My Top Ten Stephen King Books

I've read a lot of Stephen King's books - not all, but a lot. Below is a list of my ten favorites. If I'm being honest, I would include some of his short stories as well (specifically The Body, Apt Pupil, and the scariest story I can remember reading - The Mist), but this is a list about books. So, without further ado...

Gerald's Game

I read this a long time ago and remember being scared by the intensity of the novel. The plot is simple - a woman is chained to a bed after a sexual encounter - and is left there when her husband dies as a ravenous dog and the haunts of her mind close in. I remember it being an intense book, and one I read very quickly.

The Green Mile

Not really a horror story, this tale of life on death row was moving and beautiful. King shows why he's the master here by making us empathize with murderers. Despite it not being a horror book, I had nightmares about forgetting the sponge.

Eyes of the Dragon

This was the first book of King's that I read. I know it's a weird choice, but I was very into fantasy at the time and this called out to me. One day I need to return it, but it was my first introduction to Randall Flagg (and not the last time he appears on this list).

Needful Things

The movie was horrible, but the book was great. Intense, scary, and full of great characters. Maybe it will one day be remade.

11/22/63

A newer book that admittedly lags in the middle, but the time travel plot was intriguing. The main character is sympathetic to be sure, and the end had a nice twist on it that I didn't see coming.

Misery

Great movie, great book. The story of Annie and Paul was one that would terrify even an amateur writer like me.

Under the Dome

I know, it's surprising that this ranks so high, but it's a brilliantly written book with a bit of a wonky ending. The tv show is good, but pales in comparison to the book. The characters are well written, the story moves along at a good pace, and the ending, while a bit of a letdown, still comes as something of a surprise.

Joyland

This is a new book, having just come out earlier this year, but it was fantastic. The main character was so realistic, and all the carny speak sounded like King came right out of a dark ride to weave the tale. While the end was a bit predictable, it was still moving and exhilarating.

The Stand

Really, this is my single favorite book King wrote, but it can't be number one for the reasons explained below. The Stand is a classic, plain and simple. Excellent characters, a quick-paced plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and style dripping from the page.If you haven't read this yet, Captain Tripps, Las Vegas, and Randall Flagg await you.

The Dark Tower series

I can't really pick just one of these so I have to include the entire series as one (gun to my head, I'd say book four was the apex of the series). King manages to tie in his other books to the series along with references to other literary greats such as The Wizard of Oz and Harry Potter telling the story of the man with the gun and his ka-tet. I read the series years ago, and Jake, Eddie, Susannah, Oy and Randall still haunt me. It's a journey that, someday, I definitely hope to take again.