Stephen King Fans discussion
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New SK Fan- Which book first?
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i'd go for pet semetary, the dead zone or salems lot they are all really great books
I just finished 'Salem's Lot. Excellent story. You can't go wrong with any of them really...well, most of them (there are a few duds.) Personally, I'd read them in order published. Stephen King puts a lot of easter eggs in his novels that you might not catch otherwise. His books are in a world unto themselves and more times than not, you'll find subtle connections from one book to the next. It might be just a mention of a character from a previous book to a cameo or that character playing a larger role in the story. It's very fun to find them and I promise you won't be sorry.
Can't go wrong with Misery,short,sharp & shocking.
The Dark Half (a personal fave) see above!In fact take both.
Why not start at the beginning and read Carrie or The Shining?
I agree with starting with his beginning novels. Carrie, Salem's Lot and the Shining are wonderful.
I just finished The Shining (for the second time) and am about halfway through Doctor Sleep. Both excellent. If you are after a huge tome, though, I'd recommend The Stand. Have a great holiday! :)
Carrie, Salem's Lot, Night Shift if you like short stories, The Dead Zone
Stephanie wrote: "Hi everyone,I read Under the Dome when it first came out and am now enjoying it again with the TV series currently on in the UK (last episode tonight!)
Im keen to read more Stephen King books and..."
Misery is pretty great. Just finished it today for the first time. But I would have to recommend 11/22/63. I just recommended it to a book club, most haven't read King, and they are loving it. Great book!!!
King as matured as a writer and his later stuff is quite unlike his early works. I'd read at least a couple of his early works first: like The Shining and Salem's Lot For me, It is his transitional novel.
After finishing Doctor Sleep (which was disappointingly just 'okay' imo), I had a bit of a crisis of faith in King and thought that he might not have been as good as I thought he would be. I went back and reread Carrie and was amazed at the level of writing. He really was a master back in the day.For a first read-- take your pick out of the following three: Carrie, The Shining, Pet Semetery.
Pet Semetary is my favorite, but 'Salem's Lot is a close second and, of course, IT.
If I was just starting out with reading his books I would check out Carrie.
pet semetary, salems lot or needful things
For a first read, you can't go wrong with Carrie or Salem's Lot. Both scary in very different ways.
Well there are tons of great starting points. The shining or Salems Lot would be my recommendation. However don't make my mistake. I started out with the Dark tower series and while I do LOVE the series it ties into a lot of Kings other works. I would save that series for when you have read several more of King books so you can catch all the tie ins I missed the first time around.
Another vote for 'Salem's lot and The Shining.
His classics are best. I don't care for anything he's written since The Green Mile.
Wow thanks everyone!! I think i'll start out with Salem's Lot- pretty much everyone has mentioned it!
Wow thanks everyone!! I think i'll start out with Salem's Lot- pretty much everyone has mentioned it!
Lena have u read 11/22/63 I couldnt put that book down
Salem's LotMisery
Pet Sematary
Desperation
Needful Things (don't hear this one mentioned too often)
.....are some of my favorites. I'd recommend Salem's Lot as a first read.
Salem's Lot is definitely a good start
"IT" was the first King book I read and was hooked from that moment on! Under the Dome was great, The Stand, 11/22/63. I think the only King book I didn't finish was Hearts in Atlantis (not sure why, it has been so long), and I enjoyed Insomnia as well.
I read all of his books in the order he wrote them.
I just finished Joyland and loved it. Of course I love just about everything King writes!
Let's see if you like absolute horror then read "The shining", "Salem's Lot", "IT", "Needful Things" "Misery" If you like beautiful writing with the element of suspence try "The green mile" "The body" "Joyland"
Delores Clairborne is good too, scaring and fine!
i WOULD recommend the green mile....
I would say the best place to jump in would be one of the smaller works. Carrie, Misery and The Mist are all great novels/novellas and are easy reading. They also give you a taste of whether you'll enjoy the style.After that, if you dare, I recommend you take on the larger novels. It and Under the Dome are both exceptional, in my opinion. 11/22/63 is absolutely phenomenal, especially if you're interested in the Kennedy assassination (although, if you're not, there's plenty more going on there to please you). 'Salem's Lot is great, too! I've heard great things about The Stand, Eyes of the Dragon, The Dark Tower series among others, but I've saved them for last.
By the way, if you do choose to read 11/22/63, read It first.
My first was 11/22/63...I loved it, then read The Stand, and loved that too.Jacob, why do you suggest reading It before 11/22/63?
K.L. wrote: "I just finished 'Salem's Lot. Excellent story. You can't go wrong with any of them really...well, most of them (there are a few duds.) Personally, I'd read them in order published. Stephen King..."I know this is a bit late into the conversation, but if you really want to get the most out of King, you should read his works in the order they were published, or as close to it as you can, as K.L. notes. And then go back and start over again. King's works are more than just stories that exist in a vacuum, they are parts of his life that he shares with us in a very intimate relationship. I know that I sound like a p.r. hack for the man, but if you read him in this way, even the works that not-so-great can be rewarding.
Ionana, there is a point in 11/22/63 where Jake Epping is in Derry and meets two of the main characters from It. It isn't necessary reading, per se, for 11/22/63, but having at least knowledge of the characters or events of It will make that one portion so much more fulfilling.
11/22/63 doesn't really seem much like a King book.... did you guys like it? I'm currently reading the gunslinger but don't enjoy it and a good idea is to start 11/22/63... but is it frightening at all??
Jacob wrote: "Ionana, there is a point in 11/22/63 where Jake Epping is in Derry and meets two of the main characters from It. It isn't necessary reading, per se, for 11/22/63, but having at least knowledge of t..."I see...I guess I missed that. Too bad, but too late now. Thanks
Dolores Claiborne. Get the audiobook for it! It makes it 100000 times more fun. At least it did for me:)
Start with the first - Carrie. It is one of his shorter ones and even if you've seen the film you won't be disappointed.
I read The Gunslinger first, and continued with the whole Dark Tower series. I am now trying to get through most of his books. In love.
Stephen King Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
It (other topics)The Stand (other topics)
I read Under the Dome when it first came out and am now enjoying it again with the TV series currently on in the UK (last episode tonight!)
Im keen to read more Stephen King books and have a holiday coming up that I need a real page turner for.
Which book should I go for next?!
Thought this was the best place to ask :-)
Thx!