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Related: Culture Forums, Support Forumswhat Stephen King novel or short story unsettled you the most? Mine are "It" and "Stand By Me"
Last edited Mon Sep 16, 2024, 09:49 PM - Edit history (1)
hauckeye
(697 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)Short story: Lady Fingers
debm55
(30,810 posts)Mad_Dem_X
(9,719 posts)I would choose Revival; specifically, the last 10 or 20 pages. It just went totally off the rails and creeped me out majorly!
debm55
(30,810 posts)Docreed2003
(17,475 posts)It stuck with me for a long time.
Mad_Dem_X
(9,719 posts)"LONGER THAN YOU THINK, DAD!"
Docreed2003
(17,475 posts)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
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
(30,810 posts)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
(25,020 posts)nor seen one of his movies, and have no plans to change that.
debm55
(30,810 posts)Docreed2003
(17,475 posts)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
(30,810 posts)FalloutShelter
(12,472 posts)Ive probably read every word hes ever published.
(Spoiler alert-Im a horror author myself)
My faves are Misery and Delores Claybourne.
debm55
(30,810 posts)Bayard
(23,560 posts)Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me are classics.
mountain grammy
(27,013 posts)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
(30,810 posts)Figarosmom
(721 posts)During flu season
Niagara
(8,904 posts)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
(30,810 posts)OldBaldy1701E
(5,802 posts)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
(30,810 posts)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
(486 posts)The Stand was unsettling, but Carrie terrified me. So I'd have to say Carrie. Horror is NOT my cup of tea!
debm55
(30,810 posts)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
(86,073 posts)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
(30,810 posts)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
(86,073 posts)His son Joe Hill is a writer as well, so is his wife, Tabitha.
Emile
(27,692 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)Elessar Zappa
(15,141 posts)That one gave me nightmares.
debm55
(30,810 posts)subterranean
(3,500 posts)I read it back in the late '70s, before the movie came out. To me, the book was much scarier than the movie.
debm55
(30,810 posts)I don't know why that. happens.
MiKenMi33
(87 posts)I read all of his novels until Pet Semetary. It scared me to the point that I havent read any of his novels since. I couldnt 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
(15,141 posts)After he wrote it, he put it in a drawer for six months because he thought it too twisted to publish.
debm55
(30,810 posts)Shermann
(8,254 posts)It was a dozen horror stories wrapped in one. The movie captured it pretty well.
debm55
(30,810 posts)writer that he doesn't need the blood and guts.
OLDMDDEM
(1,857 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)OLDMDDEM
(1,857 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)OLDMDDEM
(1,857 posts)Different Drummer
(8,230 posts)I watched it once. Never again.
OLDMDDEM
(1,857 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)Eko
(8,172 posts)When Wolf died.
Alpeduez21
(1,840 posts)Really cool concept, for me anyway
debm55
(30,810 posts)AllaN01Bear
(22,396 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)Tikki
(14,702 posts)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
(30,810 posts)mucifer
(24,532 posts)same character as the evil candidate.
debm55
(30,810 posts)"The missiles are flying"
OAITW r.2.0
(27,116 posts)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
(30,810 posts)Bok_Tukalo
(4,378 posts)Still creeps me out thinking about it.
The Jaunt is a close second.
debm55
(30,810 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(27,116 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(27,116 posts)* 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
(30,810 posts)Lilithschyld
(2 posts)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
(30,810 posts)I enjoy reading the comments to the questions you ask. Very entertaining and usually enlightening.
Docreed2003
(17,475 posts)I agree it's incredibly unsettling
Tree Lady
(11,965 posts)I could read IT but not watch the movie.
Docreed2003
(17,475 posts)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
(11,965 posts)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
(17,475 posts)Bristlecone
(10,349 posts)Read them in 7th grade and had to sleep with the lights on.
debm55
(30,810 posts)Figarosmom
(721 posts)Was reading during flu season
Carrie freaked me out too
debm55
(30,810 posts)betsuni
(27,082 posts)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
(30,810 posts)betsuni
(27,082 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)responding to.
Jeebo
(2,177 posts)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
(30,810 posts)blood and guts books or movies.
Jeebo
(2,177 posts)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
(30,810 posts)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
(32 posts)It was the first Stephen King book Id ever read. Our family was on vacation at my grandparents cabin deep in the Idaho woods, and thats 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
(30,810 posts)stonecutter357
(12,756 posts)debm55
(30,810 posts)Bayard
(23,560 posts)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
(30,810 posts)Birdfeeder
(7 posts)Bag of Bones did it for me.