My brother-in-law recently loaned me The Stand by Stephen King. He knew that I wanted to read it and it’s one of the few Stephen King books that I have yet to enjoy. It’s the extended version so a bit longer than I’d like (1141 pages…whew!) but I’m halfway through and loving it. It’s definitely classic Stephen King! The book did get me thinking though – what are my favorite Stephen King books? So I came up with a list of the top 10 Stephen King books, ranked, because obviously if I loved it, you’ll love it too. Enjoy!
#1: It
A classic, scary novel that’ll make you fear clowns for the rest of your life. Seven kids didn’t know what they were getting into when they came across It. But 28 years later, they’ll have to return home to confront the evil creature that preys on the city’s children. Just in case you’re not a book person (not really sure what you’re doing on this site), I stand by the fact that the first It movie is better than the two-part stuff they tried to do more recently.
#2: The Stand
Like I said earlier, I’m halfway through The Stand but I can already tell that it’s one of Stephen King’s best books. Suspenseful and intriguing, the book keeps you wondering how these different groups of people are going to come together and what the dark man is all about. Reading this book in a pandemic is particularly apt.
#3: Misery
What happens when a crazed fan kidnaps and holds hostage a bestselling novelist? Absolute misery. Paul Sheldon has finally met his number one fan, Annie Wilkes. After suffering a terrible automobile accident, Annie is Paul’s nurse and is helping him recover…even if her definition of “recover” is far from what he imagined. Quite the thriller!
#4: Salem’s Lot
Ben Mears returns to Jerusalem’s Lot to live in an old mansion and find inspiration for his new book. When two boys venture into the woods and only one boy comes out, Ben will realize that there are much darker forces attacking his hometown than he even knew existed. Modern vampire novel at its best!
#5: The Green Mile
John Coffey, a giant man with the mind of a child, is accused of a violent and despicable crime. Sentenced to death row, John is only waiting to walk down that green linoleum-covered hallway to meet Old Sparky. Prison guard Paul Edgecomb has never met anyone like John Coffey and what he learns will challenge his most cherished beliefs. Originally a series of stories, the compilation is suspenseful and dramatic!
#6: The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower Book 1)
Roland of Gilead is The Last Gunslinger in a world that is an eerie mirror of our own. In this desolate world, Roland will chase after The Man in Black while meeting interesting characters along the way. Although the first book in The Dark Tower series isn’t the best, it does start readers off on a new and thrilling adventure following Roland and his quest for the Dark Tower.
#7: Carrie
Carrie is an unpopular and unloved girl with hidden telekinetic powers. With an overly religious zealot for a mother, Carrie is tormented and teased at school and at home. When the torment gets to be too much, Carrie uses her abilities to inflict her terrifying revenge.
#8: 11/22/63
What would you do if you could go back in time? Jake Epping is about to get the chance to find out. When he discovers a way to return to 1963, Jake will attempt to prevent the Kennedy assassination. What would the world look like if Jake can prevent what he believes changed the world for the worse and what damage will that do to Jake himself?
#9: The Shining
Jack Torrance takes a new job at the Overlook Hotel, an isolated place with harsh winters and no way to leave when the snow is too deep. His son, Danny Torrance, is gifted but his gift puts him in danger in this hotel where ghosts roam freely in the halls. Surviving the winter and the evil that lurks in the building won’t be easy at all.
#10: Different Seasons
Stephen King’s first major venture outside of horror books! Different Seasons is a compilation of four different novellas that are all incredibly impactful. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, The Body, and The Breathing Method are raw stories about the human condition and showcase King’s storytelling ability.
Alyssa Flores
Alyssa reads hundreds of books a year and is on a never-ending quest to find the perfect book.
