what Stephen King novel or short story unsettled you the most? Mine are "It" and "Stand By Me"

[debm55]

Last edited Mon Sep 16, 2024, 09:49 PM - Edit history (1)

[hauckeye]

1. "The Shining" is pretty darn scary

[debm55]

3. Thank you haucheye.

[quaint]

2. Cell

Short story: Lady Fingers

[debm55]

4. Thank you quaint.

[Mad_Dem_X]

5. So many...but if I had to pick one...

I would choose Revival; specifically, the last 10 or 20 pages. It just went totally off the rails and creeped me out majorly!

[debm55]

6. Thank you Mad_Dem_X.

[Docreed2003]

12. That one definitely has an unsettling ending

It stuck with me for a long time.

[Mad_Dem_X]

38. As far as his short stories - The Jaunt is incredibly unsettling!

"LONGER THAN YOU THINK, DAD!"

[Docreed2003]

39. You read my mind

I posted that below actually...just deeply unsettling. In fact, that's one that the longer I think about it the more unsettling it becomes

[lark]

7. Shining!

I was living in a house with really tall hedges all around, and they'd scratch the windows when it was windy. My husband worked until late at night and I usually read, but had to restrict myself to reading during the day because I was getting so scared.

BTW - I've been reading Steven King since the beginning and have a great collection of his books. I'm even taking them all with me to my new house, they are a requirement.

[debm55]

8. Thank you very much lark and good luck on your move.

[lark]

9. Thanks!

We have been here 36 years so this is a huge deal. We're downsizing and have gotten rid of so much stuff, but still have a ton to move.

Aargh, I can't wait until we have gotten the boxes unpacked and our new house settled and can start enjoying our new house with the great view of the river.

[3catwoman3]

10. I'm not into horror, so I have never read a Stephen King book...

…nor seen one of his movies, and have no plans to change that.

[debm55]

11. Thank you 3catwoman3,, I am okay with posters telling me their feelings It's okay

[Docreed2003]

13. Pet Semetary is, to me, his scariest novel

The ending is just so bleak.

As for short-stories, I think "The Jaunt" is deeply unsettling. It's more sci-fi/Lovecraftian but it is a deeply unsettling story.

[debm55]

15. Thank you ,Docreed about Pet Semetary. I read the book and saw the movie. I was more frightened of the movie.

[FalloutShelter]

14. I'm a fan of his non supernatural work.

I’ve probably read every word he’s ever published.
(Spoiler alert-I’m a horror author myself)
My faves are Misery and Delores Claybourne.

[debm55]

16. Thank you very much, FalloutShelter.

[Bayard]

84. Same

Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me are classics.

[mountain grammy]

17. The Stand

started reading it when I was coming down with the flu, big mistake. As the story descended into madness, I recovered, but will always believe the 2020 pandemic will happen again only worse. and a real Captain Trips scenario is our future.

[debm55]

18. Thank you mountain grammy.

[Figarosmom]

73. Me too

During flu season

[Niagara]

19. A Good Marriage

It's unsettling since it's a normal novel without any supernatural entities entering the plot.

Also, sometimes we wake up one day and we don't know who the hell we married. Scary stuff! 😱

[debm55]

20. Thank you, Niagara. Sounds scary.

[OldBaldy1701E]

21. Well, to be honest, there is one for sure.

Okay, so full disclosure. The novella I am about to mention is no longer in print and King himself says he regrets releasing it.

The story is called 'Rage'. The reason it is so unsettling to me is simple.

In another reality, that might have been me. Bullied, picked on, misunderstood, and suffering from what could have been simple mental health issues (had they been addressed at the time). I always try to be a decent person and decent people don't just go on killing rampages. But, had things been a bit different...

So, that story always haunts me. I have a copy of it since I got the original release of the collection, which is called 'The Bachman Books'. After Columbine, King had it removed from the printings of the book. I understand his decision.

[debm55]

22. I am so sorry that you went through that as a teen I had my own demons so I know where you are coming from. Times have

changed and the hurts would have been addressed. They weren't in our time. Take care of yourself OldBaldy1701E, Love, Deb. I am glad the story was removed.

[HeartsCanHope]

23. I've only read Carrie and The Stand.

The Stand was unsettling, but Carrie terrified me. So I'd have to say Carrie. Horror is NOT my cup of tea!

[debm55]

31. The Stand By Me was very much like my life. The only thing that got to me was the boys crossing the railroad bridge.

Last edited Mon Sep 16, 2024, 10:02 PM - Edit history (1)

afraid to do it , but they did. and a train came. They made it but as far as I knew they never did it again. While watching Carrie, I knew it was not real, but the Stand hit too close to home. I don't go for horror or gore. Thank you HeartsCanHope,

[sheshe2]

60. That book, the railroad tracks, the body was Stand By Me.

The Stand was his novel of good vs evil and the super flu that killed off half the people. It was an amazing read. Reminds me a lot about today. He gave us a peek at the future which is happening today.

I have read most of his books. He is an awesome author. and many of his books have been a glimpse into the future.

Thanks for the thread...I just happen to be watching The Green Mile when I saw your OP.

TY, debm.

[debm55]

63. Thank you sheshe2. King uses emotional and psychological elements in his books. Much like Hitchcock. I don't watch blood

and guts movies. But I do like the raw emotion that both use. I fixed my post. I kept hearing the song. thank you for your videos too.

[sheshe2]

65. He is one of my favorite authors.

His son Joe Hill is a writer as well, so is his wife, Tabitha.

[Emile]

24. Christine

[debm55]

32. Thank you Emile. That's a good one.

[Elessar Zappa]

25. Pet Sematary.

That one gave me nightmares.

[debm55]

33. Thank you Elessar Zappa. Me too. Never watched the movie or read the book again.

[subterranean]

26. Of the few I've read, The Shining was the scariest.

I read it back in the late '70s, before the movie came out. To me, the book was much scarier than the movie.

[debm55]

34. Thank you subterranean. I don't think a alot of King's books are able to effectively make the switch to the big screen.

I don't know why that. happens.

[MiKenMi33]

27. Pet Semetary

I read all of his novels until Pet Semetary. It scared me to the point that I haven’t read any of his novels since. I couldn’t sleep that night because the book was on my nightstand. As soon as I moved the book to another room I was able to sleep.

[Elessar Zappa]

28. Stephen King himself was freaked out by that novel.

After he wrote it, he put it in a drawer for six months because he thought it too twisted to publish.

[debm55]

35. I read it and saw the movie, I don't like gore or horror. That book was very scarey. I had the same reaction.

[Shermann]

29. +1 to It

It was a dozen horror stories wrapped in one. The movie captured it pretty well.

[debm55]

36. thank you Shermann. I agree with you. It was layer upon layer of fears. But it was not gory. King is such a great .

writer that he doesn't need the blood and guts.

[OLDMDDEM]

30. The Shining

[debm55]

37. Thank you OLDMDDEM . I didn't see the movie, but read the book.

[OLDMDDEM]

42. The movie was good but the book was better.

[debm55]

43. Most of his books don't carry over well to the movies.

[OLDMDDEM]

46. True except for Cujo.

[debm55]

47. Agree

[Different Drummer]

87. The Cujo movie was very unsettling to me.

I watched it once. Never again.

[OLDMDDEM]

88. Me too.

[debm55]

92. yes it was. Thank you Different Drummer.

[Eko]

40. The Talisman. Spoiler below.

When Wolf died.

[debm55]

44. Thank you Eko

[Alpeduez21]

41. The Raft a short story

Really cool concept, for me anyway

[debm55]

45. Thank you Alpeduez21.

[AllaN01Bear]

48. the story about cugo

[debm55]

49. I agree AllaN01Bear.

[Tikki]

50. "Salem's Lot" Stephen King (1975)

I was much younger then and it scared me. I remember throwing the book across
the room a few times.

I did like the Salem's Lot two part television mini series. (1979) It was dark and scary, also.

Tikki

[debm55]

54. Thank you Tiki,

[mucifer]

51. I only read "The Dead Zone" and "Carrie". "Dead Zone" was creepier. King has said donald trump is the

same character as the evil candidate.

[debm55]

56. Thank you mucifer, That is interesting

[sheshe2]

62. Umhmm.

"The missiles are flying"

[OAITW r.2.0]

52. My sister, a Court Reporter, had a Court scene in Slimmer.

She was pregnant with son #2 at the time.

And I arrived at Bangor International when they were filming "The Langoliers,". Saw the whole fight scene after they exited the Men's room. What a hoot.

[debm55]

57. Thank you OAITW r.2.0 I didn't see Slimmer. But I did see"the Langoliers"

[Bok_Tukalo]

53. "I Am the Doorway"

Still creeps me out thinking about it.

“The Jaunt” is a close second.

[debm55]

58. Thank you Bok_Tukalo.

[OAITW r.2.0]

55. Oh yeah, the Shining - Jack Nicholson and Shelly DuVal were perfectly cast.

[debm55]

59. Thank you , yes they were.

[OAITW r.2.0]

61. Another interesting datapoint(s).

* My town manager (back 20 YO), back in the 70's (UMO), illustrated King's first published work on campus.

* Steven King and an opening scene in my town, where is wife grew up. Kind of a bogus film.

* In 1986 myself and wife were delegates for Gary Hart. Steve and Tabitha had a delegate social at their house. I split my middle finger on a table saw. (Breaking the blade). Had to keep my middle finger up when we arrived. Steve thought it was hilarious.

[debm55]

64. That is funny.

[Lilithschyld]

66. Not exactly unsettling, but intriguing to me

Duma Key and The Dome, I can't choose.

I've been lurking here for a while, but Stephen King is a favorite of mine, so hello everyone. 👋

[debm55]

67. Thank you Lilithschyld and welcome to the DU Lounge.

[Lilithschyld]

70. Thank you!

I enjoy reading the comments to the questions you ask. Very entertaining and usually enlightening.

[Docreed2003]

69. Duma Key is an incredible book, and incredibly underrated

I agree it's incredibly unsettling

[Tree Lady]

86. Duma Key was scary to me

I could read IT but not watch the movie.

[Docreed2003]

90. To me, IT is a much scarier book

Neither the 90's TV adaptation or the new movies have been able to really capture the horror of the book. While Pennywise is terrifying, the real horror in the book lies within the hearts of some of the human characters.

[Tree Lady]

94. Seeing scary clowns is hard

For me. My husband has a big scary clown costume that I didn't know about when we were first living together. He scared the crap out of me came home when I thought he was at work on Halloween.

[Docreed2003]

95. Yeah, that would scare the crap out of me too!!

[Bristlecone]

68. Pet Cemetery and Misery were both really scary

Read them in 7th grade and had to sleep with the lights on.

[debm55]

71. Thank you Bristlecone., I agree with both, they are scarey.

[Figarosmom]

72. The stand

Was reading during flu season



Carrie freaked me out too

[debm55]

76. Figarosmom, thank you.

[betsuni]

74. Once was watching Stephen King movies on YouTube around Halloween and up came "Big Driver."

Started out like a rom-com and I thought it was a harmless supernatural story. WRONG Very upsetting, sick and horrible, something that happens in real life all the time and couldn't get it out of my mind for a long time.

[debm55]

75. Thank you betsuni. I am sorry that happened to you.

[betsuni]

91. Nothing happened to me. It's a movie.

[debm55]

96. Read your post, You said that you couldn't get it out of your mind and you were very upset, that is what I was

responding to.

[Jeebo]

77. Pet Sematary

Last edited Tue Sep 17, 2024, 03:56 PM - Edit history (1)

I was in an airport and looking for something to read on the plane. It was scary as hell. I've only read four Stephen King novels, though: Carrie, Pet Sematary, Misery and that one in which the central character goes back in time and prevents the JFK assassination, I think the name of that one was the date of the assassination, 11/22/63. I read Carrie way back when it was a current novel. It was his first novel and the first novel of a very successful author is often worth a lot of money, if you still have a hardcover first edition and it's still in good shape. I can't remember whether I read it in hardcover or paperback but I wish if it was hardcover that I still had it. I did not like Misery much and 11/22/63 I think is a very good science fiction time-travel novel. Pet Sematary is a terrifying horror novel.

– Ron

[debm55]

80. Thank you Jeebo. I did't like Pet Sematary either, I like thrillers as Hitchcock made and the ones King wrote. Do not

blood and guts books or movies.

[Jeebo]

89. I liked Pet Sematary.

I didn't say I didn't like Pet Sematary, I said it was scary as hell. And it was. It is in fact a great horror novel, one of the best I've ever read. Misery is the one I said I didn't like much. If you like to be scared out of your wits – and apparently I do and you don't – Pet Sematary is a great read. I'll bet you don't like horror movies either? I'm thinking about starting a Favorite Mad Slasher Movie thread. My nominee for number one in that thread will be The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the original 1974 version. But I'll have to be the one who starts that thread, because I don't think you will.

– Ron

[debm55]

93. Sorry I got the two mixed up. I guess I like thrillers like Psycho. The Birds. Tony Perkins never hit Janet Leigh once

with the knife. but the majority of people who have seen the movie say differently. I have never seen a slasher movie. I was in the Night of the Living dead as an extra zombie, I live in Pittsburgh. But I never liked them as I don't like blood and guts. It would be okay to start one on the topic. You are right , I wouldn't start it. Good topic for October.

[YodaMom2]

78. Salem's Lot

It was the first Stephen King book I’d ever read. Our family was on vacation at my grandparent’s cabin deep in the Idaho woods, and that’s where I read it and The Shining. I suspect the setting contributed to the creepy feeling both books gave me.

In terms of most unsettling *part* of a King book, the topiary in The Shining. Hands down. Creeped the hell out of me.

[debm55]

82. Thank you YodaMom2, It does sound like a spooky place to read those books

[stonecutter357]

79. The stand !

[debm55]

83. Thank you stonecutter357

[Bayard]

81. Been a King fan for many many years

My favorite is The Stand.

The one that scared the bejesus out of me--Salem's Lot. The first King that I read when it came out. I was working in MN, and my boss gave it to me, saying--You've got to read this. So, I went home that night, and couldn't put it down. I had to call in sick the next day from no sleep. I watched the TV movie with my sister, and promptly went home and nailed my crawl space shut.

[debm55]

85. Thank you Bayard. I agree.

[Birdfeeder]

97. Got to me

Bag of Bones did it for me.

[debm55]

98. Thank you Birdfeeder.