Book special: Stephen King's 10 most UNDERRATED books - a *spoiler free* ranking!

It's time for the first book special of 2024 and a topic suggested by ‪@Israel-qs9ig‬ in the comments a while...underrated or overlooked Stephen King books!
So, I'm going to count down my 10 most underrated Stephen King books, and I'll do it in a spoiler-free fashion so you can watch the whole way through! And don't forget to let me know your picks in the comments too!
00:00 Intro
00:12 Welcome and background to this special
01:49 My 10 most underrated Stephen King books
12:07 Outro
If you have suggestions for future specials, leave them in the comments!
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[@jennifertomaiolo]

I'm a Duma Key evangelist! My favorite underrated King novel. I recently read From a a Buick 8 and Christine (I thought I had read all his novels... I love how if you dig deeper, there's probably another King to read) - nice thematic connections, excellent stories - cars are evil. Christine was better than I expected.

[@Dylan13Collins]

This is my second favorite novel of his behind IT (not including the tower). Absolutely incredible!

[@DaveReadsKing]

Nice!

[@yodaeatsporgs7997]

Top 5 underrated sk books (in my opinion) 1-Blaze-in my top 5 favorite king books good stuff 2-Desperation-Awesome setting and a terrific bad guy 3-End Of Watch-I love his crime books and honestly this one gets too much hate 4-The Institute-One of his most entertaining and least talked about books 5-Christine-I feel like a lot of people forget about this one but I really loved it

[@storiedworlds6261]

Blaze is great and definitely overlooked.

[@geritisdale-brock7247]

The Institute was actually the book that got me back into reading while I had to quarantine in 2020. Once I finished it, I wanted to immediately reread it.

[@DaveReadsKing]

That’s a pretty good list!

[@kellykaiser7669]

My coworker who has read all of Stephen King’s works loves Duma Key, it’s her favorite book. I read it while vacationing in Florida and it’s so good!

[@DaveReadsKing]

Yes! It’s a cracker!

[@annstoeckl8876]

I subscribed because you choose Rose Madder #1. It's criminally overlooked.

[@DaveReadsKing]

For sure! Thanks for subscribing!

[@erinyokley2631]

Great list 😁 I just stated reading Insomnia, it deserves so much more love, it is so underrated And Rose Madder is one of my favorite King books. Rose Madder is the first King book I read.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Nice!

[@cohuirblox7145]

My top 10 most underrated 10. Dolores Claiborne 9.Bag of bones 8.from a buick 8 7. Gerald's Game 6.Fairy Take 5.Goes to the movies 4.Roadwork 3. The Institute 2.Later The most underrated Stephen king book 1. Duma Key

[@DaveReadsKing]

Some great picks there!

[@kellywalker9827]

Rose Madder, I've read dozens of Kings books and I didn't know that this book even existed until a week ago. I will be reading it soon. Thanks

[@DaveReadsKing]

👍👍👍

[@nigelmilner1514]

Love this list, think it's your most complete clip ive agreed with. Buick 8 seems ti get so much hate, its a great fun read!! Only one I might add is The Outsider, a superb read, the amount of people who haven't read it boggles my tiny mind

[@DaveReadsKing]

Outsider is a good shout!

[@yamilrojas4910]

Great video! Another fun one would be same idea, but with short stories. There are a lot of hidden gems. Saludos desde Argentina!

[@DaveReadsKing]

I like this, thanks!

[@matthewmedley8532]

Great list. Agree about Dolores Claiborne. One of my favourite kings. I’ll give from a Buick 8 a read also. Good video.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Thank you!

[@BookishDrummer]

completely agree with you about the dead zone, my all time favorite king book!

[@DaveReadsKing]

Me 🤝You

[@littleaussierippa]

Great list Dave. I'd include The Dark Half, Christine, The Talisman, Black House and The Eyes Of The Dragon as well. As an idea for a future video, would you consider doing a list of what you think are some of King's darkest tales?

[@DaveReadsKing]

Darkest as in scariest? I did have something like that in mind for Halloween this year!

[@jonnie7891]

Agreed Duma Key is a sleeper hit and for some strange reason people sleep on King’s short stories. I would argue he is one of the greatest modern short story writers of all time. His short story collections are top tier.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@StewartyMac]

Here's my list 1. Song of Susannah 2. The Dark Half 3. Rose Madder 4. Duma Key 5. Full Dark, No Stars 6. The Outsider 7. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon 8. The Langoliers (Was released as a standalone, so I'm including it, can't believe it wasn't on your list, lol) 9. If it Bleeds 10. The Dead Zone

[@DaveReadsKing]

Yes to all of these! Except the Langoliers 😂

[@christinedarrock8486]

I totally agree with your picks. I love them all!

[@DaveReadsKing]

🙌🙌🙌

[@geritisdale-brock7247]

Of these 10, Insomnia is the only one I've read (i got back into reading in 2020), and I definitely agree that its underrated.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Yes! If you dig insomnia, I think you’ll enjoy the others mentioned here

[@Kite562reviews]

I can't think of 10 however, I can think of 4 underrated Stephen King books. 1. The Dark Half(a wonderful experience) 2. Four Past Midnight(langoliers, secret window, secret garden, library policeman mostly) 3. Different seasons(just a memorable collection of novellas in my opinion) 4. The Stand(complete and uncut edition) it was just really intriguing to me seeing all these different people act and deal with this mysterious outbreak of a super flu strain.

[@DaveReadsKing]

I like these choices, although I wouldn’t class The Stand as underrated - overrated maybe 😉

[@superkamigurualucardmckee6181]

The Regulators! As weird as it sounds I find it so good. Personal opinion but the story is so unique and good I feel like it's underrated...

[@DaveReadsKing]

It was definitely close to making my list!

[@superkamigurualucardmckee6181]

@@DaveReadsKing Yeah I could see that! I mean both Desperation and The Regulators are two of my favorites. Everyone is different, and I've read 30 of his so far but those 2 still just stick out for me as both ones I really loved!

[@eliasisthegreatest]

Thank you for this video! I always appreciate your content. The only one of these I’ve read is the Dead Zone and I loved it. I’ve read a few Stephen King books that everyone raved about that I thought were good but not amazing. The only one aside from Dead Zone that I would say is underrated is Song of Susanna. Going into I was expecting something terrible but I actually really enjoyed it. I also had a possible video idea for you. Stephen King books with mind blowing or just extremely dark plot twists. Or possibly endings that caught you off guard. The Long Walk for me had a very unsettling ending.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Oh, that’s a cool idea - spoilers aplenty though! 😂

[@LewisRees-ws7kw]

The absolute best part of this video is Dave struggling with saying the dates the books were published, when he went to check the date inside one of them really made me laugh. Absolutely agree with your No 1 pick by the way, it’s a fantastic and terrifying book that really left me shaken by the end. I believe for similar reasons Bag of Bones deserves a place on a list of underrated King books, I thought it was fantastic and rarely see it referenced.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Bag of Bones was very close to making the list!

[@vanierpatrick8178]

Bravo always Good Dave. For me, the underrared book of Stephen king is the Regulators. Not too much people talk about this book but its awesome . Your top ten is great .

[@DaveReadsKing]

Thanks!

[@michaelleuchtenberger434]

This is a great list! Totally agree about Rose Madder, Just after sunset, Duma Key and Insomnia (currently listening to the audiobook narrated by Eli Wallach). High on my list would be Wind Through The Keyhole, which I prefer to several of the original 7 Dark Tower books.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Thanks! Wind Through the Keyhole never did it for me, but I can see why it would work for lots of constant readers!

[@jaredschwartz1461]

Maybe not a number 1 for me, but I really enjoyed Roadwork. The party, mafia ties, and inevitable climax kept me engaged. Also, maybe the only two reasons to watch the Langoliers are David Morse and free streaming 😬

[@DaveReadsKing]

Interesting! Roadwork did not do it for me, but a few people on here have commented how much they like it 👍

[@AlfredoRichner]

I love this list, it's perfectly balanced and well thought out. Rose Madder was my first King book back when I was in high school (I think because it was his most recent paperback and the pink foil cover called to me). I absolutely loved Hearts in Atlantis and am looking forward to From a Buick 8 and Duma Key, after I finish The Dark Tower series.

[@AlfredoRichner]

As to which books I'd put on my list, I think Black House (I know you loathe this one, lol, but it chilled me to the bone as I was reading it for some reason), Revival, and Doctor Sleep are three solid, fairly recent ones that don't get enough praise.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Nice!

[@DaveReadsKing]

I would agree - despite my thoughts on Black House 😂

[@blackcatseye22]

The Dead Zone and Duma Key is definitely on my list.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Excellent - you won’t regret checking them out!

[@angelaholmes8888]

Here's my picks Black house The talisman Full dark no stars Eyes of the dragon Revival The long walk

[@DaveReadsKing]

The Long Walk is a good shout!

[@cohuirblox7145]

do a top 10 Stephen king novels that need adaptations

[@DaveReadsKing]

Already got you covered kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5PbdHmZrr17mq8si=OxNcJoeyhNhEWHQ_

[@BookishDrummer]

everyone i've recommended dolores claiborne to seem to love it and i very much agree! more people need to read it

[@DaveReadsKing]

Heck yes!

[@Israel-qs9ig]

Yes bro you did it lol I been waiting

[@DaveReadsKing]

Enjoy!

[@Israel-qs9ig]

Indeed and I also agree with you about the dead zone I feel that this book should be a most read book of king just like the shining, it , Salems lot, the dark tower books

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Excellent list! Totally agree with Dolores Claireborne and Rose Madder, two fantastic Stephen King novels. I would add The Talisman, people hate on it for its fantasy elements, I think it is a wonderful novel. Same can be said of Eyes of the Dragon, it is an excellent fantasy/ ya horror, that people write off because it is not typical King.

[@DaveReadsKing]

EOTD is a good shout. As for The Talisman, that’s one of my least favourite King books so it was never making my list here 😂

[@CliffsDarkGems]

That's ok man 😂I think it's because high fantasy was my first love as a reader. I also really enjoy Peter Straub and I thought they made a great team.@@DaveReadsKing​

[@BookishDrummer]

I did this video a while ago, so let's see if our lists are similar!

[@DaveReadsKing]

👀👀

[@jasonhansen8673]

From a Buick 8 is in my top 5 King books, definitely underrated. Great selections. I found Duma Key a challenge, but the audiobook made it easier.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Nice! Whatever gets you over the line!

[@BookishDrummer]

I agree with most of your picks, but some other books I think are underrated are Roadwork (very unpopular), Blaze, Colorado Kid, If It Bleeds, Finders Keepers, The Regulators, Song of Susannah

[@DaveReadsKing]

Blaze and Colorado Kid were close to making my list…Roadwork less so 😂

[@jamesphelan7556]

I've always thought that The Colorado Kid is underrated. People generally tend to crap on it because of the ending but I loved every moment of this book and thought the ending worked perfectly.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Good shout!

[@BookishDrummer]

Duma Key is excellent, and yes the people who read it love, but not many people have actually read it

[@DaveReadsKing]

Totally agree - that needs to change! I’d even take a middling movie adaptation if it got more people reading the novel

[@BookishDrummer]

@@DaveReadsKing I think it would make a great mini series like 5-6 episodes

[@Maximus0623]

I realize I’m in the minority, but I think a lot of his newer books are underrated. I thought Fairytale, The Outsider and the Institute were all really good. Whenever I see King top 10 lists, 11/22/63 is the only relatively newer book consistently making those lists. It’s almost always that and 20th century books in the top 10. While I like his old stuff too, I think he’s still writing great books. I definitely appreciate the newer books more than most constant readers.

[@DaveReadsKing]

I think you probably are in a minority there, but that’s fine - own it! For me, 11/22/63 is the high water mark since 2000, with Lisey’s Story and Duma Key close behind. The Outsider’s first half I thought was fantastic, and I think Billy Summers doesn’t get enough praise either. I won’t mention Fairy Tale though - genuinely my least favourite King book ever 😅😅

[@Maximus0623]

@@DaveReadsKing I agree on 11/22/63. It’s actually my favorite King book, and one of my top 5 favorite books ever. I think it’s a true masterpiece. I still need to read Lisey’s Story and Duma Key. I’ve only gotten into King recently, and have read about 25 of his books. So I still have a lot to go. But I’m planning to read them all because he’s quickly become my favorite author.

[@BookishDrummer]

Just After Sunset is my second fav short story collection other than night shift

[@DaveReadsKing]

It’s such a good collection - I think I prefer Everything’s Eventual, but it’s very close

[@angelaholmes8888]

Totally agree with you about Dolores Claiborne and the dead zone and insomnia I absolutely enjoyed these books especially Dolores Claiborne it's one of my favorite Stephen king books

[@DaveReadsKing]

Totally!

[@victorpavymusic]

I do have some kings books dear to my heart that doesn’t get that much love from what I see in the media or on people tier rankings videos on KZbin. 1. Firestarter: surrounded by so many 80s classics Firestarter is often overlooked but being a father of a young girl I was really hooked on Charlie and Andy relationship and was invested all the way in the parts of the book when they are running away to escape The Shop. 2. Gerald’s Game: I don’t see this book gets enough interest yet I think how King turned a pretty mundane kinky game into a survivor story in a bedroom is a masterstroke. How we get inside Jessie psyche and our journey to its core and the events of eclipse makes her my favourite King character. 3. Doctor Sleep: a sequel can most time be overlooked and this is a sequel to The Shining. Talk about a overshadowing cultural phenomenon. Yet Doctor Sleep is a very solid sequel. One of its best feature is turning the iconic Danny that was for so long engrave in our collective brain as Kubrick’s actor Danny Lloyd into a very believable full fleshed and moving adult. 4. Needful Things: King’s humour is too often overlooked. The playfulness of this novel is pure joy to read. And you can tell it was a joy for King to write. Because it doesn’t have the gravitas and heavy themes of other novels and its first and foremost fun, Needful Things is not enough praised unfortunately.

[@DaveReadsKing]

All great shouts!

[@tdrdavies2]

great video, thanks. I think I would consider these also - Full Dark, No Stars; Wind Through the Keyhole; Roadwork; and Joyland. Are you going to do an overrated video, or is that perhaps too negative?

[@DaveReadsKing]

I could definitely look into an overrated one, sure!

[@matthewmedley8532]

I’ll have to reread rose madder. Very good.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Definitely do!

[@susandevlin4712]

Stephen King, did a good description of domestic violence, I used to wonder what his home life was like as he had drug and alcohol issues. I watched a interview recently and he said he only got stoned or drunk at home, never in public

[@DaveReadsKing]

When he writes about addiction you can really feel it coming from experience. I think his knowledge of domestic violence is drawn from research though, pretty sure there is nothing out there to suggest he was ever violent to his family

[@francissookraj3202]

Interesting collection of Underated books by Stephen King. Duma Keys is a good book and lot of people have forgotten about that one. I think it will make a good movie. I do like his short stories collection After Sunset and Hearts of Atlantis and Everything eventual all brilliant You left out Full dark, no stars, that has some really good but very dark stories. Check that one out. It's brill. Good show, Dave. I bet you're looking for to his new collection out in May, You like it darker. I am.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Full Dark was close to making my list. And yes, definitely excited for the new collection!

[@douglasbunch3313]

Video idea to screenshot: half the time I mention a SK book, people immediately respond with “I don’t like horror.” I don’t see him as a horror author. He’s a character author who often uses the supernatural as an undertone to drive the story. Yes, there are true horror novels, but even then it’s subjective. Example: I see IT as an amazing character study and coming of age story, not straight horror

[@DaveReadsKing]

So just to check, is your idea a list of King books for people who don’t like horror?

[@douglasbunch3313]

@@DaveReadsKing 100%. He’s no longer longer a horror author. He just uses the undertones to drive the characters

[@sephirothii13]

I really feel his book "On Writing" isn't talked about enough as a really good book on the craft of writing in general

[@DaveReadsKing]

Interesting! I’ve never seen it as underrated as literally every person whose writing I admire that I’ve met IRL has it on their shelves, but I could just be lucky in that respect!

[@CactusChris]

You make great reviews and videos and such, but I have a really hard time hearing you sometimes. Great book collection btw.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Sorry about that - I basically have my audio maxed out so there’s not really much more I can do

[@CactusChris]

@DaveReadsKing I was wondering. But I've also noticed you have a really soft voice. When I started recording stuff I had to beef up my vocals a bit, as I'm naturally nasally. Anyway, I do enjoy your reviews, and book birthday videos.

[@DaveReadsKing]

@CactusChris thank you, I will endeavour to project more in future recordings 😊

[@storiedworlds6261]

I never read From a Buick 8, but all of those are good choices except Rose Madder (I hated that one.) I think Hearts in Atlantis is his most underrated. Also, I think not enough people appreciate Eyes of the Dragon these days.

[@DaveReadsKing]

That’s a good shout - I didn’t include it as I’m not a big fantasy fan

[@BookishDrummer]

i do disagree with insomnia, i thought it was fairly boring, even with me being a DT junkie lol

[@DaveReadsKing]

Ha, fair enough!

[@brianmelendy1194]

The underrated books of an overrated author.

[@DaveReadsKing]

Well, given the nature of my channel this won’t be surprising but…I whole-heartedly disagree that King is overrated. For me, the best, most influential, and most compelling storyteller since Dickens