1. “country of joy”
I could put this book in my top 5 Stephen King books overall. joyland is on this list because a lot of people don’t know about it. King has published three books so far with crime novel publisher Hard Case Crime. These include the Colorado Kid, Joyland and later. All three are shorter works by Kings standards, and the brevity benefited Joyland in particular. the characters are strong. emotions dictate the choices of the characters. the story and the rhythm draw the reader in.
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2. “Mr. Mercedes”
this is the first novel in a trilogy of crime novels by bill hodges. Characters from these stories make at least two more appearances in other Stephen King works. these books have received praise, but mr. Mercedes makes this list because in addition to being a great story, it has failed to land on many people’s personal lists. I would easily place this work in my top ten Stephen King books. The entire trilogy is good, but this particular novel is nearly perfect in its pacing, tone, and diversity of characters. no individual is perfect for the role he plays, but he creates a nearly perfect story as a result.
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3. “the girl who loved tom gordon”
Tom Gordon was a real-life Major League Baseball pitcher for the Red Sox at the time of this novel’s publication. The story follows a young fan who gets terribly lost in the woods and must fight to survive a harrowing journey. it is a short novel, which prevents the story from dragging or becoming too indulgent. it’s a close look at a young character struggling to survive. Many Stephen King readers might be surprised at the differences between this story and his other works, and at the power the narrative still retains.
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4. “lisey’s story”
Lisey’s story received a well-received film adaptation. At one point, Stephen King mentioned that he thought it was the best story of his. makes this list because as good as it is, many people still don’t think of it while listing the best of the king. focuses on strong three-dimensional female characters and relationships. While it has some similarities to Bag of Bones and “Secret Window Secret Garden,” it does a superior job of exploring grief, loss, family, and trauma. this story punches above the weight of it.
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5. “resurgence”
revival is something unique in king’s catalog of work. It has always leaned on and borrowed from cosmic horror, but this work captures a sense of existential dread, especially at the end, that other novels couldn’t. really does an excellent job of tying together themes of religion, faith healing, carnival shows, dr. frankenstein, electricity, addiction, rock and roll and the veil between worlds. these ideas are intertwined and entangled in a story that leaves readers stunned.
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6. “bag of bones”
arguably lisey’s story is a better novel than a bag of bones. They both have characters who are writers, a Stephen King staple. both stories are based on losses, although they can be seen as mirror images of each other, or diverging paths based on the character’s death. both had adaptations made, though the bag-of-bones version was probably less appreciated. Bag of Bones excels in its mystery and the process of unraveling the unfinished business of the spirit world. a clever story with surprising resolution.
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7. “despair”
despair is not a perfect novel. It was written as a companion piece with the Regulators under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, long after everyone knew Bachman was Stephen King. the trick and the connection between the two books are strange. I enjoyed both, but I think Despair is the better of the two. the haunting beginning keeps readers puzzled throughout the entire story. the fight against the deadly threat goes well. the book definitely deserves more attention than it has received.
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8. “sleeping beauties”
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sleeping beauties is a collaboration between stephen king and his son, owen king. In general, I haven’t been a big fan of Stephen King collaborations. in terms of being underrated, I think a lot of readers would be pleasantly surprised by this one. there are a few missteps in the narrative that I would criticize, but on the whole the large cast of characters is used well, the action is well developed, the combination of the two writers’ styles serves to elevate the story and set it apart from other king books, and it has some interesting moments that kept me hooked throughout.
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9. “craziest rose”
those who have read rose madder are divided. I wouldn’t put it on a list of king’s best works, I don’t think so, but I think the gap between how good it is and how many people know about it is huge. the escape of the main character from the dangers of his marriage is very well written. his path to redemption is very well done and features a very good cast of supporting characters. the supernatural elements are interesting and differ from other works of the king. I think the resolution of the story is quite good.
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10. “from a buick 8”
there are many readers who don’t know about a buick 8, and many who have read it and don’t appreciate it as much as I do. there is a gothic narrative style in which a second or third hand story is told, thus creating veils of mystery over the action. Stephen King has used this technique several times throughout his career. I think the link between the child and his late father is well done. I think the bond between the officers, the boy and the secret they keep is also good. the reveals are presented in a way that kept me reading. I think they are well balanced with what is not revealed. I am of the opinion that this book is underrated.
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honorable mention: “key duma”
I discussed replacing duma key with one of the other entries on this list. It’s not a perfect book, but it falls right at the beginning of the most recent era of King’s career, in which he consistently publishes one great novel after another. It’s not as well known as some, but it’s highly appreciated by many who have read it. King’s descriptions of creating visual art produce excellent prose. the road to recovery is honest and heartbreaking. the characters are fully developed. losses sting. the story deserves more credit than I have given it in the past.
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