MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Stephen King novels are so expensive!

Stephen King novels are so expensive!

posted 7 years ago by Barclays (960)
13 replies | jump to latest

So I haven't read IT since I was in high school 30 years ago. I wanted to read it again before going to see the new movie IT. The public library has no available copies so I went to Barnes and Nobles to buy a copy. OmG! So expensive. So I opted for another one of his novels titled Lisey's Story. It came out in 2006 but cost 17 dollars! The book is rated 3.5 out of 5 at Goodreads. I just don't understand why that book is still so expensive even as a paperback.
It's not as if the book won't be taking up space in my room after I'm done reading it.
Is Stephen King over priced or what?

[–] Frogarama (12942) 7 years ago

Price probably went up due to this year's heightened demand. Plus, the cost of making books has increased since the physical versions just aren't as popular anymore.

[–] [email protected] (5517) 7 years ago

It can be difficult to find books at a good price. I've bought several hardcover books on ebay for a very good price. I went there and saw that there are a number of copies of Lisey's Story for a lot less than new bookstore prices.

Another great place to find books (including old and out of print books) is a site called Abe Books. I was in a used book store years ago looking for a book that my mom liked but which she lost a long time ago. It wasn't there but the store owner turned me on to Abe Books. It's a clearinghouse for hundreds of book sellers across the country. I found that old book for a few dollars. Just type in AbeBooks. Great site!

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

I don't think that it's just Stephen King, although someone here did say that there may be a demand, especially with IT coming out in the theaters. I think books, no matter who the author is, can be very expensive these days.
I no longer go to Barnes and Nobles or Book World, a local book store where I always bought my books. Instead, I go to Good Will or used book shops most of the time. I also find great buys on Amazon.....
I did buy a collection of short stories by Stephen King last week. It's The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. copy Right:2016. I bought it at Shop-Ko (similar to Wal-Mart) for $9.99. I'd say that's reasonable. Stephen King isn't that expensive.
By the way, I haven't read Lisey'e Story yet. Is it pretty good?

[–] Barclays (960) 7 years ago

Thanks for the tip. I should have walked out when the cashier told me the price but I wanted something to read right away. Next time I will just order used books from Amazon.

Yeah I saw all those short stories he'd written but I didn't feel like reading more of his short stories. I've already read all the ones he'd written before 1996.

This would be the second time I have read Lisey's Story. I remember it being kind of bizarre. She is the widow of a famous writer and she somehow gains the same gift her late husband had which is the ablity to transport herself to different worlds. I remember one of the worlds being really creepy. I like stories that give me the creeps and this one I remember fondly. For me, it's comforting reminiscing while re watching a movie or re reading a book that I liked.

[–] MissMargoChanning (6630) 7 years ago

Lisey's Story sounds good! I think I may have to get that one next!

Since you say you haven't read any of his collections since 1999, I really do have to recommend a couple that you must read.

Just After Sunset is a collection of 14 stories. Many of them are very creepy. They really are good!

Full Dark and No Stars has 4 stories. All of them are excellent! Two of them have been made into movies. Another will be on Netflix next month.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

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[–] Popcorn Kernel (2368) 7 years ago

Why on earth are you buying an old book like that brand new?
Try a used book store or garage sale or ebay or a million other places that people get cheap used books.

[–] croft_alice (12180) 7 years ago

In my country everything is over priced.

[–] TandyMan (10417) 7 years ago

I stopped buying new paperbacks when they broke the ten dollar threshold and that was years ago now. They mark them up every year and the quality of them is worse than ever.

One of my better book scores ever was finding a mint condition first edition of It at a flea market and that's actually worth a little bit of money.

[–] Orestes97 (100) 7 years ago

It would be great to find a decent copy of the original cut of The Stand without having to take out a loan.

[–] napsdufroid (2077) 7 years ago

All new books are overpriced, unfortunately, "barclays."