80s Twilight zone called ‘A Matter Of Minutes’ where a husband and wife wake up to find themselves outside of present time. They find themselves in a future minute and that every minute of time is a separate construction, complete with faceless workers building every last detail.
@@ryancoulter4797 I remember that episode. There's 0% chance that King didn't steal that idea. It's pretty obvious. I liked the Langoliers though. It's a proper entertaining time waster kind of story that is perfect for a long wait at the doctor's office or, actually, a long flight. I didn't find it boring in the slightest.
In no particular order: Everything’s Eventual; Bazaar of Bad Dreams; Blaze; Doctor Sleep; Sleeping Beauties; Finders Keepers. The Outsider. I’ve actually stopped reading King books because I feel he’s not putting out anything good anymore. So disappointed in recent works that I’ve kind of given up on him. Recycling already worn out ideas and themes and also getting a bit too political and social justice-y for my taste. Love his early works though.
Thanks for sharing - yeah, a lot of recent works in your list! Personally, I think some of his later stuff has been terrific - I would put 11/22/63 among his all-time top 10, while his newest one Billy Summers really impressed me. Thanks for commenting!
@@DaveReadsKing 11/22/63 was terrific! I think that was the last good book I read from King I read. Under the Dome I enjoyed but the ending was not satisfying for me at all.
I really didn't like Pet Sematary....if someone tells you, and gives you loads of "evidence", about a haunted cemetary that brings back the dead in a super unnatural way.....why would you still bury your child there!!!! ❤ GREAT review! Thank you for sharing your insights!
I think that shows what King was really getting at though, and how grief that horrific will stop you thinking rationally, applying crazy logic, and doing things out of desperation. And that, for me, is the power of Pet Sematary - it's such a staggering portrait of grief
@@DaveReadsKing Excellent point! And that's something King does supremely well...grasping at all of our emotional heartstrings ❤ Great video and great content!!!!
This video was spot on. "Cell," which started out extremely strong, proved to be an incredible bore. I never read the Peter Straub books, as friends of mine who read "The Talisman" back in the 80s were very underwhelmed with it. And finally, "Langoliers" was just not very interesting. But "Secret Window, Secret Garden" was a classic. Great movie adaptation too. I must say that I had a hard time getting through "Desperation" as well. I hope the movie version is better.
I’m shocked how low Down you have the stand and the langoliers is soooo good! 10. Insomnia 9. Bag of Bones 8. Duma Key 7. Black House 6. The Talisman 5. Roadwork 4. The Wolves of the Calla 3. Dream catcher 2. Revival 1. The tommyknockers Everything is readable besides revival and the tommyknockers absolutely king at his worst.
Thanks for sharing your list! I disagree strongly on Insomnia, Duma Key and Revival (therein lies the beauty of us all having our own takes though) but the rest of your choices I can definitely agree with! As for the other two you mentioned…The Stand I just find too long and too dull, and The Langoliers while I love the premise again I think is too long and lacking a bit of direction. Both do have sone incredible moments though!
@@DaveReadsKing very interesting! I didn’t find the stand dull at all I know some people feel that the re organizing and committee meetings are dull but I found it interesting. I think this same argument can be said for IT. The Stand and IT are my top 2.
I read Misery and The Gunslinger while putting Carrie on hold. I liked Misery far more than The Gunslinger. It was a bit slow, a bit too weird and a bit too boring for me to be overly engaged. Still a nice book. I will update when I read enough of him to feel like I can do a proper update (in like 1000 years).
Cell, Tommyknockers, Elevation, Thinner, and Dreamcatcher are pretty awful, but one of the absolute worst, in my opinion, is Bag of Bones. King says he never fully knows where the story is going, but usually you can't tell. In Bag of Bones it was plainly obvious throughout most of it. In a few interviews, King has quoted some other writer who said something like "if you don't know where to take the story, bring on the man with the gun," and that's what literally happens in Bag of Bones. He spins his wheels for hundreds of pages stringing you along with weird details that ultimately lead nowhere and then at some point King must have looked at the page count and said "time to wrap it up then," after which he introduces a literal guy with a gun who appears and shoot some of the main characters. The book is even about a writer who is submitting old novels for publication to hide his writer's block from his publisher. It really does seem like the whole thing is him just trying to write his way through a creative rut. I will say this though: I went through a period where I was reading all these 1980s and 90s horror novels by obscure authors and looking for hidden gems. I ran into a lot of the books from the 80s that Grady Hendrix writes about in Paperbacks from Hell, for instance. Even the absolute worst King novel is a massive improvement over much horror fiction that was being published back then.
King’s natural ability to tell and tale and write compelling prose will always make him stand out, even in his lesser works. Although, fwiw Bag of Bones is definitely my guilty pleasure!
i know im way late on this, but heres my list while im binging your channel for the second time my worst Kings 1. Geralds Game, my god, if i never read this again, too soon 2. Thinner 3. The Wind Through the Keyhole 4. The Regulators (although I love Desperation) 5. Doctor Sleep 6. Cell 7. Dreamcatcher 8. Song of Susannah 9. The Dark Half 10. Under the Dome
Thanks for sharing - a really interesting list (even if your number 1 does break my heart a little bit!)…and thanks also for bingeing my channel a second time!
@@DaveReadsKing i also much disagree with you on Tommyknockers, Talisman and Black House, but thats ok. i have not read anything new since Revival, ill catch up someday
I pretty much agree with your worst books I would maybe include Buick 8 or Liesy Story but all in all good list My god talisman was so bad, i dont know why ppl like it
When you read The Talisman, what stopped you from dnf'ing it, I did, TWICE!!! I don't like to suffer through long books that are painful to get through, no matter who writes them, interesting Bottom 10!!!😀 📚
I absolutely adored Eyes Of The Dragon, and I read it before I read Dark Tower. But then again, I quite liked Flagg as a dark wizard, so there is that. Gerald's Game was King's worst book in my opinion. I couldn't get through it, and I found the concept stupid as hell, Cell was a close second.
I was expecting Elevation or The Colorado Kid to grab the #1 spot. I have read Elevation and it was very unmemorable. Colorado Kid I have not read but heard it was pretty bad and has no ending, etc.
I really liked both those stories - for small, quirky little things they both worked for me. I enjoyed how hopeful Elevation was, and the (lack of) ending of Colorado Kid actually felt quite real. It's a great yarn for sure!
Yes! I completely agree with you! The only King book I haven't read and haven't been able to finish is Black House, so that's my least favorite. Which makes sense because my least favorite King book I finished is the Talisman (1.5 stars haha). The only King book I haven't given at least 2 stars. Some others I dislike are Rage, Danse Macabre, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Elevation, End of Watch, Tommyknockers. (My favorites; Dead Zone, Misery, Different Seasons, If It Bleeds, Drawing of the Three). I actually really like Roadwork 😂
The Dead Zone is my favorite. It was my first King book. I read it in the 4th grade. While classmates were reading ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ ‘Runaway Ralph’ and ‘Super Fudge’, I was reading ‘The Dead Zone.’ 😂
I’m annoyed by King’s child geniuses and hated the too-clever kid in Mr. Mercedes. Not that I was loving the book, anyway, before I gave up on it (as King himself said, life is too short too read bad writing), and I really deplored the brats in The Institute. I almost gave up on that one but stuck it out and boy, what a waste. My biggest disappointment, however, was the true form of IT at the end of the book. I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it, and I’m sure millions loved or were fine with IT’s true shape, but I thought it was a complete lack of imagination at the end of one of his most imaginative books (other than the ending, it’s one of my favorite King novels-I’m currently listening to the audiobook for the first time). I suspect the director of IT: Chapter Two a few years ago didn’t like the creature’s true form any more than I did because he changed it. And I love his take on… IT.
Agree with you on the Stand and Cell. I did however like Tommyknockers and the Langoliers. One other book that everyone loves but I don’t is It. Elevation is one of my least favorites,
Ah, a gem of a video. You are surely wrong about the talisman^^, but mostly I agree with a lot. 10. Tommyknockers - there is much I like, but it is a bad book. 9. Insomnia - Don't hurt me, pls. 8. Puls 7. Four past midnight 6. Nightmares and Dreamscapes (worst short story collection) 5. From a Buick 8 4. Black House 3. Riding the bullet 2. Thinner - Don't see why anyone likes it. Perhaps it is an European perspective: Nazi-Germany murdered hundreds of thousands of so called "gypsies". This book is offensive. 1. Roadwork Honorable Mentions: Under the Dome for the last fifty pages. Carrie ... and The Shining ... Am I the only one that read all of SK and really cannot like The Shining? Too much drugs, I am sorry ...
Interesting list for sure! Thanks for sharing and don’t feel bad for not liking The Shining - I’m not much of a fan of either The Stand or Wizard and Glass 🤷🏻♂️
Yep, that's fair - in my most recent ones (since Gerald's Game I think) I've started to cluster the spoilers together at the end and giving warning so people can bail...totally should have done it like that from the start but 🤷♂️ thanks for stopping by!
10. Doctor Sleep 9. Cell 8. Firestarter 7. Cujo 6. The Dead Zone 5. Sleeping Beauties 4. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon 3. Dreamcatcher (eww) 2. Under The Dome (zzz) 1. Gerald's Game (ugh)
This was tough to rank, and I'm writing this before I watch the video because I didnt want to be swayed by your list lol. My #'s 10-3 I still really enjoyed by just not as much as other King works. #2 and #1 I had a tough time getting through. My least favorite, which is loved by many fans, is by far my least favorite. #SorrynotSorry lol. #10) Revival (I think I read the high praise before reading the book, and again, it was a good book, just cracks my least favorite top 10) #9) Blaze (I love a good Of Mice and Men story, and I felt for Blaze) #8) Dolores Claiborne #7) Finders Keepers (It just fell flat for me, and it was somewhat of a gap between the Brady stories) #6) Elevation (Good quick story, but the fact it was released as a "novel".....well c'mon) #5) Roadwork #4) Liseys Story (This one was just slow and plodding for me, I think its a rare book/story that will be a better on the screen) #3) Colorado Kid #2) From A Buick 8 #1) Hearts in Atlantis Now to watch and see if we agree on any! lol
After watching, just Roadwork lol. I didnt hate it as much as you do. A lot of others were close on my bottom 10 (Black House, Dreamcatcher, Eyes of the Dragon)
This is such a good list - thanks for sharing! I'm with you on Elevation - totally forgot it was marketed as a novel! From a Buick 8 really jumped up in my estimations on reread - it was like the third King book I read first time around and I wasn't ready for that Tower-tinged weirdness! FWIW personally I really enjoyed Dolores Claiborne and I flipping *love* Lisey's Story, but I know it's not for everyone. You're totally right that the latter will likely be better on screen - I'm very excited for it!
@@DaveReadsKing Liseys Story was so conflicting for me. I love the subject matter and overall story, it just got so slow for me at times. Maybe it was the mood I was in at the time of reading lol. I just finished all of Kings books for the first time around, so I'm sure this list will change on re-reads!
@@KyleG17 that's totally fair. I've got so much value from rereading - started with Carrie in January 2019 and have gone in chronological order since - alternating between King books and non King. You just pick up loads of stuff you missed first time and I've found you can really enjoy the writing even more
I dislike long novels, and some of King's novels meander onto tangents and subplots. I guess his editors let his novels ramble on, and he is such a money maker for them that he probably controls the editorial process. Anyway, I like his short stories and novellas much more.
@@DaveReadsKing A bunch of us started reading a lot of his books in middle school and we'd compare notes on some of the nasty bits like the sex scene in Cujo or the premise of 'Survivor Type' and quite frankly a lot of the work comes across like a highly polished middle school creative writing assignment based on some arbitrary premise like a finger coming out of a drain hole or a guy that'll do anything to quit smoking. I hardly even remember the plotlines of the stories anymore, but it's the details that stay with you. I've been thinking about the Langoliers ever since I read it and I've even told my kids scary stories about them trapping you in the world of yesterday if you stay up past your bedtime! I still can't shake the image of Craig Toomey (?) ripping little strips of paper or the protagonist of the Tommyknockers becoming progressively more transparent. Whether the stories are memorable or not, the details are what capture the imagination and never seem to let go. I remember I even did an English class project on Stephen King back when we had physical projectors in the classroom!
My top 5 worst books by Stephen King: 5. Revival 4. Firestarter 3. Thinner 2. Rose Madder 1. Gerald's Game I couldnt find 10 cause all of the others I read were good or great.
The Stand is in my least fave list. I really do not dig it. The trashcan man and the kid are just no. And on the whole the ending does not justify the work a reader has to do to reach it. I just do not understand the hype. Really digging your vids.
Ouch....well, then... My least favorite of all time (so far) is 1) Insomnia...any book that bores me to tears so bad it takes me two years, on and off, to finish it has to settle in right there... 2) The Tommyknockers...ugh: didn't take two years...but it sure as sh!t felt like it... 3) Dreamcatcher...sh!t weasels...need anyone say anymore ? 4) DT6: The Song of Susanah...where unka stevie takes the corpse of his near classic series and drags it up to a rancid version of a pet sematary: what comes back, in the form of this 'novel' would've been better left dead. 5) DT7: The Dark Tower...a smidge better than 6...and THAT only achieved because the ending is perfect...everything before it, all billion pages of vomitous excessus...just as bad as 6... ...and we take a brief pause for this constant reader to make it clear that NONE of the next few books are bad, certainly not on the level of near excrement the previous ones not only dwell...but do so JOYOUSLY ! in fact...all these are actually worth a spin, they're just (imho) not altogether successful...so, with that said, we resume with 6) Doctor Sleep...hyped as a return to horror...more like a return of the doldrums: the bad guys were about as scary as a gnat. Nice to see a grown up Danny...that's about it. 7) Black House...now, I LOVE The Talisman...and I'm a HUGE Peter Straub fan...but this limp tale offers little to actually enjoy for fans of the OG, Straub, King...or, for that matter, Dark Tower fans: in fact, for me, it's downfall as a story IS the overreach of building this more as a DT outlier than, like The Talisman, letting it breathe as its own beast. This book, for me, was enslaved to the advancement of Tower theology rather than its own entity. As Yoda might say: bored me it did. 8) DT5: The Wolves of the Calla...when King was hit by a van, and recovery loomed, he received many requests to finish Rolands quest...and, for whatever reason, he chose to give in to the wishes of fools AND, somewhat likely, his own fears...what came from this dull thought is a travesty upon the foundation which his greatest house had been built: DT1 started with greatness and mystery and each successive book just got better and better...until 4, where he wrote what very well be some of his most exquisite prose, some of his absolute best storytelling... Then...he ruined by writing this average dreck. Somedays, it's enough to realize at least 5 is eons better than the next two...but then I remember that THIS is where King FORGOT how to write about Roland...and began just to write. The only good thing one can say is at least he came back later with the excellent TWTTKH to show he DID remember how to write about Roland. 9) The Regulators. It's not a bad book...it may even be a good book. ...but I never should have read it right after Desperation. After the kinda awesome big D ? The Regulators felt odd, disjointed, confusing. One day I'll reread it... And, at 10) Roadwork. ...the only thing I can say about it is... I really don't remember much of anything about it...just a blank: I always have to read a quick synopsis just to jog any memory...and that doesn't last long. ...can't be a good book if you've left that little impression: I LOVE all the other Bachman books; I count The Long Walk among my top ten...heck, I love The Running Man...this book ? ...blank.
Thanks for such a detailed list! I see we have a fair bit of crossover...and I totally get you that half of them are not actually 'terrible', they're just ones you like less than the others. It's such a credit to King's abilities that he can have 70-odd books and that only around 5 of them suck. And, often, even those sucky ones have their moments
Interesting choices! I don't love the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon or The Institute, although I'm a pretty big fan of everything else on your list. That's the magic of King - something for everyone!
@Prince Smith I did really like the IT movies, but the book is miles better - it's one of his all-time best and I would absolutely recommend reading it
@Prince Smith Oh yes, plenty...Mr Mercedes and The Outsider are both ace, 11/22/63 is magnificent, and I'm already in love with Lisey's Story after one episode
Haven't read Black House yet, but I totally disagree about The Talisman. That was a magical book, IMO.
Fair enough! That's what I love about King's work - something for everyone!
To me, Black House and the Outsider are cousins, I feel like if you have Black House here then Outsider needs to be here as well. I love Black House, I won’t pretend it’s a great book but it’s not bad either.
@ValisX personally, I think The Outsider is far stronger than Black House - and the Outsider doesn’t have Jack Sawyer, which is a huge improvement!
Hi Dave. I've just discovered your channel and am liking your content so far. You've earned a new subscriber. Keep up the good work. Been a Constant Reader of Stephen King for 35 years. Could you do a list of what you consider to be King's darkest stories?
Hey Wayne, thanks so much (and nice surname)! The darkest stories idea is a terrific one, I will add it to my list
I LOVED Eyes of the Dragon I read it in one sitting. I understand it is a departure to a more kid-friendly save the kingdom story, but I loved the characters and their ministories, I loved Flagg as a villain.
I did enjoy Flagg in that one for sure
Agreed! I loved Eyes of the Dragon.
It needed a sequel. Maybe a series.
Hi!!😂 Ever click on a post knowing that you came back specifically just to fight and get angry because you both enjoy the topic so much this is why I'm here thanks for inviting us.😂😂😂 I just found a channel.❤❤!
😂💜
Kind of liked the Talisman myself but Roadwork was a stain on a great career. Judging by books I have struggled to read the worst 3 in no particular order are Roadwork, Eyes of the Dragon, and Tommyknockers. All took considerably longer than they should have done to read for me.
I do generally look at the Bachman catalog differently as they are an outlet for something a bit different like some of the comic companies that release things that are deemed a little too different to be released by Marvel/DC. They are strange interludes.
How about a list of the top 10 events in King books (obvs there could be spoilers in there so warnings are required). Personal faves are the prom from Carrie and the tunnel from the Stand,
I like that idea - will add it to my list!
Would you ever do a ranking on your favorite adaptations from Kings work in either tv or movies or a video on which books should be adapted next 🤔👑👻☠🧟♀️🧟♂️🧛♂️
So, this is something I've had on my ideas list for a while - definitely which books deserve an adaptation, and maybe which movies need a remake and which movies should be left along because they're great already!
@@DaveReadsKing there's plans on a the dark half remake I have read the book but I have never seen the movie 🤔🤣😂
@@cynthiaholmes5124 interesting! That's one movie I would leave alone...I think that version is excellent!
@@DaveReadsKing Tim Hutton was phenomenal in that movie as Thad. And to have Michael Rooker as sheriff Pangborn ... I still love that movie. One of my favorite King adaptations.
@@davidphillips9726 it's great - and really underrated
I've been waiting for sleeping beauties 😂 that one was a drag!!! While I enjoyed some of the ones in your list, they're all not favorites of mine, so I am cool with the list haha
Yeah, Sleeping Beauties was close - I've not got to it on my rereads yet, so maybe I'll have to update this video once I do!
I barely made it past the first pages 😂 might try again
@@LilFoxyCosplay While I found Sleeping Beauties tough with all the characters, I actually tore through it really fast and enjoyed it. It was weird, it was different, but it was fun too. Not one of my favorites, but, I enjoyed it.
I personally loved eyes of the dragon, really don't think I would have liked it if not for reading the dark tower just before it
Yeah, being familiar with - and liking - Tower stuff definitely helps!
Totally agree with you on Dreamcatcher. It was so good with the friends, then the guy craps out an alien, and I couldn't even continue. I never picked it up again. I watched the movie, it sucked. Most of the books you've mentioned, I've never read so no comments on those. Thanks for your reviews!
You’re so welcome!
hey Dave love the content i’m new here but catching up.
i actually liked the langoliers lmao but i wouldn’t re read if that makes sense.
Hey, and welcome! Totally get that on the Langoliers - it does have a certain charm that’s for sure
The eyes of the dragon was the only book I really struggled to get through so far (I think I've read 15 books so far). I probably have some odd takes because among my least favorite books are Pet Semetary and Dead zone and Carri and the girl who loved Tom Gordon are among my favorites afer The stand and It.
Thanks for sharing - nothing odd there…they’re you’re choices - own them!
i love fantasy so naturally talisman, eyes of dragon, and dark tower are all in my top 10 lol.
my least favs are dead zone, long walk, cujo, girl who loved tom gordon, and all bachman books besides thinner. im sure there are others but cant think of them off top of my head.
nice video!
Thank you! Only slightly breaking my heart with your ranking of The Dead Zone (my all-time favourite), but still…thanks!😊
@@DaveReadsKing loved the idea and concept of dead zone but the reading experience was such a drag for me. and wayyyyyy too political for my liking.
@@DaveShaves44 fair enough
I’ve only read 3 Stephen King books.
Carrie
The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three.
The Gunslinger being the weakest
I would agree from those three - you've got so many more to sample ahead of you...enjoy!
Tommyknockers for me must be the worst one because it’s the only Stephen King book I don't remember reading. I know I did, but I don't remember a thing which for me is weird and only happens with things I deem irrelevant. Most have been a bad read if my mind decided I'm better without a memory about it.
It’s definitely a mess of a book
It's my least favorite King book.
My 5 least favorite:
5. Lisey's Story
4. The Talisman
3. Rose Madder
2. Gwendy's Button Box
1. Cell
Thanks for sharing your list! Personally, I love Lisey's Story and Rose Madder, but I also love seeing everyone's rankings too, so thanks for posting yours!
What do you think of The Langoliers 90's TV movie?
In a word, ‘terrible’! In a few more words, here’s my video about it ruclips.net/video/ojt4vODENNk/видео.htmlsi=DU-_cDaWFvUrMJ32
Interesting to hear which books to leave until later in the books. Ive only just started my King journey, and Im about 6 books in... The 'worst' one so far was probably "The Long Walk"... lots of people like it but, apart fromt he character stuff, the story sort of sucks, makes on sense, and then ends really quick and badly... just feels like he gave up at the and though sod it, that will do lol
Interesting! Personally, I love The Long Walk but I know plenty who don’t like the ending. Still, for something that King wrote as a teenager it’s pretty darned impressive!
@@DaveReadsKing Yeah, defo still worth a read. But least fav to date. Impressive for a kid for sure.
For me, number one would have been the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It was ok until it came to the ending. It reads like King just got bored and wrote The End when it needed a last chapter. Number two would have been The Cell for EXACTLY the same reason as the other one :-) Gerald's Game would have been in there somewhere as well.
Fair enough - thanks for sharing. I agree with you on Cell. Tom Gordon is kind of mid-tier King for me, whereas I’m a big fan of Gerald’s Game, but I love hearing everyone else’s list 👍
Im only about nine and a half books in (currently reading Revival). If I had to choose a least favorite it would be Night Shift, but I still love it. I’m just not a big fan of short stories. But. I grew up spending my summers with a cornfield and Children of the Corn made me never want to revisit those childhood memories. Where did you get your shirt?
Nice, thanks for that. I got my shirt from the awesome Loud Mouth Threads - who also designed the cover for the Quiz Book I published last year. His Instagram username is loudmouththreads and links to his shop are there - I can highly recommend!
@@DaveReadsKing Thank you!
Wow ... it's funny to see how these lists differ between all us constant readers. I agree with about 4 of these, I disagree with the rest, mostly in small ways. I loved Roadwork. I agree with Rage, I felt the EXACT same about the Running Man on 2nd read as well. The Long Walk is top of the list bad King book for me. That was the first King "WHAT THE SERIOUS FUCK!?!?!?" endings that make you throw the book across the room. I've read it twice, and It made me just as angry both times.
he's got something for everyone, does Mr King
I also dislike it when he leaves us hanging or offers zero explanation as to what is going on. Elevation and the Cell are a couple of examples.
I agree Langoliers and Tommyknockers suck. And From A Buick 8 is the longest short book ever.
I actually quite like From a Buick 8, but I appreciate it's not to everyone's taste
I agree with your list I couldn't finish The Tommy Knockers I couldn't get past what they did with the old man and the dog it was a little too graphic for me.
Oh yeah, that was rough
Out of the 18 Stephen king books I’ve read, the only one I didn’t enjoy was The Tommyknockers. My bottom three books are
The Tommyknockers in dead last
Then The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
And The Eyes of the Dragon
Tom Gordon isn’t a bad book and it’s a lot better than Tommyknockers, but compared to the other king books I’ve read it’s just alright
I’m not too into fantasy so that may be why I didn’t enjoy Eyes very much, but it’s still a good books just not as good as some others I feel
And yes I have read dreamcatcher but I’m of the 1% that liked that book and it’s relatively high on my list
Nice, thanks for sharing!
I LOVE your channel. You have such a great wit!
Thanks so much 😊
My least favourite is Dreamcatcher. That book is on another level of shite.
Yeah, it's not great! There were some parts I loved on my recent reread, but it is a *mess*
I loved Dreamcatcher! Here's my list of the 10 worst King books: Under The Dome/Bag Of Bones/Dark Half/Tommyknockers/Insomnia/From A Buick 8/Needful Things/Skeleton Crew/If It Bleeds/The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Special mention to Gerald's Game, Cell, Lisey's Story, Duma Key, Four Past Midnight.
This is what I love about the breadth of King's collection - there really is something for everyone. Your bottom 10 has four from my *top* ten!
@@DaveReadsKing Exactly. All the best.
Honestly, I would reread Dreamcatcher and The Tommyknockers rather than Cell and Sleeping Beauties (because I just can't stand Cell or Sleeping Beauties). While I do agree with Dreamcatcher and The Tommyknockers because of how objectively bad and messed up they are, they are both however so fun to me, which is why I would love to reread those two. 4:58
I can see that! I actually got loads out of my dreamcatcher reread, it jumped up my ranking a little!
Agreed. I actually liked Dreamcatcher and though I’m not a fan of Tommyknockers I’d gladly read it again rather than the dreadful torturous reading of Sleeping Beauties or Cell.
FWIW I found Revival horribly bad also.
For God sake Dave stop reminding us of the champagne pop!
In my defence, it IS the best bit of that book! 🍾
Sometimes I just have a feeling I won't like certain books. A few are Gerald's Game, Lisey's Story, and Dream Catcher but I guess you can't know for sure till you try.
Exactly - and King is always worth trying
I actually thought the sun dog was really good I didn't read it in the Four Past Midnight Collection but I have my own copy because they released it as one whole novel
Nice, I also have the Sun Dog as a standalone
I've just started reading The Talisman and I must confess that it's not getting me. I don't know whether to persist or stop, pick up another book and try it later. Normally King's books catch my attention from the first few pages, but not this one 🤔
If it’s not doing much for you I would say leave it and come back later - life’s too short to read stuff you’re not into!
Bottom Ten: From a Buick 8 (2002)
Cell (2006)
Revival (2014)
The Outsider (2018)
Needful things (1991)
Under the Dome (2009)
Doctor Sleep (2013)
The Tommyknockers (1987)
Dreamcatcher (2001)
Rage (197) (Bachman)
Nice, thanks for sharing!
I’ve yet to read all of Stephen Kings books, but I have a list so far
1. Cell (it’s The Stand Lite. Catastrophe happens, then people start walking in groups towards a far-away destination, and they all talk too much).
2. Dreamcatcher (The Alien in the dudes head and that stupid mental “room” he’s hiding from it in)
3. Tommyknockers (alien book with practically no aliens)
4. Misery (I _know_ it’s clever and well written and edge of your seat the whole way...but I just found it infuriating, tedious, and frustrating. Shoulda stayed the short story that he intended it to be)
5. The Talisman (overly-descriptive and clunky writing. Can I get an amen, Dave? Lol)
6. I don’t want to read Revival because it involves two things that I really don’t care to hear King talk about: religion and music.
Also, there are too many short stories to list here that I just don’t care for.
Misery is an interesting choice - I always love something different! Revival is actually pretty fucking sweet (in my opinion) - dark and scary, and not overly religious. And you *know* I'm with you on The Talisman!
I loved Misery, it's the only horror book that me feel like stop reading it for a minute because the ankle-breaking scene disturbed me and I actually felt anxious while reading his escape agtwmptsu. And I read many disturbing books with graphic horror gore, blood and guys. More than that act of violence I believe it was just the sum of the entire book making (at least me) feel on edge. It's psychological horror done right.
I also liked Cell, it won't be on my top 10 but I enjoyed the read. It just kept getting worse and worse and hopeless for the protagonist but I understand people not wanting to read something like that.
Overall I agree with King regarding Tommyknockers - cut out half the material there is a decent enough story. Enjoyed the mini-series though from what I remember.
Good review, thanks.
You’re welcome!
Well this is good news, I really enjoyed cell a lot despite its short comings (I did think the ending was very good however). But if that's one of his worst then I'm ready to be absolutely blown away by a lot of the others.
Nice!
Lol I haven't been able to bring myself to read Roadwork. I've had it for about 10 years, but nothing about the premise of the story intrigues me in the slightest.
You’re not missing much!
Oh wow, The Langoliers is the reason Four Past Midnight is one of my favorite King story collections :D I love its unique take on time travel. Also Dreamcatcher was the first King book I ever read, so it holds a special place in my heart for that. My least favorites would be:
10. Skeleton Crew
9. From a Buick 8
8. Elevation
7. Revival
6. Thinner
5. The Dark Tower
4. Song of Susannah
3. Wizard and Glass
2. Christine
1. The Gunslinger
Langoliers is certainly unique! Thanks for sharing your 10...guessing you're not a Dark Tower fan then??
@@DaveReadsKing I liked books 2 and 3, the rest of the series wasn't really for me.
Honestly, Revival is my favorite. What did you not like about it?
Langoliers is good (the TV movie is a slog) but it is not unique. As back in the 80s there was an episode of the 80s Twilight zone called ‘A Matter Of Minutes’ where a husband and wife wake up to find themselves outside of present time. They find themselves in a future minute and that every minute of time is a separate construction, complete with faceless workers building every last detail.
@@ryancoulter4797 I remember that episode. There's 0% chance that King didn't steal that idea. It's pretty obvious. I liked the Langoliers though. It's a proper entertaining time waster kind of story that is perfect for a long wait at the doctor's office or, actually, a long flight. I didn't find it boring in the slightest.
Definitely agree with dreamcatcher and Tommy knockers
Yeah, neither are great - although they could have been with a stronger editor!
In no particular order: Everything’s Eventual; Bazaar of Bad Dreams; Blaze; Doctor Sleep; Sleeping Beauties; Finders Keepers. The Outsider. I’ve actually stopped reading King books because I feel he’s not putting out anything good anymore. So disappointed in recent works that I’ve kind of given up on him. Recycling already worn out ideas and themes and also getting a bit too political and social justice-y for my taste. Love his early works though.
Thanks for sharing - yeah, a lot of recent works in your list! Personally, I think some of his later stuff has been terrific - I would put 11/22/63 among his all-time top 10, while his newest one Billy Summers really impressed me. Thanks for commenting!
@@DaveReadsKing 11/22/63 was terrific! I think that was the last good book I read from King I read. Under the Dome I enjoyed but the ending was not satisfying for me at all.
@@christopherbradford3778 Yeah, I get you on Under the Dome, it didn't quite land
I really didn't like Pet Sematary....if someone tells you, and gives you loads of "evidence", about a haunted cemetary that brings back the dead in a super unnatural way.....why would you still bury your child there!!!! ❤
GREAT review! Thank you for sharing your insights!
I think that shows what King was really getting at though, and how grief that horrific will stop you thinking rationally, applying crazy logic, and doing things out of desperation. And that, for me, is the power of Pet Sematary - it's such a staggering portrait of grief
@@DaveReadsKing Excellent point! And that's something King does supremely well...grasping at all of our emotional heartstrings ❤ Great video and great content!!!!
@@lizzietizzy thank you :-)
Roadwork wa super cool for me actually. Could I pick a worst 10? I dunno. But I do not think Road Work would be one mine.
Fair enough!
I think it might be time for a list of the top King villains, and top King protagonists/characters - just putting that out there...
Well, I did do this list of my top 19 King characters around a year ago: ruclips.net/video/8mK9OjvBpro/видео.html
Can you do top 10 scariest king books?
Nice idea! I'll add it to my list!
This video was spot on. "Cell," which started out extremely strong, proved to be an incredible bore. I never read the Peter Straub books, as friends of mine who read "The Talisman" back in the 80s were very underwhelmed with it. And finally, "Langoliers" was just not very interesting. But "Secret Window, Secret Garden" was a classic. Great movie adaptation too. I must say that I had a hard time getting through "Desperation" as well. I hope the movie version is better.
Spoiler alert for the Desperation movie…it’s not! 😂🫣
@@DaveReadsKing Thank you for the heads up!
I’m shocked how low Down you have the stand and the langoliers is soooo good!
10. Insomnia
9. Bag of Bones
8. Duma Key
7. Black House
6. The Talisman
5. Roadwork
4. The Wolves of the Calla
3. Dream catcher
2. Revival
1. The tommyknockers
Everything is readable besides revival and the tommyknockers absolutely king at his worst.
Thanks for sharing your list! I disagree strongly on Insomnia, Duma Key and Revival (therein lies the beauty of us all having our own takes though) but the rest of your choices I can definitely agree with! As for the other two you mentioned…The Stand I just find too long and too dull, and The Langoliers while I love the premise again I think is too long and lacking a bit of direction. Both do have sone incredible moments though!
@@DaveReadsKing very interesting! I didn’t find the stand dull at all I know some people feel that the re organizing and committee meetings are dull but I found it interesting. I think this same argument can be said for IT. The Stand and IT are my top 2.
Fair enough! And that top 2 is pretty stellar!
The Regulators is my favorite personally.
Nice! It's certainly a wild one!
How very dare you i love the langoliers! Kidding each to their own can't all be the same
Ha! I mean, I sort of do love the Langoliers in a way...while also thinking it is a pile of crap!
I read Misery and The Gunslinger while putting Carrie on hold. I liked Misery far more than The Gunslinger. It was a bit slow, a bit too weird and a bit too boring for me to be overly engaged. Still a nice book. I will update when I read enough of him to feel like I can do a proper update (in like 1000 years).
Nice! Happy reading!
@@DaveReadsKing Thank you. Goodbye.
I’d have to do some research to make a Bottom 10, but I definitely hated Rose Madder and Needful Things.
Oh, and I liked the Langoliers. 🤣
Ha! He has something for everyone!
I haven't read Dreamcatcher but I hated the film adaptation
I *think* the book is better than the film...not by much...although it wouldn't be difficult. That is a *baaaad* movie!
Cell, Tommyknockers, Elevation, Thinner, and Dreamcatcher are pretty awful, but one of the absolute worst, in my opinion, is Bag of Bones. King says he never fully knows where the story is going, but usually you can't tell. In Bag of Bones it was plainly obvious throughout most of it. In a few interviews, King has quoted some other writer who said something like "if you don't know where to take the story, bring on the man with the gun," and that's what literally happens in Bag of Bones. He spins his wheels for hundreds of pages stringing you along with weird details that ultimately lead nowhere and then at some point King must have looked at the page count and said "time to wrap it up then," after which he introduces a literal guy with a gun who appears and shoot some of the main characters. The book is even about a writer who is submitting old novels for publication to hide his writer's block from his publisher. It really does seem like the whole thing is him just trying to write his way through a creative rut.
I will say this though: I went through a period where I was reading all these 1980s and 90s horror novels by obscure authors and looking for hidden gems. I ran into a lot of the books from the 80s that Grady Hendrix writes about in Paperbacks from Hell, for instance. Even the absolute worst King novel is a massive improvement over much horror fiction that was being published back then.
King’s natural ability to tell and tale and write compelling prose will always make him stand out, even in his lesser works. Although, fwiw Bag of Bones is definitely my guilty pleasure!
I personally love the library policeman. I know it’s sick and horrible but I feel that’s what king is all about
Yeah, that's fair. It just a bit too far for me!
i know im way late on this, but heres my list while im binging your channel for the second time
my worst Kings
1. Geralds Game, my god, if i never read this again, too soon
2. Thinner
3. The Wind Through the Keyhole
4. The Regulators (although I love Desperation)
5. Doctor Sleep
6. Cell
7. Dreamcatcher
8. Song of Susannah
9. The Dark Half
10. Under the Dome
Thanks for sharing - a really interesting list (even if your number 1 does break my heart a little bit!)…and thanks also for bingeing my channel a second time!
@@DaveReadsKing i also much disagree with you on Tommyknockers, Talisman and Black House, but thats ok.
i have not read anything new since Revival, ill catch up someday
@@McGrizzle75 nice!
@@McGrizzle75 I totally agree with about the wind through the keyhole
Gerald's game and doctor sleep
I love the Dark Half
I actually love Cell, but each to their own 😁
Exactly! I make no judgment on anyone's choices! 🤘
Me too! I read it so fast when I first got it and I've read it again several times.
Tommyknockers is his worst
Yeah...it's not good, is it??
I pretty much agree with your worst books
I would maybe include Buick 8 or Liesy Story but all in all good list
My god talisman was so bad, i dont know why ppl like it
Thanks! I love Buick 8 and Lisey's Story personally but I know they can divide opinion!
When you read The Talisman, what stopped you from dnf'ing it, I did, TWICE!!! I don't like to suffer through long books that are painful to get through, no matter who writes them, interesting Bottom 10!!!😀 📚
Yeah, I can see that…but I just cannot DNF a King!
The Stand should have been called "Franny Burst Into Tears". 😭
Possibly the worst written SK character ever...
Hot take! I didn’t like her loads, but definitely think there are plenty of worse ones - for me at least. Everyone in The Talisman for a start!
I absolutely adored Eyes Of The Dragon, and I read it before I read Dark Tower. But then again, I quite liked Flagg as a dark wizard, so there is that. Gerald's Game was King's worst book in my opinion. I couldn't get through it, and I found the concept stupid as hell, Cell was a close second.
Fair enough - personally, I'm a big fan of Gerald's Game but I can see why it would put many off
I also LOVED Eyes of the Dragon. It is the least talked about King book but I think too many people skip it because they are told to.
Good Video. Underrated booktuber!
Thanks a lot!
I was expecting Elevation or The Colorado Kid to grab the #1 spot. I have read Elevation and it was very unmemorable. Colorado Kid I have not read but heard it was pretty bad and has no ending, etc.
I really liked both those stories - for small, quirky little things they both worked for me. I enjoyed how hopeful Elevation was, and the (lack of) ending of Colorado Kid actually felt quite real. It's a great yarn for sure!
You sound very much like Tom Hardy when you talk 😄 Other than that, a great channel 😇
Ha! Thanks - never had that said to me before 😂
I’ve tried talisman 3 times and can just never sink my teeth into it!
Yeah, I’m with you there!
I loved the langoliers lol. I read it when I was 11 and have gone back to read it again 5 times since like I do most of kings work
Nice! I think I would like it more if it were 200 pages shorter 😂
The worst King Book for me is the Girl who loved Tom Gordon
I can see that - I didn't mind it, but a lot of the baseball stuff went over my head
I'm with you. Too much of nothing happening since you knew how it was going to end and getting there was not that interesting.
Yes! I completely agree with you! The only King book I haven't read and haven't been able to finish is Black House, so that's my least favorite. Which makes sense because my least favorite King book I finished is the Talisman (1.5 stars haha). The only King book I haven't given at least 2 stars. Some others I dislike are Rage, Danse Macabre, Nightmares and Dreamscapes, Elevation, End of Watch, Tommyknockers. (My favorites; Dead Zone, Misery, Different Seasons, If It Bleeds, Drawing of the Three). I actually really like Roadwork 😂
You and I have a fair amount of crossover on our likes and dislikes...apart from Roadwork! Thanks so much for commenting!
The Dead Zone is my favorite. It was my first King book. I read it in the 4th grade. While classmates were reading ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ ‘Runaway Ralph’ and ‘Super Fudge’, I was reading ‘The Dead Zone.’ 😂
@@garythompson3223 lol
5. Revival
4. Gwendy’s Botton Box
3. The Dark Half
2. Firestarter
1. Eyes of the Dragon
I’m annoyed by King’s child geniuses and hated the too-clever kid in Mr. Mercedes. Not that I was loving the book, anyway, before I gave up on it (as King himself said, life is too short too read bad writing), and I really deplored the brats in The Institute. I almost gave up on that one but stuck it out and boy, what a waste.
My biggest disappointment, however, was the true form of IT at the end of the book. I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read it, and I’m sure millions loved or were fine with IT’s true shape, but I thought it was a complete lack of imagination at the end of one of his most imaginative books (other than the ending, it’s one of my favorite King novels-I’m currently listening to the audiobook for the first time).
I suspect the director of IT: Chapter Two a few years ago didn’t like the creature’s true form any more than I did because he changed it. And I love his take on… IT.
Fair enough!
Agree with you on the Stand and Cell. I did however like Tommyknockers and the Langoliers. One other book that everyone loves but I don’t is It. Elevation is one of my least favorites,
Fair enough! He has something for everyone 👍
If some of these novels were half as long, they would be twice as good.
Yep, there’s definitely a few I can think of that this would be relevant to
I agree. I love books that aren't afraid to be long and filling, but perhaps a post-comatose edit of some of these books might be in order.
idk if anyone will believe me when i say this but dreamcatcher is one of my favorites. and it was hurtful to see dreamcatcher here. bruh
Oh I definitely believe - I know a few other Dreamcatcher stans!
Ah, a gem of a video.
You are surely wrong about the talisman^^, but mostly I agree with a lot.
10. Tommyknockers - there is much I like, but it is a bad book.
9. Insomnia - Don't hurt me, pls.
8. Puls
7. Four past midnight
6. Nightmares and Dreamscapes (worst short story collection)
5. From a Buick 8
4. Black House
3. Riding the bullet
2. Thinner - Don't see why anyone likes it. Perhaps it is an European perspective: Nazi-Germany murdered hundreds of thousands of so called "gypsies". This book is offensive.
1. Roadwork
Honorable Mentions:
Under the Dome for the last fifty pages. Carrie ... and The Shining ... Am I the only one that read all of SK and really cannot like The Shining? Too much drugs, I am sorry ...
Interesting list for sure! Thanks for sharing and don’t feel bad for not liking The Shining - I’m not much of a fan of either The Stand or Wizard and Glass 🤷🏻♂️
Love all your videos! only thing that annoys me and sucks is that all your 19 reasons to read series have spoilers…:/
Yep, that's fair - in my most recent ones (since Gerald's Game I think) I've started to cluster the spoilers together at the end and giving warning so people can bail...totally should have done it like that from the start but 🤷♂️ thanks for stopping by!
10. Doctor Sleep
9. Cell
8. Firestarter
7. Cujo
6. The Dead Zone
5. Sleeping Beauties
4. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
3. Dreamcatcher (eww)
2. Under The Dome (zzz)
1. Gerald's Game (ugh)
Interesting list, thanks! Your inclusion of The Dead Zone breaks my heart a little, but it's *your* list, so it's all good!
This was tough to rank, and I'm writing this before I watch the video because I didnt want to be swayed by your list lol. My #'s 10-3 I still really enjoyed by just not as much as other King works. #2 and #1 I had a tough time getting through. My least favorite, which is loved by many fans, is by far my least favorite. #SorrynotSorry lol.
#10) Revival (I think I read the high praise before reading the book, and again, it was a good book, just cracks my least favorite top 10)
#9) Blaze (I love a good Of Mice and Men story, and I felt for Blaze)
#8) Dolores Claiborne
#7) Finders Keepers (It just fell flat for me, and it was somewhat of a gap between the Brady stories)
#6) Elevation (Good quick story, but the fact it was released as a "novel".....well c'mon)
#5) Roadwork
#4) Liseys Story (This one was just slow and plodding for me, I think its a rare book/story that will be a better on the screen)
#3) Colorado Kid
#2) From A Buick 8
#1) Hearts in Atlantis
Now to watch and see if we agree on any! lol
After watching, just Roadwork lol. I didnt hate it as much as you do. A lot of others were close on my bottom 10 (Black House, Dreamcatcher, Eyes of the Dragon)
This is such a good list - thanks for sharing! I'm with you on Elevation - totally forgot it was marketed as a novel! From a Buick 8 really jumped up in my estimations on reread - it was like the third King book I read first time around and I wasn't ready for that Tower-tinged weirdness! FWIW personally I really enjoyed Dolores Claiborne and I flipping *love* Lisey's Story, but I know it's not for everyone. You're totally right that the latter will likely be better on screen - I'm very excited for it!
@@DaveReadsKing Liseys Story was so conflicting for me. I love the subject matter and overall story, it just got so slow for me at times. Maybe it was the mood I was in at the time of reading lol. I just finished all of Kings books for the first time around, so I'm sure this list will change on re-reads!
@@KyleG17 that's totally fair. I've got so much value from rereading - started with Carrie in January 2019 and have gone in chronological order since - alternating between King books and non King. You just pick up loads of stuff you missed first time and I've found you can really enjoy the writing even more
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is my least favorite so far (I’ve only read about 20 of his books). There’s really not much to the story.
I know what you mean. However, I will say that on my reread I got loads more from it
The dreamcatcher was my first Stephen king book and I didn’t mind it but I was 12 at the time reading it
It has some great moments, but you can definitely tell he was off his face on pain killers at parts too!
I love the covers of the editions you got tho
Thanks! They're the 'rainbow' editions from Hodder here in the UK - printed around 2007-2009 and, yes, are really cool!
I dislike long novels, and some of King's novels meander onto tangents and subplots. I guess his editors let his novels ramble on, and he is such a money maker for them that he probably controls the editorial process. Anyway, I like his short stories and novellas much more.
That’s fair - I don’t think he really has an editor any more to be honest…even though one would be a useful addition to some of his works!
To be honest, I really liked Cell.
Hey, King has something for everyone!
Watching your list I’m pretty shocked at how many of Stephen King’s books I’ve actually read.
Hopefully you've read some of his better ones as well!
@@DaveReadsKing A bunch of us started reading a lot of his books in middle school and we'd compare notes on some of the nasty bits like the sex scene in Cujo or the premise of 'Survivor Type' and quite frankly a lot of the work comes across like a highly polished middle school creative writing assignment based on some arbitrary premise like a finger coming out of a drain hole or a guy that'll do anything to quit smoking. I hardly even remember the plotlines of the stories anymore, but it's the details that stay with you. I've been thinking about the Langoliers ever since I read it and I've even told my kids scary stories about them trapping you in the world of yesterday if you stay up past your bedtime! I still can't shake the image of Craig Toomey (?) ripping little strips of paper or the protagonist of the Tommyknockers becoming progressively more transparent. Whether the stories are memorable or not, the details are what capture the imagination and never seem to let go. I remember I even did an English class project on Stephen King back when we had physical projectors in the classroom!
My top 5 worst books by Stephen King:
5. Revival
4. Firestarter
3. Thinner
2. Rose Madder
1. Gerald's Game
I couldnt find 10 cause all of the others I read were good or great.
Ooof, some of my favourites in your bottom 5! But thanks for sharing - I love seeing what other Constant Readers think!
I have started with Stand and done with 50 pages and its really good book
Great! Hope you enjoy the rest!
I can see it, talisman saves it with wolf boy! If you didn't like woolfie then the book is crap. Too much time at the the bar.
I actually quite liked Wolf…it was everything else in the book I wasn’t a fan of!
The Stand is in my least fave list. I really do not dig it. The trashcan man and the kid are just no. And on the whole the ending does not justify the work a reader has to do to reach it. I just do not understand the hype. Really digging your vids.
Thank you fellow Stand disliker! 🙂
Great list! About very close match to mine. I like the Straub books, replace them with The Colorado Kid and the institute. And there is my list.
Nice - thanks for sharing!
A lot of people dislike the Tommyknockers but I am a fan of it it.
I like large parts of it. But it needed a strong editor!
Agree with road work as nom 1 ..almost didn't finnish it..
Yeah, it’s not great
I've been trying to slog through Tommyknockers for the past 3 months. It is so boring
Yeah, that mid section is tough going
Different takes and tastes. My top 10s are some people's bottom 10s and vice-versa.
Absolutely!
The Talisman?!!! Really?
Yup! I just did not like it, either time I read it. It bores me and I hated all of the characters
I agree with most of this but dreamcatcher is one of my favorite books, so is tommyknockers. Liseys Story is worst than roadwork imo
Interesting! Lisey’s Story is one of my overall favourites of his…different strokes for different folks!
@Dave Reads King wow that's insane haha, thats the great thing about books, so many different perspectives. Love the channel btw
Thank you, appreciate that!
sorry Dave THE LANGOLIERS is King's best novel
😂 technically he classes that as a novella, so it can’t be!
Can I buy your hodder paperbacks?? The ones with the funky colours I’m in Canada and can’t find them easily!!!!
Sorry, but those are my pride and joy - it would take *a lot* of cash for me to part with them!
@@DaveReadsKing lol dang!!!! So hard to get them!!!
Here's my picks
Duma key
Gerald's game
The wind through the keyhole
The girl who loved tom Gordon
Cell
Lisey story
The institute
Doctor sleep
Interesting - a few of my favourites there! But thanks for sharing 😊
Ouch....well, then...
My least favorite of all time (so far) is
1) Insomnia...any book that bores me to tears so bad it takes me two years, on and off, to finish it has to settle in right there...
2) The Tommyknockers...ugh: didn't take two years...but it sure as sh!t felt like it...
3) Dreamcatcher...sh!t weasels...need anyone say anymore ?
4) DT6: The Song of Susanah...where unka stevie takes the corpse of his near classic series and drags it up to a rancid version of a pet sematary: what comes back, in the form of this 'novel' would've been better left dead.
5) DT7: The Dark Tower...a smidge better than 6...and THAT only achieved because the ending is perfect...everything before it, all billion pages of vomitous excessus...just as bad as 6...
...and we take a brief pause for this constant reader to make it clear that NONE of the next few books are bad, certainly not on the level of near excrement the previous ones not only dwell...but do so JOYOUSLY !
in fact...all these are actually worth a spin, they're just (imho) not altogether successful...so, with that said, we resume with
6) Doctor Sleep...hyped as a return to horror...more like a return of the doldrums: the bad guys were about as scary as a gnat.
Nice to see a grown up Danny...that's about it.
7) Black House...now, I LOVE The Talisman...and I'm a HUGE Peter Straub fan...but this limp tale offers little to actually enjoy for fans of the OG, Straub, King...or, for that matter, Dark Tower fans: in fact, for me, it's downfall as a story IS the overreach of building this more as a DT outlier than, like The Talisman, letting it breathe as its own beast.
This book, for me, was enslaved to the advancement of Tower theology rather than its own entity.
As Yoda might say: bored me it did.
8) DT5: The Wolves of the Calla...when King was hit by a van, and recovery loomed, he received many requests to finish Rolands quest...and, for whatever reason, he chose to give in to the wishes of fools AND, somewhat likely, his own fears...what came from this dull thought is a travesty upon the foundation which his greatest house had been built: DT1 started with greatness and mystery and each successive book just got better and better...until 4, where he wrote what very well be some of his most exquisite prose, some of his absolute best storytelling...
Then...he ruined by writing this average dreck.
Somedays, it's enough to realize at least 5 is eons better than the next two...but then I remember that THIS is where King FORGOT how to write about Roland...and began just to write.
The only good thing one can say is at least he came back later with the excellent TWTTKH to show he DID remember how to write about Roland.
9) The Regulators.
It's not a bad book...it may even be a good book.
...but I never should have read it right after Desperation.
After the kinda awesome big D ?
The Regulators felt odd, disjointed, confusing.
One day I'll reread it...
And, at 10) Roadwork.
...the only thing I can say about it is...
I really don't remember much of anything about it...just a blank: I always have to read a quick synopsis just to jog any memory...and that doesn't last long.
...can't be a good book if you've left that little impression: I LOVE all the other Bachman books; I count The Long Walk among my top ten...heck, I love The Running Man...this book ?
...blank.
Thanks for such a detailed list! I see we have a fair bit of crossover...and I totally get you that half of them are not actually 'terrible', they're just ones you like less than the others. It's such a credit to King's abilities that he can have 70-odd books and that only around 5 of them suck. And, often, even those sucky ones have their moments
What? No Misery, no Revival?
In my least favourite 10 King books? Absolutely not!
My least Stephen king books are the girl who loved tom Gordon duma key gerald's game doctor sleep and the institute 🤔🤯😬🤫🤭 and lisey story
Interesting choices! I don't love the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon or The Institute, although I'm a pretty big fan of everything else on your list. That's the magic of King - something for everyone!
@@DaveReadsKing yes that's so true
The Talisman is my favorite Stephen King book and my least favorite is between It and The Shining
Interesting! He really does have something for everyone
My least favorite is Carrie book make me very angry
Oh interesting - anything in particular about it that made you feel like that?
@Prince Smith I did really like the IT movies, but the book is miles better - it's one of his all-time best and I would absolutely recommend reading it
@Prince Smith they both are...which is saying something as the original Carrie and Misery are both, in my opinion, amazing movies!
@Prince Smith Oh yes, plenty...Mr Mercedes and The Outsider are both ace, 11/22/63 is magnificent, and I'm already in love with Lisey's Story after one episode