Stephen King Fans discussion
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What was your first Stephen King book?
Hi everyone! My first book of Stephen King was The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. I was only 10 years old! And I've been a fan ever since then :)
Kenneth wrote: "I also loved Dreamcatcher, which I'll have to re read it when I'm done with the dark tower.The movie was good up until they killed it with the stupid tracking device in the gun and the ridiculous ..."
I've only seen the movie but I remember that it started really well but in the end it was just too crazy hahaha gotta see the movie again can't remember the whole plot. I will definitely read the Dreamcatcher novel but I've got many SK books to read first, I'm gonna start Thinner :)
Viktorija wrote: "Hi everyone! My first book of Stephen King was The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. I was only 10 years old! And I've been a fan ever since then :)"Welcome, Viktorija - I loved "The Girl Who" I shared it with my whole family on one of our long vacation trips. I think it's the perfect King book for non-horror fans, although there is that bear!
It was Pet Sematary. And thanks to that book I became an actual reader.
Nick wrote: "Welcome, Viktorija - I loved "The G..."Hi Nick. Wow - I can imagine everyone was pretty scared by the story; even if not, everyone were definitely eager to hear how it ends. It's a perfect idea for a (long) trip. I might steal that :)
Jorge wrote: "It was Pet Sematary. And thanks to that book I became an actual reader."This one was mine as well!
Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Welcome, Viktorija - I loved "The G..."Hi Nick. Wow - I can imagine everyone was pretty scared by the story; even if not, everyone were definitely eager to hear how it ends. It's a p..."
It has worked on several trips for us Viktorija, we might even try it again this year. For late teens, The Long Walk is great too. Though that is much more serious.
Nick wrote: "Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Welcome, Viktorija - I loved "The G..."Hi Nick. Wow - I can imagine everyone was pretty scared by the story; even if not, everyone were definitely eager to hear how..."
Yeah, I can imagine. I've only tried showing a Stephen King novel based movie to my friends who hadn't been familiar with King's work before. It was Misery... and they really seemed to enjoy it!
Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Welcome, Viktorija - I loved "The G..."Hi Nick. Wow - I can imagine everyone was pretty scared by the story; even if not, everyone were definitely eage..."
A lot of people (not just King fans) think that The Shawshank Redemption, based on one work from his collection of novella's DIFFERENT SEASONS, is the best movie ever made from a King book. And on some list of favorite movies, it's listed as the favorite movie of all times.
Jason wrote: "I really liked dreamcatcher! Or as I like to call it "the hunting trip from hell""Or "The one about the shot weasels". I can't even believe, as I type, that people will know what it is by that description, but they do!
The first book I started by King was IT. But it was so long I got distracted. The first book I finished by him was The Shining. I think I read Salem's Lot and Different Seasons before finishing IT but I loved IT. Can't wait for the new flick.
Matthewcross87 wrote: "ah the shit weasles!"Funny but scary at the same time! I really enjoyed that book.
Matthewcross87 wrote: "i enjoyed the movie , but haven't read the book yet"I haven't seen the movie.
Nick wrote: "Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Welcome, Viktorija - I loved "The G..."Hi Nick. Wow - I can imagine everyone was pretty scared by the story; even if not, everyone we..."
Yeah, I know! I've seen it, although probably should watch it again - it's already been a while. Do you personally also think it's the best movie based on a SK book?
Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Viktorija wrote: "Nick wrote: "Welcome, Viktorija - I loved "The G..."Hi Nick. Wow - I can imagine everyone was pretty scared by the story; even if not..."
I'll be honest, I haven't seen too many. They tend to turn me off. Made for TV movies based on King's work that people are praising here tended to bother me. I never made it through IT or THE STAND. Under the Dome was a disaster. But I did think Shawshank was great, as were Dolores Claiborne, Misery and (judged as a movie not as an adeptation) Kubrick's The Shining.
My first King was either Carrie or Dolores Claiborne. I can't remember which came first, but I love them all!
I'll agree with Nick that most of the tv adaptations of King's work are not great. He isn't a G writer, after all. I think that's why some of the pay channels (HBO, Showtime, Starz) should adapt some of his work. Look at the success off TrueBlood and Dexter. Neither could have been done on regular tv, but cable did them both beautifully. Well, until the end.I do have a certain fondness for 'Salem's Lot with David Soul and most of The Stand and Storm of the Century, though. Much of that has to do with casting and not the actual end product.
At over 1400 pages my first Stephen King Book was the unabridged version of The Stand. It almost killed my love for Stephen King novels before it could really begin. I had so much trouble getting into the story, it took me about two months to read the first 50 or so pages. Then however something just caught and the story had me, It only took me about another week and a half or so to finish the book and I haven't looked back since. I have every book that he has released ( in Australia ) and most of the graphic novels also.
Kandice wrote: "I'll agree with Nick that most of the tv adaptations of King's work are not great. He isn't a G writer, after all. I think that's why some of the pay channels (HBO, Showtime, Starz) should adapt so..."Right. I know we agree on Haven, based so loosely on The Colorado Kid, and maybe on 11/22/63 too. I think you could call Haven "inspired by". If they had used that term with Kubrick's The Shining it might have worked better. Imagine if Hitchcock ever got his hands on a King book.
Whom ever directed the dark half did a awesome job and would like to see him direct another King story
My first Stephen King book was Carrie. I thought it was good, then I read Misery which was the book to really hook me. The book that made Stephen King my favorite author was IT, which I just adore!
My first King's book was the Shining when I was 17 or so. I loved it and it scared me.
Carrie. And after that, every book the came out.
Carrie was my first and still a favorite for me, I have I think 57 favorite King books just hard to pick the order they are in as it also depends on my mood.
The year was 1991 and the novel was The Stand. I bought it DFW international and figured it would be a nice companion read as I flew to Korea for my permanent duty first duty station with the Army. I think I finished about 3/4 of the book on the flight(s) and finished the book a couple of days after getting to my first unit. I've been a constant reader since then.
I was 14-15 when I read my first King book, and for a while I couldn't remember which one it was. I almost thought it was IT or Salem's Lot, because I read them that year... but then I remembered my stepdad picked Carrie for me to borrow and introduce me since King is his favorite author :).I think it's a really good first book for someone that age. I was hooked and a few novels and one Dark Tower series later he was my favorite author as well :)
Nicole wrote: "I was 14-15 when I read my first King book, and for a while I couldn't remember which one it was. I almost thought it was IT or Salem's Lot, because I read them that year... but then I remembered m..."Wow what a book to give a 15 year old did it give you nightmares ? When I was in school my mother wouldn't let horror books in the house so I didn't get the book until 1979 when I joined the Air Force.
Steven wrote: "The year was 1991 and the novel was The Stand. I bought it DFW international and figured it would be a nice companion read as I flew to Korea for my permanent duty first duty station with the Army...."Wow you had a long flight to be able to read almost 800 pages in one go. Mind you in saying that I am a slow reader. I am lucky to get 30 pages an hour read. I agree the Stand is one of those books that will hook you and pull you in and never lets you go. I have Read it at least once every three years since it came out. I even have the unabridged anniversary copy I am almost due another re-read. I was an NBCWD instructor when I first read it and it blew me away. Do you re-read it regularly and who is your favorite character ?
I like Nick but Also like Larry and Mother Abigail Tom and Stu ok dam all the rest as well, LOL
There is always more because of the size of the book every time I re-read it I learn something more. It's not that I missed anything out, but it is more the different outlook I have at each time I re-read it.
The first book by stephen king i read was Firestarter, i was around 14
Chéryl wrote: "The first book by stephen king i read was Firestarter, i was around 14"That is a good book to start on. I loved the book
i read firestarter when i was 11. it was my older cousin's, i thought he was the coolest so that of course made whatever he read cool. which turned out to be solid logic as i loved the book and am now years and years later still obsessed with king.
The Bachman Books is where I got started.
mrbooks wrote: "Wow what a book to give a 15 year old did it give you nightmares ?"Haha, no, I loved it! I already loved horror. Poe was my favorite author and I borrowed the first 5 books of the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice off his shelf and read them all when I was 13(ish? can't exactly remember). I noticed they were kind of adult content and he probably would not have approved (which he confirmed when I said, "hey, can I read these?" And he said, "...no, wait til you're older."). So I asked again at 15ish and he said okay, so I borrowed them all again and pretended it was the first time I had read them :)
It sounds like your mom would have not taken it as well as my stepdad did when I admitted this to him many years later =P
Nicole a different generation, I am probably about the same age as your step father. I gave up after two books of the Vampire Chronicles. Like you I also love Edgar Allen Poe, the Fall of the house of Usher is one of my favorites.
My first book was Cujo when I was 12 years old. It doesn't stand out much to this day, but I enjoyed it enough to dive into Night Shift right after and Night Shift is what changed everything for me. The Boogeyman and Strawberry Spring were such core-shaking stories for me at the time and I have been obsessed since. Nearly 25 years later and I can STILL remember the feeling of awe when I finished Strawberry Spring.
Andreia Fernandes wrote: "my first King book was THE SHINING!"Wooh! That's a good one to start with. I just finally read it a few years back and it scared the bejeezus out of me.
The only book that came any where near scaring me was Salem's Lot I always got a bit edgy the first time Barlow shows up.
What un-nerves some people is the slipping back and forth from the adult characters to them as children. Oops almost put in a spoiler. Have to watch out for that just incase someone who hasn't read it wants to take part in the topic.
I read a standalone copy of The Mist as a teenager, but only came back to SK's stuff in the past year when I picked Salem's Lot and got addicted. I've read that, Insomnia, The Dead Zone, Revival, The Stand, IT, Cujo, Night Shift and Under The Dome in addition to a bunch of books by other authors since this past November. I'm definitely hooked, probably gonna start on Four Past Midnight next.
My first was IT, when I was around 15. I'd just watched Stand by Me and loved it, and I saw at the end of the movie that it was based on "The Body" by Stephen King. When I saw his name at a book store, I immediately grabbed the novel. I think it was the thickest English novel I read at the time and it took me a month to finish it. I loved the story and the characters and became a fan.
Andreia Fernandes wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Andreia Fernandes wrote: "my first King book was THE SHINING!"Wooh! That's a good one to start with. I just finally read it a few years back and it scared the bejeezus out of me."
..."
And it's funny that most other King works HAVEN'T scared me. I don't know what it was about The Shining that got me. 1408 was pretty freaking creepy, too.
I've stayed away from Pet Sematary because I'm scared that, as a parent, the subject matter will be too much for me. I really wish I had read it before having a kid. haha
My first Stephen King's books were Pet Semetary and Mysery. My aunt is passionate loves reading horror books, so when I was 13, she recommended me these books ... But my favourite Stephen King's book is Duma Key.
mrbooks wrote: "Nicole a different generation, I am probably about the same age as your step father. I gave up after two books of the Vampire Chronicles. Like you I also love Edgar Allen Poe, the Fall of the house..."Shame you didn't care for the Anne Rice. I'm looking to re-read it sometime soon and see how I like it as an adult, but I read them (the first three especially) countless times as a teenager.
Femmy wrote: "My first was IT, when I was around 15. I'd just watched Stand by Me and loved it, and I saw at the end of the movie that it was based on "The Body" by Stephen King. When I saw his name at a book st..."I like your story of how you got into King! I didn't get to see Stand By Me until very recently and I was very much missing out.
Nicole wrote: "Shame you didn't care for the Anne Rice. I'm looking to re-read it sometime soon and see how I like it as an adult, but I read them (the first three especially) countless times as a teenager. .."I loved The Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair witch books, even when they got a bit silly toward the end of each series. I think Rice has such a great, gothic voice! I always feel like I want to live where her books take place.
Stephen King Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
Nightmares and Dreamscapes (other topics)The Long Walk (other topics)
The Mist (other topics)
The Eyes of the Dragon (other topics)
Christine (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen King (other topics)Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (other topics)
Ray Bradbury (other topics)
The movie was good up until they killed it with the stupid tracking device in the gun and the ridiculous ending. Man what a bunch of idiots