7 Books Stephen King Recommends

7 of Stephen King's Favorite Books

One Good Turn

Retired millionaire Jackson Brodie comes back in this book by Kate Atkinson, the events in the book are set two years after “Case Histories.” Brodie followed his girlfriend and former client to Edinburgh for the summer arts festival, where he witnesses a brutal attack in bumper to bumper traffic! Jackson is once again thrown into several mysteries that come together to one sinister scheme.

Oryx and Crake

While this novel by Margaret Atwood is a love story, it is a sobering vision of what the future could hold. Snowman, or Jimmy before a horrendous plague overwhelms humankind, struggles to survive in a world where he could be the very last person alive. What will happen to Snowman, and all of humanity? Stephen King recommends you read this novel to find out!

The Yiddish Policemen’s Union

Michael Chabon gives us a great mystery, a love story, exploration of the mysteries of exile, and a call back to 1940s noir in this great book! It is about the Federal District of Sitka and the Jews that have created their own little proud haven. The story follows homicide detective Meyer Landsman. A murder is committed in the same shabby hotel Landsman is staying in, and a life of being a detective means that he has to get to the bottom of this murder, with it happening right under his nose.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning book written by Junot Diaz, we follow the story of Oscar. He dreams of being the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien, and most of all, to find love. But, the overweight and ghetto-nerd Oscar may never get what he desires because of the fukú, a curse that has been in his family for generations. Will Oscar write that book he dreams of? Will he find the love of his life? Mr. King says to read this book and find out!

American Gods

In this story from Neil Gaiman, we follow Shadow, a man with a past. He no longer wants anything more than to live out a quiet life with his wife. But, when Shadow finds out his wife is killed in a horrible accident, he flies home for the funeral and meets “Mr. Wednesday” on the plane. He knows more about Shadow than he possibly should. Shadow’s life is never the same after meeting Mr. Wednesday and is warned about the storm that is coming.

2666: A Novel 

 This book from Roberto Bolaño tracks a New York reporter, a widowed philosopher, and a police officer in love with an older woman, who are all in Santa Teresa searching for hundreds of women who have disappeared over the course of a decade. This novel has received huge praise from critics. Washington Post says that Bolaño joins the immortals with his writing in this book. It is an absolute must!


After looking at these books, and knowing that Stephen King recommends these books, I know what I’ll be reading for a while!