Needful Things

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Stephen King

Length: 25 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Stephen King's number-one national best seller about a store where Leland Gaunt can sell you whatever your heart desires - sexual pleasure, wealth, power, or even more precious things - but not without exacting some price in return.

Leland Gaunt opens a new shop in Castle Rock called Needful Things. Anyone who enters his store finds the object of his or her lifelong dreams and desires: a prized baseball card, a healing amulet. In addition to a token payment, Gaunt requests that each person perform a little "deed", usually a seemingly innocent prank played on someone else from town. These practical jokes cascade out of control, and soon the entire town is doing battle with itself. Only Sheriff Alan Pangborn suspects that Gaunt is behind the population's increasingly violent behavior.

Praised as "tremendous...wonderful...one of King's best" (Kirkus Reviews).

©1991 Stephen King (P)1991 Penguin Highbridge Audio

Critic reviews

"A read in the tradition of The Stand." ( Booklist)

Please! No Distracting Keyboard Music

I am a die hard Stephen King fan. I hang in every word in every book. That is why I was annoyed during this reading to hear really primitive synthesizer music playing during pivotal parts of this book.

The most annoying instance was during a part in which a character was in a fugue/dream state imaging herself at an Elvis Presley concert. The music almost drowns out the narrator (a very capable Stephen King himself reads) and is so silly that there is no way to take the passage seriously.

Please get rid of this insipid unnecessary distraction.

Castle Rock....the unluckiest place on earth

So, first off...the story itself...great classic Stephen King. Not one of my favorites, but great story just the same. Lots of characters, but if you roll with it, you figure out who’s who and how they’re connected. It’s not as important in most cases WHO the characters are, but what’s happening to them and the effect the store owner Mr Gaunt has on them...and the effect they in turn have on the town. So don’t let it stress you out too much.

This actually sat in my library for months. I purchased it with one of my credits in the middle of a King binge....many of which I was re-reading, but this one I had never read.The reason I hadn’t gotten around to it was because King was narrating it. I had listened to two book narrated by King. Hearts in Atlantis and Desperation. I was less than impressed with either, but after getting used it, it’s not too bad....but just didn’t feel like having to get used to it again. But it was the only King I had left to listen to in my library, and I’d never read it...so..

It was the usual seeming monotone at first, but quickly became pretty amazing. He had SO many characters to portray, and you could tell he probably REALLY likes this story, and there is a plus side to the author narrating his own book, he knew exactly how he wanted the characters to come across, and he really got into it. And of course he’s got that Maine accent DOWN. I believe he did a wonderful job conveying the emotions...and there were tons of emotions....everybody in the Rock was losing their freaking minds. Maybe it’s because I went in with lower expectations, but it was pretty awesome. My only critique would be that his bible-thumping, fire and brimstone reverend came across sounding a little bit like a caricature of an Italian restaurant owner somehow lol....but I gave him a pass on that. For those hesitant to listen for that reason, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

The music added was hokey, but not a big deal....it wasn’t like it was played that much. People can be so picky. I came for the story, and I got the story....well told

Music is terrible

This is a classic Castle Rock story, and while King’s reading isn’t the greatest, there’s something about hearing the great man give voice to his creation. However, the “music” is horrible. Horrible! It’s like someone took an old Casio keyboard, drank a fifth of whiskey, and hit record. This should be remastered and the “music” removed.

top-notch:except fot the loud, poorly placed music

top-notch:except fot the loud, poorly placed music. king is a FINE narrator, but the production values leave something to be desired.

One of my favorites

Who can read his stories better than the man himself? Excellent performance by great author.

Ruined by the producers.

Great story. Good narration. Absolutely atrocious production. Music and silly sound effects at every plot twist. It completely drowns out the narration and distracts from the actual story. There is also echos and background noise in many parts. I love the story and Stephen King, but the producers really hurt this audio version.

Old recording

The book is phenomenal, however, the recording is old. There's a weird echo and sometimes there's audio static.

weird music

This book and the performance were fantastic, but the interstitial music really takes away from the experience. It's loud, almost never matches the tone of the scene, and is totally unnecessary. Cheery video game style muzak plays during a murder scene that really didn't need it. Author's words are enough without that.

Good story, poor choice of music during narration.

Musical segments ruin a crucial moment in this story. Music to round-out a chapter is fine but during narration is not.

Hell in a small town

Mr Gaunt is the perfect horror, giving everyone just what they want! Follow along as Stephen King weaves a new reality. Will not disappoint.