Needful Things

Needful Things is better than The Tommyknockers, but not as good as ‘Salem’s Lot -- two other Stephen King novels that share its same basic story structure of a supernatural presence slowly corrupting and effectively destroying a small town. The fact that Needful Things is set in Castle Rock, home to several earlier King stories, lends a certain weight to the proceedings, although this is hampered by the relatively small number of recurring characters.

The larger problem is that the book’s villain never really seems like a plausible threat. He sells people their hearts’ desires in exchange for their promises to commit acts of mischief around town that set other residents against one another, but King doesn’t do a very good job of justifying why certain purchases -- like a porcelain doll or a framed picture of Elvis Presley -- would have such an effect on people. In fact, it’s clear at several points that the fiendish shopkeeper is actually hypnotizing his customers into buying from him, which weakens whatever the novel is trying to say about human weakness and culpability. A stronger story would have toned down the supernatural elements and had the Castle Rock residents make the Faustian bargains that ruin their town with clearer eyes.

This book was set in Castle Rock. A fictitious Maine village that has been a setting in some of Mr. Kings other novels. It is a creepy book--but not in the same vein as Mr. King's other novels. A stranger shows up in town by the name of Leland Gaunt. He claims to come from Ohio. He is charming, mysterious and somehow possesses the ability to know excatly what his customers desire most. What they want more than anything else in this world. Everything comes with a price over and above what he asks for the item. This book is filled with a gristly acts by those willing to do whatever it takes to get or keep their "needful" things. Loved this book--as usual the prose and pacing are excellent. Highly recomend this book!

I really did like this book but when the violence really kicked in it was very detailed and very violent. The book is long enough that you get to know several of the characters and their deaths hit you very hard and no one character is really safe in this book.

Leland Gaunt is one of the most intriguing of villains and I love the differences between him and Alan Pangborn, a simple small county sheriff. Stephen King not only created the small town of Castle Rock but was able to actually bring it to life in my mind. I could see the streets and buildings and how each of the scenes looked based on the descriptions in the book.

I know some reviewers have had issues with Stephen King’s narration but honestly it didn’t bother me at all. Granted, there wasn’t very much differentiation in the sounds of each character but with Mr. King it was all in the tone, speed and vocabulary of each character that helped me know the characters.

I’ve listened to a lot of audio books and in some the music and noises are a nuisance but nothing is as annoying as the music and sounds on this version. It sounds like a bad high school 80s rock cover band who only have synthesizers. The sound effects are too random and there is no consistency to when they are used and I admit I docked it a star because YES it is that annoying.

This book blew me away. From the get go there was always something happening, and always a page needing to turn to answer a new question. One of Kings best works in my opinion! The whole way through I gripped the pages reading one after another curiously, having no idea where the story would take me or what would happen. I fell in love with the characters and understood completely the want for something unavailable at any cost. Mr Leland Gaunt is a very seedy fellow, but what came of him really ground my gears, but made for a terrific ending. The last few hundred pages of the book exploded better than all of the dynamite in Castle Rock that day, as it was impossible to put it down. i'd tell myself after each chapter that it was time for a break, but found it beyond my ability to stop, as my eyes scanned frantically from left to right devouring the words. If you are a King fan and haven't read Needful Things, then I recommend it immediately. In fact, if you're reading a non King book right now I urge you to put it to the side and pick this one up, and then thank me later. Absolutely fantastic! I'll be rereading this in the future, I can tell.

Stephen King's novel "Needful Things" is one of the author's more mediocre books. Nothing very exciting here. And the cast of characters is so large that I had trouble trying to remember who is who. If the characters had been more developed, rather than just cardboard figures with names and not too complex motives, I would have followed the narrative more easily and with much more interest. But there are entire characters here that serve zero purpose and certain scenes are pointless.

Leland Gaunt, a stranger to Castle Rock, Maine, comes to town and opens shop. To say that Leland is very bizarre would be an understatement. He reeks of evil and reminds me of the devil's right hand man. And his eyes change color depending on who looks into them. His ordinary wares become more beautiful, more interesting, more valuable when folks see them. Leland has the ability to fulfill everyone's wishes. Since Castle Rock is such a small town, (the setting of many of the author's books), most folks know everybody else's business. When a sign goes up advertising the store, "Needful Things," towns' people speculate on what is to be sold there and when the store will open. And open it does with dire consequences tor the town and its inhabitants.

Well, everyone "needs" something. It may not be necessary to a person's life or well being, but I am sure most people have some item they would like to have, no matter how frivolous. The story starts off slow as, one by one, the citizens of Castle Rock fall prey to Leland Gaunt's charms, (he disguises his devilry well). They buy his trinkets for whatever cash they have in their pockets, even of they only have a dollar and change. The price is jacked up, however, when the buyer is asked to pay in full by playing "pranks/tricks" on his/her neighbors and friends. Sort of a "buy now, pay later" policy. These pranks are as custom tailored to the victim/buyer as the trinkets he sells are. Soon the denizens of Castle Rock are furious with another. I would say that many are violently angry! Gaunt plays the characters like puppets. He has one character buying a piece of jewelry that helps her arthritis but little does she know what it is really made of. He manages to get a little boy to sell his soul for his favorite baseball card and he has other members of the town enchanted with him and his "bargains." Things reach a point that the entire town of Castle Rock is trapped by their possessions. ..and the consequences of their purchases. Sort of like selling one's soul to the devil.

I found this novel to be about people, greed and the horrors they inflict on one another to obtain the material things(s) they want.

Although there were parts of "Needful Things" that really held my attention, the novel, at 690 pages, could have been cut in half with pages to spare. King often begins his novels with a major jump start and then proceeds to ramble and milk his story for all it is worth and more. Where are his editors? The ending is predictable. However, if you are a fan of Stephen King and enjoy most of what he writes this will provide you with a good, LONG, read.
JANA

Stephen King's novel "Needful Things" is one of the author's more mediocre books. Nothing very exciting here. And the cast of characters is so large that I had trouble trying to remember who is who. If the characters had been more developed, rather than just cardboard figures with names and not too complex motives, I would have followed the narrative more easily and with much more interest. But there are entire characters here that serve zero purpose and certain scenes are pointless.

Leland Gaunt, a stranger to Castle Rock, Maine, comes to town and opens shop. To say that Leland is very bizarre would be an understatement. He reeks of evil and reminds me of the devil's right hand man. And his eyes change color depending on who looks into them. His ordinary wares become more beautiful, more interesting, more valuable when folks see them. Leland has the ability to fulfill everyone's wishes. Since Castle Rock is such a small town, (the setting of many of the author's books), most folks know everybody else's business. When a sign goes up advertising the store, "Needful Things," towns' people speculate on what is to be sold there and when the store will open. And open it does with dire consequences tor the town and its inhabitants.

Well, everyone "needs" something. It may not be necessary to a person's life or well being, but I am sure most people have some item they would like to have, no matter how frivolous. The story starts off slow as, one by one, the citizens of Castle Rock fall prey to Leland Gaunt's charms, (he disguises his devilry well). They buy his trinkets for whatever cash they have in their pockets, even of they only have a dollar and change. The price is jacked up, however, when the buyer is asked to pay in full by playing "pranks/tricks" on his/her neighbors and friends. Sort of a "buy now, pay later" policy. These pranks are as custom tailored to the victim/buyer as the trinkets he sells are. Soon the denizens of Castle Rock are furious with another. I would say that many are violently angry! Gaunt plays the characters like puppets. He has one character buying a piece of jewelry that helps her arthritis but little does she know what it is really made of. He manages to get a little boy to sell his soul for his favorite baseball card and he has other members of the town enchanted with him and his "bargains." Things reach a point that the entire town of Castle Rock is trapped by their possessions. ..and the consequences of their purchases. Sort of like selling one's soul to the devil.

I found this novel to be about people, greed and the horrors they inflict on one another to obtain the material things(s) they want.

Although there were parts of "Needful Things" that really held my attention, the novel, at 690 pages, could have been cut in half with pages to spare. King often begins his novels with a major jump start and then proceeds to ramble and milk his story for all it is worth and more. Where are his editors? The ending is predictable. However, if you are a fan of Stephen King and enjoy most of what he writes this will provide you with a good, LONG, read.
JANA

Wow, this was a mixed bag. The book has a tight and focused first half, a chaotic and bonkers second half and a strong ending. You hit half ways and it's just murder murder murder all the dang time. You won't believe all the murder. So much that it gets old and frustrating and you just hope to goodness King doesn't off the two main characters because that would just be too much.

I think where the book really lost me was where the story split off from the vulnerable of the town being affected by Gaunt (the crazy, the people with murder in their past, the paranoid, the addicted, the young and naive, etc.) but to all sorts being affected. I think it lost its sense of some believability when Gaunt's actions made strong, moral and everyday sorts of people pick up guns and knives and just start hightailing it into the street in a blood rage. It was more funny than scary. I mean, they were all people who had to play a prank themselves as payment for their wares, and not once did they stop to think that maybe someone had entered into a similar agreement and was playing a trick on them BEFORE it was too late. The ending redeemed the mess a good deal, because at least a few people fully wised up.

I'm not sure how I feel about Gaunt, either. He didn't scare me as much as I thought he would. I like to think if I walked into a creepy store with an owner that literally made my skin crawl and basically told me "you don't just pay in money, muahahaha," I'd haul out of there. Minus infinite points if the wares have bizarre emotional and hallucinogenic effects. I don't know, this is why I don't read a lot of horror. People always seem too small and vulnerable in tales like these, weird demon hypnosis or no.

Four stars because King's writing style, as always, is engaging, paced well and all-around top-notch. The book did a good job analyzing greed and how we can get swept up in our own desires a little too quickly (even if it won't necessarily lead to a murder-spree in real life). Engaging, real characters. Despite the over-the-top second half, I still couldn't put the book down. I still loved the characters and needed to see what happened to them. I just docked the star because I think the last half could have been less crazy-nutty-bonkers and maybe just focused more on the main characters. The church fight was also pretty pointless and generally out-of-hand.

This constitutes the third and final Castle Rock series, with The Dark Half and Cujo being the first and second with Sherriff Allan Panghorn. (But, this book could be read separately, without reading the others as prerequisites).

Since, my rating is a Perfect score (5/5 or 10/10), I’ll describe only those wired connections—according to Mr. Leland Gaunt’s terminology that equals caveat emptor—comprising the plots twists that were its finest in terms of excitement, Power and craftiness.

Proprietor, Leland Gaunt, opened his store called fittingly enough: Needful Things. But, he was actually the devil (incarnate) who’s offering their most prized goods in exchange for a Nominal fee, but with a trick (or two to boot) to be played on their fellow townsmen. These seemingly harmless tricks themselves reaped havoc and caused massive counter retaliations with violent deaths ensuing usually between two adversaries like crazy Nettie Cobb and Wilma Jerzyck, the wild Cusack. (Wilma had complained about her dog, Raider, barking a few times; she was nasty, tempered, anyway). Nettie was worried about her carnival glass being stolen (or vandalized by Wilma). So, she didn’t make it into work at Poly’s for about three days because whenever she got half way, she turned around to make sure that her house was locked—she made lasagna for Poly instead with Spinach and onions. Then when they both called each other (down) on the phone; first, in order to convey their meaning straight and that there wasn’t any wild ambiguities. But, when they finally left their respective dwellings, they were both armed to the teeth: Nettie had a meat clever and Wilma had a knife. Then after their bloody, arduous, duel in the middle of the street, they both dropped dead. (Then they had to barricade the area with yellow don’t enter tape before CID arrived in order to take three hundred pictures in order to trace what had happened). However, the assailant wasn’t even remotely connected: an eleven year old, Brain Rusk. Hence, ultimately, their souls were stolen, but Gaunt didn’t even mention it—even though he was the perpetrator.

Gaunt’s first fatal (encounter) customer, Brain Rusk, purchased his favorite Tops baseball card: Sandy Koufax. By holding it, he’s able to commune directly with Sandy via virtual reality. He’s talks with him briefly at the Pitcher’s mound. He said, “In order to be a Professional Pitcher, one must practice the fundamentals.” The card itself was signed with Brian Rusk’s name on it. But, he must play two tricks on Wilma while riding his Schwinn bike with a cooler in its basket: throwing mud on her clean sheets and rocks with attached notes (with rubber bands) that smashed through her windows and the TV set. (For the second trick, however, Gaunt said, that the dealing wasn’t done until he said so—and that only he knows what’s best.) But, Leland Gaunt had somebody else kill Nettie’ dog: Hugh Priest. He had purchased a fox tail pelt just like his father’s, attached to his car’s antennae. But, first, he used his skeleton key set to unlock the door. Then when he petted Raider’s stomach, he killed it with his cork screw knife. Then he left an incriminating note signed by Wilma. (But, he left his finger prints, inadvertently, on the door, which was incriminating).

But, later when Brian was questioned by Panghorn, Brian didn’t admit anything, but he shot himself with his father’s hunting rifle because he felt guilty. But, before that, he asked his brother, Sean, not to visit Needful Things. Then to swear on his own name, not by their mother’s because she had already been compromised with the King’s (Elvis Presley’s) personal sun Glasses from Needful Things, which meant that it was trash, since she saw a virtual reality trip.

Nettie Cobb purchased some carnival glass, but her trick was to put notes all over Selectman, Buster Keaton’s house. It was signed by Officer Norris Ridgewick (not Nettie) which seemed plausible because they had had similar prior bad (relations and) experiences—one unfair parking ticket issued by Norris that was rejected by Buster in the men’s room. So, later Buster, hit Norris’ BMW with his Cadillac, as retaliation at the municipal building’s parking lot; they were the authorities who were scrutinizing (and persecuting) him. Keaton had gambled by using the city’s funds and lost it regularly at the race track. So, he had purchased a wind up, mechanical race track game called Winning Ticket at Needful Things. But, Norris had purchased his father’s old fishing pole, a Bazim, which was the best for fly.

New Norris

Norris’ ex-girl friend’s boyfriend (Coach Pratt) beat him up with his fists at the Police station, because somebody stole Norris’ wallet with his incriminating pictures and placed it inside of Pratt’s car, just visible at the seat’s edge. (It was a picture of Norris with his ex-girlfriend at a bar, but a kid told Pratt that they were sucking faces when they kissed, but of course, it was Gaunt’s fabrication).

But, when Norris started losing the duel like battle, the dispatch Officer, Sandy, had to intervene by killing Pratt with a shot gun butt. Then he dropped dead, bleeding from his torn throat. (At this instant, Allan was arriving via car at the scene, but he thought that the assailant was Hugh Priest, but he was wrong).

Jewett

Then Pratt’s girlfriend tore the locks off from the middle School’s principle (Jewett’s) desk drawers with a huge pair of scissors, which were about two feet long, but she had to do it twice (in order for it to come free) where he had stashed his incriminating, Porno collection. (She had acquired a sacred splint of wood from Noah’s Ark for her troubles, however). Then she threw it around inside of his office, as if it was confetti, but the interior windows were Glass. So, when the cheerleaders walked through the hall, nonchalantly, they saw it all from point blank range, wearing long red and white stockings. Also, a note was left by the woodshop teacher, demanding a monetary payment—by an old friend, who had shared similar amusements. Thus, Jewett blew his top. So, he thought that he should even the score by visiting Nelson’s home.

Then somehow, Jewett was able get inside the woodshop Teacher’s (George T. Nelson) home because somebody had left a window ajar. Then Jewett finds a large amount of cocaine inside of a (zip-locked) sealed, plastic bag, which seemed as if he were dealing due to the extreme quantity (and quality). So, Jewett tore it open with his knife, poured it down a toilet and flushed it. Then he took a shit on his blessed mother’s picture. Then he started to play games with his beloved Parrot, (Tammy Faye), by pocking it with a knife through the cage bars—and many feathers were flying around inside the kitchen. But, as soon as he grew bored, he skewered it, dead, with his trusty knife.

Then Jewett who was armed with a gun and knife waited for (George T. Nelson) to return for retaliation by hiding behind the living room couch. But, when he does return shortly, he sits on it in such a way that Jewett can’t use his gun or knife—and in fact, he’s having an extremely tough time just breathing fresh air; he nearly suffocated. During this time, however, George T. Nelson called a friend on the phone and complained that someone had just killed his darling, Tammy Faye. So, the man said that he should get a new one at Needful Things. Then he departed and went there, but I think that he bought a lethal, automatic pistol. Then latter they met downtown and had a final duel a la Wild West quick draws. Then they both fired at the same instant. Then they both dropped dead from their wounds.

Poly

She had two weaknesses: her painful (arthritic) hands, and her infant son, who died in a San Francisco fire, started, accidently, by a person with a tattoo that said, “Death before Dishonor,” who was probably on drugs in her tenderloin apartment and babysat for her while she worked at a coffee shop as a waitress. Allan knew that something was awry, but didn’t inquire; it was too sensitive a subject: only her Aunt Evee knew, however. But, of course, Gaunt knew. So, he had a mechanic who bought a universal (tool) socket set, to put an envelope in the mail box addressed to Allan (since they lived together) containing a Report when Poly was living in San Francisco written to Allan, explaining Everything , as though, he had inquired concerning it.

So, initially, Poly was utterly fooled, and she was extremely angry with Allan who had betrayed her. So, she wanted to talk with him about it in person, but she never got a chance until the end.

She discovered that her pain killer remedy necklace (or Egyptian charm) actually had a spider inside it that grew bigger, and bigger, as long as it wasn’t completely dead. She had to struggle with it for a while in her bathroom, until it was finally dead. At that time, it was as big as she was. There was an inordinate amount of the spider’s blood everywhere, which was commensurate (or proportional) with her alleviated pain.

Allan Panghorn

When Allan first visited Gaunt at his store, he had prepared a good, especially, for Allan: a tape recording demonstrating how to view a video tape that showed how his wife and son, Todd, had died during a fatal accident a few years earlier before Allan started dating, Poly. It insinuated that Ace Merrill had been the driver of the car that caused the Accident. So, Allan bought it. So, he thought of killing Ace as retaliation, but at the last instant Poly had asked him about it. Then he suddenly realized that it was Bogus: his wife didn’t have her seat belt secured, but the Video had showed his wife with it Secured, safely. So, he knew that it wasn’t real. So, Ace didn’t do it. (But, Ace himself was mad at Allan because he thought that he had stolen all of his father’s money, which was supposed to be buried treasure due to Poly’s trick).

Norris

But, in actuality, Norris’ fishing pole was made of bamboo, since he had failed to hang himself with a rope—attached to it—since he felt guilty thinking about his trick: slashing Hugh Priest’s tires. So, he finally thought rationally: he decided to get even with Gaunt at the very end by Assisting Allan Panghorn.

First, he deals with Ace and Keaton who were driving around town planting dynamite sticks with timer caps at strategic locations. But, when Norris (who looked like Barney Snipe), orders them to Stop, and put your hands up, he’s shot a few times by Hells Angel (Ace) and (Buster) Keaton, but they were superficial wounds. But, when Norris returned their fire, he hit Keaton’s stomach, so Ace shot Buster’s brains out in order to put him out of his misery.

Then Norris asked that deputy, Seat Thomas, drive him with his patrol car to Needful Things in order to meet with Allan Panghorn. But, when they arrived, Norris noticed that, as they got closer from their rear that he could see that Ace was holding Poly hostage, with his arms holding her throat and a gun aimed at her face. But, Allan was facing them, a few feet away from Poly. So, he told Seat to drive forward, but not to stop until he had tapped his foot. So, when they got closer, they stopped, punctually (and secretly). But, when Leland Gaunt decided to leave via his front door at the same time, Poly fell on the ground, which made it possible for Norris to shoot Ace with his pistol just in time, saving her. Since, Ace didn’t see them coming. So, when this happened, Allan sprang adroitly to block Gaunt’s way, but he had a hyena skin bag that bulged and sagged, repeatedly, in and out, as if it were an obscene bellows. Then he heard an eldritch screaming sound emanating from inside of his mind.

Then Allan snatched the valise away from Gaunt, with his lighting quick reflexes.

Then Gaunt said that he had bagged as many souls as possible—and since it was free trade, not communism that he had had a right to his property. The souls cannot survive without his aid.

So, Allan pulled out his Nuts and snake magic trick that used to belong to his son, Todd. Then it turned into a mystical snake, which was about ten feet long, with diamond eyes, and huge fangs that punched a few holes in Gaunt’s face. (But, after finishing, it became bogus again, with coils and cloth).

Then Allan did his reappearing flower trick, with rainbows of color, which eventfully turned into a spiritual, white light, which even spoke and said get thee hence where you belong: Hell.

Then the trapped, souls inside of the valise turned into a spiritual steam and they were thus freed.

Then Gaunt, who looked like a gargoyle with hideous demon red eyes, got into his car: The Tucker Talisman.

But, slowly it starts to metamorphose its shape with demon eyes for lights. But, as he walks by Allan, he feels a potent, magnetic (tingling) force in the opposite direction. Then Flames started to pour out everywhere, which made the asphalt street melt, as if it were cheese. Then when he mounted on his giant demon horse with his nose, snorting plumes of fire, it started to fly off at an obtuse angle toward the burning memorial building. Then it morphed again into a wagon, receded into the horizon and disappeared.

The first sense of impending doom that may or may not visit the reader of this by-now classic release of Mr King comes from page 29 of the 2011 UK paperback edition: “My name is Leland Gaunt,’ the tall man said, ’and you are --?' If the reader has not worked out by this stage that the newest business to open in town is bad news then maybe you need to start the book again.

Just to change the mood of the book, however, chapter two of part one is hilarious. Stephen King has never been known for comedy but this short section of the book is laugh out loud funny. Back to reality however, and before you know it, time has flown by and you have read 100 pages in an hour. And by this time, it is easy to see that Leland Gaunt is very bad news. Is he evil? It is too early to tell with any clarity, but my stomach says yes to this question, and the hints and roadsigns placed oh so subtly throughout the book certainly give a positive response to the question, too.

The man is a manipulator, fellow book lovers. He sees what his customers want and makes the sale almost every time because he charges virtually nothing (in monetary terms) for his goods. But the twist in this tale is the non-financial cost of the purchase. And in the early part of the book, the reader is not told what else is asked of his customers by Mr Gaunt. Only he knows. And Mr King, too, of course...

As i have already indicated, the book simply flies by. Mr King’s writing has never been overly difficult. As the world knows, his books are an absolute joy to experience. The chapters are relatively long, but are structured for convenient breaks, if you can force yourself to stop reading and put the addictive book down! The emotions of the reader are kept under lock and key by the author. Characterisation, as always, is first class. Suspense builds slowly but surely and your hatred - and fear of - the main character in Leland Gaunt is guaranteed to build at the same rate as your progress through the book does. But in all battles against the forces of evil, there are brave souls who stand to fight for what they know is right. Will it be eleven year old Brian Rusk, who holds baseball cards higher in heart than anything else he can think of? Will it be the town Sheriff, who is too lost in his own battles of grief and depression over the recent deaths of family members to worry about token representations of commercialism?

Other characters are introduced as you progress (of course) and the book morphs from small town soap opera to stirring love story to outright thriller with supernatural elements. Part Two brings forth Ace Merrill and he is a delight and adds much depth to the list of negative characters in the book.

There are many baddies in this book. Leland is the worst, of course, but each town member have their own battles - and their own demons - to fight on a daily basis so it will be interesting to learn who will be left standing as we find our eyes glued to the kindle screens and pages of what is sure to be yet another massively entertaining and satisfying tale from the world’s favourite master of the macabre.

BFN Greggorio!

This is a wonderful read. I just received the book and right from the beginning it is full of surprises. Makes it really hard to put down because the story is so very good and fast moving. This is a great book and I do recommend it for anyone looking for a Stephen King book. I would like to see this made into a movie.

There is something about this book that seems like SK didn't write it. Maybe like he wrote it with someone or maybe it was written in haste and missed an edit. I can't t quite put my finger on it, but because of I felt this way, I only have it at four stars. Parts of it are familiar if you come from a small town. Parts of it are funny. Throw in a little sexy and a little sad, mix with some classic horror and you have "Needful Things". This is not a fast read, but it is a mesmerizing one. I highly recommend it.

Stephen King seems to be going for a horror-fiction rewrite of "Mother Courage" in this satire of greed and capitalism run amok. He forgot, however, to make it either plausible or funny.

The town of Castle Rock has seen a lot of crazy things. Now it's Leland Gaunt's turn to warp its reality. Gaunt is the proprietor of a new store, "Needful Things," which offers offbeat merchandise that cater to the special desires of many local residents. The price is always right, too; just what the would-be buyer has in hand. There is a catch: To seal the deal, the purchaser must play a "trick" on an unsuspecting neighbor, something perhaps small in nature, but huge in the damage wrought.

Published in 1991 and billed as King's last Castle Rock novel, "Needful Things" serves as a kind of poor way to get out of Dodge. The novel is bursting with energy, but the wrong kind. King's characters all talk like 12-year-old boys, and act like sugar-addled toddlers, even before we reach the apocalyptic ending where just about everything comes crashing down.

There's a central relationship in the novel, between the town sheriff and the owner of a sewing business, but King never made me care about either of them, or anyone or anything else in this novel. Everyone behaves in such a rudimentary way, perhaps because their point here is that of puppets to Gaunt's will. King introduces a lot of characters, which starts out promising enough (there's an opening narration, between an unidentified speaker and listener, that's a deft takeoff on "Our Town") but becomes very cardboard a chapter or so in.

You know you are in trouble when the central conflict is a new Thirty-Years War about to break out between local Baptists and Catholics over a casino night, something King tries to play off as typical late 20th-century ecumenism in action. Here, and elsewhere, King is pushing the tension to extremes. He does this in other novels; sometimes it works, like in the crazed opening of “The Cell,” where technology lays Boston to waste in one fatal instant.

Here it just feels excessive, a long parade of people coming undone because some item in Gaunt’s toy chest turns them into grasping maniacs. Apparently this was meant to be his take on Reaganomics from an interview he later gave to Paris Review. At one point, Gaunt calls someone who criticizes his methods a “communist;” it’s hard otherwise to understand why the desires of Gaunt’s “customers” make them deserving of their fate.

SPOILER - I was never sold on the objectives or methods of Gaunt. What is he up to, exactly, and why does he involve himself in these "deals" when all he needs to do apparently is talk to or touch someone to bend them to his will? If he's stealing souls, as the novel suggests, isn't the victims' lack of free will a sticking point? Supposedly, they are all undone by their desire for particular objects, but their reactions are too automatized, too zombiefied, to make their ruination either fitting or involving. SPOILER END

For King fans, “Needful Things” offers a lot of reminders of past glories, most especially his novella “The Body” and novels “The Dead Zone” and “Cujo.” Another novella, “The Sun Dog,” is most directly referenced; there as here the story concerns a store with diabolical merchandise.

I got the feeling King was trying to play things off more comedically here; there’s a bloody showdown between two women wielding kitchen implements. Two other aging females fight over their love for Elvis Presley, something Gaunt triggers when he sells one of them sunglasses he said were owned by the King.

None of it is that funny. There were too many nasty things going on, which may appeal to some King fans but I suspect not nearly as many as say “Pet Semetary” or “It.” This is about pushing things to 11, and there are times, most particularly in the last chapter, where it kind of sort of works. But I was left not caring very much about any of it, and I have a feeling King didn’t, either. His story here is too thin; his approach too detached.

Needful Things by Stephen King was my inspiration to become an author. Thank you forever Mr King for setting me on the path of writing enlightenment.
This novel is the ultimate in cruel jokes and just like in Salem's Lot, a new store opens its doors. Needful Things is not like any other store though, once you step inside, its insidious owner will tease you with that one thing you have always coveted, just out of reach, until he asks a favour in return.
And so cruel practical jokes spread through the town like wildfire causing chaos, mayhem and murder. Mr King squeezes every last drop of tension and fear from each character with such control, this reader was left in a cold sweat.
My favourite character is the Sheriff, so totally out of his comfort zone, and yet sees the truth in Needful Things as deep down his needs are taken care of by the woman he loves and not even the store owner can influence him. Good versus Evil has never been written with such panache.
5 Stars for this Urban Fantasy and very highly recommended.

Often times I've wondered how certain classics would have turned out were they to have been written by different authors.

Let's take a classic Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded a 1740 novel by Samuel Richardson. It tells the story of a beautiful 15-year old maidservant named Pamela Andrews, whose nobleman master, Mr. B, makes unwanted advances towards her after the death of his mother, whose maid she was since age 12. He abducts her, locks her up in one of his estates, and attempts to seduce and rape her. She rejects him continually, but starts to realize that she is falling in love with him. He intercepts her letters to her parents; reading them, he becomes even more enamored by her innocence, intelligence, and continuous escape attempts. Her virtue is eventually rewarded when he sincerely proposes an equitable marriage to her. In the novel's second part, Pamela attempts to build a successful relationship with him and to acclimate to upperclass society. The story, a bestseller of its time, was very widely read but criticized for its perceived licentiousness.

Now imagine this story told instead by Bram Stoker who actually wrote the novel Dracula.

As another for instance, how about Frankenstein which was actually written by Mary Shelly. How would that story have been different if it had been written by Mark Twain instead.

One of the great things about the volume of Stephen King's writing is that, sooner or later, you know you'll see his take on many stories that have already been out there. In this one King takes the additional step of letting readers know at this outset that Needful Things the supposedly last of his Castle Rock stories is actually an homage to the great Thornton Wilder play Our Town.

Like Our Town, Needful Things endeavors to give readers a God's eye view of a community in crisis. In the case of Our Town the crisis varied depending on which individual you were dealing with but in the case of Needful Things of course all everyone's crisis had the same root cause: Leland Gaunt.

At first it seems that Leland Gaunt is just another second hand trader, a close cousin to today's Pawn Stars or American Pickers except that the goods sold by Gaunt all seem to be just what the buyer wants...at any price. As it turns out Gaunt's Castle Rock customers ulitmately end up paying ultimate prices for the small trinkets they've gotten from Gaunt.

The hows and whys of all this of course are best left to a reading of the story itself. But as with any King novel those who for a good time and an even better scare won't be disappointed.

Unlike Gaunt's wares, Stephen King books only take a little of your time and money...not your soul.

Castle Rock, Maine has a new store in town and once business starts it booms. It has something for everyone, from young to old. The prices are really low and fair and shoppers just seem to always leave happy. The store's proprietor Leland Gaunt seems like such a nice man and all he asks for when he sells his goods is a fair price and a little favor. The buyer has to pull a prank on one of the town's other residents.

Sheriff Alan Pangborn doesn't like Gaunt. The sheriff also has his hands full of problems trying to settle the town down with all of the violence and hatred that has erupted. Gaunt just seems to know what to ask for to stir up the most trouble and vicious behavior. He knows that people will pay almost anything to get their wishes, dreams and desires. Ultimately many towns' people sell their souls for Gaunt's goods and it is up to Pangborn to try to save their souls and the town itself.....

This is an excellent book and Stephen King understands what it takes to get people at each other's throats with vengeance in their eyes. In this story he creates a demon in the guise of an old gentleman who collects souls. Only the sheriff with his bravery can save what is left of the town. I loved this story and it is much better as a book than the movie that was later released. The movie failed to follow the book and is different in the end and it detracted from the story line in my opinion.

I recommend that you read the book and watch the DVD and judge for yourself. If you are a Stephen King fan, like I am you, will find yourself liking this book and enjoy both forms of entertainment to varying degrees. I recommend this book to you as a good story!

Let's face it: Stephen King is not usually the best writer when it comes to creating realistic characters. His ideas? Almost always good (and usually original); but the people who populate them? Frequently not so much. Very frequently disappointing, mostly because so often stereotypical -- the abusive husband, the horny teenager, the frustrated housewife, the classroom bully, the office slob. More than one of his books have been ruined, in my opinion, just because the characters inhabiting them have been so poorly written (witness those stumbling through the The Dark Half, for example).

But Needful Things is the antithesis of that, and proves beyond a doubt that King can do it all, that he has the potential to write the perfect book. This is a book about character, after all. Human nature, and of course, good versus evil. And although it literally concerns the battle between good and evil in the same way The Stand does, or the Dark Tower books do, it's still more a book about the inner man than the outer events, spectacular as they are. In other words, it's less about Leland Gaunt than it is about the people who are susceptable to a Leland Gaunt-type personality. What makes one man more easily tempted than another? And what keeps one man essentially good where another falls?

Most of the story is about inward battles, as the devilish Gaunt gives the various citizens of Castle Rock their fondest desires -- for a price. They do not have to pay, of course. There is no force applied. But if they want their little piece of heaven, well, then they have to give up a little. That's only fair, isn't it? And the fees Gaunt extracts lead to an inevitable terrible toll -- all the more terrible, because the people of Castle Rock bring it on themselves. Gaunt is merely the encourager, the string-puller. No one has to go along. But they do.

And the story succeeds so well because nearly all the characters act and speak believably for a change. Everybody has understandable, human reactions. Everyone has deep and complex layers, and a gray moral center, just like a live human, just like the reader. Where does right and wrong come from, and what does it ultimately mean in the short span of a human life? That is just one of the themes of this book.

Beyond all this, the story is great fun, well-paced, unpredictable, funny in places, horrifying in others, and contains a few special treats, like the bully Ace's tragi-comic return to Castle Rock (one of the characters from King's much-earlier novella, The Body). So this is definitely worth the read.

A movie was based on this book (or a sanitized version of it), but leaving out the more intriguing events. And it was not funny at all. Meanwhile, the human struggles of the heart that King describes are what make this a good book. It's really not about what ultimately happens to Castle Rock or its citizens.

What a town, I guess in the past when I have read Cujo, and Sun Dog I didn't realize they took place in the same town. It wasn't until reading the first chapter of this book that I had to hit myself in the forehead for not paying close enough attention. Now the title made sense that it was the last Castle Rock Story. That poor fictional town has had nothing but one disaster after another.

This book is about a man who comes into town and opens shop, claiming that he has just what you are looking for. Each person in town has something they want more than anything, it could be an old Baseball card or even a fishing pole just like Dad's, Mr Guant will have it in his shop for a price. It might not be what you think you would pay for something as rare, but Guant is a fair trader.

I enjoyed this book but not as much as I expected to. The idea sounded great, but I was expecting a bit more suspense and creepiness. I found it slow from time to time as well and thought more could have been cut out because I didn't feel it added to the plot at all. In terms of the plot, it kept me interested but not enough to were I couldn't wait to get back to listening to it. I was fine taking a break and picking it up when I had time. I also felt the ending was a bit predictable, but it was very enjoyable still.

For me the best part about this book was since I listened to it in audio, it was read by the man himself, Mr Stephen King. It was such a thrill to have King read this because then I got to hear the voices as he meant them to be, the way they must have sounded in his head. I really enjoyed that and King is a good reader for audio. I have listened to books before where the author has read their own works and it was disappointing. King was defiantly not disappointing when it came to reading this.

Castle Rock, Maine has a new store in town and once business starts it booms. It has something for everyone, from young to old. The prices are really low and fair and shoppers just seem to always leave happy. The store's proprietor Leland Gaunt seems like such a nice man and all he asks for when he sells his goods is a fair price and a little favor. The buyer has to pull a prank on one of the town's other residents.

Sheriff Alan Pangborn doesn't like Gaunt. The sheriff also has his hands full of problems trying to settle the town down with all of the violence and hatred that has erupted. Gaunt just seems to know what to ask for to stir up the most trouble and vicious behavior. He knows that people will pay almost anything to get their wishes, dreams and desires. Ultimately many towns' people sell their souls for Gaunt's goods and it is up to Pangborn to try to save their souls and the town itself.....

This is an excellent book and Stephen King understands what it takes to get people at each other's throats with vengeance in their eyes. In this story he creates a demon in the guise of an old gentleman who collects souls. Only the sheriff with his bravery can save what is left of the town. I loved this story and it is much better as a book than the movie that was later released. The movie failed to follow the book and is different in the end and it detracted from the story line in my opinion.

I recommend that you read the book and watch the DVD and judge for yourself. If you are a Stephen King fan, like I am you, will find yourself liking this book and enjoy both forms of entertainment to varying degrees. I recommend this book to you as a good story!

Why read: Reading all of Stephen King's books

What impressed me: I love Stephen King, but he has a really annoying habit of writing these mind-blowing stories and then sort of ruining them with something unnecessarily over the top in the end. Having not seen the movie version of Needful Things, I was very worried the ending would not work for me. I was so pleased to find that King kept everything on track and making sense to the very end. And as always, King shines when he focuses on internal character development and Needful Things showcases that on a large scale. We see into the entire town's inner desires, secrets and greed. Things get scary well before you realize anything supernatural is even going on.

What disappointed me: So long. So very, very long. This fantastic story just dragged on unnecessarily. Since the start of his career, people seem just completely unwilling to really edit King's books. The story works as is, but could have worked as well and been less intimidating to readers had it been cut down a bit.

Recommended: Definitely. This is classic horror. Not to be missed.

In my opinion, this novel is one of Stephen King's best. This is one of my favorite King novels from the 90s. Every aspect of the book is near perfect, the plot is awesome, its fast paced, exciting and thrilling, and best of all the end is great too.

The novel in essence is about the opening of a new store in Castle Rock, the store causes a stir among the small town populus. The day of opening a boy goes in, he knows in his mind that he wont find anything because after all it is just a simple antique store. But somehow he is able to find a vintage Sandy Koufax base ball card, the excat year and exact series that he needed for his collection and the best part was that it was very cheap, their was only 1 stipulation he had to play a "harmless prank" on someone in town, usually some one that they already dislike; A harmless prank that turns into 2 or 3 pranks (your not done until Mr. Gaunt says your done). As the novel goes on this pattern continues with people going in and always finding what they have always desired in life and always getting it for a cheap price with the added bit of "community service at the end". As the residents start playing pranks on each other the pranks tend to get more and more violent and exploitive ultimately leading to violence within the town and which leads to an explosive awesome ending. It should also be mentioned that he inlists the help of two is the towns most unstable and dangerous people to assist him at his shop... definately bad luck for the town!! Additionally, I would say Mr. Gaunt (the name should say all it needs to) is one of the best King villians in any of his books, the way he is crafted and developed is phenominal, and the way he ends up in the finale is even more awesome.

Definately pick this one up, it is a great read. You will not be disappointed in this one at all.

I read this book when it first came out. I had been eagerly anticipating it when the novel was released in October and I immediately feel under the spooky spell Stephen King cast from this book. I had previously read The Dark Half and Four Past Midnight and I remember King enticing me as a reader with the promise of a kind of trilogy about Castle Rock ending in what he called a longer work called Needful Things. I was on pins and needles because I could not get over that creepy title and what it could mean! Both The Dark Half and Four Past Midnight scared the living daylights out of me and I loved them both and I just couldn't wait for this magnum opus of my favorite horror town of Castle Rock! I have to say that the wait was well worth it; I devoured this monster of a novel in two weeks late in October (the perfect time to read this book) and I remember being pleasantly scared to death and somewhat wistful that Castle Rock may actually be no more. The whole atmosphere bleeds that dark fall of the year in Maine and I feel that a little part of me died along with MANY of the townsfolk in that novel. I have never read a Stephen King novel which I didn't enjoy but this one has to have a special place in my heart because of its finality of not only the spookiest town in literature but seemingly also an era with Stephen King. The next novel from him after this one was Gerald's Game and while I read and loved it too (still makes me thirsty just thinking of that book) I noticed that the subsequent novels following Needful Things seemed to head down a different dark road than those prior to it. I still loved all the others but I just feel that Needful Things marks and end of an era for me in terms of Stephen King.

Although there are some supernatural elements in "Needful Things", the true terror isn't supernatural at all. What is REALLY frightening about this story is how the lower aspects of human nature - greed, fear, paranoia, and pride - can cause such pain, suffering and destruction.

This was much more frightening to me than King's usual fare, because I could actually imagine some of these scenarios happening without the supernatural catalyst provided in the story. In fact, if you read the newspapers or watch the news, you can see this sort of pointless human-created devastation every day. The only thing keeping this tale of small-town apocalypse safely in the realm of fiction is the sheer magnitude of the emotional domino-effect of destruction.

Format note: This is the second audio book by Stephen King read by Stephen King that I've listened to. A totally satisfying experience! I truly believe that the best way to "listen" to a book is to have the author read it.

even if it costs them everything." Once again, Stephen King uses his well-developed, biting prose and sharp, twisted imagination to paint a moving portrait of small-town calm that becomes slowly infested with a gradually growing evil. This is NEEDFUL THINGS which, as mentioned at the very end, took Stephen King over two years to write, finishing it in 1991. It is one of his longer books, at 736 pages (in the paperback edition I own), but it held my interest throughout, actually increasing it the more I read!
NEEDFUL THINGS is subtitled "The Last Castle Rock Story," and what a grand finale it is! Castle Rock is, of course, the fictional Maine town in which Stephen King has set some of his most memorable works. It also lent its name to his production company, which has churned out many modern film classics. Being the single place name that is most famously associated with King, it is a surprise to me (and, I suspect, to many others) that a total of only five of his many novels are set in Castle Rock: THE DEAD ZONE (1979), CUJO (1982), THE TOMMYKNOCKERS (1987), THE DARK HALF (1989) and NEEDFUL THINGS (1991). However, as King ominously reminds us at the beginning of the latter, "You've been here before." We sure have, and it is an absolute joy to revisit this most deceptively interesting of small towns that King has created for us.
Sheriff Alan Pangborn, the lone holdover from the previous Castle Rock story THE DARK HALF, has lost his wife and only child to a tragically sudden car accident that occurred between that story and this one. It shocked him into a depressing reality, one that is helped somewhat by a kindred spirit in Polly Chalmers, who runs a sewing store and who has an enigmatic past of her own that she has never fully revealed. of course, she *will* let Alan in on the missing details...in time. However, they and others in the town take their minds temporarily off their own problems to investigate that new store Needful Things, which looks about ready to open. When it does, the fun really begins...
The sinister storeowner, Leland Gaunt, is one of the best King villains; you know he is not the gentlemanly old fellow he seems to be at first when he entertains the impressionably young Brian Rusk, but you aren't quite sure (for most of the time) as to who (or what) he actually is. Of course, you begin to guess this early on, but King wisely chooses to reveal Gaunt's true identity very slowly, in scattershot throughout the book. Some reviewers on here have mentioned that for how long the story is, the ending presents a bit of a letdown. I'll admit that it wasn't quite what I expected, and it did disappoint me a little; however, I also realized that a story dealing with the supernatural and occult probably *shouldn't* be too-neatly-wrapped-up at the end.
All in all, NEEDFUL THINGS develops at least a dozen characters very well, from those with whom I deeply sympathized (Sheriff Pangborn, Polly Chalmers, eleven-year-old---and first customer---Brian Rusk, his younger brother Sean, Nettie Cobb and Myrtle Keeton) and others I absolutely detested (Wilma Jerzyck, Danforth "Buster" Keeton and Reverend William "Steamboat Willie" Rose; I just love SK's knack for picking great nicknames!). This is a story that is tremendously absorbing, effectively disturbing and worth every bit the time it takes to really get into it. NEEDFUL THINGS is one of the best Stephen King books I have read at this point; mind you, I have read only a handful of others so far. Now I really want to read the rest of his incredible collection of gloriously twisted, imaginative works!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED; AGES 17 & UP

A new store, Needful Things, opens in town, and its proprietor, Leland Gaunt, offers unbelievable bargains to Castle Rock's troubled citizens. Gaunt doesn't require payment in dollars; he prefers payment in "little pranks".

Winning over Castle Rock's inhabitants with intelligence and politeness, Gaunt's reputation as a gentleman spreads quickly. He lets a boy get a valuable baseball card for next to nothing, providing the boy plays a "little prank" on someone. Like lighting fire to a fuse, Gaunt sets people against each other. He finds their weaknesses and exploits it. Often just one little act could turn people to finally killing their enemies even if their enemies were not actually responsible. The result is death and mayhem.

As the dreams of each strikingly memorable character inexorably turn to nightmare, individuals and soon the community are overwhelmed, while the precise nature of Gaunt's evil stays just out of focus until it's too late.

Somehow or other Stephen King manages to make every character memorable. The story revolves around a few main characters, but they're intertwined with the minor characters so skillfully that they're tight as a knot without any loose ends. The writing is extremely sharp and a joy to read. The first half of the book is relatively slow, however, climax at the end is immensely rewarding if you take the time to finish it.

Needful Things was fantastic. I'm sorry I haven't read any other Stephen King books - this is the first Stephen King novel I've ever read, not counting On Writing. Although labeled as a horror writer, Stephen King goes beyond giving his readers goose bumps. Beyond the blood and gore lie very human stories of love, hate - and redemption.

Stephen King's "Needful Things" takes place in the town of Castle Rock, Maine. A new store has opened up that is run by a man named Leland Gaunt. He specializes in carrying everything and anything that you could ever want. The only problem, is that each person's "needful thing" comes at one HELL of a price, that could end costing the person their soul.
Stephen King is not my favorite author, but I have read enough of his books to know that some are better than others. To this day, I still feel that Needful Things is one of his best books. The idea behind the story is what really makes this book fun to read. The idea that the Devil himself could come to a town and tempt the town members with their deepest desires is very appealing. The best thing, is that the characters do it all to themselves, because everything is based on free will. All the Devil does is show the characters the way, and convince them to pull a "harmless little prank" on members of the town. The story is extremely well written and moves at a very fast pace. I usually read a 400 -500 page book in 2 -3 days. That is how long it took me to read Needful Things. The 731 pages just seem to fly by, because King manages to create a story that involves you in the lives of each of the characters. As much as I would love to give this book 5 stars, I cannot because of the ending. You are left on the edge of your seat waiting for the end of the book to come, only to be left hanging by an ending that leaves things up in the air. This is the type of story that deserves a clear, cut ending.
I will say this however. King's character development is at its all time best in this book. The reason being obviously because he created a whole town. Every character introduced is enjoyable. The main players are the Devil Leland Gaunt who is King's best villan ever, Sheriff Alan Pangborn who is the hero of the story, Alan's girlfriend Polly Chalmers who suffers from arthritis, Nettie Cobb and Wilma Jerzyck who spend thier time bickering and fighting, and Danforth "Buster" Keaton who is the other main villan.
Needful Things is filled with comedy, romance, suspense, and overall terror. The story is well written and appealing, the characters are all great, and by the end of the story you feel like you have gotten to know a lot of them. With only one major flaw, the book is an overall treat to read.

All things considered, I think that you'd have to say that, at the time this book was first published, this was the best that Stephen King had ever written, bar none. Undoubtedly, the novel still stands out for its pacing, clarity, and remarkable lack of bloat (I'm a fan and I have to admit that some of his books have been a little longer than they needed to), and it's those qualities that best recommend it to prospective readers. There's a lot of good in this book, and any casual reader ought to enjoy it.
However, the book also suffers from a few problems that might bother some readers. First, the obvious--we are talking about Stephen King, and that means that you're going to have some severe language, occasional violence, and sexuality. Very few of King's books have actually succeeded in avoiding those qualities, and while this one isn't the prime violator, it still might not be such a great idea to let your thirteen year old child grab this book off the shelf before you've screened it.
More fundamentally, there are some elements of this book that could potentially frustrate tried and true King fans. One of the most recent criticisms leveled against Steve goes something like this: he's letting his lazily developing series (the Dark Tower books) dominate everything that he writes. That is most definitely true of this book. Those who have some passing familiarity with Roland and his journey will recognize some literary Easter eggs in the novel's conclusion, and the cosmology that Stephen King alludes to is most definitely that of the Dark Tower series. This wasn't a problem for me--I happen to like the Dark Tower books--but it could be a problem for readers who'd just as well have nothing to do with it.
As usual, what King has managed to do in this book is take a story older than the combined age of all his many readers and turn it into something new and entertaining, though, and for that he should be praised. The characters in this novel (particularly Alan Pangborn, who I myself doubted could fill George Bannerman's big shoes), while certainly not deep (one of King's faults is the fact that his characters almost invariably end up defining themselves on the basis of one or two idiosyncratic traits) are endearing, and any reader of Needful Things will likely find himself remembering Alan, Polly, and Leland after he finishes the book. The usual King touch for detail is also intact--a fact which combines with his casual and neighborly voice to make this book a very easy one to read.
While Needful Things may not measure up to the bar set by later entries in King's catalog (Desperation comes to mind, along with Hearts in Atlantis), the book, taken on its own merits, is an enjoyable last romp through a familiar setting made new, and while it probably won't challenge you to rethink your world view, it should be more than adequate to the task of entertaining a reader for more than a few hours.

King here delivers one of his best novels to date, and that means that this novel is way better than most of the fiction on the shelves today. I am a fan of Stephen King but had taken a break from him; not because I was tired of him but because I needed to relax after his intense plots, remarkable characters, and superior writing. When I decided to get back in Stephen King's writing I started with this book, "Needful Things." I was astonished by how complex the plot was, with literally about ten to fifteen characters, and how King kept it moving quickly making you turning pages and pages, and before you know it you'll be done with this humongous novel that is epic in scope.
Welcome to Castle Rock, Maine, Stephen King's fictitious town which has held many previous King novels. The book opens up with a prologue type of chapter that describes the town and the people in it. King's vivid imagination is put to use here as he describes many of the characters that will be met later on in the book. Then there is a sign on a store that will be opening soon. The store is called Needful Things. The residents of Castle Rock are all wondering what the store will be like and for the first few pages we understand the characters thoughts about the store. Leland Gaunt is the owner of the store and he sells whatever the customer desires. Whether it is a baseball card, a picture, or an antique. Gaunt charges a small price for everything, but the customers must do a command that is assigned to them. Mr. Gaunt has a whole plan up his sleeve, one that can capture all of the souls of Castle Rock for himself...
One of the best aspects about the novel are the characters. There really isn't one main character as King switches to the stories of many of Castle Rock's residents revolving around what is going on with Needful Things. Because of this the reader isn't stuck with only one viewpoint. We get to see enemies' thoughts through both eyes, which makes the reader have to choose between right and wrong. The reader isn't stuck with the author's take on the scene; that's up to you. Leland Gaunt is the perfect multi-dimensional villain. At times he may seem as the good guy who is trying to help everybody, but then he'll seem like the bad guy that is out to hurt everybody else. In addition to this villain every other character in this book is three dimensional, such as Sherrif Alan Pangborn, Polly, Nettie, Brian Rusk, Ace, and many others that are worth reading about.
To put it simply, Stephen King is a genius when it comes to writing a well crafted novel. This book contains everything that makes a book great. He includes character development, plot development, description, and wonderful writing. This novel flows very quickly and despite its length you will have this superb novel completed in no time. I guarantee you that it will be nearly impossible to put this book down. "Needful Things" works as a thriller or as a novel involving the paranormal. King makes the novel very realistic. This is a work of genius. Read it.
Happy Reading!

Needful Things, how should I say it, is not a bad novel. It is just different from some of Stephen King's other work. This book doesn't really deal with supernatural events and people with special powers and abilities. Needful Things, all in all, a very good novel with several shocks and twists but to me it was just a very enjoyable story with a clever beginning, middle, and end. When I mention shocks, I do not mean scares. This book is not at all scary but the unexpected turn of events or the relationships between the characters is what urges the reader to continue reading.
When I first began it, it seemed a little boring. As stated in my Misery review, the book only gets interesting when something actually starts happening and we feel the people's reactions to it. It is, by far, one of the best King books that I read not just because of its twists but all of its realism despite the villain. It feels as though you could meet any of these characters anywhere if you bothered to look. King has a gift for making realistic people, just not making them go through realistic situations. Once again, he bombards us with violence, sex, drugs, and other events that don't make a single difference to the outcome of the story.
Needful Things takes place in Castle Rock, a small town in Maine that was the setting for other King novels such as the Dead Zone and Cujo. A new shop has opened and has quickly become the talk of the town. Needful Things, as the mysterious owner Leland Gaunt calls it, is a different kind of shop. Inside of it you will most likely find what you've always dreamed of having but have never received. Mr. Gaunt is willing to give you the item but as always there is a price to pay. The more Mr. Gaunt sells the more the Sheriff of Castle Rock Alan Pangborn begins to realize his awful plan, which results in a gigantic battle between Alan Pangborn an Mr. Gaunt.
Once again, several thoughts in the book are just sick including a particular character who commits suicide (I won't tell you who just so not to wreck the story) and a battle with a poisonous spider which I still don't believe should have been involved in the story. Sure, the ending is farfetched but clever and does ensure room for a sequel(although it probably won't take place in Castle Rock).
The characters and storyline are well developed and change thoughts many times throughout the book. Although the actual villain of the story, Leland Gaunt felt as though he was the main character in the story. His wicked and charming ways make it hard for us to distinguish whether he really is evil or whether he is the calm gentleman all the customers recognize. Very recommended and fun to read, Neeful Things is a novel you shouldn't miss out on. It's one purchase you will not regret.

I have been a fan of King for years, and it is simply a given that when one of his novels come out I am in the bookstore that very day, plunking down whatever the asking price for a hardcover copy. There are many horror novel fans (believe it or not) who will tell you that Stephen King is a pulp author whose talents are based solely on the ability to toss off a 900 page book with an interesting sounding plotline every fall or so, but we true fans know that King's writing is much more than that, that he is a master storyteller capable of entertaining, shocking, and frightening at the same time. Needful Things is a prime example of King at his twisted best. The story centers on King's now mythical town of Castle Rock (undoubtedly an unlucky place; it is the site of Cujo and The Body to name a few of King's other works). A small rural town such as Castle Rock cannot help but take interest when a mysterious stranger breezes in and sets up shop (particularly a shop with a name as enticing as 'Needful Things'). The proprietor, one Leland Gaunt, can offer the residents of Needful Things whatever they want... for a price. Literally, the hopes and dreams of every person in town is somewhere on Gaunt's shelves, and as it turns out, most of them are willing to do anything to buy them. Of course, Gaunt doesn't simply take money; he requires a favor of his clients, in the form of a small service (usually a seemingly harmless prank or act of vandalism inflicted on another citizen). The people of Castle Rock are only too happy to comply, and that is where King really begins to spin the yarn. You see, Gaunt is very intelligent and very wicked. He uses the weaknesses and prejudices of the residents of Castle Rock against them, and soon his seemingly random series of pranks begin to connect, and suddenly the good folks of Castle Rock are set against one another, paranoid, vindictive, vengeful people who will do anything to protect their 'needful things'. Eventually, the killing begins. King turns his characters into killers and monsters in a frighteningly believable way, and ties the characters together in ways that will make you sit back and marvel at his storytelling. Obliviously assisting Gaunt is Ace Merril (yes, the same character from The Body, played by Kiefer Sutherland in the film Stand by Me) A criminal all his life, Ace harbors a hatred for Castle Rock that Gaunt cultivates and nurtures. The only thing that stands between Castle Rock and damnation is our hero, sheriff Alan Pangborn, who distrusts Gaunt and attempts to unravel his evil scheme (those of you who read King's The Dark Half will recognize Pangborn; he is one of its central characters as well). I must say after all this that I was less than impressed with the dramatic, climactic ending, which I found to be more than a tad cheesy and unfulfilling. However, the story leading up to the less than agreeable ending is well worth the mild disappointment. I would recommend Needful Things as a very enjoyable and exciting read, right up there with King's best works (the very best of which is the magnificent Eyes of the Dragon, which I will review some time in the future). If you are a King fan, Needful Things is a must, and if not, then I suggest it as an entertaing alternative to whatever your area of interest might be

Steven King is not only a master at chilling his readers to the bone, but he has been doingit for some twenty years. Three particular novels, one under his pen name of Richard Bachman, all have a common theme of one's deepest fears coming to life. Needful Things, The Regulators (as Bachman), and Cujo, all embody this common theme. Needful Things takes place in the small town of Castle Rock, Maine. The unsuspecting inhabitants of the town are subject to an unknown means of evil. A store named Needful Things, and its proprietor, Leland Gaunt, have terrible things in mind for the people of the town. Any item is for sale, for a small price, and a small prank. Everybody believes that the store is too good to be true, and the town sheriff, Alan Pangborton, knows that this is the truth. The common theme is arises as more and more people are driven to violence due to the pranks. As Leleand Gaunt emerges as a man who is more evil than homely and handsome, the violences also grows. Alan battles for control of his town as it spins into chaos. the deep fear of your neighbors turning against you for no apparent reason is brought up in this terrifying novel when Gaunt and Pangborton finally confront each other in a battle of good and evil. The Regulators is also a novel of mystical things and brutal death. Audrey Wyler and her autistic nephew have been tormented by some unseen evil for many months. When the brightly colored vans come to Poplar Street, Audrey knows that the unseen evil has come to life. The vans are filled with shot gun bearing ghosts who inflict a rain of bullets over the people and houses of Poplar Street. They kill many, and cause incredible suffering to those who survive. The common theme is present when the vans start to shoot, and the people must hide form the ever present drive by shootings. This fear of death is in everybody, and it has also arisen in The Regulators. In Cujo, the force is not mystical, and is far from the evils present in the previous two novels. The evil in this novel, is a former sweet Sanit Bernard dog. When Cujo catches rabies, his family has left and he is left alone. Donna Trenton is suffering form a crumbling marriage, and feelings of despair. When she takes her son, Tad, to the home of the man who can fix her car, she does not know what she will find there. Donna is confronted with Cujo, who is restless and very disallusioned. She is trapped in her car, waiting for anybody to come and help her out of the blistering heat, and rabid dog. The common theme is represented here, by the ever present dog lurking in the shadows, close enough to jump if she tries to escape. The three novels, Needful Things, The Regulators, and Cujo, all embody the common theme of deep, hidden fear coming to life.

I just finished reading this book by Stephen King and I had to write a review on it immediately! This is an astounding piece of work that Stephen King has written, and of all the books that I have read of his, I would definitely consider `Needful Things' as one of his best!

The story revolves around a shop called `Needful Things', which has just opened in the small town of Castle Rock. At first, everyone is very curious to get a glimpse of exactly what the shop holds. The shop is led by a mysterious man named Leland Gaunt, who seems to have, in stock, everything that each and every citizen in Castle Rock desires. However, in exchange for money, he asks his customers to perform small deeds for him, which seems playful, but ultimately leads to disastrous consequences.

King has a magical way of bringing a whole town together in this book. We get to read about each and every citizen, their relationships with the others, and how drastically their lives change after a short period of time. You feel for many characters in this book, especially Nettie Cobb, Brian Rusk, Polly Chalmers and Myrtle Keeton. From the purchase that Brian Rusk makes at the shop, till the final battle between good and evil, we are taken in with the story. Leland Gaunt, the owner of Castle Rock is one of the best villains King has created. Gaunt will seem like an angel in one scene and will frighten you in the next. The only other villain I found to be as convincing as Gaunt was Flagg (from King's `Eyes of the Dragon').

"Needful Things" was the last Castle Rock story that Stephen King wrote and what an exciting book it was! If you have not read this book yet, make it a priority to pick it up when you take a trip to your bookstore.

With his no-nonsense brand of legerdemain, King introduces the reader to a townful of quarky individuals with deep dark needs wedged not too deeply within each of their psyche. When villian Leland Gaunt opens his shop, "Needful Things", he teases each of Castle Rock's good neighbors' desires to the surface by waving under their respective noses just the right object symbolic of some unfulfilled emotion. He doesn't ask for much in return---a paultry amount of money and the performance of a little prank played on a specified yet unsuspecting neighbor. In a little over a week, the town is duking it out with Gaunt rubbing his hands in anticipation and Sheriff Pangborn blinking in disbelief.
From the start the reader knows that Gaunt embodies evil and his intentions are not to please but to achieve Castle Rock's swift destruction. However, I don't think the genius of this tale lies within its plot, but rather in the way King makes you salivate over each citizen's downfall while probing within to determine which 'Needful Thing' Leland Gaunt would use to entice and destroy the actual reader. His simple style deceives us into believing that we have "already heard this one" and then as we feel his well-crafted trap clench one leg, he scares the living daylights out of us as we realize the monster we fear the most is growling within our closest closet.
I listened to an unabridged audiobook version of this book on a long car trip and found King's kinky prose fun and focusable. Hence, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a classic story of the battle between good and evil peppered generously with a good sense of humor.

Stephen King once said about this book, "Everything's for sale, but the only price is your immortal soul. I thought Needful Things was hilarious!!" Sadistic, eh? But I have to agree with Mr. King, because I just loved the town's (Castle Rock) slow descent to madness, and its inevitable destruction. Even though not a drop of blood is spilled till almost page 300, you are hooked from the beginning of the book, where you meet Leland Gaunt, the Proprieter of Needful Things (a store with all your heart's desires, at only the price of your soul and to play a "little" trick on one of your fellow townsmen) till the chaotic destruction of Castle Rock, one of Stephen King's most memorable locales, home to the stories "Cujo","The Dark Half" and the excellent short story "The Body". This book is also superbly written with King's haunting metaphors and spine-tingling characters that scratch at your back, but strangely the last 50 pages or so seem to be not as well written in some of the action sentences, but that dosen't mean the ending isn't good. Also, I think King did a good job of keeping the plethora of characters in order, as SK managed to tell ALL.. the characters' stories without the plot falling apart, and I applaud him for that. Congratulations Mr.King, you have crafted an excellent story that stays with the reader after he finished it, and once again you have entertained me. Also the end was strikingly funny and sadistic to me (The VERY END) and topped off what was to me, a very Needful Thing in my Stephen King collection

Leland Gaunt might be an incarnation of evil, but that doesn't make him a one-note character. The dynamic between Gaunt and Castle Rock's inhabitants is in a constant state of evolution: sometimes Gaunt is the focal point around which the other characters gravitate, a spider capturing more and more victims in its numbing, deadly web; at other moments, he is at the periphery, an active observer of his creation like an inferior demiurge who relishes in pain and mayhem - the prices he commands for the 'needful things' he sells is much more spiritual than material. The most interesting aspects of the novel are related to religion and the sacred. Gaunt takes the guise of Good as he seemingly brings wonder to people who didn't have any, and he appears to give his clients access to the sacred while violently cutting them from the profane world; but this is less a religious experience than a pernicious illusion devised by a dark magician. The book's structure is such that its length poses no problem to the reader - it is quite the opposite. King delays the inevitable Pangborn-Gaunt confrontation as much as he can, and the pace quickens in the novel's second half. 'Needful Things' lends itself to a plethora of allegorical readings, including Gaunt as the guru of a dangerous sect; as a druglord; as an author of macabre fiction (his clients need to 'believe' his stories as much as readers do and they soon become addicted to his 'work'). This is not an easy novel, but one that inquisitive readers should look for.

9.0 STARS OUT OF 10!!!!!!!!!

Once upon a time, I was 13 years old and hanging at a buddies house. Unlike most of my peers at that age, I was an avid reader. I graduated from the Hardy Boys, to Goosebumps(LOL), and was currently tackling John Grisham and the like. I was waiting to get onto the next game of NHL 93 for Sega Genesis when I noticed my buddies mother's bookshelf in the living room. I started digging through it and with pure luck I ended up with Needful Things.

I hadn't the slightest idea that this book was the epic ending of a set of books occurring in a small town called Castle Rock. I hadn't the slightest idea who Stephen King was except he wrote horror novels(some of which were turned into bad movies), and that those novels sold very well. That stuff didn't matter. I cracked open that hefty book and before long I was addicted. It seemed like I was missing out on some inside jokes and plots, but it didn't matter. The book blew my mind. I couldn't believe the time I wasted the last few years reading anything different.

Anyway, 14 years later, I have read pretty much everything King has written a handful of times. With nothing good to read of late, I've been reading some of King's novels for the 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th time. Needful Things was just finished for the 2nd time.

Stephen King visited the fictional town of Castle Rock in several novels including the Dead Zone and Cujo among others. This is the "last" of the Castle Rock novels. The book starts with a new shop in town called Needful Things. It seems to have at least one item that everyone who shops there just HAS to buy. Usually such items would cost an arm and a leg, but not at Needful Things. These items are all for very cheap barring the customer does the owner of the shop a little favor. These favors are overall pretty small tasks and range from seemingly harmless pranks to petty mischief. As you would think, the owner of this shop has a little secret that the townsfolk are soon to find out.

Needful Things is a long and pretty good novel starring not only new characters but also a handful of characters from Castle Rock novels past and present. While there are many little references and inside jokes(A scene with Cujo's ghost was my favorite), you do not need prior knowledge of Castle Rock to enjoy this book. My only qualm with this book is the very ending. This is a long book with A LOT of slow building tension that leads to a very exciting last one hundred pages. To me the last scene is very anti-climactic and hinders an all around good book from being an all around GREAT book.

This is another very very enjoyable book from Stephen King, master of the sprawling apocalyptic horror novel painted on ridiculously large canvas. This novel is no different. t's a many-paged volume that you might at first blak at reading, but rest assured, all those pages whizz by in a flash.
Several things aid this (aside form a fast-paced and exciting plot): an easy writing style, lots of characters, all fully formed, who are always freshening up the material because it means that there is always something different going on. The relatively short sections of the book encourage the reader to read more. And the fact that the book is just plain engrossing.
The characters are all very real, very human. (Unfortunately, the one flaw in King's books is that most of the characters in all his books remind me of many that have appeared before, just with different names. His characters remain basically the same. But, with always using such a large cast, this cant exactly be avoided.) Many of them are not always likeable (but still they remian painfully human) and because we dont always like them, i suppose that makes the ending a bit easier to cope with. However, there are a couple of really likeable characters ti balance it out.
This, while being an excellent, rather creepy, book, is also a bit depressing, though. So, if you're not feeling well-disposed in your attititudes toward humanity at any point, that is not the time to read this book!

This book is often overlooked by some more popular ones (The Stand, IT, Pet Semetary etc etc.), but that doesn't mean it isn't one of King's best. This is definitley my type of book. I love any Castle Rock story, and this was the perfect way for King to go out of Castle Rock(for a while at least)...Ace from Stand By Me/The Body is a character, as is Alan from "The Dark half", and many other castle rock characters/events are mentioned. I also enjoy a large cast of diverse characters which this has. You see first hand a small town slowly demising in fron of your eyes, and the ride along the way is nothing short of fantastic. King paints the small town perfect once again, fills it with horror and excitiment(as always), and anyone who hasn't read this book has really missed out in my opnion. I truly believe if this book was more popular, it would be mentioned at the top of King's list in many peoples eyes. Great great book.

*Also, Leland Gaunt is a fantastic villian*

After starting this book I began to realize that I was perhaps reading one of Mr. King's better books. The writing was crisp and punchy and the characters were believably drawn out, not to mention quite funny. Soon, I saw the story working on three levels: 1) that, yes, we all have "needful things" (one's man trash is quite simply another man's treasure) and that 2) we would do anything to hang on to our "needful things", be them religion, memories of childhood, relationships or even a ball card ("you can have yours, just get away from mine") and that 3) perhaps it is "needful" in and of itself to want to wreck havoc, murder and chaos upon the world in which we live. You see, the characters in this book jump in to the fray, so to speak, quite willingly. Perhaps Mr. King is telling us, in his inimitable, cynical fashion, that we "need" to be bullies, conquerors, destroyers in this world and just might actually enjoy it.
Pretty heavy stuff and I enjoyed "Needful Things" (in concept and book) thoroughly until the cop-out ending. Too much mysticism for my taste. This book was pretty brutal, unkind and devilish and the ending was quite rushed and convenient, which is surprising for King, who is as long-winded an author as I've ever read. Still, a fun and thought provoking book.

I loved this book straight through to the end, not through the end though. If you are not a King fan than I must agree that this is not the book for you. This is perhaps the only truly ridiculous ending King has had. Of course he has had so-so endings and fantastic over the tops ones and the occasional ending that plays off of religion which isn't quite a bad thing really. However this ending had me feeling really cheated for days, I liked the first part of the book so much and took the time to read it and then there's this...this... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
Anyway if you are a fan I will say that the characters are all great and that if you like long engrossing stories with alot going on, this is 96 percent a fantastic book! If that wasn't very convincing, excuse me I am still quite bitter. So if this doesn't turn you against the book exactly then keep in mind that I did give it a 4 for the first 96 percent and I meant it. But also keep in mind that I told you -counting the end- this is his worst possible book that I know of. A way better book is The GreenMile and a way more rewarding long read is The Dark Tower series. Hope that helped, it really isn't worth describing the rest but here it is real quick.
Smart grief-stricken cop from big city in a small town. Nice older Gentleman who may be Satan. Small time drug dealer. Corrupt counselman with pre-existing mental problems. Young woman with secrets and arthritis. Religious conflict. Town war. The selling of your soul for material posession. Ridiculous unrewarding ending. Constant Great narration [even through the ridiculous ending ]. Distinct segragation of a small town but upkeep of pop culture. Many ignorant people driven to violence, stupidity, and weakness, paranoia, jealousy and so on. Greed, righteousness, and only 1 truly sane [but still fighting through internal conflict] and sober man, who is the LAW. Cool story, horrible ending. You are all dismissed.

Another King hit. I know I'm late to the show with this book, seeing how it was published in 1991, and there that has been a movie made of it but I promised my wife I would read all of my hardcover's when I'm home and I need to get through them before I hit that Kindle list.

As with most King books the plot is great...there are many ties to other books, people and current events that keep you in suspense the whole time.

I created an image of Mr. Gaunt as I read the book and once I found out who actually played him in the movie it was dead on!!

Manipulation of people can come in many forms and while this has the mystical form there are those more subtle ones that come by way of commercials and political ads. Can we ever do anything without causing another person some issue? Is it possible that we all jump to conclusions about those we suspect before looking at the facts? King plays on these simple human instincts and adds his own brand of evil to the mix.

As always...well written and I would most definitely recommend this to a friend to read.

(that should be 4.5 stars, by the way) I must say, I'm one of these people who will praise King and his works until the end. Everything is GOOD. Nothing is BAD. All works are created equal. But this book broke formation and stood out from the rest. Instead of projecting a film into my head (as he always does.....come on, admit it!), King managed to project an ACTION film into my biased skull. The climax simply blows you away. But it is not just the explosive ending that earns this book the title of STANDOUT.
The characters are engaging (cliche, cliche) and wonderfully developed, and you feel even 'closer' to them than you are normally brought to feel with King books. Mr. Gaunt is quite the appealing Lucifer ("...Fe***tio gives me a headache."). The paced storyline is built up beautifully, making it extraordinarily hard to put the bloody thing down; and when it is all over, you feel quite low in that you are longing for more.
For those of you who read King plainly for the sex and violence/horror, you will not be disappointed. As I said, the book is an action film, and all action films are quite abundant in violence and gore. Enough said. And the relationship between Polly and Sheriff Pangborn (and to a lesser extent, between Myra, Cora and Elvis)should be enough to satisfy any hetrosexuals out there.
So, all in all, a highly enjoyable read that, while perhaps not awarded 'classical' status by critics, is certainly a personal favourite for me. And, for a change, the movie complemented the book (relatively) well.
Please, give it a shot.

A new shop called "Needful Things" arrives in the small Maine town of Castle Rock (where King also set Cujo and the novella The Sun Dog). The owner is the mysteriouse and creepy Leland Gaunt. Eleven year old Brian Rusk was the first customer and he got exactly what he wanted - a very rare 1956 Sandy Kaufax baseball card signed, to Brian. Cyndi Rose Martin was next and she got exactly what she wanted too. In fact ALL of the residents of Castle Rock got exactly what they wanted most or had almost dreamed of and for a very reasonable price...the money price that was, but Leland Gaunt made them pay in other ways, too...

This is the last book Stephen King has written that is based in Castle Rock - and if you are going to go out you might as well go out with a bang which is exactly what he has done with this book - and done incredibly well at that! I cant say too much without spoiling the storyline but this is an absolutely amazing book, by far one of Kings' best and the ending is one of the cleaverest, most well thought out endings I have ever read! Please read this book, you will not regret it it is one of the best.

Five-star reviews are thrown around today like frisbees at the park. But Needful Things, Stephen King's absorbing tale of (what else?) evil in a small town, deserves this rating. With incredible ease, King spins the yarn of a malevolent shopkeeper straight from the depths of Hades. For over 200 pages, King takes his time setting the scene and the characters. But with King, the pages fly by enjoyably. Meanwhile, he is tightening the screws of suspense to an almost unbearable level. The second part of Needful Things introduces us to the carnage, fire and brimstone that will dominate Part Three. King explores the concept of "soul selling" that can be found in this his recent "Storm of the Century." All the usual characters are there: The hero with a checkered past, the well-meaning youngster, the cocaine addict, the pedaphile principal, and of course, the diabolical embodiment of evil. The crescendo reaches deafening excitement in the final part of Needful Things. In a conclusion that tops any of King's works, the bubble of suspense finally bursts into one hundred pages of sheer excitement. The reader watches in awe as King paints the final magnificent strokes on his tapestry of pure horror delight.

I realise that there are better King novels out there - probably his earlier stuff - but his is by far and away my favorite. I will admit that the film with Ed Harris and Max von Sydow has influenced further my favoritism but this has everything. It draws on the inherent jealousy and envy within human nature, the desire for petty revenge that quickly spirals out of control and the religious animosity and human greed in the face of vanity. The devil raging through a small US town almost as an afterthought after newspaper clippings show far greater deeds, is excellently told. There is no ghoulishness or dripping blood at every turn, rather the fear and chills are generated through sheer human spite and maliciousness. Inevitably, this supernatural manipulation of human failings provides pathos, humor and lurching moments of genuine surprise. The characters are excellently drawn, from the small town sheriff with his arthritic girlfriend to the pitiably crazed 'Buster' and the fanatical religious leaders, the devil's subtle rampage through this small-town is excellently done by Stephen King. A must-read in the genre.

I can remember reading The Dark Half and liking it in a weird way for it's brutality and its straight-forward horror, then Four Past Midnight and getting mostly mixed feelings and finally buying Needful Things the day it came out in hardcover and plunging right into it with both feet. "The Last Castle Rock Story" everyone proclaimed, and all I could think was how could that be? Castle Rock was Stephen King's personal stomping ground. I was fearful that this meant the old wordslinger was getting ready to retire (silly me) and that I had better suck up Needful Things as if it were the last book that was ever going to mean anything to me. I have been a King junkie since I was 13 years old. That's going on 24 years. Jeez, it has been a long time, but I truly consider myself an afficionado and an expert on Steve-O's work, having read pretty much everything he's ever published. Needful Things has some mighty big shoes to fill if it was going to be "The Last Castle Rock Story"....

In the town of Castle Rock a new store is just about to open: Needful Things. Well...what ever could they sell in a store like that? Everyone in The Rock is pretty curious as small town intrigue goes. Leland Gaunt is the proprietor of the mysterious shop and he has just arrived in town to set all Hell loose. See...that's what he sells, Needful Things, and there's always two parts to a price, money and a deed. Everyone who steps foot inside his little store finds the most needful of things.

It seemed to me that after the hodge-podge that was Four Past Midnight, that King was holding back, saving something special. Needful Things not only gets you reacquainted with The Rock and its current natives, it also brings back some old favs as well. Ace Merill from "The Body" is back. So are nods to Cujo and The Dead Zone. The plot is rather simple, but so fully formed around its rich characters and cool gossipy tidbits, that you can;t help but fall fully into it right away. So grab a bench, light a smoke, and get ready, because all hell's broken loose in Castle Rock and the devil's dealing the cards.

Dig it!

Anything at all. For sale that is. Alan Pangborn, sheriff of Castle Rock, is very keen to meet the newest business owner in town, one Leland Gaunt. Word is Needful Things has a little something for everyone in town, so why can't the sheriff seem to catch up with the new proprietor?

Needful Things is right up there with a lot of old school king stories. A very large book of almost 800 pages and a story that doesn't let you down. From the start you have a gripping story and despite the book's length it doesn't have any flat spots throughout. A reasonably large cast keeps things moving along quite nicely but you never feel like you're getting lost.

I wouldn't put this up there with the more "horror" style of King's other works, but Gaunt is a wonderfully realised antagonist that you can smell evil on him right down to the thread on his clothes.

If you're looking for something to bury your teeth into for a week or so then Needful Things might be just what you are looking for. How surprising.

This book is one of the most perfect examples of the pure art of story telling imaginable. Not just content with developing a handful of characters, King presents a weird and wonderful array of actors in this novel. Sheriff Pangborn, Polly, Nettie, Wilma, Keeton, Hugh Priest, Ace Merrill, Brian Rusk, Myra Evans, and of course, the villain - Leland Gaunt. The storyline centres around Gaunt's new store on Main Street, Castle Rock - a shop called 'Needful Things'. By seemingly coincidence, the shop always stocks the one true desire of each and every customer who enters under the green awning. And it is always affordable - in many instances, the price is just the loose change in your hip pocket.
The reason for this is that Gaunt is not interested in monetary assets - it is souls he is after. Each purchase made comes with a small prank to be played on an unsuspecting member of the small town.
As pranks get more serious, and more and more people realise their heart's desire lies within the new store, the town descends into chaos.
King's ability to develop so many characters, and the fact that they are ALL so different, and so interesting, made this book my needful thing. I found it more entertaining than horrific - only one scene disgusted me, when Polly found out what was really inside her arthritic-curing charm.
The final one hundred pages were told beautifully, and in my mind it was easy to imagine the chaos descending, as explosions and murders happen almost every minute.
Overall this was an brilliant, excellent example of story telling. This was my first King novel - and it definitely will not be my last.

A simple clever idea neatly executed.

If the devil came to your town or city to destroy your community, how would he go about it? This book provides a convincing and entertaining answer to that question. Mr Gaunt is new in town, new yes but he knows the residents only too well, he knows more about them than they know, he understands their pressure points and the price of each of their souls.

The cleverness of this book is that it is so believable, the genius of Gaunts game lies in the differences between human beings, when he sets out to make one person destroy another he plans his moves exquisitely, breaking Wilma's windows seems relatively mild to the boy he selects for the job, yet to Wilma, it is calculated by Gaunt to make her homicidal with rage. Animal rights mean little (morally) to the man he selects to kill Nettie's dog, yet to the lonely, vulnerable and unstable animal lover Nettie, it turns her into a monster. Smaller misdeeds are turned into terrifyingly larger ones with great profit for the Devil Gaunt. Everyone has different values, everyone's endurance limit is different, and so like a row of dominos the town begins to lose it's mind.

P>I first reviewed this book several years ago. It was one of the first books by Mr. King that I had read. I loved it.
Now that I've had the chance to read much more of his work, what do I think of it now?
It's still great.
This is one of his best cast of characters assembled here. Alan Pangborn, Norris Ridgewick, Henry Payton, Ace Merrill...everyone is very real-seeming and three-dimensional.
But as is often the case in good fiction, the villain steals the show. Leland Gaunt will entrance the reader as much as he did the people of Castle Rock, while simultaneously making you loathe him utterly.
This is interesting, because most of King's villains are able to evoke *some* sympathy for the reader; Randall Flagg, IT, and Tak are just a few examples. So what's the difference? Why are those three--among others--capable of being rooted for while Leland Gaunt receives only boos?
Randall Flagg, IT, and Tak only want to kill you, and they have semi-indentifiable motives. Gaunt, however, simply wants to be entertained by the carnage and chaos. He'll steal your soul and sow havoc in the same way that you or I would turn on the TV. He'll manipulate whole towns simply for his amusement. Thus it is that King does an excellent job of portraying him as a demon who deserves nothing more than absolute destruction. Overall--still great!

I really liked this book. Its got a different feel to it than other Stephen King novels, almost lighter - although the subject matter is quite dark. SK is at his best when he is detailing the delicate inner workings of a small town in Maine, and this doesn't disappoint.

I really enjoyed reading the book Needful Things. The way Leland Gaunt twisted all of the other characters minds was awesome! My two favorite characters were Polly Chalmers and Alan Pangborn. the main reason I love Polly and Alan so much, is because they remind me of my own parents. I liked the plot of the story.
The best part of this book was when the police and the townspeople were trying to figure out who killed Nettie Cobb. the worst part of this book was when Polly cracked open the locket that she got from the store, Needful Things, and a huge spider crawled out of it. The reason that I hated this part was because I am terrified of spiders.
The plot and conflict were the most vivid. After reading the first chapter or so you could pretty much figure out what the rest of the story was going to be about. The conflict was a little more difficult to figure out, because each charcter's own problem was interlocked with another's.

I love to read King novels because he describes the characters so well. In this case, I felt some of the characters were short changed. I was also disappointed at the end, when the battle between good and evil took place. It did not live up to my expectations. King is a masterful storyteller and he kept me reading. Just not one of my favorite books by him.

This book is more about the scariness of human nature than the scariness of things external to us, and this makes it a great book. You think again and again about what your own response would be to the kind of temptation that the characters in this book are presented with, and you probably find yourself worrying more than a little.

My big problem with this book is that the bad guy, Leland Gaunt, is not believable. What exactly are his motives? In the first part of the book we are led to believe that he is just a mischief-maker, and this I could accept. But then it turns out that his powers are incredible and that his motives are much more malign, and this is where I can't accept things.

Let's face it, this guy is so powerful that he could start WW III without even working up a sweat. So what's he doing setting up shop in a small New England town and messing with the heads of the local yokels? It doesn't make sense, and this spoils what would otherwise have been a really great book.

Rennie Petersen

As with all King books, they appear deceptively long, but when you open the covers and read through it, one only wishes that it didn't end. The same applies with "Needful Things" which did nothing but keep me glued to my seat in anticipation of the obvious climax.
The language that King uses in this book amazed me, and if you really examine it, the descriptions and characters are extremely well built. He is an underrated author in terms of his literary merit. Many view King as a shock-value author who doesn't have any redeemable qualities in his writing. This is a completely bull-headed view and as many anecdotes have proven, King has a special ability to keep a reader interested and constantly thinking about the book when he isn't reading.
It's too bad that King relies on the killing of animals as a way to induce "horror". His writing abilities should be more than enough to resort to killing household pets as a way to elicit groans of horror.
The only real downer that I felt was the ending. It seemed to me like a rehash of the ending to IT, and for those who have read both IT and "Needful Things", I think the similarities are striking.

Unfortunately, by the time I reached the conclusion of Needful Things, I was pretty much tired of it. The concept of a store fulfilling everyone's desires with a price to pay is not exactly a new one, but I was excited to see what King would do with it. I am a big fan of his books about small towns, and read this right after The Tommyknockers, but was very disappointed.
The first problem is that King doesn't make anybody in the town especially likeable. So when enemies confront one another to a usually bloody end (of note was the stomach churning scene involving two women, a butcher knife and a meat cleaver...) the reader just shrugs and keeps on reading. In nis zeal for blood, gore and more imaginative ways to kill characters, King seems to have forgotten his heart. And the elemen of surprise. How can any of us be truly stuinned by any events in a King novel when we know that almost everyone (if not all) will end up dead in the end? It's even harder to care when he makes his residents of this small Maine town about as appealing as Madame deFarge and company. Even the main characters are rather one note, and act out of odd motives. For example, what is exactly so scandalous about the way that Polly Chalmers son died? The only real scene of humanity occurs near the end of the book when Alan Pangborn visits a young 7 year old who is in a hospital bed. That scene alone has real heart to it. Not that King needs to be touchy feely, but his one dimensional characters this time all but wear saigns around their neck saying what they are, "Greedy, embezzling politican," "dimwitted deputy", "Elvis worshipping mama"..what gives? One almost feels that King himself bought the plot for this novel at the title store in exchange for his talent. He even throws in a battle royale between the towns Catholics and Baptists that not only make both groups look like half witted idiots for never verifying any pranks as truly being the responsibility of the other, but further, the cartoonis battle scene, and the animosity between the two groups (and yes, the Baptists sing, "Onward Christian Soldier" and the Catholics are a belligerent, (probably hard drinking) bunch) smacks of something that would have been written about earlier in the century, and not the 1990's.
As for my last complaint, it would seem that in almost every book King writes, any type of same sex activty is about molestation, perversion or is caricatured so grotesquely that it would make any self respecting gay person hide. (See my review of It which I read at 15.)Needful Things is no different. In this book, our little small town homos are both, BOTH pedophiles. What are the odds of that happening? (And, as a more irresponsible tactic, King has them both in the educational system of the town. How very thoughtful of Mr. King.) It is characters like that which make me call King to task. I am not syaing he needs to write about gay characters in a positive light, but after the sundry men making passes at Jack in The Talisman, and the two guys in Chapter 2 of IT who are more disgusting than the monster itself, and the weak ineffectual king in the Eyes of the Dragon and now our dear friends, the perverts in Needful Things, maybe King just shouldn't write about gay characters at all, at the risk of alienating a large group of his fans. (And we are many.)
If you want a great King read, go to Misery or The Tommyknockers. If you just want not awful, but not great, and are traveling by bus, plane or train... read Needful Things. Then leave it on the seat for the next person. No need to carry it around with you like a precious jewel, because it isn't one.

The first thing I must say is a 9 is very good. One thing reviewers don't realize is a 1 is terrible, a 5 is average, and a 10 is perfect. That makes a 9 a very high rating.
Now, for my review. This book shows exactly what I see in Stephen King. I don't think I have ever read a book with so much imagination from any author. I stayed up all night reading the last 200 pages. Though that statement have become a cliche in book reviews, it is very true.
Never before has a book been this intense. People who have read it may say I'm sick when I say this, but I actually had a lot of fun reading this book. Once you get into the revenge aspect, it becomes a morbid roller coster ride that is just great. This is the first time I've read the last pages to see who lives. Trust me, when things get going, it becomes an addiction.
Now, for my sour apples. One thing I wish King would do is cut down on the violence a little. The characters getting shot in the head may help the stories roll, but I don't appreciate it in its splattery detail. Lastly, the ending is fairly happy for a King book, but it seemed blah to me. But, aside from these gripes, it is a great book, one of kings best.

When i finished needful things i was in awe......Wow i say to myself as i reflect on the many characters, all written and developed excellently and situations, all nailbiting and suspensful til it's explosive conclusion, and at the root of it all a mysterious not-so innocent shop keeper by the name of leland gaunt. A name i will never forget. If needful things isn't king at his best then i don't know what is. The book is over 700 pages long and one would think with a novel this big there would be a spot of bore here and there. That is not the case at all. I was enthralled the entire time. I don't think i would have moved if a hurricane blew out every window in the room by the time the final showdown between nettie cobb and wilma hit. Needful things is an absolute must read for anyone who enjoys king.

This is one of Stephen King's best ever. As the plot goes, Satan himself in the guise of a kindly old person of a gentleman named Leland Gaunt, opened an unusual shop in the small town of Castle Rock, Maine -- offering everything "that your secret heart desires", but it turns out that the price for the items being sold are more than what they've bargained for; and the ultimate payment for the people of Castle Rock are their very souls. The climax however, comes as a little bit almost nearly out-of-hand, that it seems quite cartoonish... anyway, NEEDFUL THINGS (w/c's one of those KING novels that are made into a motion picture, in this case starring Max VonSydow as the 'kindly' old Gaunt) is a must for SK-buffs and horror fiction lovers. And furthermore, the novel depicts a relevant message for our age's consumeristic lifestyle and attitudes.

So, as usual, Stephen King weaves a tale of human nature. What would you do to get anything you wanted, and what price are you willing to pay to keep it. I absolutely loved this book. I must have read it five or six times. Stephen King creates a masterpiece that combines every element of writing in this book. The characters are believable and the story is also believable. I love the way he uses smaller chapters in his books to give it a sense of anticipation.
I don't want to ruin the book for you but i'll tell you a little bit. A small town gets a new shopkeeper who is a little out of the ordinary. He sells items that everyone wants, the little boy is able to procure a baseball item that is more than just a card, it talks. Eveyone gets a special item, but is required to do something in return for it. mayhem ensues.
I'm not going to tell you anymore, but i will say this, the movie of this story was excellent and I'm suprised it didn't do as well as it should have. All in all and excellent read.

This book is GOLD. Its not the scariest. It's not meant to be. It was Kings departure from cocaine and just an absolutely vivid world. A fun plot and fantastic characters. I would always and will always reccomend this to any King fans.

I would put this one in my top ten King books for sure. Maybe not an original idea, but he pulled it off very nicely in my opinion. Lots of interesting characters and situations. Yes, it was too long as many of King's books are, but the last half of the novel chugged along at a pretty solid pace. I would have given it 4.5 stars (if I could) if not for the ending, or certain aspects of the ending. I have to agree with what a couple other reviewers said. He can craft these awesome, complex stories, but sometimes (for my tastes) he doesn't put enough thought into the ending. Having said that, I would definitely recommend the novel and put it above some King favorites like IT and The Stand. Unfortunately, I read the uncut version of the latter, and even more unfortunately, there was no "cut" version of the former.

I began this book with no expectations. Unlike some of Stephen King's earlier stories, which have long since become classics of the horror genre, I knew very little of this story, and so I approached it simply as another book from a favorite author of mine.

Early on, I became engrossed in the book and really enjoyed the early exposition-King has an uncanny ability to really put you in the mind of the character and transport you into the story. Each of his principal characters seemed to be pretty well developed. Alan Pangborn, the sheriff of Castle Rock and Polly Chalmers, his arthritis-ridden girlfriend, are the central characters of a cast of literally the whole town, and they act as the backbone of the story.

Things are foul once more in Castle Rock as a new store, named "Needful Things" opens, providing would be customers the chance to own the one thing that each has always needed in their life...with prices that seem too good to believe-and they are. The owner of the shop, Leland Gaunt, accepts repayment of the many items purchased with the playing of "innocent" pranks on various members of the Castle Rock. These pranks begin to crosswire the town in destructive, and deadly, ways.

King, who claims that this is the last of his stories to be set in Castle Rock, uses this tale to tie together some of his earlier stories set in the locale. Especially interesting is the return of "Ace" Merrill, who made his debut in "The Body" (Stand By Me as it was called in it's movie format), as the one of the villans of this tale. Throughout the story though, King makes references to some of his earlier works, such as Cujo, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and does it with a subtlety that only true King fans will pick up on.

What I found dissapointing about this story was the last 20 pages or so. Everything was building and building, as it always does in a Stephen King story, and then suddenly it seemed as though King pulled the carpet out from under the reader. (NOTE: Story Spoiler ahead) It turns out that Leland Gaunt is the devil, or at least one of the devil's minions, who has come to capture the souls of anyone who would dare make a deal with him. By the end of the story, Gaunt has successfully managed to cross-wire the town and literally turn individuals, and congregations against one another. People are killing each other in droves, fighting and destroying the town and, caught in the middle of all of this is the sheriff and his girlfriend, who alone seem to realize what Gaunt is doing. As they confront him, Alan sees Gaunt as he truly is, the devil, and confronts him on the street corner in front of his store, where Gaunt was fleeing with a dufflebag full of souls. He confronts Gaunt and defeats him by pulling a magic trick out which transforms itself into a brilliant light-presumably the light of truth and righteousness-and drives the demom away from the souls, which he then sets free. Gaunt flees with nearly no fight and disappears into the heaven, drawn away by a demonic horse and carriage.

If you are going, "um, what?" at this point, I simply nod my head with you...I said the same thing. As King is known to do sometimes, he builds character and story in such a way that it has nowhere left to go. As a result, the culmination of his stories are sometimes disappointing, though they generally seem to make sense. This one seemed to just end, as though King rand out of idea, had had enough fun destroying Castle Rock and all its tenants, and said, "okay, I'm done", putting a lousy ending on what had been a great story up to that point.

For fans of Stephen King, this is not a bad book at all...it's characters and settings are as good as any of the more recent King stories...just understand that this reviewer felt cheated in the final pages of the tale. For those who are looking for an introduction to Stephen King, I would say that you try some of his more recognized books-like Pet Semetary, the Shining, Salem's Lot or even Christine or Carrie. This one is a good story, but it lacks the culmination that these earlier works provide. This book, like many of King's more "recent" writings, tends to meander some, and leaves the reader feeling as though there should be more ahead, when in fact there isn't.

-Scott Kolecki

In his typical fashion, King draws you in to this tale quickly. As always his characters are well developed, at times too much for this reader, but still the storyline kept me interested. King skillfully pits good vs evil once again. For fans of King don't skip this one.

"Something wicked this way comes..." At least, that's the book that King is emulating with this unoriginal novel. A shopkeeper has come to town, willing to sell you anything... for a price. And, of course, the price is high. Wouldn't be interesting if the price was $4.50, now, would it? This book crashes to a decidedly odd end that seems to come from nowhere. It's otherworldly, with a lot of strange stuff going on. It almost seems as if King wasn't sure how to end it, so he just made a lot of supernatural stuff up to cover any and all bases. I expect that from Koontz, but not King. There is some interesting stuff going on in the middle of the book, and it is for that reason that I am giving the book an above average rating, but it is little more than above average. Perhaps this would be a good book if it was your first King experience, but as a constant reader who had read everything of his and immediately picked this up in hardcover upon its release, it bugged me so much so that I didn't read anything else by him again until The Green Mile hit the shelves.

Stephen King's, Needful Things, is a great, mind twisting novel you can easily become enveloped in. While reading this book I had noticed a loss of time as it would fly by while enjoying every page of this book. Much like characters in this novel doing anything for what the desire, I too was doing so for a chance to read page after page. Reading so that I've read Needful Things TWICE!!! This book has very many twists and different instances where you hold your breath because you're worried about what will happen next. Much like other works of Mr. King's, the action and suspense of this novel is incredible and very attention getting once you start reading. Stephen King will always have a place in my heart and this book just made that spot ever more larger.

While its not one of the classic King novels (IT, The Stand, The Shining, Misery, etc.), Needful Things is truly an original tale. What makes Stephen King such an important writer in modern literature is his ability to tap into that small town mentality and balance it with the supernatural. Like The Stand, Needful Things contains a cast of epic proportions, and at times the pranks and the pranksters are forgotten or confused with others. But this book still gets five stars for the realistic darkness of human nature. In the Needful Things shop, the small towners conveniently find items that play a significant role in their lives and find theyll do anything to get them; paying a small price and at first harmles tricks that turn deadly. an excellent book.

Well the book was a trip it was cool but also pretty scary to go along with everything else. Killing a kid to get a baseball card is screwed up, don't you think. It's a good thing that man stopped it all. Facing a mass murderer like that takes guts. They get into a big scruffle then the man throws the mass murderer into the big fire place. That's awsome. To be honest, I kind of felt bad for the guy but at the same time I didn't. So with a mass murderer dead, the town goes back to normal. But I don't think the guy who killed the mass murder will have a normal life from the drama. But I don't think he'll have guilt following him. Castle Rock, the small town in Maine, was the perfect place for a mass murderer.

Needful Things is another great King novel. I loved the concept: There’s a store in town where you can obtain your most prized possession, but it comes at a cost…

That cost comes in terms of carrying out a small, yet deceitful favor. As the people of Castle Rock flock to the store, the town soon ends up in chaos. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt that the writing was great, the characters were well-developed, and it was very entertaining. I strongly encourage you to check it out.

A new store opens up in town. It seems to have just the thing every resident in town wants. The only person who does not seem to catch Mr. Gaunt available is the town sheriff, and for a good reason... Whatever you buy is never more than you can afford if you agree to do a little favor for the shop keeper, Mr. Leeland Gaunt, later on. And maybe a few more after that... These favors are a set of small and innocent tricks - but they aren't. Whoever receives them would never suspect the real person who had done them - they automatingly blame their worst foe in town for this trouble, and act upon it immediately and forcefully... The whole town is in turmoil!
This is your standard S. King book - I've read worse, but there are definitally better... Try 'It' or 'The Stand', for instance!

In tradition of 'Salem's Lot, Stephen King writes Needful Things through the view of many characters, not just one main character, and keeps the reader guessing throughout the entire novel what will happen to which character. It works so well in Needful Things that I found myself reading madly and gaping my mouth many times. Truly a gruesome and horrifying experience, in Needful Things, King creates great characters, Alan Pangborn, Norris Ridgewick, Polly Chalmers, Nettie Cobb, Hugh Priest, Ace Merrill, John LaPointe, and maybe the best villian he has ever created in Leland Gaunt. The way he makes Gaunt so low key and friendly, and evil at the same time is wonderful. He also ties in all his other novels which have taken place in Castle Rock such as Cujo, The Dead Zone, and the novella The Body, very well. Sure, you'll be flipping back to see what character did what to whom when the novel takes its turning points, but that's the fun of it. How King can write so many things in 700 pages and keep the reader hooked and interested. And of course, the ending in which evil does not fully lose. God I love that! Needful Things, one of Stephen King's most entertaining books. A must read!

My first Stephen King book was "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" and this book is by far better than that. I didn't expect much more because I enjoyed the first book I read and didn't really look for improvement. The style King uses and his ingenious ways of thinking up plots are one of a kind. In this book a man opens up a store full of the things people want the most. Rare baseball cards, insight into what really happened during an untimely death. This book will leave you reading nonstop during some parts and you will honestly lose track of time because it's so good. Anyone who is considering reading Stephen King's books but needs a good place to start, buy "Needful Things" because it will have you hooked for life.

This is not Stephen King's greatest novel. It doesn't have the depth of Deloris Claiborne, the bone-freezing splendor of The Shining, the (amazingly) non-sentimental bathos of The Green Mile, the scope of The Stand or the touching vulnerability of The Body. However, it's one of his absolutely FUNNEST (word? you know what I mean) books.
I felt like a little kid, eating a candy bar that left the book sticky with chocolate fingerprints as I flipped the pages compulsively. Yum! Your imagination just goes wild. After all, this could happen in your town. After all, it DOES. I kept thinking, what would I sell my soul for? And then I remembered that cashmere sweater I saw just the other day at Saks...

Note: I made some Mormon angry because of my negative reviews of books out to prove the Book of Mormon, and that person has been slamming my reviews almost as soon as they are posted. Oh, well.

Your "helpful" vote is greatly appreciated. Thanks, and note that a short review is not necessarily a bad review if it leads you to a great novel. I'm just trying to give you the essence here:

An evil man opens a curio shop in the small town of Castle Rock. The shop caters to people's innermost desires. For example, there is a horse-racing toy. You make tags that have the names of horses that are going to be in a particular race. Then you put the tags on the toy horses, wind up the toy, and see which horse wins. From there you make your bet. You will win, but at a price--paid to the devil.

I couldn't put this book down. It hooked me from page one.

This seems to be an appropriate summation for many King books. Here we find a story idea so haunting and compelling that it should have been a masterpiece. I also loved the clever title (yes, it was the people of Castle Rock who were the real "needful things").
Unfortunately the characters in this book (except for a few of the "regulars") are bland and two-dimensional. A lot of the people were introduced for the sake of being killed in the demonic web, so I suppose the author thought it would be a waste of time to really flesh them out.
Another problem was the rambling and unfocused plot. Surely King could have presented this great story idea in a more concise fashion and it would have left a big impact. Instead he drives it into the ground, ultimately draining it of its disturbing originality.
Finally, the ending was trite and uninspired and bore absolutely no relation with the rest of the book. I got the definite sense that the author had no idea how he wanted to end it. He just kept writing and writing, going where ever his fancy took him, and finally, after about 400 pages too many, made up an ending and tacked it on. It's a dissappointing place to have left such a creative story.
Having said all that, this is still a good book. The majority of it is still riveting. A real page-turner and, on the whole, one of his most enjoyable stories. Now if only Mr. King would learn to exercise a little restraint....

Sheriff Alan Pangborne moved to Castle Rock,Maine to get away from the big city and get some peace and quiet.Unfortunately Leland Gaunt has moved to the same town.And has set up shop.And what a shop! It's a store filled with old memorabilia for the most part.But Gaunt has ANYTHING you need.And is willing to bargain with you.That is if you do an evil deed for him.Take two fighting clergymen,a bar owner and a patron thats a pain in his ass,two ladies fighting over a dog,a man that has been kicked around One too many times,- well you can imagine the fun Gaunt can have.And he will,because before you know it the anger turns to mayhem,and the mayhem to revenge and murder.this is King's last jaunt through Castle Rock-but the big question is will it survive for another tale? One of Stephen King's ABSOLUTE BEST ! A Ripping Tour-De Force ! I can't recommend it Enough !

this may be SK's greatest. the psychology is great, a whole lot of suspence, his most interesting characters perhaps. it is amazing how he manages to balance all the intrigue. and there is a lot of intrigue in this book. the writing style is professional. th ending is stupid though. a man moves into town and starts a store where you can buy whatever you want. all you need is a little cash, and to do a little trick. and a trick has never hurt anyone? this book shows what conflicts are lurking in a community. conflicts that may resolve in violence. Gaunt knows how to exploit these conflicts. SK's descriptions and plots involving the chemistry between the people is what makes this book so great.

Wobetide any Stephen King fan who misses this one. Needful things is as creepy-crawly scary as they get and King has, again, excelled himself with flawless writing that has you suspending belief right from the first page. It's a poweful story of a junk shop that seems to sell exactly what the customer wants. But all is not as it seems (and why should it be in a Stephen King novel?).
King's descriptions and narratives are absolutely 100% right. The story never seems to falter or lack pace, despite the sometimes long internal conflicts of the main characters.
I'm slowly piecing together a list of ten books to take to my desert island with me. Needful Things is on my list.

This Is A Great Book. ... Almost a study into how people are and what they might be willing to do for what they want most of all.. It's actually frightening in many ways... We can (some of us) see the Humanity? I did Like the Movie Better in Some Area's and the Book Of Course, in Other Ways... I really don't believe it's wordy like some folks want to believe.. Every page is Necessary... Gotta Read It.. (:

This book kept me interested for all 700 pages. I must say there were a lot characters which kept it a tiny bit hard to keep track. Yet, I've read about 12 other novels of King's and this is up there on the list. I thought some parts would be drawn out considering the length of the book but this did not happen. I must admit that I did not find this novel scary and up at night because of it, but it did have some suspenseful scenes. If you like King definetly read this and if you haven't read any of his works then start with this. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because there a few other of King's works that I enjoyed more, but this was definetly good.

I wrote a draft of this composition 4 years ago, and in a way, despite my initial rejection, "Needful Things" has opened my mind. Many times, ideas that are unfamiliar to me, at first, create a very strong resistance and pain within me. In the end, I come at peace with myself when I realize they're true, and there's nothing I could or should do to change them. It's exactly getting out of my old beliefs and growing up. Yes, it is hard, but as it is was said - " the future always born in pain".
This serious and somber novel takes a good look inside the human nature, explores it thoroughly, and comes up with severe consequences.
After I'd read the book I realized it poisoned my soul .I didn't think that could happen because of a book, but it did. The horrifying things King had written about, the wickedness and horror influenced me consciously and unconsciously during the reading process.
It is important to me to let you know how I felt back then, because it was bizarre, unusual, and after all, fascinating.
Ignoring the supernatural in the novel, you're left with a lesson in decision-making when one is not utterly rational, the natural state of most of us. In here, as in "The Stand" everyone has to put himself in the place of the characters, decide what he would have done, which option he would have chosen and finally - take a stand.
This book stressed the fact that everyone has good and bad inside of him. Yes, it's connected to the desires, interests and needs we all share, but there's more to it. Inside every woman and man there is a silent struggle, between the two mentioned, from time to time.
It doesn't really ever end. There are intermissions, it could vanish for a long time, but its bases are there. This is the true nature of things as king see them.
King extends, speak of sheer evil. He speaks of taking truly wicked actions in order to achieve this that you want, to let go of any limits and concentrate on the things you've justified and decided to do. The frightening conclusion of them all is that anyone can get down and dirty, and King adds, that once evil has regulated your soul once, there is no way back. You have crossed the lines. There is a thin red line that once you've passed it the road back is almost impossible.
As usual in a King's book, he's referring to nothing short but a murder. After killing one man, willingly and intentionally, the barrier breaks. According to King, in that point, some would completely freak out and lose the good they did have before. They are now capable of doing anything you'd imagine.
The really interesting part is that sometime there is still good inside A man after doing the unthinkable. This side of him burdens him immensely, trying to pull him back to being rational. This is the barrier of sanity; it can be said that after crossing the lines for the first time, the man loses the very thing that stops him from damaging him and his surroundings. He becomes indifferent to it, and thinks only of himself - his interests and needs.
To be precise, in the book I read of so many people who were willing to do horrible deeds, only to satisfy their desires - the object of their affection.
It was horrifying to read about the demonical activity of the devil incarnate in the novel, that let hell break loose, and was responsible for everything. The thought that one person can do all that...It is believable...
And the way that people had changed in the face of the object they always craved for...Reading it, you have to witness all the filth and ugliness they had kept inside, then transformed it to brutal and gruesome acts. King calls it "Selling your soul". The idea that a person can lose control of his soul is unequaled in his books.
The sides story that stunned me completely was Brad Denfort's.
He is characterized as a peace and calm figure, of the ones that never vend anger on anyone, completely non violent, that suddenly, gets up one day, and in attack of sheer uncontrollable wrath bursts at the seams taking down a few others not to mention himself (and not without a reason).
This is a terror imposing kind of story, because you instantly reckon - "This could happen to me too !". You understand what he'd gone through, and why he did what he did, and that's the scariest of them all. Yet, you should remember King aims to cause this reaction, and he is successful...
In here ,we get to the bottom of it all. I found the "I want to scare the living daylight out of you" style very bad for me, though learned here a few formidable lessons. This is a real poisonous glass that harms...
In "The Stand" it was different. There weren't terrible murders and human outbreaks like in here, certainly not like in this form (I mention it because I'd read it prior to NF).
The satanic "Needful Things" is a monstrous, legendary horror, that some could relate to it as, `at its best', but not me. I would avoid such writings in the future to come.

In this strange and original story of "Greek tragedy" proportions, the Devil in mortal guise as a respectable gentleman named Mr. Gaunt opens up a store in a small town in Maine, but although he's very open to give a good bargain, what he sells has too high a price! The negative influence he wields on certain people in the community turns deadly, culminating in a climax where the whole town runs amok in anarchy as it seems like he has turned everyone against each other. Good characterizations, as many well-developed characters are introduced into the story, and great plot too. Much more than just your average "horror novel." (...)

the most interesting book by Stephen King I have read. Not the scariest though. That would go to Salem's Lot, which I also liked a lot (5 stars). I really like the way King creates psychotic characters, and develops them in Needful Things, and then puts them in situations that make them go off. The quality of writing is exceptional in Needful Things. The tension is maintained throughout, with multiple threads. Then there's the mystical magical supernatural element happening with the trinket salesman and his shop. The story line is non-stop. A page turner that leaves you gasping for more!!!

It took me longer to get into and read this than any other King novel. I have several excuses, reasons and theories why this is. First of all it was too long and too much like War and Peace. I could not follow all the characters and there were so many of them that none of them were developed up to Stephen K's standards. Also several of my favorite authors came out with new pieces whilst reading this one including another lackluster effort from King, Revival. So I had to set this one down to read Robbins, Palahnuik, Rice and King. Lastly I quit the Skoal, became an EBay sales mogul and oddly started sleeping through the night at about the same time. All of these have cut into my reading time as of late. But really the truth is this piece just was not up to snuff. Mayhap I have read all of King's best pieces already. Mayhap it's time to re-read them.

Outside of the Dark Tower series, The Stand, and It, this is my favorite Stephen King book. For me, Leland Gaunt is my third favorite Stephen King villain with Greg Stillson and Randall Flagg in the top two spots. This novel ends the Castle Rock novels, even though Stephen King did mention Castle Rock in some of his future novels, but this is the last one where Castle Rock is the focal point. The Castle Rock series ends with a bang, quite literally.

What I like most about this novel is that Stephen King takes his time in developing the characters before the chaos is put into full swing near the end of the novel. Stephen King has his work cut out for him in that the vast majority of the novel concerns itself with the deeds that Leland Gaunt has his customers play on other members of the townsfolk and thier consequences. Even in the midst of the chaos that is slowly rising up, Stephen King succeeds in giving us characters who are very realistic.

The novel is slow to begin with, but at the last part, it reaches an extremely fast pace. There are parts in the novel that are fast paced, but even the parts that are fast paced are written in detail. Some may find the attention to detail a bit boring, but I found that the detail added to the richness of the novel. In a way, the climax of the novel helped to shape on particular fight sequence in "The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower."

"Needful Things" is an excellent read and the characters are compelling. It is obvious from the start that Leland Gaunt is the villain, but the depth of his villainy is not seen until the final part.

For Brian it was a rare autographed baseball card, for Hugh a foxtail and Nettie a lamp.

Something for everyone and at a price that everyone can afford - in monitary value at least.

Are you prepared to pay the price - the FULL price - for your heart's desire? Yes? Then step right in, look around, you're sure to find what you are looking for here.

No need for a wallet, you can put that away. I'm glad to accept your soul in payment and a little harmless deed of mishief, call it a prank.

Is the price right for you?

Then welcome to Needful Things.

This is another one of Stephen King's best works. His character development and consequent confrontations are some of his best. The book has King's signature creepiness, but I found it hilarious just as often. This novel didn't get the attention it deserved, but that just means you get a really solid story at a fantastic price. Enjoy!

This is one of Stephen King's best. The book is thick and it sure goes by fast. I read it in two days without really losing sleep either. This story tells about a man who owns a store and gives all his customers what they want, but there is a huge price attached to the item. And it is quite a huge price. We are not talking about money. They are told what they have to do to earn the item. It is not easy to do the things they are told to do and there are a lot of repercussions after the orders are followed. As they say, what goes around comes around. Read this before you see the movie.

About the best thing I can say about "Needful Things" is that I only paid 12.5 cents for it at a second hand bookstore because that's all it's worth(maybe). My problems with this novel are many, but I think some of the biggest shortcomings include no definition of what or who Gaunt is. I kept waiting for him to be fleshed out, but the book just kept droning on with endless vingettes of "pranks". There were also way too many characters and for some reason King was unable to do what he does best: namely develop three dimensional, living, breathing people we can relate to, then put them in mortal jeopardy so the reader can feel like they are in their head, the fear being almost palpable. Also, I would like to know where this crap with the fake snake in the nut can somehow coming alive and the paper flowers turning into some kind of blazing torch came from. It screams of a very weak premise and an even weaker way to deal with it. I guess I should just be thankful he can still turn out good quality like "Bag of Bones".

Stephen King is one of those authors who are capable of making a great beginning, start an intriguing plot, and then let it all slip through their fingers and give the lamest of explanations for it. This book is not so.
Aside of a good horror story, it brings a premise of human's tendency to look for easy sollutions and for achieving material without earning it. It also has a very good plot, and the best part of it is Mr. Leland Gaunt, an absolutley enchanting villain that is one of best King's character I've read about - he has some evil, dark sensuality and great intelligence you will see in Vampires, so different from King's usual devillish character we see in the "Stand" and other books.
But there are also minuses. This book is too long, has too many undeveloped characters, and once again King relies on stereotypes more than solid characterisation which makes the book shallow at times. But, a great book - not as realistic as "Cujo", not as powerful as "Dolores Clairborne", not as thrilling as "The Shining", but we've seen worse from King. And a little subjective note: I really do prefer Satan and occult to lame plots involving aliens.

Not enough is said about some of Kings's books (Needful Things, Rose Madder) and people tend to cling on to his most commercial books (The Shining, It, Pet Semetary). I think that people tend to overlook some of his novels. Needful Things is a book that I enjoyed very much but I never find any else who feels the same way. Now I'm not saying it's perfect, there are other books I feel that are far more deserving of that title, but it is still a good read.

Pros: The story takes place in King's imfamous Castlerock.

King masterfully writes multiple characters and plot lines.

Mr. Gaunt is creepy, creepy, creepy.

It's easy to get lost in King's longer novels, so I always feel more involved/attached to what's going on

Cons: The ending is a little anticlimatic.

I wanted more from the "last Castlerock novel."

While compelling it might be a little unlikely that all the characters in the town would be so easily manipulated and secretive about their deeds.

But in the long run I did find Needful Things to be a book worth reading. It's not the best, it's not the worst, it's the middle of the road. But somehow King's mediocore or bad books tend to be better then some author's best.

Well, let's just say this is not one of Stephen King's greatest hits!! I certainly like the premise but I think a Novella would have been enough compared to this overly wordy behemoth. I am a Stephen King fan from the first release of "Carrie"...a book I read and reread so much I had to buy a second copy! "Needful Things" would be a great Television Series..sort of in the manner of "Friday, the Thirteenth." Many other presentations from King are much much better. If you are a Stephen King fan, you must read this story, just to finish "The Castle Rock" series of titles. But again, this is not top-notch King writing from the king of horror.

I apologize that this is more commentary than review, but many other reviews go into the details of the plot. Let me just say that this book's Evil One plays his game with people's greatest longings, pitting one against the other, while creating carnage and destruction in the process. As it plays out, it is irresistible. Splendid Stephen King.

However. . .after reading most of the Stephen King novels, I find myself always approaching his resolutions warily. He draws me (and, presumably, you) into a wonderfully imagined situation where average people are enmeshed in some horrific web of evil, at which point he sometimes suffers an imagination cramp (or loses interest?) and starts blowing things up, revealing his Bad Guy as the father of all horrors--usually through a series of skin-splitting, gooey, pus-coated transformations. In other words generally laying waste, over many pages, with familiar Stephen Kingish gadgets.

I was loving Desperation, for instance, but found myself increasingly frustrated by his endless digressions, page after page describing the rotting disintegration or gory destruction of various characters.

The greatest disappointment for me, however, was Rose Madder, where his unusually straight approach to a frighteningly real character--an abused and pursued woman--was sustained until the very end, when he suddenly shoved the whole problem into a painting on the wall and brought on one of his monsters. Perhaps dealing with the plight of a woman cornered by a truly brutal man was more than King wanted to deal with. We'll never know.

So as the dynamite was being planted in Needful Things, I began to hear my Another Apocalyptic Ending alarm. But, happily, it faded. When all the bang boom crash became merely the background for a far more satisfying and original resolution, I found myself much relieved. A contented feller.

The epilogue, in fact, even left me laughing. It's a nice little twist.

Last thing: Was I the only one that found himself/herself snerkling at King's black humor descriptions of
the Faithful out in the storm, pounding away on each other as their town blows up around them?

I think that everyone should read <u>Needful Things</u> by Stephen King. It's a 750 some odd page book, but it is a real page turner. Compared to most King books, <u>Needful Things</u> moves *very* fast. It really taps into the truth of human nature and materialism -- I don't want to buy <em>anything</em> at all <strong>ever again</strong>. As usual there is a heroic male character with an emotional Achille's heel which he has to overcome to "save" the female character. If you've never read a Stephen King book, they are the only two characters that survive usually -- not even the dog. King doesn't seem to like dogs.

The only negative I could give you is just a complaint about King's writing style: One minute you're reading a wholesome horror novel and the next thing you know one of the character's is talking about a woman's "hard erect nipples" or other nonsense like that. I have no objection to "hard erect nipples" in literature, sometimes its appropriate -- but King likes to *randomly* insert pornographic language which adds nothing to the content and really intterupts the flow of the novel [ wrote the blogger who's nipples were hard and erect ] -- SEE! Do you see how that was jarring and interuptted my review?

<u>Needful Things</u> was most definately worth my time and as such I will give it a five out of five. Five what you ask?

Hard Erect Nipples.

(...)

I have loved every SK book I’ve ever read, so I knew going in that I would enjoy this one. But I didn’t know how MUCH I’d love it. This book showcases everything that we all love about Stephen King - his world building, his characters, the pure horror, etc. Loved it.

To me this is one of Stephen Kin's best novels ever. He develops the characters even better than in his usual stories. I love the way that the town goes from completely normal to reverting into chaos. The plot is this. The town of Castle Rock is like any other town, until a new store, Needful Things opens up. As people go into the store, they begin to realize that the owner, a weird man named Leland Gaunt, has possessions that they have always wanted. In exchange for selling them these items, Mr. Gaunt has them play a prank on another town resident. Eventually these pranks end up turning the town into an insane war zone, and I won't give away the ending. One of the best things about this novel is that even though the plot is a tad unbelievable, King makes it believable with his fantastic writing style. I only wish that I could give this book six stars.
Even if you are not a fan of Stephen King, I strongly urge you to go out and buy this book. Believe me, it is a chioce that you won't regret.

Overall there is a good book here. It is a solid three or a soft four, which isn't bad at all. I think Gaunt, the shop keeper, was a wonderful bad guy. Granted, people often say nobody is completely good or completely bad, but King made Gaunt completely bad and within this Sci-fi/horror realm, it is fine and can work. He is severaly creepy and one of the best parts of the book. I will say I think King was lazy in that Gaunt literally never had to work. He could manipulate all but a couple of people in the town and if they were veering off course, could right them to his whims almost like snapping his fingers.
The "good" characters aren't completely good, which is good. As other reviewers say, King can create very believable characters and I believe, for the most part, that's true in Needful Things. He can also create characters you care so deeply about and ones you just want to see fry. To me, that wasn't the case in this book. I didn't especially care about anybody. Their were some exceptions, but those characters aren't developed as deeply as Alan and Polly.
My biggest complaint is the length. I have no issue with lenght, itself, but I found so much of this work was not needed. Closer to the end there is a paragraph about Buster driving back to his home and observing all of the satelite dishes that are on the houses. Who cares? There was just so much fat. I do agree that the ending was anticlimatic, but by the end, I had too many other issues.
People also like to comment on King not writing as well after he sobered up. I think you can see a change, but one of my favorites by King is the Green Mile and it was written in the late 90s.
But anyway, I this book needs major editing. I purposely read the abridged version of The Stand just so I wouldn't be subjected to the nonsense. I started Under the Dome, but at 300 pages realized I didn't like anybody period and that I wasn't going to waste anymore time. I'm hesitant to ever start It because I know I will feel compeled to finish it to see what the hype is about, similar to this book. Someday I suppose.

The titular 'Needful Things' is the latest shop to come to Castle Rock, a store that sells any number of high class items for a...shall we say 'reasonable' price?

The great aspects of Needful Things are the characters and the plot. The story covers dozens of characters and what they want, and how they use it. That type of sprawl might not be to everyone's taste, but it is to mine. And after the first half of the book puts all these pieces into place, the second half is an absolutely thrilling, high-octane roller coaster I can guarantee any horror fan will love.

is a great SK novel. The charatchers are interesting and what also makes it more interesting is the storekeeper is how he uses the people of Castle Rock turn on each other.
This novel is one of SK's best, and truly this is a must have for hard core SK fans like myself.
This ranks with the big boys like 'The Stand' 'IT' 'The Tommyknockers' 'Insomia' 'Carrie' 'Salems Lot' 'The Shining' and my list goes on.
If you want to be scared and looking for a good suspense novel, then this is it.

NEEDFUL THINGS has a great premise, and a good storyline. That's about it. There are far too many characters that sound exactly the same and the plot moves at a snail's pace. The characters that are good are well developed and human, but at close to 800 pages, it's too long, and its not until halfway through that the results of sinister Leland Gaunt's machinations start to show themselves. After that, when the people of Castle Rock are pitted against each other, the book gets good. But most readers will have lost interest by then. Persevere, though. Definitely one of Stephen King's weakest and darkest novels.

I had always assumed that Stephen King wrote only horror books... I guess I was wrong. Right from the beginning I liked this book. You meet a man named Leland Gaunt. Somehow, he can provide for you the things you've always wanted. However, there's always a small price to pay. Not everything is as it seems. It may not be a horror book, but it's still really good.
The only downside to this book was that there are so many different characters that it's hard to keep them all straight.

I prefer Stephen King's short stories to his novels and I picked up Needful Things without reading the previous books in the series. While I wouldn't recommend doing this, I was presently surprised and enjoyed the read. Not a lot new here for King, but what he does, he does very well. Fans of King will enjoy Needful Things and newcomers to Kings work should find the series nice diversion.
BJ [...]

I picked up "Needful Things" as an audiobook to entertain myself on long commutes and eventually found myself captivated in my car, listening to Stephen King bring alive his characters. I know there is much lost if you are listen to rather than read a book- albeit an unabridged, 18 hour version- but this book is read by Mr. King himself. The book is entertaining, enlightening, and a fine piece of writing. It is often so expedient and uplifting for reviewers to trash something that they feel does not meet their expectations, but this is an enjoyable story. And as other reviewers have noted before, there is a morality play at work. But, for me, it is not that either. It is the intricate detail that King creates. The way he describes certain aspects, be they the type of tin horses that Buster Keaton falls in love with or the foxtail that Hugh Priest cannot live without; these images and characters are left indelibly in your mind. Of course, it helps when King is actually reading them to you, but even if he is not, the book is simply riveting and eventually satisfying. There is something satisfying beyond the hyperbole of the disaster that befalls Castle Rock, and it is in that aftermath- the calm- that the reader actually sighs him/herself, disappointed that it is about to end but hoping that there is more down the road. Having learned that King writes 4 hours a day, we know that there will be more.

In the town of Castle Rock, there are some strange things that happen. There is a new store that is opening called "Needful Things". This store sells anything that your heart desires, such as wealth, and so many other things that you may want or need. The owner of Needful Things is a guy that goes by the name of Mr. Gaunt. He is an older guy that has just move to the town and put a store in the middle of downtown. When he first moves to the town he, had been getting weird looks from all of the people in the town of Castle Rock. This store has some special and unique things that are very special to certain people and somethings that people just like because of the look of the item. There is only one thing that the people have to do before they can have a certain item and that is to play pranks on a person Mr. Gaunt tells them to do it to. After they have done the prank, then they will get the item that they had purchased for a cheaper price. But the thing that none of these people realize is that they are going to have things happen to them because they have pulled pranks on other people in the town of Castle Rock. Sooner or later, the people that are having these pranks done to them are going to find out who is doing these things and are going to want revenge. When this day comes, you know that Mr. Gaunt is going to be sitting their laughing because evil has done a good job on his shopping spree. This chilling novel by Steven King will have you scared out of your wits. So beware that if you ever go to Castle Rock, you may just meet evil on your shopping spree. Amy Freeland

First of all, if you are new to the world of Stephen King, I suggest you try starting with another book, like Carrie or Salem's Lot. The length of this book (and the lack of editing thereof) was enough to make me have to come up and gasp for breath at times (and I am a King fan). For those of you enraptured with the world of Stephen King and the horror he creates, Needful Things will be like a crisp beer in a raging alcoholic's hand. The citizens of Castle Rock in this book are the kind of characters we know when reading King; well-characterized but steryotypical(sp?). Leland Gaunt, the shopowner of Neeful Things, is an entrancing villain, the best thing about this novel. As with most of King's fiction, there is plenty of violence, both purposeful and outright unnecessary. The action and machinations and interactions between the characters kept me going; the only thing which stopped me from giving this book four or five stars was the editing. The first two hundred pages can be a bit slow and heavy to digest and you may find instances where you ask yourself is this really needed? But then, the book deals with the things we crave and need and how these superficial desires can get out of hand. So, if you are willing to ride through 700+ pages of classic Stephen King storytelling, at the cost of some portions slow as erosion, then perhaps Needful Things is just what you need . . .

From the only man who can describe pure evil. Needful Things is a jawdropping tale of evil in a Maine town. The only things I know about Maine come from Stephen King novels and the more Stephen King novels I read, the more I want to go there. As usual the King is not afraid to write down everything from his mind of insanity and this book is not exception, he is undoubtely the greatest American author and dare say the world!!!!

While this is a great novel, note to the squeamish or to parents: this novel like almost all of Stephen Kings novels is quite graphic, don't be surprised if it talks about a knife going into someones stomach in really graphic detail. The detail will scare the living crap out of you, it will make you afraid to go to sleep, it will make you cry, it will make you angry and if you can't hold in your hormones, it will make you aroused, which brings me to my next point: Parents of kids who are too young to be read Stephen King(5-12), the language is really obscene, there is graphic violence, and there is graphic sexual content including sex, masturbating, male/female sex organs and just stuff your children shouldn't know about. But, that doesn't mean that teenagers can't read Stephen King, they just shouldn't start here. I suggest newcomers into the world of Stephen King should read his early stuff like Salem's Lot, the Gunslinger, or the Dead Zone.

(I know I probably didn't give a good enough review for five stars, but I'm used to doing music reviews, so I'm just now doing book reviews, so just bare with me.)

I am a big Stephen King fan and i had read other reviews about Needful things so upon purchaseing the book I found it to be very differnt for example some of king's books take awhile to get into they start off slow but pick up midway through the book like Geralds Game or the Girl who loved tom gordon Needful things has to be one of the best books ever written from king I was so engrossed in this book from start to finish he makes the charcters seem so real he make you love them and hate them I mean you can feel sorry for Myrtle Keeton the way she is abused by Buster for the pain Polly and Alan go through I kinda liked Nettie myself now the book is about a man by the name of Leland Gaunt opening up a small shop called needful things he has anything you want after all he is Satan so he knows your desires like Brian Rusk and the love for baseball cards Nettie and Cranival glass the two ladies and there desire over Elvis Gaunt will sell you anything most of it for a very low price and a little prank of course he has away of hypnotizing the customers and he makes them do his evil bidding the best part about it is he plays the people aganist each other who have had problems with each other at some point in time or still do for the matter like the baptist and the catholics. the book really picks up when there is about two hundred pages left i couldn't hardly put it down and just think the chain of events start with a baseball card the book also has it tragedy as well but I reccomend this to any Stephen king fan you will not be disapointed

Many of Stephen King's readers (including some of the author's diehard fans) agree that the author's novels lost some of their pizzazz around 1987 or so. Although King's ability to create believable characters has remained strong throughout his career, he seems to have grown tired of the horror themes that inspired his earlier works.
Needful Things is a bright spot among the post-Pet Cemetery novels. Despite the formidable length of the book, King's tale of a curio shop that caters to people's innermost desires is captivating from beginning to end. As another reviewer pointed out, the premise of the story is not exactly original--but this doesn't make Needful Things any less entertaining.
The story is set in familiar King territory: the small town of Castle Rock, Maine. SK interweaves a number of complex subplots within the dark underside of small town life. Near the climax of the tale, the story switches rapidly from one subplot to another, practically compelling you to turn the page to discover what happens next.
Although I liked Needful Things overall, there were a few points that could have been improved:
-SK once stated in an interview that he would go for the gross-out if he couldn't scare the reader outright. (I am loosely paraphrasing a very old interview here.) Many of Stephen King's earlier works contained some genuinely spooky scenes. (Who can forget the woman in the bathtub in The Shining?) However, SK's later works tend to rely increasingly on B-movie gore. Needful Things contains a few too many descriptions of blood and guts, and a couple of scatological references that could have been omitted. I'm an adult and I've read worse, so these passages don't bother me--but this isn't the kind of writing that King enthralled me with in Salem's Lot and Carrie.
-One of the key subplots of the story hinges on a conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants living in Castle Rock. At times, the intensity of the enmity between the two groups seems a bit unrealistic. However, this is a minor flaw in an otherwise well-crafted latticework of back-stories and subplots.
If you didn't like Insomnia or Dreamcatcher, then you should give Needful Things a try. You may not like this book as much as The Shining, but it stands out among SK's more recent novels.

"Needful Things" is the story of Leland Gaunt, the mysterious proprietor who opens up shop in the town of Castle Rock. (King fans will remember the town from books like "Cujo" and "The Dark Half," both of which are referred to on several occasions.) Gaunt sells anything to anyone, provided they are willing to pay the price.
What I liked best about the book was that it really built up to its conclusion. I was surprised that so many found the ending lacking. It may have been over-the-top, but it got across the feeling of the mass chaos. From the beginning, I was waiting for the moment when neighbor would turn against neighbor, and I was not in the least bit dissapointed.
The writing is clever and includes brilliant descriptions of each character. Point-of-view switches frequently, creating suspense and an insatiable urge to find out what happens next.
"Needful Things" is a wonderful book that undoubtedly required much work to complete. It is not King's best work, but it is definitely near the top. What better way to say goodbye to the town we fans all know and love.

Stephen King has done it again. "Needful Things" is another great book by this outstanding author. Each character is so unique, especially Leland Gaunt, the owner of the shop "Needful Things". The way that Mr. Gaunt makes everyone in the small town of Castle Rock turn against one another is absolutely facinating. His little "pranks" eventually lead to murder, and he just sits back and enjoys the show! I highly recommend this book for all fans of Mr. King.

Having never read a Stephen King book before, it is now obvious that I should've started with a more highly praised example of his work, but unfortunately my opinion of him as a writer has diminished along with my desire to read any of his other work.

The premise was great. As a mysterious new shop opens in Castle Rock with an even more mysterious proprieter, the citizens are slowly ensnared by its appeal. 'Something for everyone' is Leland Gaunt's catchcry, and it appears that he is not wrong. He's a generous businessman, always ensuring that each and every person's 'needful thing' is just within their affordability. But of course, that's just the monetary price....

The book then descends into chaos, with the town being turned against one another by Gaunt's machinations and by their desire to protect their coveted possessions. How this was ever allowed to go on for 790 gruelling pages is beyond me. But unfortunately, when I start a book, I've got to finish it. I thought that the monotony of it would be overshadowed by a spectacular conclusion, but I was somewhat disappointed.

Not wanting to elaborate on the plot too much for the sake of those who are interested in reading this book, but the sheer stupidity of the citizens of Castle Rock is impossibly unrealistic. Anybody who lives in a small town will feel vilified by the way King depicts the residents of Castle Rock. Some other reviewers have downplayed the ludicrous conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants. It makes Northern Ireland look like a place of peaceful coexistance, and made me read it with complete incredulity. I was shocked that King really believed that his readers would accept such a half-baked excuse for a believable storyline.

To cut a long story short, as I wish King had done with this novel, Needful Things promises a lot but fails to deliver, which I'm sure residents of Needful Things could sympathise with with regard to their acquisitions from Leland Gaunt's shop. Just don't be deceived by the interesting blurb - i was, and i spent the next few months it taken me to get through this book regretting it. The book basically boils down to a bitter indictment of consumerism and our reliance on material goods for a false sense of fulfilment. It's just a pity King taken 790 pages to convey his message via a dubious plot, dubious finale, and underdeveloped andover-stupid characters.

That's right. I've read some of Stephen's books but surely this wasn't the best. It starts like you can't leave the book for a second, but when it comes near to the end it becomes more like you force yourself to finish it. It has too much fantacy, something I don't like. I prefer horror stories more connected to true life, that you'd think maybe that could really happen in some place of the world, but this one, not a tiny chance.

Among Stephen King's many talents is his ability to showcase the depths of his characters; i.e., how low they can be simply to justify their needs and desires. In this novel, Leland Gaunt, a small-town shop owner, barters with the townspeople of Castle Rock, but the price that they pay for their most desired items leads to terror. King is a master at writing this types of stories, and his fans love that he does it so well.

I just finished this, it rocks. A great ending to Stephen King's Castle Rock stories. The only bad part of this book was the epilogue (You've Been Here Before), it was one of the worst ones I have seen. I wish King had ended it where the last view of the town was shown. Other than the terrible epilogue, this was a magnificent novel.

P.S. Stay away from the movie, it is a piece of crap and it sucks.

A very interesting idea, but this is an example of how for sometime King seemed to have fallen in love with the sound of hearing himself type. Yet another example (much like insomnia) where king seems to ramble on much too long. The storytelling not nearly as tight as recent works. Not a bad story (though yet another horrible movie conversion) but hardly Kings best. If you have a very loooong flight to take and there is nothing else available you might give it a try.

This has to be one of the best written books by Stephen King. I loved all the Characters and was totally in love with the story! It sucked me in and I couldn't stop until I was finished. When I was at work, I would think about the story and what was going to happen next. It was so visual, and it hardly side tracked, it was Awesome. I saw the movie after reading it, and thought it was awful, compared to the book. I bet if I didn't read it I would like the movie, but the movie had none of my favorite characters. They kept it story-wise with the Alan and Polly. Thank god they kept Wilma and Nettie! Which is one of the BEST ever written deaths in a Stephen King novel. This was also a funny book. King's Comedy, which is hard to spot unless you have a dark since of humor. King did great, and I will so read this one again! I can't wait. All and all, great book! Too short! I always want more, King's genius.

The dull town of Castle Rock, Maine has its ordinary routines. Everyone knows each other's business and they enjoy the peace and quiet, especially after travelers who have a summer cottage leave for the fall. However, there is a new traveler in town and he's doing more than just visiting.

With several items in the store window, Leland Gaunt opens 'Needful Things' which sells odds and ends that are 'one man's trash, another man's treasure.' The prices seem reasonable enough, however much is in your pocket and a promise to do a favor; to play a little prank on someone. Seems harmless... until you piss off the wrong person and things start to get out of hand.

Leland Gaunt starts selling even more 'needful things' and people who want them are willing to pay any price, even if that means their souls.

I ultimately dislike almost every SK story. However, this is not because of his writing ability, but rather it is because of the way he portrays humanity in general and faith in particular. As in of much English literature, the clergy are either bumbling dimwits or conniving predators victimizing the "sheep". SK often writes the "Good Guys" cynically and the innocent always lose, which is just as well since their motives were never virtuous anyway. Everybody in his books are well portrayed and you want to identify with them, but in the end SK wants us all to believe that virtue is a lie and black-hearted selfishness is the only "real" motivator.

But in this tale, he screwed up and the good guy is both genuine and courageously virtuous. And he wins. I believe that it is this point that so many of the other reviewers find so objectionable; it is so NOT SK.

The people in the story are believable and well filled out in the story, but the cautionary tale is the real point that shines through. One of the few times I will likely ever recommend one of his books. The movie with Sidrow and Harris is also excellent, and makes a more compelling case for virtue too boot.

Here it is 1998 and in my rather sensable opinion, I claim that this is the last great book of the Stephen King legacy! In seven estranged years, King has yet to publish a book that intrigues my curiousity and wonder. His writing technique has greatly altered over the duration of years and his novels have become practically predictable. Will this be the Last Great One? Only King can answer that!

This was my first Stephen King book. After this, i couldn't stop reading works by this amazing author. Do not be intimidated with this book's length. As soon as you get into the plot, a hundred pages wouldn't seem like much for a single sitting. The plot is intricate, complicated, and very exciting. Each action, each decision, brings up an intricate effect. The plot is based on a shop-owner who has anything anyone ever wanted, at a very reasonable price. But there's a catch to every order. A deed must be done. A simple, seemingly innocent deed done to another person. Soon, deeds build up and people become hateful. All ends upon the hands of a small town cop, who must stop this owner of Needful Things and destroyer of lives. A very good book to get the general idea of what kind of an author Stephen King is. Do Not Pass It Up.

This is one of the most intense King novels I've read. It's so well-written and once you read the first couple pages, you can't put it down. This one, along with a few other Stephen King books, is one I would read again...it's that good. It's scary, but in a "wow these people are NUTS" kind of way. You will most certainly remember this one LONG after reading it!

This bad boy is currently running neck-and-neck with "Salem's Lot" in the "My Favorite Stephen King Book" sweepstakes -- it's miles ahead of more well-known-but-not-nearly-as-fully-realised works like "The Shining" (which was actually kind of boring) or "Pet Sematary" (lame-o ending). Check it out, and don't worry about saving your receipt -- this is one purchase you won't regret....

I actually read this after I saw the movie and as usual, the book was much better.
His portrait of the characters in this book is timeless and a lesson to all those would-be novelists about how to create believable characters. He evokes images through words that only he can.
It is a bit long and maybe a couple too many characters, but you won't notice. Buy and enjoy...

As one of King's so-called 'Constant Readers', this book of his has always stood out to me. Not in the last place because it's movie actually did the book credit (in my opinion third in-line after the prison tales The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile)
The basic idea was the most gripping to me. What if there is a store, where you could get the one thing you need most? And it can be anything from a baseball-card, Elvis' glasses to a money-winning horserace game....
And for the final trick, you just have to 'perform a little prank' in return. And before you know it you lit a fuse and an entire village is at war, including the local father and vicar.
Brilliant. Read it and get swept away by King's version of selling your soul to the devil. Beautifully played by Max von Sydow in the movie. Ancient, likeable, gentlemanlike, seemingly concerned, but through and through evil.
Excellent story telling.

Ok..I know that many of you may disagree with me. I think this book is excellent. No argument. But I enjoyed Rose Madder more. In some parts of this book it trails on and gets a bit confusing, but the plot and storyline are the best! I'm 12 years old, and read about 10 of Stephen King's books..and I'd have to say that this and Rose Madder are tied for first. Keep it up, King

Hey, I've loved Stephen since I was in Diapers and have read almost all of his works including the short story collections and Bachman books-- What? You didn't know he did a stint as under a pseudonym? Great stuff for the most part.

Okay, the King has lost his crown on this book for a couple of reasons. It's a great idea but believability is lacking seriously with not only the circus cast of characters but also their actions. It's kind of like SAW (the movie) where if just ONE single person said "Nope, sorry, F-U, I'm not playing your deranged game." The entire domino chain would be broken and fall apart. I just don't believe every single person / character is a self-serving, inconsiderate, conceited, self-indulgent megalomaniac. Yes, people have general self-preservation ideas, but there are also heroes who self sacrifice and all it takes is one to ruin this scenario. SAW fans disagree of course, but they're generally the kind of people I'm talking about.

Not only that but, HOW MANY new characters do you need to introduce into the story before you have to flip back and reread to find out what the hell, and who the hell is going on? Character cast should be kept under six or seven eh, not the whole town please.

Last, King baby, I love you, but hey...in EVERY one of your books you introduce guns into the game. Listen, I know you're anti-gun and a big supporter of anti-gun movements. I get it. BUT brother, if you're going to write about GUNS at least do some research and KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! Example: The two brothers sitting in the back of the car holding H&K Recoiless rifles on Ace who ripped them in the coke deal!!?? What?! First, HK doesn't make recoiless rifles. 2nd, have you ever sat in the back of a car holding a rifle at someone? That's a big CAR indeed! 3rd, recoiless rifles are generally WWII era anti-TANK weapons, over shoulder fired and huge! Try sitting in the back of a car with one of these babies. Uh-huh...Research!
NEXT (I won't even go ever the clips vs. magazines thing with you since every ding-dong gets it wrong, but they are not the same) What I would like to confirm is that Auto pistols are called autos because they automatically rechamber the next round. They are not fully-automatic machine guns. Yes, Glock etc makes one that is. Your Llamas are not! And yet you interchange fully automatic machine gun with autos. Not the same thing o'Captain my Captain. Please get the gun thing right in the next book. You've certainly got the editorial staff to do so.

FINALLY, this really isn't that believable, scary, or creepy like the hobnobs who posted above have said. It's mildly entertaining, but so is s 5 year old pulling a red wagon full of mud. Overall I found myself just repeating "Oh, come on..." over and over. If I was in prison it would make a great read. Otherwise, I'm picking up the next Conn Iggulden and reading some believable storytelling.

Another small town gone wrong. All of the great, almost real characters you've come to expect from Stephen King. The concept was the real pull for me... evil comes to a town and manipulates the residents into turning on one another. I've always been interested in the thin line between good and evil... about what it takes to turn a good person bad. That is what this story explores.

And just a side note: This is no longer "The Last Castle Rock Story"... that title should now be given to Lisey's Story. Many of the deputies from Needful Things appear in Lisey's Story, some of the action occurs in Castle Rock, and Lisey herself lives just a bit outside of town.

Needful Things focuses on what the town of Castle Rock thinks is a great bargain when it turns out, they're paying more than what they've bartered for.

The characters are well written and developed; King has a way of telling how each character feels through 3rd person. Everything is tied together at the end of the novel making it very enjoyable.

I don't really want to give to much away about the book. If you have ever read anything by Stephen King, and liked it, or just like an involved story this is the book for you. The way King works every last character into the story is amazing. And there is still room for his expertise in describing things to real life. If I was writing a book like this it would probably be boring, but Stephen King has a way of putting life into his books. From the beginning when Brian is riding his bike to the end where Alan, Norris and Polly are watching the car leave there is a certain sent of emotion and life. In all of his books he puts emotion and thought but this is as if you are really there in the big fight at the end or in the pricipal office seeing his secret. No matter what you will love this book. Drew Privett

This is not how I like to finish one of Stephen King's books. When I first started it I was amazed on how great he had everything set up in a way where it would be impossible to blow the ending. The best thing about this book was the way he wrote the characters. They seemed to jump off the pages and come to life in your own little world. All in all, this is probably the best character-describing he's done to date, save MAYBE It. But to read something 700 pages long and getting a bad ending almost makes you want to never buy a long book again. But then again every author, even the best of them, can't write awesome endings after endings. But let me tell you this is no It, The Shining, or The Stand.

This is King at his best. Even if you have seen the movie, still read this book it has significant differences. The best part of this book is the best part of King's early work, no character is safe. For the most part you will not see many of the plot twists coming but they all work very well. Leland Gaunt is a great villian. Highly reccomend this book.

The author states this is a black comedy about greed and obsession. It's not a genre for me. Instead of laughing at people, I was going ugh and oh - too much anger and stupidity.

Gaunt a demon (or devil) comes to town. He meets with many people. He knows each person's weakness and greatest desire. He has a hypnotizing effect, fulfilling each person's desire and compelling them to do a task. This task is something mean to another person and keeping it secret.

CAUTION SPOILER an example:
Gaunt tells Brian to throw rocks to break windows, the tv, and other items in Wilma's home. The rocks have notes saying Nettie did it. Gaunt tells Hugh to kill Nettie's dog with a note saying Wilma did it. Instead of talking to each other, Wilma and Nettie are enraged. They grab knives and kill each other simultaneously.

Actually the above kill scene was funny. I laughed, but I didn't laugh at other kill scenes.

So, most of the story is getting to know people and watching them enjoy and obsess about whatever Gaunt gives them. They take extreme measures to protect it because they fear losing it. They do a task which is usually destroying A's property and leaving a note saying B did it. Then A and B attack each other in a rage. Throughout this, the framed people don't talk to each other or report damage to the police. No one acts in a rational manner.

THE ENDING:
A couple of characters eventually do some smart things at the end. It is sort of a happy ending. But so many people were foolish, vicious and dead, that it didn't feel good. And, the ending was weak. It was the hand of God (or other power) coming in to fix things. Where was this power earlier in the story? Why does it appear only at the end? I can accept it - just mentioning - it was weak.

WHAT I LIKED:
I loved getting to know so many characters living in a small town. The author is great with descriptions and dialogue.

One unexpected reaction I had was feeling grateful that I didn't have some of the problems these people had. One woman had such severe arthritis in her hands, she couldn't zip a zipper, and she was in pain most of the time. What an awful way to live. Also a teen who stuttered who wished he didn't. Stephen does this exceedingly well. I've read about similar problems in other authors' books and didn't feel as much empathy as I felt here.

NARRATOR:
Stephen King narrated this book, and his acting was very good. His accent probably fits the characters in the story. But I'd prefer an actor with a "generic accent." Stephen says Mondeeey, Tuesdeeey, and a few other things that I'm not used to. I kept thinking this is Stephen the author. I'd prefer not thinking about "who" is narrating and just be immersed in the story.

DATA:
Narrative mode: Most of the story is 3rd person. A few sections are an unrelated 1st person narrator. Unabridged audiobook reading time: 25 hrs and 11 mins. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual content: a few brief scenes, mostly referred to with no details, includes self pleasuring. Setting: 1991 mostly Maine. Book copyright: 1991. Genre: paranormal suspense. Ending: somewhat bad for the bad guy, barely good for a few good guys.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Stephen King books, see my 5 star review of Carrie posted 5-11-12.

i think needful things is a good book with an original plot. the only problem is that it's too long : to tell the whole story, 450 pages would have been the perfect number for a book like this.
Anyway buy it and you won't be disappointed.
SK RULES!

I disagree with most of the reviewers of this title on a number of counts. First, I consider that King's later novels, in general, are better than his early ones. Bag of Bones and Cell are brilliant. Second, having made that point, I consider Needful Things to be one of King's weaker later novels. Leland Gaunt just doesn't work very well as a villain--his motivations are unclear and his characterization is inconsistent.

One more point: The relationship between Polly and Sheriff Pangborn, which is central to the novel, never really rises above the level of bathos. I'll give this three stars--the writing style IS very strong.
Wish I could say the same for the plot.

I think this is the best Stephen King book I have ever read. This book is the one that got me started on Stephen King. After I read this book I went to the store and bought some other books of his. My opinion, none were as good as Needful Things. One good book of his is "The Bachman Books". So far this is the only book that came close to Needful Things. I have found that when you move from carachater to carachater like in Needful Things the story dosen't get boring. But if you stay on one subject for long amounts of time it gets boring. Right now I have around 10 paperback books and one hard cover. Personally I think hard covers are better and more fun to collect. Any way I give this book a 10 out of 10. Great job Stephen King keep the good work up. Austin Shafer 15\M

This book is NOT his best, but ONE of his best. I was completely enthralled with the concept of a guy visiting a small town and turning the people of that town against each other. wow. It could have been a bit shorter, but that Stephen King's vice. We have to deal with it.

--review from the author of The Shadow God and Spiritual Sorrow.

When I started reading this book went started out a little slow but you wanted to find find out what was going to happen, which can be very hard to find in a book that may start slow. As I kept on reading I got more and more indulged in this book and it is now one of my favorites. I highly recommend you read this hypnotic novel. It has plenty of characters, surprise turns, and even some trips down memory lane.

Needful things is a very well written, clever novel with a very unique plot that keeps you going until the end. The end is the problem, though, with the big spider and Gaunt flying away and everything... If King would have thought more about the ending This would be a better book. The bad ending doesn't ruin this book much for me.

I don't know if I'd commit murder for a statuette or if I'd throw turkey dung on someone's washing and break all their windows for a baseball card but that's exactly what happens in this book. The movie was terrible in my opinion so I'm glad I read the book BEFORE seeing the movie otherwise I never would have picked the book up.

Needful Things by Stephen King was probably one of the books I've read so far. The book catches your attention right when it starts. It keeps you guessing throughout the entire book,"what's going to happen next?" It's a pshycotic thriller. One thinks "How is this happening?" But after a while, you no longer care, you're too enthralled by what's going on. Stephen King really brings these people to life. He releases the demented thoughts or fantasies from the dark recesses of one's mind, igeniously. The entire book as a whole is great. The ending might leave you hanging a bit, but the entire book makes up for it. Might there be a sequal to this fascinating horror story or a spruced up version of "Mr. Guant?" One can only hope. Enid

This is a really entertaining GREAT read. The characters are really true to life and I found the book HILARIOUS. This book proves everyone has their price....The setting was great, the plot was really rich and interesting, its a must read for King fans, and fans of horror. Watch out for the movie version though, its HORRID.

People give out 10's on this thing way too easily. I think we should all be a little more objective. Needful Things was a decent enough book -- a great premise that gets bogged down in the middle and kind of crashes into chaos at the end. Not one of Steven King's best. But listen, people are giving 10's and then citing flaws in the book. Could we all reserve 10's for our top 3 favorite books of all time. How about a nice, refreshing 9 every once and a while?

This book may be better than just 2 stars...but the problem is how do you give it more than that, when books like Salem's Lot, The Shinning, Pet Semetary can only get 5? I have been reading King's books for 15 years...and this one didnt do it for me. I liked the story line building around people's paranoia and insecurities...but in the end, the book fell short.

I've always liked Stephen King's books, but this one didn't quite do it for me. The story premise was interesting, but I just didn't get into the heads of most of the characters. Those I did identify with in most cases didn't survive to the end of the book. King does evoke a strong sense of setting, and Castle Rock is definitely a town I'll be happy to visit in other books. Since it's the last of the Castle Rock books, and not very strong, I wouldn't recommend it as a good place to start when reading King's books.

this is the LAST Castle Rock book. Mr. King brings the Devil himself to Derry and things get strange (as if you thought his book would be otherwise) the residents get tempted by things they want and will do ANYTHING to get them.

This is not a bad Stephen King novel. The problem is that it does not really have any monsters per se, and is more about people and how their desire to "have" and "want" something can spell their doom. It is a good book by all means read it, but you just can't help feeling that by the end maybe reading something else better from King while watching "Wishmaster 2" should have been the way to go.

I never expected to read of a more vile and sinister evil than the one King wrote of in It. Well, to say I was wrong is an understatement. King masterfully crafts a tale of unrelenting suspense and horror with remarkable characters and an antagonist that I will not soon forget. This is in my Stephen King top three.

This is a wonderful book. When the Devil (AKA Leland Gaunt) opens his Needful Things shop in town, there is something for everyone if they are willing to pay the price (mainly there soul).
What kind of things praytell. Well for 11 year old Brian its a baseball card, for Polly a necklace that soothes her arthritus for Ace it's a fast car.
Strange, shortly after the shop opens, towns people who have known each other for years are starting to kill one another. Why? That's what Sheriff Panghorn wants to know.
One thing for sure. This is a wonderfully well constructed and entertaining novel. It has minimal blood and gore like in other horror novels, including those by Mr. King; however, you won't be disappointed.

I found this novel to be beautifully put together. It surprised me to see so many plots put together so well. However, what truly amazed me was that within these many plots, he was able to put in even more themes. And he put everyone of them in better than most authors can include even one.
This book is exremely entertaining, stunningly suspensefully, but neither of these can compare to how beautifully it was brought to a conclusion in the end of the story.
If you read a Stephen King novel, and do not feel that he has much to his stories beside the horror, do not judge his quality as a writer until having read this one.

Maybe not the depth in characters of The Stand, or maybe not the fear of Salem's Lot...but this is Stephen King's most entertaining novel yet.
King has written a book filled with spiritual undertones. Man fights the desires and temptations of his heart that wage with all our souls. King brings these characters to life as they will do anything to keep their special item or "needfull thing". I finished it in 2 nights. Well worth the read. Of course, it's better than the movie...

I live in Europe, in south of Hungary (in Szeged). I think Stephen King write ewrything, what European people think from the USA. This is a book from the experiences real and from the relations of friendly-world and dark-world. It's a masterwork from the horror.

I admire several books by Stephen King but unfortunately this one combines the worst of the author's flaws- strong start which almost immediately fizzles into a slow never-ending meandering repetitious quagmire of a plot. Zero suspense. It is not a good feeling

Wow! Some people are better at what they do than anybody else I know is at anything they do. Like Michael Jordan on a basketball court, Stephen King dazzles, amazes and makes it look easy.
Here are all of the great parts of King and none of the bad. As often happens with King, I found myself "almost" routing for the bad guy right up until the gory end. But then, I could hardly wait for him to get what he deserved. I know it is a cliché, but I literally could not put this book down. This is "The Master of Horror" at his best! Buy it. Read it. Enough said.

I read this when it was first published and enjoyed the hell out of it. But I just read it again and wasn't really all that impressed. Maybe, in view of all the horrifying events that have taken place since 9/11, King's work no longer seems that interesting, much less, "scary."

This was probably the most goriest book I have ever read ( I read horror books quite frequently). The book was hard to put down but the end was kind of silly. I didn't think it was very realistic and sort of like reading a gross fairy tale.

I've only read a few Stephen King novels, and I'm glad I read this one. It is exceptional in its story telling, and characteriszations. I consider it the second best novel I've read by this author (the best being "The Stand").

This is one those books by King that people either like a lot or not much at all. I love it, putting it only behind IT as my favorite King novel. The story is carefully woven together to culminate in the destruction of one of my favorite settings in any of King's novels, Castle Rock. The book is billed as the final Castle Rock story, but I hope King reconsiders and chooses to continue the Castle Rock saga. People who read King for gore or sheer terror probably won't like Needful Things; however, those who like the way he developes characters should find it a very enjoyable read.

This is, IMO, one of King's best novels. Great setting and characterization. I read it with a smile on my face. Just another one of King's masterpieces. Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore or library and read this today!
Word Ninja

Needful Things is masterfully written, with realistic charecterization. It shows a mind-boggling variety of charecters, and each is portrayed incredibly well. The range of charecters spans from schoolboy to madman, and it pained me whenever I was forced to put it down. It will grapple you and hold you in your seat for hours on end. Personally I love a nice thick book, but if you don't, you might like it a bit less. It is quite a long book, and even I was tiring by the time I reached the end.

This is, by far, my favourite novel by Stephen King. As always he frightens us and makes us think. He also makes us think about ourselves and all of our greed. Also, he makes us wonder what we would do for our Needful Things

King did a perfect job of wrapping up Castle Rock's long and unusual history. It was incredible how everyone turned on each other, but not in a direct way. I couldn't put this book down. It was incredible! Two thumbs up!

This was the second ever Stephen King book I read next to "The girl who loved Tom Gordon" which in my opinion was pretty lame. I read this book in about 5 weeks ( I was on Holiday) and found this book absolutely compelling. The portrayl of so many characters makes the book easier to get a feel of a small town being taken over by some trickster who sells things at fatal prices. If you stuck for a book to read, read this- It doesnt take as long as it look

(...)
This book is macabre, horrific, maniacal, exhilarating...
You gotta read this. It's incredible. Make me heart flutter so many times. What writing. So great. Amazing climax. Just read it!

If you are a Stephen King fan then you will love this book. I highly recomend it. I thought I had read all of his books, somehow I missed this one. I enjoy his classic writing style. Just enough gore to keep you reading. I would have given it 5 stars if the book was longer. All in all a great quick read.

Needful Things is great for a person like myself who likes shopping lol!!! Just an awesome story of a small town where everyone knows everyone and what happens when a new and interesting shop appears in your town. Like always SK's discription of the town itself and characters is fantastic, you really feel like you are there. Definately one of my top 5 King books!!!

'needful things' has the typical long-drawn out parts of almost any sk book, but fortunately there aren't too many.. it's a frightening, compelling, and almost too-realistic story. it's the kind of book that's fun to read anytime!

This book is the first Stephen King's novel that I read. this story is funny because of King's special black humor---this novel is hilarious(and cruel) horror fiction. But, it's also chilling story. Mr. Gaunt, who opened "Needful Things" , is the origin of horror. He sold many things that Castle Rock's citizens have really wanted. But, in fact, all things were tricks, and many disasters begin because of his 'small' demand for purchase. What will happen? Only hint is this novel is the last story of Castle Rock, which is Mr. King's fictional town.

I've been a King reader for almost 8 years, and have read many of the old stuff. They are great, really horror... but this one is simply the best. The characters, the plot, the idea, the writting... everything is great. The idea of the devil gathering followers with little favors is genious. I recommend this book for everybody that wants to feel (and be scary of) the real Stephen King.

This is one of my favorite King novels. Don't let the length scare you, once you get going you won't put it down. You become so invested that, like a lot of King stories, the climactic ending is unforgettable. Do not watch movie or you may not like the book! It almost ruined the book for me when i watched the movie after.

Needful Things is a very well written suspensful novel with twists and turns. The suicide the things the shopkeeper does for his "repayment" seem not to be horrible, but just a vandilism or a rumor but they turn deadly turning people against each other ruining the town until the point where something has to be done. NO SPOILERS WILL I EVER WRITE!!!!!!!!!

Great read in my opinion. Goes into the true heart of everyone. We all have things we want bad to the point were some people think they need.

Ending could have been more explanatory but overall a great read

I have read a number of books by Stephen King, and I think that this one has a very good idea. However, the realization is somewhat faulty. The book changes rhythm once too often, and some parts are getting a little bit boring, and you have the urge to skip some pages to get to the important part of the story. In conclusion, I think that any reader should take this book with moderate expectations and he will not be disappointed.

This book, although not scary at all to me, was an excellent book. The book is really addicting, as well as all of his books. I started reading it and would not stop for many hours, which is really unusual for myself. King is an excellent author, not only for what he writes about, but how he writes it.

To put it bluntly, this is one of Stephen King's worst novels. As a big admirer of King, my major criticism has always been that he has a poor "end game". His ability to create and make you envision people and whole communities as if they were real, is second to none. However come the end of a story, he doesn't seem to know how to finish in a way that would do his stories justice... And for me, Needful Things is by far the worst example. Annie Wilkes would not be pleased!

On a final note, this story is obviously influenced by an old Peter Cushing movie called Temptations Ltd, made in 1973, which is about an antique dealer with supernatural powers...

This is the second King book I've read in two months. However, before that it has been a very long time since I last read a Stephen King book (probably late 80s). I read a number of his books at that time and I enjoyed them. Though this book is from 92, King had apparently decided America sucks and small town America really sucks. This book is openly anti-America and anti-white.
Small town America is portrayed as deeply dysfunctional where everyone has something in their closet that is easily exploited. That is the premise of this book. A new store is opened in a New England town called "Needful Things," a curiosity and antique shop. There are no prices on any of the merchandise and customers have to "dicker" the price. Mr Gaunt, the shop's proprietor asks only a small cash payment along with a promise to commit a "prank" against someone else in the town at some future date. It is through these pranks that Mr Gaunt is able to to pour salt into the existing wounds of people in the town.
There are far too many characters and none of them are well developed. This book was way too long with too many subplots. There are much better books by Mr King. If you already have it, or you get it in a larger collection of books, it might be worth reading, but it is certainly NOT worth buying at full price.

Once again, a bone-chilling, charmingly hideous piece of action from the one and only King of horror fiction. "Needful Thing" is the sixth book by him I've read, and my admiration for Stephen King only increases. This is not as good as "The Stand" or "Pet Sematary", but it's still one of the best suspense novels, horror if you will, that I've read so far in my life.

I was surprised this would be a good book , since his work starting from ten years ago has been a downward spiral . I would have rated this 5 stars if Stephen had taken the time to really describe Gaunt's true form . Other than that , it is worth reading . My favorite books from Stephen King are 'Salem's Lot , The Shining , and It . Check them out if you have not already !

Well I don't see what all this hype about Stephen King is. The man is a fool especially with Dreamcatcher. His books are poor, the language is profane and it isn't that interesting if at all. And what is this sick attraction he has with Dracula? I mean I love that book too and it is possibly one of the best gothic novels ever written but for somebody like king to steal a phrase (the end of chapter 1 of needful things) "enter freely and leave some of the happiness you bring" Anne rice and all other horror wanna-be's are lame. All the old horror masters are gone now, so people must contend with mediocre, retarded and very secular novels. Well they haven't read mine, and never will.

This is a kind of a book only Stephen King can write.The story is great and the characters are so well described that I could actualy see every one of them in my mind. This book is a fiction but I found myself thinking what would I do if I were in the same position as the people from Castle Rock. I certanly reccomend it.

Mr King always makes the people in his books come alive the good and the bad, in this book the bad were just regular people until the really bad came along. Thank you again for an excape from reality.

This was the best Stephen King book I've ever read, it's about an imp named Lelaund Guant who opens a shop in Castle Rock, and causes the customers to play pranks on others. Stephen King proves a unique ability to make you like and hate a character at the same time. 5 Stars(though it deserves at least 6)!!!

I just got finished read a book, and I realized what is SK's horror. Someday I will read every book of SK. Because his story is grotesque and plot is fast and discription is cruel.

The whole situation was weird...and getting weirder all the time. As time went by Needful Thing is a poison place, and Mr. Gaunt is a poison man. Only he's really not a man.-Who is HE? Maybe devil.

The idea for this story came several years earlier, in an excellent, far-superior short story called "The Distributor" by the true horror master: Richard Matheson. King has made a career of stealing ideas from Matheson. He just took The Distributor and made it longer, but took out it's life and imagination. There's one good scene, but it doesn't justify reading the whole book. Read "The Distributor" and get the story better and faster. Blecch!

This is one of my two favorite books( The Stand being my ultimate favorite). I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with all of the characters, even the ones that weren't very lovable, and felt I knew all of them personaly. I even cried when .... ( yes I know it's pathetic!). READ THIS BOOK!!!!

I thought this book was fantastic. It had all the characteristics of a GOOD HORROR NOVEL. In one scene I was actually SHOCKED. Those who read it probably know which one. For me, this happens too infrequently. I highly recommend it.