Books

I'd suggest his Richard Bachman pen name stuff too.

Like any creator that has a huge body of work, there are gonna be hits and misses. I haven't read much of his older stuff, but I'm currently reading 'Salems Lot. I wouldn't say it's knocked me over, but I am enjoying it.

I have also read the Shining and Dr. Sleep and I enjoyed those immensely. Of his more recent stuff, I really like the Holly Gibney character and her arc in various novels and short stories.

You can start with "If it Bleeds", it's an anthology of short stories, the last of which is a Holly Gibney story.

I didn't care for "Sleeping Beauties", which he co-authored with his son Owen.

I can't stomach most King. My wife has every book he's written.

That said, The Stand would be in my top 5 books ever. I've read it seven or eight times. 11-22-63 is also spectacular. I read it. Watched the Hulu mini-series and now am listening to the audio book.

I find his earlier works are better. Salems Lot, Carrie. The Shining. His short stories are also usually good. He also wrote a lot of early stuff under pseudonyms.

But his later works are hit or miss for me. “Pet Semetary” was an interesting idea ruined by characters doing stupid things to move the plot forward. “It” has a huge following, but the underage orgy scene is disgusting and seems like something from a writer who used too many stimulants while writing it, and a publisher that didn’t have editorial control over his later works. “The Institute” was awful. Doctor Sleep was an unnecessary sequel. Etc etc.

Overrated.