30. Stephen King Favorites

8/30/2019

"Hello..."

It's only been a week since my last post, but I know I missed a week in the last month or so, and I can't hold back my excitement for next week's release of IT: Chapter 2, so I wanted to discuss some of my favorite Stephen King stories. I'll talk about the books and novellas in this countdown. So here are 5 of my favorite Stephen King stories, to get us prepared to head back to Derry, Maine in less than a week!

image from IMDb.com

5. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999)

One of King's shorter novels, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon does so much with so little, and I found that immensely effective. Isolation, fear, and King's recurring theme of youth resonate throughout these pages. It probably didn't help that I was also deep in the woods of Maine when I read this book for the first time, but it certainly freaked me out. With only a portable radio to keep her company, being in the mind of a small child lost in the woods is both painful and intense.

4. "The Body"
(from Different Seasons, 1982)

I think we've all seen the film adaptation of "The Body," Stand By Me. It's a grounded, charming, yet heavy coming-of-age story. I think anyone can relate to at least one of the four main characters. And again, it's a simple story laced with King's intricate details, unique characters, and realistic dialogue. That's one of my favorite things about King's writing: his dialogue and characterization are (for the most part) gripping and real, even if some of his stories can border the bizarre. "The Body" is a great, albeit heartbreaking story that I think everyone should read.

3. Carrie (1974)

King's first novel, Carrie, is the classic tale of a bullied high school girl who discovers telekenetic powers. Wait, that wasn't everyone's high school experience? Regardless, Carrie's timid nature matched with her terrifying and strict religious mother create a dichotomy that is enthralling. Once Carrie discovers and begins to understand her abilities, it's only a matter of time before she begins to... stick up for herself. To put it lightly! This is a great study of teenage culture at the time as well as a look into religion and broken family dynamics.

2. The Shining (1977)

Often associated with the Stanley Kubrick film adaptation, The Shining is an excellent display of a man's descent into madness. And perhaps more covered by King's original novel, Jack's descent begins long before he brings his family to the Overlook Hotel. From the whispers in his ear, to the ominous animal hedges, to that damn boiler, this book is one of my favorites of King's, because it always had me on the edge of my seat. It has so many layers that the movie touches upon, but doesn't (understandably so) necessarily dive into.

1. 'Salem's Lot (1975)

To put it short: this book scared the shit out of me. The scene alone with the undead vampire boy tap, tap, tapping at his old friend's window in the night was terrifying. 'Salem's Lot is perhaps the best rendition of vampires in pop culture, besides, of course, Stoker's classic vampire, and the Universal adaptations of Dracula's story. A small town, rumblings of the goings-on in the old house at the top of the hill, and mysterious disappearances are a perfect blend for the base of this dark and looming novel. It's something I think about all the time. And while the miniseries doesn't exactly hold up, that window scene is still scary as hell!

image from StephenKing.com

What are some of your favorite King stories? Are you excited for IT: Chapter 2 and the other Stephen King movie adaptations on the horizon? Let me know what you think in the comments, and tell me what you hope to see in the future, whether it's a novel or a film/TV adaptation!

- Ryan

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