Needful ThingsNeedful Things
Score Modern
What it's about
A new shop opens in Castle Rock, Maine, run by Leland Gaunt, who sells each customer exactly what they most desire, for a small price: a prank or mysterious deed. As the pranks multiply, the town tears itself apart.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1991. It's a darkly funny horror novel about greed.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's set in Castle Rock, the town of many King stories. It became a 1993 film.
By the numbers
- Readers22 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller61 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #58 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #1136 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2099 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping
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Quick answers
Is Needful Things worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1991. It ranks #2,099 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Needful Things about?
A new shop opens in Castle Rock, Maine, run by Leland Gaunt, who sells each customer exactly what they most desire, for a small price: a prank or mysterious deed. As the pranks multiply, the town tears itself apart.
How long does it take to read Needful Things?
About 23 hours (933 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Needful Things?
If you liked it, try 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King, It by Stephen King or The Stand by Stephen King.