Needful Things

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Stephen King

Length: 25 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

There was a new shop in town. Run by a stranger. Needful Things, the sign said. The oddest name. A name that caused some gossip and speculation among the good folks of Castle Rock, Maine, while they waited for opening day. Eleven-year-old Brian Rusk was the first customer and he got just what he wanted, a very rare 1956 Sandy Koufax baseball card. Signed. Cyndi Rose Martin was next. A Lalique vase. A perfect match for her living room decor. Something for everyone. Something you really had to have. And always at a price you could just about afford. The cash price that is. Because there was another price. There always is when your heart's most secret, true desire is for sale.

©1991 Stephen King (P)2008 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A sophisticated literary craftsman . . . his work anatomises . . . the social fabric of small-town American life." ( Observer)

Stephen: All i need is you!

Would you listen to Needful Things again? Why?

Holly Yes! One of my favorite Stephen King books! I loved it from start to the end! The only minus i would say is that it is a BIT on the long side, and not all Stephen King writhe is that interesting. I would say it is still one of his best books!

What about Stephen King’s performance did you like?

When Stephen king reads his own books it is done with KUDOS! And it is done with love to the source material! His own book!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No WAY! It is to long, but i should stop complaining about that!

Typical early King quality, poor performance

Why did King narrate this himself? How on earth has he been allowed to narrate 3 (that I know of) of his books? He really needs to stick to the writing, at which he's brilliant. As a narrator... Let's just say I don't think he'd make a living if that was his day job. Good story, but perhaps not up to the awesome standard of most of the work he's produced in the last few years, but hard to recommend in terms of this recording because of his boring, toneless and dreary delivery.

One of my favourites

I love hearing an author read their own work and Stephen does a fantastic job in this one. A story which has you wanting more at the end of each chapter.

Several times it had me gasping out loud and wondering how on earth this was going to end.

Highly recommend.

Simply great

While Mr King might arguably not have the best voice for audiobook narration, there’s something very special (to me any way) hearing the author read his own tale. More so, Mr King’s voice, particularly when narrating Leland Gaunt, took on a slight Vincent Price tone, which I loved.

I devoured this book, finding reasons to keep my headphones in for longer each day.

Some reviews also lambasted the music, though I found it helped the story - each key character had his own theme - which helped me keep track as to who was being featured, particularly when the story jumped from character to character.

After giving this a listen, my next step is to look up the movie version, with Ed Harris.

Another spell binder from mr king

I read lots of reviews before listening to this book and was a bit worried about the comments on the music. Have no fear. The music is appropriate and fits in wonderfully. As for Mr King narrating the book. I love it. He does it best of all. The story was very clever and I enjoyed every bit of this book.

Needs or Wants?

An interesting book about evil and how it uses each human weakness as a tool against the human. (I've known con men and manipulators who do exactly the same) .

Here, each individual's Want, not Need, for a specific item - either for collection, sentimentality, or any other reason, becomes a weapon used by evil, against the self and others. It renders the individual character almost helpless, and leads them to do what they know is wrong.

The book also demonstrates how deftly an instigator can turn otherwise friendly people against each other. In real life terms, (I think for example of a vicious in-law creating havoc within the family).

Each character's story unfolds, and there's always an override to the small inner voice prompting him/her to do the right thing.

There's an ironic wordplay on the title "Needful Things". A Want becomes a Need and the difference between the two is blurred.

A good listen, but I find Stephen King's voice a little harsh on the ears, but not too bad.

Absolute Enjoyment of an old favorite

What a journey. And Stephen King's narration was superb! I absolutely loved it! Five Stars.