Stephen King's Top 5 Scariest Novels

[@lukacalov1988]

100% agree with Shinning at No 1 being the scariest Also one of the best books and movies of all time

[@thenewtommyrockets1180]

I read the shining. It was a really good book, but in my opinion IT is the scariest that I’ve read.

[@ady48709]

IT is my favorite book, I had nightmares the entire time I read it.

[@Sammy12346]

I’ve never read any Stephen king books before, so I’ve been searching KZbin for suggestions and I keep hearing from most people that IT is one of his best and most terrifying books. I am really surprised to keep hearing this because the movie was not scary to me at all. I guess I should start with IT 😆

[@marybroughton5500]

Mine too

[@interghost]

Ive just started my King journey really, Im about 6 or 7 books in... and IT and Shining were amazing... So Im looking forward to those others you mentioned! Good list. - Subbed as well :)

[@mattmorris2946]

Really nice list! I like your SK videos. My top 5 scariest (subject to change pretty much every day) 1) IT 2) 'Salem's Lot 3) Pet Sematary 4) The Shining 5) Misery Honorable Mentions to the stories in Skeleton Crew (The Mist is terrifying), Apt Pupil from Different Seasons (not scary in a traditional way but certainly disturbing), and The Outsider (which I thought was one of his more terrifying recent stories). I haven't gotten to Rose Madder and Bag of Bones yet. I've been making my way through his bibliography and can't wait to get to those! Cheers!

[@mcayh1588]

The Dark Half is another one I found surprisingly frightening! I enjoyed it far more than I could have imagined, it’s barely talked about.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Ceara is not oK That’s actually one of my lesser favorite King books, but it totally had it’s scary moments. His pseudonym persona (Stark?) was pretty wicked. It just lost me with the psychopomps. I wonder how I’d feel with a re read... Thanks for commenting :)

[@turtleanton6539]

Never read it but gonna someday.

[@turtleanton6539]

@@JoanieMaeZie its like himself with Bachman.

[@tammietruckstop3586]

Finally some love for Rose Madder!! It’s my favorite King book!!!

[@JenniferJohnson-ny8mc]

Yes, those hedge animals give me goosebumps still and it was over a year I read it! Currently in the middle of Pet Semetary and loving it! I need to pick up Bag of Bones. I love haunted house ghost stories so what am I waiting for? Not enough people talk about Bag of Bones or Rose Madder. So thanks for the recs!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Thanks for commenting! I think King has written so many good books, that the ones that aren't the MOST popular fall by the wayside. I'm glad you're enjoying Pet Semitary, and hope you love Bag of Bones just as much!

[@tyriqcleo5899]

I agree with your picks, I hope you get updated copies

[@deaconbelile4108]

I am actually collecting ( or trying to collect ) his absolute best works. So far I have seven novels: Carrie, Doctor Sleep, The Shining, 'Salem's Lot, Cujo, The Stand and IT. Are these good picks? I'm thinking of purchasing Christine, Gerald's Game and Pet Sematary. Also, alongside The Mist and The Dark Half.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Deacon Belile very! Some of those are some of my favs. Christine is the only of the bunch I haven’t gotten to yet. The Shining and It are my absolute favorites, but the others are excellent (mostly) as well. Have you read any of them?

[@deaconbelile4108]

@@JoanieMaeZie I have not read Bag of Bones. I have read bits and pieces of these novels, but hardly remember some. Only starting to collect these again to get back into reading them, so I can have the most powerful effect(s). But I do remember watching the films back to back.

[@deaconbelile4108]

Do you know of any other good ones you would say are really scary or the scariest? I do know Stephen King actually wrote a new novel this year "The Institute". It's about a kid with telekinetic abilities. Check it out if you haven't. It's said to be one of his best works, but I feel that's with every novel mostly.

[@deaconbelile4108]

Oh I wanted to ask about Needful Things. If you had read it, what would your opinion be on it? It's in the top ten just wanted to know more on the story's plot.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Deacon Belile I loved Needful Things. It’s a bigger one, with lots of characters in a small town being manipulated to do bad things to each other to get things they want from the mysterious new business owner in town. It’s one of my favorites.

[@shantanu3231]

The Shining was undoubtedly the scariest, but if you want to read quintessential classic King then go for The Salem's lot, this will be the last time when vampires will scare the hell out of you.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Shantanu I was just not a huge fan of that one, but I read it in high school and think it’s definitely owed a reread sometime.

[@dankwilliamsjnr]

Pet Semetary was without question my number 1, I think if I read it before I had kids it wouldn't have been as impactful, but now the horror is so much more.

[@angieandthegreatworld]

Bag of Bones is a book I don’t hear much about, but it sounds excellent.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Literary Labors It is an awesome premise with some awesome execution.

[@Andre-zj7ms]

It isn’t.

[@smokinjoe32927]

Hard to have this discussion without including The Stand! The part of the story with Larry Underwood in the Lincoln Tunnel still gives me the shivers.

[@NaveenKumarErroju]

Bag Of Bones man!!! That was soo good... It was so unique and king made it at its best. But I can tell not many people connect with it.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

His writing in it is excellent. I don't feel like I hear a ton about it, but things I've heard from people who read it seem to be really positive.

[@Cobra_mindt]

What is it about don’t spoil just give me you know the typical talk about what it is abour

[@arlenehotep381]

You need to read Servant of The Bones by Anne Rice. This is a spooky book.

[@JayOnDaCob]

It gave me chills with the very first chapter, I’m not near to being done with it, but I’m scared of the dark more than other and that first chapter was disturbing.

[@deeslittlecorner217]

I LOVED the shining! Especially the audiobook! That really kept me on my toes

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Book Bits Oooo I haven’t tried the audiobook. I’ve been wanting to reread it. I will have to look into that.

[@nathanbeer3338]

1. Misery 2. IT (Yes, I find a number one fan girl more frightening than dear, very, old Pennywise) 3. 'saloms' Lot 4. Pet Sematary 5. Carrie 6. The Shining

[@literarythrills806]

I don’t hear enough people talk about Rose Madder! It’s easily in my top ten King books in general and the parts of the book told from the husbands perspective were amazingly creepy

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Victor Pacheco I agree! It deserves more discussion! It’s maybe not in my top 10, but it was so impactful to me, I have so much appreciation for it.

[@turtleanton6539]

IT and darktower series is his greatest work sofar IMO and also the Longwalk ofc.

[@DerekMusic13]

Awesome picks, currently reading It. Terrifying.

[@julianbarnes8737]

Hi Jo,thanks a lot for this super review. I knew I would connect with your list when you started with Rose Madder which seems to be largely ignored. I agree it is one of his top 10 at least. I loved the way Rose Madder moved quite late in the story from a life struggle and abuse novel to the supernatural and a satisfying ending.

[@AlexBlackReads]

Ooh Rose Madder sounds so good! Definitely need to pick up The Shining as well.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Alex Black I hope you love them!

[@JasonsWeirdReads]

Great list! Let Sematary is truly terrifying even if you take out the supernatural elements. I really want to reread it now that I have a son. Bag of Bones is also a favourite I have read two or three times. IT is such a dark and twisted book. The Shining is another father/son book I’d like to reread. The book really goes into Jack and Danny’s relationship than the movie.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Jason’s Weird Reads Thank you! Yeah being in different places in your life can make a reading experience way different, especially familial aspects I think.

[@cooperbaird1192]

Out of every novel I’ve read by him nothing quite scared me to my core as his short story in Skeleton Crew called “The Jaunt”. It still occupies my mind with the fear I felt the first time reading it.

[@georgebennett1242]

Great video as always Joanie. I also really liked Bag of Bones, although I feel like Duma Key hit a lot of the same beats slightly better in my opinion. My top 5 would be: IT, The Shining, Pet Sematary, The Dead Zone, and The Long Walk (just off the top of my head!)

[@JoanieMaeZie]

George Bennett Thank you!! Oo I haven’t read Duma Key yet. I’m pretty excited to get to it. The Long Walk is one of my favorites! Yeah I think The Dead Zone is scary in a really realistic way, kinda like Rose Madder, or more accurately, like The Handmaid’s Tale.

[@georgebennett1242]

@@JoanieMaeZie I haven't got to Rose Madder yet! If I see a copy I will pick it up. Otherwise I have a few (!),on my shelf I need to get to... I hadn't thought about the similarity to The Handmaid's Tale before but I totally get it. I must read more Atwood as well...

[@JoanieMaeZie]

George Bennett I actually haven’t ever finished an Atwood book (medium shame face), but she’s so well known, she’s her own point of reference at this point. I hope you find a copy. Happy reading :)

[@juleschristiansalabatinore6543]

Hi Joanie! Just to share my top five scariest Stephen King novels- 1. Desperation 2. 'Salem's Lot 3. The Shining 4. Pet Sematary and 5. Low Men In Yellow Coats (it is part of the Hearts In Atlantis collection but it's long enough that Mr. Steve King consider it as a novel on its own). :)

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Jules Christian Salabatino Real Nice! I haven’t read Hearts in Atlantis or Desperation yet. Totally looking forward now!

[@karatheredhead]

I love Top 5 videos too, I look forward to more from you.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Kara Lauren Thank you!

[@freya7084]

OMG I loved rose madder and I’ve never heard anyone talk about it!!! I have read it about 20 years ago and it still haunts me!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Freya Martinez-Hurtado yay another Rose Madder fan! Sticking with you so long is a definite sign of a powerful book! It does not get enough love in my opinion.

[@danielcorey2156]

Rose Madder is so underrated and it kills me. Norman is one of King’s scariest human villains.

[@CarolMarieReads]

I don’t hear many people talk about Bag of Bones. I have yet to read it but I’m looking forward to it now.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!!

[@WritteninBlood]

Rose Madder was a fantastic and criminally underrated book; I loved it. Pet Sematary hit all the scare boxes with me, especially the confrontation between Jud and the "Gage" thing. I have Bag of Bones and definitely want to read it now. I would have switched 1 and 2 but hey that's just me. Great choices, great video as usual.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Thank you! So few people seem to be fans of Rose Madder. So glad to find another! I hope you like Bag of Bones when you get to it. It's not my favorite, but it was super enjoyable to read.

[@Kite562reviews]

I have to say the scariest king novels I've read are The Dark Half, Salems lot and pet sematary. These bone chilling experiences within these stories alone, I can recall them back so vividly after not re reading The Dark Half and Pet Sematary in years. I look forward to reading more of kings work when I can. 😊❤📚

[@rkaid577]

I loved both Rose Madder and Bag of Bones when I read them, very scary pageturners! I have to reread them both some day. I'm currently reading IT for the first time and IT IS SO GOOD!!

[@turtleanton6539]

IT is really good.

[@turtleanton6539]

Bag of bones is okay

[@JayOnDaCob]

If you’re watching this rn and are considering pet sematary, as a disclaimer, I’m a teen without really any experience with children and when I read the book, it was very sad to me. This may not be the same case for me but I’ve heard of people not being able to finish it because of how real some of the themes are.

[@chicoxhxixi2720]

THE DAMNATION GAME and COLDHEART CANION BY CLIVE BARKER is very most shiver WHAT the books of MR. KING !!!!!!!!!

[@iceskatejesus7413]

I’ve read pet sematary and Salem’s lot I’m stuck between it or the shining I really want something scary I’ve heard the shining is really slow though

[@a.amanning7631]

Loved rose madder

[@laila1118]

Would you recommend The Shining for a 12 year old?

[@nathanbeer3338]

I think a 12 years old can read this book, it's not as extreme as IT (especially at the end) or Misery. Though the build-up is disequivelently slow.

[@stacysstories7636]

I've read Pet Cemetery and The Shining. Both I read at the wrong times in my life and they hit too close to home for me. I liked them, but I was way too emotional to be reading those particular books. I love the shining movie. I have to watch it every winter:)

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Stacy's Stories Oh shoot. That can be so hard to read something that hits so close. The Shinning is a great winter read! Mine has been The Storm of the Century the last few years, but I think it might be time to move on.

[@stacysstories7636]

@@JoanieMaeZie The storm of the century messed me up! The ending with the dad was so sad. Great movie though:)

[@danielcorey2156]

Great list. Have you read Revival yet? That one has to be his bleakest book ... maybe even more so than Pet Sematary.

[@warrenh]

I loved Revival, but t didn't feel scary or bleak until the very end for me.

[@the_beemer]

Yeah I really disliked Revival as a book. Didnt hook me at all until the very end when he enters that mansion thing and the actual "revival" happens And it left me more shocked than any other book I've ever read because it conveys a sense of existantial horror (I can respect the ending though, I just found it really hard to care about the first 4 fifths or sth)

[@mayukhroy1698]

I request you to read Amish shiva trilogy

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Mayukh Roy I hadn’t heard of that, but just looked it up. It sounds intriguing, but not especially like something I’d normally read. Thank you for the input! I’ll mull it over.

[@mayukhroy1698]

@@JoanieMaeZie Sure😊😊

[@mayukhroy7762]

I am from India.Great recommended books.I am a beginner of english novels.I have seen many movies inspired by Stephen King's novels...But haven't read any of them.Gonna start with one of you told.Thanks a lot for this 😊

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Mayukh Roy I hope you enjoy it! Good luck on your English novel journey! I’m glad you got something out of the video :)

[@mayukhroy7762]

@@JoanieMaeZie Thank you😊. Surely hope to get such more videos from your channel in future.🤗

[@DeafGirl93]

I have a total of 6 Stephen king books at the moment. I already had IT, I started reading it right after Chapter Two was released in theaters. I didn’t finish the book. I’m struggling to finish it because I already seen the films which makes it harder to want to finish reading it. For Christmas this year I got 5 used first edition original covers of the books; Pet Sematary, Cujo, The Shinning, Misery and Carrie. My parents also got me a $25 gift card to Barnes and Nobles so I bought the book online 11/22/63 by Stephen King because I’m obsessed with JFK and my fiancé said the series was amazing on Hulu so he recommended I get the book. I am still waiting for my book to arrive in the mail. My books Cujo and Pet Sematary are hardbacks. Pet Sematary has a hand written note on the inside cover and the front cover under the dust jacket is signed by Stephen King. The Shinning has the name of person, the date it was purchased, where they got it from and the address of the rummage sale it was bought from. Carrie has a stamp inside the cover from a used bookstore. My mom got all 5 books for $20 from a lady she knew on Facebook who was sell her mom’s Stephen King collection.

[@genresandjournals]

I don’t think I’ve heard of Rose Madder before. I haven’t actually read any Stephen King before but he is definitely on my author bucket list. I enjoyed hearing about your faves!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

tia and all the books Thank you! He’s my favorite author, and he has so many different kinds of books. I hope you find something of his you like. Thanks for watching :)

[@danamelton1738]

Hey girl. Loved the video. Wanted to let you know for some reason I was unsubscribed to you for the 3rd time. Idk if that's happening to others on your channel or just me. just letting you know so you could be on the look out for that. A fun video you may want to do would be comparing Stephen King books to the movies and what you think about them. That could be fun. Also I agree with you on Rose Madder. Sometimes for me the scariest things are things that can really happen and do happen. Sometimes people are more frightening than any monster that could be written about.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Dana Decker Thank you! And thanks for letting me know. That’s frustrating. That is an excellent video idea! Could do multiple iterations of that too, short story adaptations, made for TV adaptations, theatrical, or time frame released....awesome. Thank you!

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

I'd say that these are the most scary to me: 6) Duma Key (2008) - Perse is terrifying, very underrated book 5) Cujo (1981) 4) Revival (2014) 3) Pet Sematary (1983) 2) The Shining (1977) 1) Gerald's Game (1992) *The moonlight man stills makes me sleep with the light on*

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Juan Martinez Nice! I haven’t gotten to Duma Key or Revival yet, but I’m pretty excited for both. Gerald’s game does have some underrated horror in it. I usually think of the survival aspect when I think of it, but the terror was definitely there too.

[@markjamie4002]

Salem's Lot terrified me.

[@ChrisParks72]

Where do you get those cool shirts?

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Chris Parks a lot of them are gifts, but I know a lot are from Redbubble. Pretty sweet site.

[@craw_daddy97]

Notice you have a lot of really good editions here. Where do you usually buy from?

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Justin Crawford Thank you! I buy from anywhere and everywhere. Thrift shops, used book shops, ebay lots... I got a few sweet ones when Hastings was going out of business. They’re not as easy to come by as they used to be, but most used book store have something interesting.

[@CarlasBookBits]

All of these books sound so good (at least the ones I haven't read)! I've been scoping out Bag of Bones, and I'm so glad it made your list! Basement and water? Omg, that makes me think of this terrifying scene in Summer of Night, where dead things were coming out of the water 😱 I freaking hate flooded basements, so this book's exactly for me! 😂 Also, Rose Madder sounds terrifying!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Oh that scene in Summer of Night was terrifying! Bag of Bones isn't one of my favorite books of all time, but it definitely has a lot to offer. Atmosphere especially :)

[@turtleanton6539]

Buy the Halloween bookset a got a video on my channel its bag of bones shining cell and christine

[@LiteraryGladiators]

I really loved how you did a countdown of your five scariest Stephen King books and I would consider myself in agreement with the books you mentioned on your list. If you asked me right off the top of my head how I would fill out this list, I would say: 1.) Pet Sematary, 2.) The Shining, 3.) Cujo, 4.) Misery, 5.) IT, but this is subject to change for so many reasons. Recalling what you said about The Shining and my experience reading it, the way that Jack went off the deep end (SPOILER WARNING) in this book and lost all connection to his normal self (via the club) was far more frightening than how the adaptations wrapped this story up. The most haunting part is that the strongest demons within this piece were driven by things that really happen in our own world. At the time of reading it, I still found Pet Sematary to be the scariest King novel in how insane the story becomes and the sense of loss that drives the story forward. Bag of Bones is one of my favorite books by King and while I felt there were moments of intensity, I cannot say that it was the story that scared me the most. I have yet to read Rose Madder, but will need to consider doing so. Thank you for sharing! -Josh

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Literary Gladiators Thanks for watching and commenting! Cujo was definitely a scary one for me too. Misery had its moments; it just bored me too much to have an huge impact. I know I’m in the minority about Misery though! Pet Sematary, Misery, and Cujo all feel like sightly more raw horror books than psychological horror or books with horror elements like some of the others. I can absolutely see rating them as some of the, or the, most scary. I totally agree about the summation the book The Shining vs the adaptation (I only remember the one).

[@LiteraryGladiators]

It's my pleasure! When it comes to Misery, it may be the fact that feeling as if you are in the time and place of the character is helpful. I like to write, so I could put myself in Paul Sheldon's position and imagine having an insane fan inflict those horrors upon him (in the figurative sense). I think Stephen King does a great job melding the physical or more raw horror with the psychological horror, though I think his horror became more psychological later on. I have yet to watch The Shining in its entirety, but from what I have heard and what I read, the book really sets a high mark.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Literary Gladiators He does blend psychological and raw horror well. And yes, I agree he’s gotten much more psychological with his more recent stuff. I love that he has such a mix, though! I would try not to compare The Shining book and movie too much! It’s one I’d actually recommend watching before reading, because there is so much more in the book. I hope you enjoy if you do watch though! :)

[@LiteraryGladiators]

I feel that a lot of Stephen King's recent works have been reflective of the times, so he writes more mystery and thrillers (like the Hodges trilogy), sequels (like Doctor Sleep and the Dark Tower books), and retellings (like Revival) as opposed to his old school horror that he is known for most. The last one to take that vein, I feel, was Under the Dome, which he had an idea for years ago. He really does have a great mix, though, and that is what makes him a versatile writer. I also argue that while horror is his signature area, his works do possess literary merit in how they do not conform to a particular structure. I will probably get around to watching The Shining on film, but we shall see.

[@WritteninBlood]

I like your videos and am myself a fan of Top 5 or 10 list videos. I'm starting to feel a little frustrated with my own channel. I just can't seem to get anyone interested and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Sorry, didn't mean to sound whiny; just frustrated.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Thank you! And no worries. How long have you been putting out videos? Have you looked into other youtubers/booktubers recommendations for gaining visibility/subscribers? As much as I love top 5 or 10 lists, my own seem to be really hit or miss with views.

[@WritteninBlood]

@@JoanieMaeZie Most of it seems to be that they have a consistency in how they present their videos. I need to find what fits and stick with it.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Written in Blood Yeah that sounds about right. Things like tags and keeping up with what’s going on help I think, but I’m no expert. Good luck!

[@WritteninBlood]

@@JoanieMaeZie how do you tag someone?

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Written in Blood Just by saying you tag them in a tag you do (like the Horror Booktube Tag) and preferably linking their channel in the description of your video. I think you used to be able to actually tag them as a function on KZbin, but can’t anymore. You can create original tags too.

[@jesshughes776]

WHEN I WAS AGE 11=13 I READ THE SHINING EVERY WEEKEND. NO JOKE HERE.

[@Sam-lt1pb]

You’re really pretty. Pet semetary scared the hell out of me, it’s so disturbing, especially Zelda.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Zelda has a creep factor all her own. That part of the book was way more affecting than I expected. Of course, Zombie Gage has his creepy charm too. Thanks for watching :)

[@Sam-lt1pb]

Joanie Reads gage was really sad and scary. Zelda impacted me the hardest, I remember almost everything I read about her from start to finish, I probably won’t re read the book. Just everything written about Zelda was sad, and extremely disturbing, I won’t mention any of it to not spoil for others, but yeah, she made the book very hard to read.

[@JoanieMaeZie]

Sam I can totally understand that. It’s impress that she made such an impact, given how sad the entire book is.

[@turtleanton6539]

Super creepy!!!!!

[@markolepotan]

I hate these book reviews that have MAJOR SPOILERS!!! That should be mentioned in the title of the video!

[@angellikestoread4220]

A

[@daveedmunds1109]

Go on then, I'll give you a top 5: 1 Pet Semetary - death of a child plus that horrific ending 2 Misery - being trapped with a Psychopath who loves torture. Real life horror 3 Salems Lot - vampire children tapping at the bedroom window. The stuff of nightmares 4 IT - killer clown feeding off your fear. The reason people are scared of clowns! 5 the Shining - greatest haunted house tale. Shelly Duvalles acting in the movie is way more scary though!

[@JoanieMaeZie]

David Edmunds Man I loved Shelley Duvall’s acting in The Shining! She had some raw terror on her face a few times. Great list! There is some definite tension and breath-holding to be had from Misery, though I think Kathy Bates’ acting might be my favorite thing about Misery overall.