# Are there any Stephen King novels you don’t like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [November 30, 2023, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883 "2023-11-30T00:32:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/1 "2023-11-30T00:32:35Z")
Please use spoiler boxes if appropriate. Been on a bit of a Stephen King reading kick lately. I know there’s plenty of his books I haven’t gotten to. I’ve never run across any King novels that I didn’t like, but (as you can always find online) there seem to people thinking each novel he’s written is the worst thing ever. Anyway, for those not terminally online and who just enjoy a decent read in the horror/supernatural genre, do you think any of his novels are so bad as to avoid and wish you had every second back that you spent reading them? ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/2 "2023-11-30T00:56:04Z")
I didn’t particularly care for _Dreamcatcher_. I’m not sure I’d say it was “so bad as to avoid and wish you had every second back”, but I definitely didn’t think it was his best work. Although I read it so long ago I can’t elaborate on what exactly I didn’t like about it; I just recall not liking it. [And apparently King agrees with me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcatcher_(novel)): > King has since soured on the book, as, in 2014, he told _[Rolling Stone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone)_ that “I don’t like _Dreamcatcher_ very much,” and also stated that the book was written under the influence of [Oxycontin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycodone), which he was on to control the pain from his accident. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/3 "2023-11-30T01:01:04Z")
I never read books upon release, at least not in a long time. I saw that **The Institute** was going to release right when I needed a new book, so I waited for the day of its release and went in completely blind. Read nothing about the book in advance. Meh. Very disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/4 "2023-11-30T01:01:45Z")
Couldn’t get into 11/22/63. Read like _Ready Player One_ for boomers. I.e., just a generational nostalgia trip for an era that isn’t particularly interesting to me. It got lots of good reviews, though, so I’m probably an outlier. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/5 "2023-11-30T01:02:28Z")
I haven’t read everything he ever wrote. The only one I can think of that was really disappointing was Cell. I finished it, but if I knew how it was I wouldn’t have even started. The only character I cared about was Alice, and Alice dies somewhere around the middle of the book (if memory serves). After that, I didn’t really care what happened to any of the other characters. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/6 "2023-11-30T01:09:59Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Couldn’t get into 11/22/63. I devoured and very much liked King’s early books, maybe the first 10-15, then pretty much stopped reading him. Many years later, on a whim, I picked up 11/22/63. I could not believe how poorly-written it was. I got about a third of the way through and put it down (and I _always_ finish a book I’ve started). I picked it up about a year later, tried again, and made even less progress than my first attempt. I found it very amateurish, it was painful to read. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/7 "2023-11-30T01:21:07Z")
I have read each and every one of King’s books, novellas, short stories, etc. My least favorite was _The Tommyknockers_, closely followed by _Dreamcatcher_. Next two at the bottom are _Needful Things_ and _Desperation_. Then _Cell_ and _Under The Dome_. _IT_ was far too long, and _The Dark Tower Vii: The Dark Tower Book_ was a really disappointing finale to a fantastic series of books. Now, after all this criticism, I will still say that he’s probably my all-time favorite author! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/8 "2023-11-30T01:31:04Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Many years later, on a whim, I picked up 11/22/63. I could not believe how poorly-written it was. I got about a third of the way through and put it down (and I _always_ finish a book I’ve started). I saw the miniseries and it was a lot of fun. I think they made some major changes, though. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/9 "2023-11-30T01:36:36Z")
I think **Insomnia** was probably my least favourite: extremely long, pretty boring, and it had tie-ins to the Dark Tower/Gunslinger series which were wasted on me because I haven’t read those books. I remember not liking **Desperation** and **The Regulators** too. I basically stopped reading his novels after that (although I have read **11/22/63** and **Full Dark, No Stars** ). **The Tommyknockers** and **Needful Things** are towards the bottom of my list as well. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/10 "2023-11-30T01:42:17Z")
I didn’t care much for **The Eyes of the Dragon** , though that’s probably less due to King’s writing than my distaste for epic fantasy. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/11 "2023-11-30T01:42:46Z")
I’ve read virtually all of his available fiction, and the only I really disliked enough to not finish was the one he co-wrote with his son. **Sleeping Beauty**. Just too formulaic for me, and hitting on all these particular things that manipulate the reader’s emotions. His portrayal of prisons also seemed waaay off to me, especially considering how well he did portray them in other works. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/12 "2023-11-30T01:54:54Z")
I enjoyed 11/22/63. The Cell, on the other hand - let’s just say I wish I had that time back. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/13 "2023-11-30T01:55:52Z")
Quite a few lemons, actually. Let me say upfront, though, that he’s a spectacularly good author who has produced some timeless masterpieces; but when you’re that prolific, you’re bound to produce some that a few of your readers regard as klunkers. Cujo The Talisman Cycle of the Werewolf Dark Tower: Drawing of the Three Dark Tower: The Waste Lands Needful Things The Dead Zone Insomnia The Regulators Desperation Bag of Bones Dreamcatcher From a Buick 8 Dark Tower: Wolves of the Calla Lisey’s Story Blaze Mr. Mercedes (?) If I had to pick “worst of the lot” I’d go with Dreamcatcher. ETA: Of those generally regarded by others as among his worst, I have to admit I like Tommyknockers and Christine. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/14 "2023-11-30T02:09:19Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Anyway, for those not terminally online and who just enjoy a decent read in the horror/supernatural genre, do you think any of his novels are so bad as to avoid and wish you had every second back that you spent reading them? I think I’ve read every single one of his novels except for Tommyknockers. I won’t say any of them are so bad they should be avoided, but the ending to The Dome pissed me off. There was a lot of buildup and the ending did not close the threads in a satisfying manner. Edit: I forgot about Dreamcatcher. There’s no reason to read this in my opinion. Maybe it was just the space I was in at the time, but I didn’t enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/15 "2023-11-30T02:15:30Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I’ve read virtually all of his available fiction, and the only I really disliked enough to not finish was the one he co-wrote with his son. **Sleeping Beauty**. Small nitpick: “Sleeping Beauties”. And I completely agree. He wrote this drivel with his son Owen, and for me it was also one of the very few that I deemed a waste of time and couldn’t finish. I would have been inclined to say that I can’t think of another example off the top of my head, but I see in browsing this thread that a few have been mentioned. I don’t remember much about “Dreamcatcher” except the general sense that it was very unpleasant. I managed to finish “Cell” and “Ur” and in both cases wondered why I’d bothered. I thought “Mr Mercedes” was pretty good as a pure detective novel, and I think I managed to get through its sequel, “Finders Keepers”, but I never even got around to the final volume in the trilogy, “End of Watch”. I also can’t seem to work up any interest in his latest work, “Holly”, but that’s not a judgment of it. It may be that I’m just getting a little jaded by his prolific output. King seems to write almost faster than I can read, and **no one** can maintain high standards of literary quality with that kind of output. From what I know of King, I’m pretty sure he’s not doing it for the money; I think he’s just addicted to writing. Most of his other works are at least OK, and some are great. I love most of his short story collections. FTR, I think “The Shining” should at least be in the running for arguably his best novel. Most of the films based on King’s work tend to be pretty bad. Among the notable exceptions are “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile”. Both are excellent but be warned that they are very depressing, especially the former (I haven’t read the novels). Stephen King must have a very dark mind. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/16 "2023-11-30T02:17:34Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I don’t remember much about “Dreamcatcher” except the general sense that it was very unpleasant. The shitweasels left some mental scars… ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/17 "2023-11-30T02:18:01Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I have read each and every one of King’s books, novellas, short stories, etc. Ditto. Well, except for that baseball one he wrote with Stewart O’Nan. I hesitate to even respond to this thread because I have so many opinions and no time to discuss them all. For now, I’ll just say, yeah, he’s written some stinkers (Dreamcatcher being a good example). However, I think he’s a brilliant, gifted, good-hearted person, and even when I’m reading one of his duds, I enjoy spending time with him and “hearing” his “voice”. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/18 "2023-11-30T02:25:42Z")
Yes, all of those I’ve read. I was annoyed at his ignoring the vampire rules. Caught a lot of flak for it here. One novel, “and they never saw them again”, because they died, not the guys they were seeing. Cheap act. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/19 "2023-11-30T02:35:56Z")
I went through a phase in my teenage years where I devoured as much King as I could get my hands on, then I just kind of… stopped. So most of his post-2000 stuff I haven’t read, and some of his pre-2000 stuff as well. I remember hating _Dreamcatcher,_ although I dont know why. I just read the Wiki plot summary and honestly I don’t remember much of it. Maybe I didn’t finish it, which was rare. One that I _know_ I didn’t finish was _Bag of Bones_. I tried reading it again a year or three ago and also couldn’t finish it the second time around, either. Maybe because he calls a Scout a “Jeep Scout” in it. Dude. The internet and search engines were a thing when you wrote it. Also, I couldn’t finish \*Gerald’s Game." I think my favorites are _Dolores Claiborne, Pet Sematary, Misery,_ and _The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon._ ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883/20 "2023-11-30T02:53:43Z")
I think that Stephen King is a terrific writer and I have read lots of his stuff. However the main body of his work holds absolutely no interest for me at all. Same with the movies and TV - I have seen plenty of good things based on his work. There are probably as many, or more, that I wouldn’t bother watching if they came on TV. Three feet from where I am sitting is my book to start on my day off tomorrow, _Holly_ by Stephen King. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-stephen-king-novels-you-don-t-like/993883.md?page=2)