Stephen King - hate the movies, any good books?

burnafterreading · 12-27-2014, 09:31 AM

i came across this other SK thread, about his worst book. got me to thinking - i generally loathe and don't watch ANY movie that's based on SK's books. sure, i saw The Shining but didn't like it. Misery. yuck. Shawshank. passable. i'm sure a few have been ok, but for the most part the movie-versions don't excite me.

so, are there any BOOKS of his that are NOT horror/slasher/macabre garbage? i once physically drove through northern Maine on my way from PEI to Ontario, and Jesus H. Christ i couldn't wait to get the hell out of there! crossing the border into Quebec (i hate Quebecers, mostly for their "distinct society" and "language police") was such a relief.

so, yeah. any SK book that isn't a "SK" book?

crich70 · 12-27-2014, 10:55 AM

There is "The Eye of the Dragon" which he wrote for his daughter. It's basically a fantasy type story.

DrNefario · 12-27-2014, 05:06 PM

On Writing is the only Stephen King book I own.

I've read a couple more, but it's not my thing at all.

gmw · 12-28-2014, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnafterreading

i came across this other SK thread, about his worst book. got me to thinking - i generally loathe and don't watch ANY movie that's based on SK's books. sure, i saw The Shining but didn't like it. Misery. yuck. Shawshank. passable. i'm sure a few have been ok, but for the most part the movie-versions don't excite me.

so, are there any BOOKS of his that are NOT horror/slasher/macabre garbage? i once physically drove through northern Maine on my way from PEI to Ontario, and Jesus H. Christ i couldn't wait to get the hell out of there! crossing the border into Quebec (i hate Quebecers, mostly for their "distinct society" and "language police") was such a relief.

so, yeah. any SK book that isn't a "SK" book?

If you think Shawshank Redemption (from the novella Rita Hayworth And Shawshank Redemption) was only "passable", then I think King may be a total loss for you. There is another novella, The Body, in the same collection (the collection is called Different Seasons) - that was also made into an excellent move called Stand By Me. These and The Green Mile are some of the most accurate and well done book/movie pairings I have seen.

If you don't like those movies you probably won't like the books. And, it seems to me, that if you don't like these movies/books, and you don't like the more macabre stories either, then King is probably not for you.

I can perfectly understand not liking Cuji, The Shining, Carrie - movies or books - I really don't like these either. The Dead Zone movie was pretty awful, but the book was excellent (IMO) - if you like how King writes. And that's the point.

I always think that King gets a misleading rap with his reputation for slasher/horror - that has never been why I read his books, and that's not how most of his books really are (at least, that's not how I see them). I read King (his earlier books, anyway) for his characters.

My favourites, if it is of any interest after what I've said above, are: The Stand (the TV mini-series was reasonably accurate but not very well done), The Dead Zone and It - and the two novellas mentioned above. There are some other good ones, but if you don't like any of my choices so far, then there's no point saying anything more.

gmw · 12-28-2014, 07:34 AM

Just a few more words relating to your "any SK book that isn't a "SK" book?" query.

The aforementioned On Writing and The Eye of the Dragon are the main books of King's that might fit such a description. On Writing is an excellent resource for aspiring writers. The Eye of the Dragon is a fairy-tale styled story that I found excessively naive, and the characters (why I read King) didn't get me involved. You might wonder about his Dark Tower series - but I wouldn't go there looking for anything that "isn't a "SK" book?" I have never managed to get to the end of the series (I might try again one day ... maybe), but those I have read are definitely SK books - and not even close to his best (IMO).

burnafterreading · 12-28-2014, 07:40 AM

hmm... from those 3 movies (shawshank, stand by me, green mile) - i'll admit they were good movies but it's possible that my dislike of Morgan (i've heard too much of that voice) & Hanks (esp Hanks, good god how i hate Hanks and every movie he's done) reduced my enjoyment of the SK flicks.

i've noticed The Stand being recommended here and on other web lists, so i'll give that a try as my first SK read. never saw the show/series.

SteveK · 12-28-2014, 11:51 AM

I enjoyed 11/22/63. It has its violent moments and some suspense, but it's definitely not horror, which I don't read. I haven't read enough Stephen King to compare,but I very much enjoyed 11/22/63.
SteveK

Catlady · 12-28-2014, 12:17 PM

I'm confused. If you don't like what you've seen of Stephen King so far, why do you want to read anything by him?

burnafterreading · 12-28-2014, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm confused. If you don't like what you've seen of Stephen King so far, why do you want to read anything by him?

good and valid question. i guess i figure he's got to have SOME redeeming qualities and isn't a same-shit-different-toilet kind of writer if he's been writing and selling for THIS long. and i sense that not every one of his books is a macabre/slasher.

you ever watch Family Guy? or at least the episode in which SK is a cutaway skit, and it shows that he's so run out of ideas that his next book is about a lamp that attacks people? yeah, kind of like that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6TRVXG4kQE

Catlady · 12-28-2014, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnafterreading

good and valid question. i guess i figure he's got to have SOME redeeming qualities and isn't a same-shit-different-toilet kind of writer if he's been writing and selling for THIS long. and i sense that not every one of his books is a macabre/slasher.

you ever watch Family Guy? or at least the episode in which SK is a cutaway skit, and it shows that he's so run out of ideas that his next book is about a lamp that attacks people? yeah, kind of like that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6TRVXG4kQE

Don't watch Family Guy, but I'm not sure if the lamp thing is a joke or not, as I gave up on Stephen King long ago after reading a story called "The Mangler" in which a laundry machine attacks people. Too silly for words.

Dazrin · 12-28-2014, 02:04 PM

I would second 11/22/63, I really enjoyed that book. It was much different than the other books of his that I have read (Needful Thiings, Eyes of the Dragon, and a couple others).

MickeyC · 12-28-2014, 05:36 PM

I'm with GMW on this. My favs are The Stand and It.

Barbara1955 · 12-28-2014, 05:45 PM

Don't do SK! No Movies No Books!

BenG · 12-30-2014, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

Don't watch Family Guy, but I'm not sure if the lamp thing is a joke or not, as I gave up on Stephen King long ago after reading a story called "The Mangler" in which a laundry machine attacks people. Too silly for words.

Many of his early short stories were written before he became a success and were published in nudie magazines.

Strether · 12-30-2014, 01:53 PM

I remember reading an essay by Orson Scott Card years ago in which he said many of the things depicted in movies and books were too intense for him--that he could only watch a movie at home so he could turn it off when it created feelings he couldn't handle. He said the only books of King's he could read were The Stand and The Dead Zone.

I liked The Dead Zone, for its clever and satisfying ending, but could never get through The Stand. Never read Shawshank but the movie was terrific.

Jim

12-27-2014, 09:31 AM	#1
burnafterreading Groupie Posts: 192 Karma: 1237440 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Arc7HD/10HD, smartphones	Stephen King - hate the movies, any good books? i came across this other SK thread, about his worst book. got me to thinking - i generally loathe and don't watch ANY movie that's based on SK's books. sure, i saw The Shining but didn't like it. Misery. yuck. Shawshank. passable. i'm sure a few have been ok, but for the most part the movie-versions don't excite me. so, are there any BOOKS of his that are NOT horror/slasher/macabre garbage? i once physically drove through northern Maine on my way from PEI to Ontario, and Jesus H. Christ i couldn't wait to get the hell out of there! crossing the border into Quebec (i hate Quebecers, mostly for their "distinct society" and "language police") was such a relief. so, yeah. any SK book that isn't a "SK" book?

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12-27-2014, 10:55 AM	#2
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	There is "The Eye of the Dragon" which he wrote for his daughter. It's basically a fantasy type story.

12-27-2014, 05:06 PM	#3
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,203 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	On Writing is the only Stephen King book I own. I've read a couple more, but it's not my thing at all.

12-28-2014, 07:34 AM	#5
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Just a few more words relating to your "any SK book that isn't a "SK" book?" query. The aforementioned On Writing and The Eye of the Dragon are the main books of King's that might fit such a description. On Writing is an excellent resource for aspiring writers. The Eye of the Dragon is a fairy-tale styled story that I found excessively naive, and the characters (why I read King) didn't get me involved. You might wonder about his Dark Tower series - but I wouldn't go there looking for anything that "isn't a "SK" book?" I have never managed to get to the end of the series (I might try again one day ... maybe), but those I have read are definitely SK books - and not even close to his best (IMO).

12-28-2014, 07:40 AM	#6
burnafterreading Groupie Posts: 192 Karma: 1237440 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Arc7HD/10HD, smartphones	hmm... from those 3 movies (shawshank, stand by me, green mile) - i'll admit they were good movies but it's possible that my dislike of Morgan (i've heard too much of that voice) & Hanks (esp Hanks, good god how i hate Hanks and every movie he's done) reduced my enjoyment of the SK flicks. i've noticed The Stand being recommended here and on other web lists, so i'll give that a try as my first SK read. never saw the show/series.

12-28-2014, 11:51 AM	#7
SteveK Addict Posts: 272 Karma: 1017902 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: Kindle PW, PW2, Kindle3, Kobo Glo, tablets, phone	I enjoyed 11/22/63. It has its violent moments and some suspense, but it's definitely not horror, which I don't read. I haven't read enough Stephen King to compare,but I very much enjoyed 11/22/63. SteveK

12-28-2014, 12:17 PM	#8
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,418 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I'm confused. If you don't like what you've seen of Stephen King so far, why do you want to read anything by him?

12-28-2014, 02:04 PM	#11
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,729 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	I would second 11/22/63, I really enjoyed that book. It was much different than the other books of his that I have read (Needful Thiings, Eyes of the Dragon, and a couple others).

12-28-2014, 05:36 PM	#12
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	I'm with GMW on this. My favs are *The Stand* and It.

12-28-2014, 05:45 PM	#13
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	Don't do SK! No Movies No Books!

12-30-2014, 01:53 PM	#15
Strether Guru Posts: 765 Karma: 2825929 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fresno Device: Kindle 1; iPad Air; iPhone 7; Kobo Libra; Kindle Oasis 3	I remember reading an essay by Orson Scott Card years ago in which he said many of the things depicted in movies and books were too intense for him--that he could only watch a movie at home so he could turn it off when it created feelings he couldn't handle. He said the only books of King's he could read were The Stand and The Dead Zone. I liked The Dead Zone, for its clever and satisfying ending, but could never get through The Stand. Never read Shawshank but the movie was terrific. Jim