What is the most underrated Stephen King book and what is the most overrated?

[Craig Zadow]

I usually don't like these posts on message boards cause they can cause flame wars. Especually the overrated part since people sometimes don't take it well when someone says something negative about books they love but I figured we are a mature enough group so here goes......

Underrated- The Dead Zone. While it is very well regarded I don't think it quite gets the respect it deserves since I think it may be about the 4th or 5th best book he has ever written and doesn't seem to get talked about as much as a lot of his other work

Overrated- Misery. Thought it was O.K. not great. Movie is WAAAY better IMO

So what do you think? What are yours? Any comments on my choices? I would like to hear some as long as people are nice enough about it.

[Moderator]

If people can keep in mind that the comments are mostly based on personal tastes and, therefore, a subjective opinion, it keeps the flaming reaction down. Also helpful is including the reason why you do or don't personally like that particular work rather than making a blanket statement that it was good or bad.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Hmm.

Underrated - I think EVERY Sai King book is woefully underrated by the general reading pubic, especially The Dark Tower, but I believe time will rectify that oversight.

Overrated - Nope, see above.

Long days and pleasant nights

[sam peebles]

Going to have to respectfully disagree with you on Misery. Think the book is awesome, depicts Paul's struggle as being a little more brutal than in the movie (the movie was great, too).

I feel, by far, the Tommyknockers is the most underrated King book. It gets bashed by a lot of people, and I can see where they're coming from, but I love it. One of my all time favorites.

[Bryan James]

"The Eyes of the Dragon" deserves more props than it gets. Sure, it's not an earth-shattering new story, but from a writerish perspective it "flows" wicked good.

"Misery" is a great book, but Kathy Bates took 'Annie' over the top, so I'd have to give the movie a slight lead.

~BJS

[Doc Wilson]

overrated - the Shining, I just never got it. It was okay but many of my fellow fanatics put it near the top. I need to reread it someday, I guess.
underrated - The Talisman, most like it but in my heart its #3, and wolf is the best sidekick ever written.

[Bryan James]

...woefully underrated by the general reading pubic...

John,

Are you stealing my penchant for intentional misspelling to increase teh fun factor by five?

If so, I'll have to read your posts more closely instead of just letting my eyes glaze over whenever I see "Hi," =)

[wally wonder]

i'd be more interested in reading your comments in the sections of the board devoted to the two stories you mention. or here, but there, it might generate more discussion, given the layout of the board. what i don't understand is why a member believes a given work is not respected, or overrated. what generates those conclusions? but yeah, i can agree w/you, underrated, but like john said, that applies to everything...maybe people are just plain scared of how well he tells a story?

[fushingfeef]

Overrated- Misery. Thought it was O.K. not great.

Wow, I couldn't disagree with you more on this one. When Misery was written I thought it was the best thing he had done in years, and I put this in his top 5 of all time. This is a great example of a book that only King could have written. I think it's simply brilliant. (I love the movie too but I still think the book is superior.)

My personal choices: I think Carrie is a bit overrated, and The Long Walk is underrated.

[JohnDalglish]

John,

Are you stealing my penchant for intentional misspelling to increase teh fun factor by five?

If so, I'll have to read your posts more closely instead of just letting my eyes glaze over whenever I see "Hi," =)

Hi (but your eyes are glazed, is that like cherries?),

No, I'm afraid mine was a completely unintentional typo and I didn't do it for the 'l' of it!

Unlike your own finely crafted, if moist, intentional misspellings.

Long days and pleasant nights