The Book Thread Book • Page 26

I've read one Dean Koontz novel, The Taking, and it was quite good.

 

I have "Intensity" by Koontz on my to read list. Heard great things about it online by people who otherwise hate Koontz so that's the one I have my eye on to eventually pick up.

 

Alex Kava is my favorite besides Stephen King.

 

Haven't heard of her before, I'll have to check her out!

 

I'm reading one of Joe Hill's for the first time starting tomorrow. Time to see if he even got a lick of daddy's talent.

 

Which one!?

 

NOS4A2

 

His best so far and one of my all time favorite. Keep us updated. I'd rank it among King's bests

 

Interesting interesting interesting. What do you define as King's best, btw? Not sure I've ever asked.

 

Here's a full ranking I made while I was reading his bibliography and haven't touched in a awhile.

Stephen King Books

 

What's the consensus on The Fireman?

 

This list is nowhere near what I expected, haha. I'd jokingly say "hot take!" but know you're such a devout fan, that it mostly just intrigues me.

 

Incredible. Everyone in the King thread loved it. It's almost as good as N0S4A2. N0S4A2 is kind of like Joe's It and The Fireman is like his The Stand.

 

There are so many things to take into consideration. I updated it every time I finished a book and I know I'm biased to the new book because I'm always so excited when I'm done. And I don't dislike anything on that list at all, even Blaze is pretty good. It got really hard after like 10 or so, ha. And I didn't change anything once I was done, so that's not taking into consideration how I felt after the books sat with me for awhile.

 

The Gunslinger so low made me very angry for a few seconds, haha. And The Stand not being top three was surprising, too.

 

The Dark Tower really comes into its own in book two. I'm going to be reading the Gunslinger again before the movie though so I'll have a more fresh opinion. I still love it. And same with the stand, I adore it and it's a masterpiece, you really shouldn't think that I like it any less, I just really love those other books too, ha. Everyone I show that list to has a problem with it's position but it's above a lot of incredible books.

 

As someone who has never read King and doesn't care for horror, what would be a good starting point with him?

 

The Green Mile, maybe?

 

Dead Zone or Green Mile don't have much horror and are both great. Joyland is a more recent book of his that deals with horror concepts but isn't scary or anything. Different Seasons is a novella collection that has The Body (Stand By Me) and Shawshank Redemption so that would be a good choice too.

 

I read NOS4A2 without even knowing it was King's son and constantly thought, "this kind of reads like a love letter to King or someone stole a bunch of random King ideas". Found it pretty interesting and a fast read, but was far too similar to King and all it made me want to do was read King, not Hill.

 

Kate Mulgrew is the NOS4A2 Audible narrator and oh my word she is magical.

 

Speaking of Audible, if you have Prime, you can get an annual membership (12 credits) for $99 today (last day) only. It's usually $149 if you pay up front, or $180 if you pay monthly. Good deal.

And since you can receive one book from someone else for free, if anyone wants one of mine I can send t to you

 

I didn't read them but I listened and the Bill Hodges trilogy didn't have much horror elements to them either although I don't know if those would be good starting point cuz I've never actually read King either

 

Not enough love for Lisey's Story on your list! @Vivatoto One of my faves next to Under the Dome.

 

That's definitely one I wish was higher, I absolutely love that book and it tends to be forgotten since it's one of his only books that doesn't have any sort of adaptation. Rose Madder is similar in that way, I'd rec checking that out if you haven't