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)

Wonderfully compelling

Would you listen to Needful Things again? Why?

I would listen to this over and over. This book keeps you entranced from beginning to end. This was the second book of Stephen King's I have read and it will not be last.

Needful things

The best reader I hat the pleasure listening to.
The best writer.
I only rate books with stars and don't write a review.
This is my first review. It was so good I must say something.

Need or Greed

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you like layers in your books, this is the one for you. Murder & mayhem prevail throughout the book, but if you can get past this it's a winner. It's is a story about human weaknesses and needs to provide comfort in lives but goes horribly wrong with each satisfaction of that need. Everybody's response and need will be different and this book portrays us all at our very worst.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Needful Things?

The tale of Nettie Cobb, with her 'carnival glass lampshade" obtained from Gaunt and her fear and hate for "that Polish woman over the back," Wilma Jerzyck was most memorable for me. It almost took on a cartoonish quality in my mind as their story within the larger story unfolded.

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

Given that the book was some 25 hours long, no, I did not want to listen to it until the end. Also, I must say, the book was pretty heavy going in parts and having a rest occasionally was heavenly relief. Although I enjoyed the book, I partook in smallish slices of a few hours a day here and there and it took about 5 days to fully consume.

Any additional comments?

yes, the music was off-putting and the book would have been better without it. Perhaps the book was a little bit too long. I know I was somewhat relived when I had finished it. I'm not sure why; relief at the end of the shop Needful Things or relief that 25 hours had come to an end? Stephen King is a top class story teller and not a bad reader, too. All in all, a top shelf book.

I'm aleady a SK fan, buty this one surpasses all

If you could sum up Needful Things in three words, what would they be?

Wickedly evil mayhem

What did you like best about this story?

I loved this story for the same reasons I love all of King's stories: the rich detail in the characters, and the suspenseful plot, coupled with the sheer evil and mayhem parcelled out by the main character.

Have you listened to any of Stephen King’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have listened to almost all of them. This one is best because I had the wonderful pleasure of hearing the accent that SK describes so very often in his books. The narrator also seemed to be very accomplished. Only later did I realise that Stephen King himself was reading this story to me. I was deeply moved. It seems silly, but it is true.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Be careful what you wish for ... you just might get it!

Any additional comments?

Thank you so very much, Mr King. Your reading of this fantastic story was a true pleasure. I may like a few of your books more, but listening to you read your own book so well is a connoisseur's delight!

Great Book and narration

Great story and wonderful narration from the author. The only thing out of place is the music. Totally unnecessary. Still worth a listen though!

Just as good as I remembered

It’s been a while since I read this, it’s still my favourite. Read so well and makes you go cold with menace and drama.

Why ?

What did you like best about Needful Things? What did you like least?

What is WITH the random music ? I'm really not liking it !

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

No loud unexpected music !

What aspect of Stephen King’s performance would you have changed?

The music

Was Needful Things worth the listening time?

I'm sure the story is worthy of the master wordsmith that is Stephen King but I just can't concentrate on it.

Rivetting!!

This is a " can't put it down" kind of book. Fast moving plot with believable characters. Great read.

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.