With a demonic blend of malice and affection, Stephen King says farewell to Castle Rock, Maine, the town he put on the map. By the author of CARRIE, THE SHINING, NIGHT SHIFT, THE STAND, PET SEMATARY, MISERY, IT, THE DARK HALF and FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT.
Needful Things
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
'An incredibly gifted writer, whose writing... is so fluid that you often forget you're reading' (Guardian )
'A sophisticated literary craftsman...his work anatomises...the social fabric of small-town American life' (Observer )
'You can't help admiring King's narrative skills and his versatility as a story-teller' (Sunday Telegraph )
'A sophisticated literary craftsman...his work anatomises...the social fabric of small-town American life' (Observer )
'You can't help admiring King's narrative skills and his versatility as a story-teller' (Sunday Telegraph )
About the Author
Stephen King is the bestselling author of more than thirty books of which the most recent are THE GIRL WHO LOVED TOM GORDON, HEARTS IN ATLANTIS and his non-fiction book ON WRITING. He lives with his wife, the novelist Tabitha King, in Bangor, Maine.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Chris C
Format:Paperback
After reading The Shining I was very quick in wanting to explore more of Stephen King's mastery and see what his other stories had to offer. I managed to get a handful including Insomniac, The Tommyknockers, The Dark Half and 'Salems Lot. However the first one that really grabbed my attention was this story i'm reviewing right now.
Needful Things is set in the town of Castle Rock, Maine, and a new shop of the title's name has just opened, and folks are intrigued by what the store has to offer. Business is flowing for the owner Mr Leland Gaunt, but soon all these happy customers will find they are paying for more than just their possessions.
This story is fantastic in the way that mixes affection with the malice of the whole theme. Much like The Shining, there is almost an elemental of reality in here, and I find the concept of seeing how far people will go to have their needful thing just spectacular.
There's dozens and dozens of characters throughout each with their own identifying features including the three main characters - The Sheriff Alan Pangborn, the girlfriend Polly Chalmers and the charming yet mysterious Leland Gaunt - and with such a huge story its just manageable to remember them all.
Of course, since this is a Stephen King novel, the violence here is absolutely of the richter scale, old grudges come to heads, friendships fall apart and religious beliefs become more than war of words. The images are really good, spot on in fact, that it can paint an image of these scenarios in the reader's mind.
I think as I went through the book, I felt a mixture of happiness, terror, sadness and curiosity, but there was a moment where I didn't feel hooked and did not enjoy it.
Buy this now ! :-) after all 'EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE'
Needful Things is set in the town of Castle Rock, Maine, and a new shop of the title's name has just opened, and folks are intrigued by what the store has to offer. Business is flowing for the owner Mr Leland Gaunt, but soon all these happy customers will find they are paying for more than just their possessions.
This story is fantastic in the way that mixes affection with the malice of the whole theme. Much like The Shining, there is almost an elemental of reality in here, and I find the concept of seeing how far people will go to have their needful thing just spectacular.
There's dozens and dozens of characters throughout each with their own identifying features including the three main characters - The Sheriff Alan Pangborn, the girlfriend Polly Chalmers and the charming yet mysterious Leland Gaunt - and with such a huge story its just manageable to remember them all.
Of course, since this is a Stephen King novel, the violence here is absolutely of the richter scale, old grudges come to heads, friendships fall apart and religious beliefs become more than war of words. The images are really good, spot on in fact, that it can paint an image of these scenarios in the reader's mind.
I think as I went through the book, I felt a mixture of happiness, terror, sadness and curiosity, but there was a moment where I didn't feel hooked and did not enjoy it.
Buy this now ! :-) after all 'EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE'
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Ms. Lj Brook
Format:Paperback
I really loved this book! It is only my 6th SK book, and I think it has completly stood up to the high standards I have learnt to expect from him.
I felt, at the end of the book, like I really know all the characters and was truly interested in what happened to them. At first I found it slightly hard to remember all their names but after a few chapters I got the hang of it. Although, as already said, it had a slowish start, it soon picked up and I couldn't put it down!
I felt, at the end of the book, like I really know all the characters and was truly interested in what happened to them. At first I found it slightly hard to remember all their names but after a few chapters I got the hang of it. Although, as already said, it had a slowish start, it soon picked up and I couldn't put it down!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By CK
Format:Paperback
Well, what a page-turner from the very start! Flying from the Caribbean to Blitey I couldn't put it down. There are a lot of characters in this book which, at times, become tricky to keep up with but they all make for a thrilling read and are essential to the thickening plot. The compelling story about a shop that can sell you anything 'your heart desires' - at a price - whizzes along and by the end its quick, short chapters encourages you still to reach its conclusion (which I'm sure was a clever tool that Mr King deliberately used!)
I have been an avid reader of this author's style for more than 20 years, and this has to go down as one of his best.
I have been an avid reader of this author's style for more than 20 years, and this has to go down as one of his best.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The book was great, and although the beginnning was alittle slow, once you get into it, there is rarely more than a dozen pages where nothing much happens. The ending I felt was rushed, and I felt that it was as though King didn't have much in the way of ideas.
Apart from that, I would recommend this book as the best steven king book aside from The Green Mile
Apart from that, I would recommend this book as the best steven king book aside from The Green Mile
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
By far one of Kings best novels, I first read this when i was about 16 and when i re-read it this year, it was even better!
I love the continuity of the Castle Rock inhabitants and the intrigue, excitement and gossip the new shop causes is so lifelike in it's depiction of how a small town community would react. It starts off almost sickly sweet as Leland Gaunt and his velvet jacket seduces all of the towns residents. Then with a sudden sadistic twist theres suddenly treachery, murder and, possibly the best scene in the book, a graphic bloodbath consisting of two of the female characters and some very sharp kitchen implements!
Kings style is so unique and enthralling i couldn't put it down either time i read it. Combining fantasy and horror with some well known characters this book is a must read.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
is to not base your opinion of his works on the film adaptations of TV movies. This is the third King book I have read so far and I plan to read many more. Having spent earlier years watching the usual TV and movie versions of his novels, I really wasn't that into him until I picked up IT for want of anything else to read. I was hooked.
Needful things is based in the town of Castlerock which I believe is the setting for a couple of his other novels to which he makes brief reference to in this story.
A new shop opens in Castlerock which seems to sell exactly what the buyer desires. But beware - your heart's desire always comes with a price...
This is a great book which reads at a good pace. There are an awful lot of calendars, buit King's style of writing and the relatively short chapters mean that you don't get bogged down by all the detail and you can enjoy the story that he expertly weaves. King builds up the suspense to an absolutely crazy mad climax which leaves you feeling quite exhausted but with the feeling you've just finished a really excellent book.
Needful things is based in the town of Castlerock which I believe is the setting for a couple of his other novels to which he makes brief reference to in this story.
A new shop opens in Castlerock which seems to sell exactly what the buyer desires. But beware - your heart's desire always comes with a price...
This is a great book which reads at a good pace. There are an awful lot of calendars, buit King's style of writing and the relatively short chapters mean that you don't get bogged down by all the detail and you can enjoy the story that he expertly weaves. King builds up the suspense to an absolutely crazy mad climax which leaves you feeling quite exhausted but with the feeling you've just finished a really excellent book.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 255 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent read
I love Stephen King books and this does not disappoint. Highly recommend this book. Great addition to some of the best works of this author.
Published 2 days ago by Miss R. L. Taylor
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good premise, weak ending.
Stephen King is a very good author or horror fiction; perhaps the best horror writer of all time, depending on your point of view. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Andrew Hadland
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping
This book gets better the more you read until you don't want to put it down and the ending is great
Published 1 month ago by Mrs May
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
Brilliant book could not put it Down can't wait to read the new one Dr sleep, bet it's fantastic x
Published 1 month ago by Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars
King at his menacing best
When the shop 'Needful Things' opens in Castle Rock, it has something for everyone, the thing that you desire the most in the world, but to own what you desire you have to pay a... Read more
Published 3 months ago by nicholas thornton
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favourite King book to date.
I love this book. It has been my favourite Stephen King book for a long time. I like the characters, the plot twists and turns, the descriptive way all the different scenarios... Read more
Published 5 months ago by bozwonk
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good.
Nice character study above all else. Quite often provides that nice shiver up your spine. Maybe slightly long-winded at times though.
Published 6 months ago by Andrew Fox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
This was the first Stephen King book I read, needless to say it was amazing and I have since read 4 other books by him!
Great story which had me hooked from the beginning :)
Great story which had me hooked from the beginning :)
Published 6 months ago by Mrs.S
5.0 out of 5 stars
Needful Things - need to read!
I know Stephen King principally from his works made into movies. I bought Needful Things at a charity bookstall. Read more
Published 7 months ago by D. Lawrence
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, not great.
There's no doubt that SK is a master story teller. I've read quite a few of his books, great stuff, this is good, but just short of his own very high standard.
Published 11 months ago by Iliad
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
