Worst Stephen King novel

raychensmith · 07-20-2012, 07:04 PM

I believe Stephen King is the most talented commercial writer working today, and his best novels, like his recent 11/22/63, are so beyond the abilities of most novelists, it's not even funny. His way with prose, character development, and most especially dialogue is just stellar. Even minor characters (for example, Lee Harvey Oswald's mom in 11/22/63) are fleshed out to an extent that rivals other writers' MAJOR characters.

Having said this, some of his stories are pretty bad. Long and meandering and anticlimactic. I nominate Under the Dome as probably his worst book; at least, his worst recent book. This novel is like 1000+ pages long and has the most ridiculous protagonist in it (this wimpy soldier guy [I forgot his name] who is somehow entrusted by the US government to help out but is promptly arrested and stays in jail for like half the story). Worse is the ending. It's like Stephen King said to himself, Hey, my novel's starting to get too long, and he just threw his arbitrary tragedy into it that abruptly ends everything. I can't really explain it more without spoiling it (though this turd of a story can't really be spoiled), but it just truly sucked.

carld · 07-20-2012, 07:12 PM

For me it was Lisey's Story. I really tried to read it, but the lead character was SO repetitive. Yeah, we get it, your husband was a great guy, and it really sucked that he was shot and killed, but do we really need to hear about it over and over and over again for page after page?

It's the first King book I couldn't finish.

Also King's endings are notoriously weak. I think he builds up a great tense story and then has no idea how he's going to wrap it up.

Timoleon · 07-20-2012, 07:43 PM

I gave up on The Stand after 400 pages...

JSWolf · 07-20-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoleon

I gave up on The Stand after 400 pages...

How could you give up on such a good book?

cearbhallain · 07-21-2012, 12:04 AM

Needful Things. That is the point at which it became irrefutably obvious to me that he was a hack. I hadn't liked It, which I read when it was new. After realizing that he could (and would) publish anything I looked back at it and admitted that it was not a good book.

Dr. Drib · 07-21-2012, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How could you give up on such a good book?

...he gave up on it because he didn't like it. (An opinion.)

You didn't give up on it because you liked it. (An opinion.)

NEXT!!!

Don

Dr. Drib · 07-21-2012, 08:39 AM

For me, it was "The Tommyknockers."

A flushing toilet has more action.

Don

Ninjalawyer · 07-21-2012, 09:21 AM

I think that the later Dark Tower books could, collectively, be called King's worst book. King doesn't plot out his books in advance (in fact, he's said anyone who does this isn't a real author), and the flaw of this becomes readily apparent when you're trying to write an epic that spans thousands of pages.

I knew I should have stopped reading that series when Stephen King introduced Stephen King as a major character, but I had committed too much time already to not see how it ended. Even worse than that though was the big reveal that:

Spoiler:

mellina 52 · 07-21-2012, 09:44 AM

I agree Ninjalawyer. I was very upset about the 7th Dark Tower (Gunslinger) book. But I finished it just to see what happened.

applesauce · 07-21-2012, 10:21 AM

I also find it strange to hear The Stand come up. I know everybody is different but I would love to know if they like any of his other books, if so which ones. I really loved Pet Cemetery but I was about 18 when I read it. I know lots do no like that one . I just find it strange the book more people would say is the best makes the worst list.

applesauce

Timoleon · 07-21-2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

How could you give up on such a good book?

It just refused to engage my interest --- I'd put it down, then pick it up a week later, put it down again...

I was really surprised, because I had read and enjoyed "Carrie", "Salem's Lot", "The Shining", and "Night Shift" before I tackled "The Stand." I guess I'm just not a walking man kind of guy.

AndrewH · 07-21-2012, 01:03 PM

I've only read about a dozen of King's books. Some I really liked (Pet Cemetary, Salem's Lot, The Dark Half...), some not so much. I hated Thinner, I don't think I even finished it. I really hated The Stand, but I've heard it said many times it's an incredible book so I forced myself to keep reading hoping it would get better... it didn't.

Gronk · 07-21-2012, 01:12 PM

I'm 260 pages into The Stand right now and I'm looking hard for a reason to continue it.

Quexos · 07-21-2012, 01:24 PM

I enjoyed IT so far the most from King. But I have not read his recent books yet. So much to read out there, so little time.

tecweston · 07-21-2012, 04:41 PM

Worst I've read is probably Song of Susannah or Dreamcatcher. But only Song of Susannah was bad enough for me to give up halfway though, so that gets my vote.

I liked Under the Dome. And The Stand, although both had dumb, deus ex machina endings.

07-20-2012, 07:04 PM	#1
raychensmith Member Posts: 19 Karma: 330010 Join Date: Jul 2012 Device: Kindle	Worst Stephen King novel I believe Stephen King is the most talented commercial writer working today, and his best novels, like his recent 11/22/63, are so beyond the abilities of most novelists, it's not even funny. His way with prose, character development, and most especially dialogue is just stellar. Even minor characters (for example, Lee Harvey Oswald's mom in 11/22/63) are fleshed out to an extent that rivals other writers' MAJOR characters. Having said this, some of his stories are pretty bad. Long and meandering and anticlimactic. I nominate Under the Dome as probably his worst book; at least, his worst recent book. This novel is like 1000+ pages long and has the most ridiculous protagonist in it (this wimpy soldier guy [I forgot his name] who is somehow entrusted by the US government to help out but is promptly arrested and stays in jail for like half the story). Worse is the ending. It's like Stephen King said to himself, Hey, my novel's starting to get too long, and he just threw his arbitrary tragedy into it that abruptly ends everything. I can't really explain it more without spoiling it (though this turd of a story can't really be spoiled), but it just truly sucked. Last edited by raychensmith; 07-31-2012 at 08:29 PM. Reason: add signature

07-20-2012, 07:12 PM	#2
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	For me it was Lisey's Story. I really tried to read it, but the lead character was SO repetitive. Yeah, we get it, your husband was a great guy, and it really sucked that he was shot and killed, but do we really need to hear about it over and over and over again for page after page? It's the first King book I couldn't finish. Also King's endings are notoriously weak. I think he builds up a great tense story and then has no idea how he's going to wrap it up. Last edited by carld; 07-20-2012 at 08:22 PM.

07-21-2012, 09:21 AM	#8
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 18573626 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Nexus 7 (2013)	I think that the later Dark Tower books could, collectively, be called King's worst book. King doesn't plot out his books in advance (in fact, he's said anyone who does this isn't a real author), and the flaw of this becomes readily apparent when you're trying to write an epic that spans thousands of pages. I knew I should have stopped reading that series when Stephen King introduced Stephen King as a major character, but I had committed too much time already to not see how it ended. Even worse than that though was the big reveal that: Spoiler: the character of Stephen King was a god.

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07-20-2012, 07:43 PM	#3
Timoleon Time Enough at Last Posts: 387 Karma: 1151316 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New England Device: iPad 3, iPhone 5, Kindle 3, Fire, Sony PRS-350	I gave up on The Stand after 400 pages...

07-21-2012, 12:04 AM	#5
cearbhallain Groupie Posts: 183 Karma: 1053258 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fort Vancouver Device: nook	Needful Things. That is the point at which it became irrefutably obvious to me that he was a hack. I hadn't liked It, which I read when it was new. After realizing that he could (and would) publish anything I looked back at it and admitted that it was not a good book.

07-21-2012, 08:39 AM	#7
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,611 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	For me, it was "The Tommyknockers." A flushing toilet has more action. Don

07-21-2012, 09:44 AM	#9
mellina 52 Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 320201 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Southeast Virginia Device: Sony PRS-505. IPAD	I agree Ninjalawyer. I was very upset about the 7th Dark Tower (Gunslinger) book. But I finished it just to see what happened.

07-21-2012, 10:21 AM	#10
applesauce Addict Posts: 387 Karma: 3553492 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Device: kindle oasis	I also find it strange to hear The Stand come up. I know everybody is different but I would love to know if they like any of his other books, if so which ones. I really loved Pet Cemetery but I was about 18 when I read it. I know lots do no like that one . I just find it strange the book more people would say is the best makes the worst list. applesauce

07-21-2012, 01:03 PM	#12
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 553 Karma: 1234566 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1, & Kobo Mini	I've only read about a dozen of King's books. Some I really liked (Pet Cemetary, Salem's Lot, The Dark Half...), some not so much. I hated Thinner, I don't think I even finished it. I really hated The Stand, but I've heard it said many times it's an incredible book so I forced myself to keep reading hoping it would get better... it didn't.

07-21-2012, 01:12 PM	#13
Gronk Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 500356 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: Oasis, Voyage, PW2, Sony PRS 950, 350	I'm 260 pages into The Stand right now and I'm looking hard for a reason to continue it.

07-21-2012, 01:24 PM	#14
Quexos Member Retired Posts: 1,999 Karma: 11348924 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Limbo Device: none	I enjoyed IT so far the most from King. But I have not read his recent books yet. So much to read out there, so little time.

07-21-2012, 04:41 PM	#15
tecweston Comic book artist Posts: 553 Karma: 1760679 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Detroit Device: Nook Glowlight, iPad, iPhone	Worst I've read is probably Song of Susannah or Dreamcatcher. But only Song of Susannah was bad enough for me to give up halfway though, so that gets my vote. I liked Under the Dome. And The Stand, although both had dumb, deus ex machina endings.

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