Not a bad top ten. I have not read a few of those, including Fairy Tale. I was not big on The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, despite being a huge baseball fan and a fan of Tom Gordon in particular. Here are my top ten at this very second (because we know opinions can change quite quickly and easily):
1. IT
2. Pet Sematary
3. Revival
4. The Body (I know this novella was part of a collection, but I don't give a damn)
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is probably my most controversial pick. My methodology is kind of odd too as my favorite book of all time is third on my list. I love his classic work, but I think arguably he's a better writer now than he was in the past. I think Doctor Sleep is objectively a better story than The Shining, but how do I not show love to the Shining?! For LitReactor I did an article on Stephen King's ten worst books and why I still love them. I may be too much of a fan to do an accurate evaluation of any of his work. If Fairy Tale, Revival, 11/22/63, Billy Summers, or Mr. Mercedes had come out in the 70s or early 80s, they'd be classics at the top of everyone's lists today, I believe.
For me, putting story aside, if I had to pick where King is at his writing peak--where his prose style and ability to paint pictures with words are at their best, and where he's at his most literary--I would have to say The Body is his ultimate work. Quite simply a beautiful piece of writing. Revival would be right beside it. I haven't read 11/22/63, which I've heard people say is his best in a literary sense.
Not a bad top ten. I have not read a few of those, including Fairy Tale. I was not big on The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, despite being a huge baseball fan and a fan of Tom Gordon in particular. Here are my top ten at this very second (because we know opinions can change quite quickly and easily):
1. IT
2. Pet Sematary
3. Revival
4. The Body (I know this novella was part of a collection, but I don't give a damn)
5. Wizard and Glass
6. Night Shift
7. The Shining
8. Dreamcatcher
9. Doctor Sleep
10. Song of Susannah
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is probably my most controversial pick. My methodology is kind of odd too as my favorite book of all time is third on my list. I love his classic work, but I think arguably he's a better writer now than he was in the past. I think Doctor Sleep is objectively a better story than The Shining, but how do I not show love to the Shining?! For LitReactor I did an article on Stephen King's ten worst books and why I still love them. I may be too much of a fan to do an accurate evaluation of any of his work. If Fairy Tale, Revival, 11/22/63, Billy Summers, or Mr. Mercedes had come out in the 70s or early 80s, they'd be classics at the top of everyone's lists today, I believe.
For me, putting story aside, if I had to pick where King is at his writing peak--where his prose style and ability to paint pictures with words are at their best, and where he's at his most literary--I would have to say The Body is his ultimate work. Quite simply a beautiful piece of writing. Revival would be right beside it. I haven't read 11/22/63, which I've heard people say is his best in a literary sense.