Stephen King Fans discussion
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What was your first Stephen King book?
Chris wrote: "Bondama wrote: "Chris wrote:Push? Me? *gasp*....
Was that a deliberate reference to "Firestarter" - or just a happy accident, Chris? (The use of the word "push," I mean."
I think it's a Ka th..."
Goon!
I must admit, I didn't like Bag of Bones either, but it wasn't a grief thing, Kandice, I mean not generally - the link between LS and Bag of Bones is grief regarding a spouse. There's tons of grief and regret in most of King's works, and I have no problem with that. Anyway, it was good to hear someone mention Ka again...yes, I'm desperately waiting for another DT-themed book from Sai King :)
Salem's lot was my first Stephen King book. I borrowed it from my high school library when I was 15 and I loved it. It was the first English book I ever read. Before that, I had tried reading Fire starter (also borrowed from the library), but couldn't finish it.My next book was Carrie at 16. I was depressed from 2 weeks, the book was just too dark, but I loved it all the same.
My first Stephen king Book was Carrie. I finished that about a month ago. (13.) Loved it!
It. When I was in 15 years ago, 6th grade, about age 11 or so. It was a huge accomplishment, as my first 1000+ page book. My mom was always a Stephen King fan, and had a few books laying around, and I think I may have read a few stories from Different Seasons before It. Interestingly, I preferred Stephen King to the other more age appropriate stuff I was reading at the time(R.L. Stine, Goosebumps, etc.) But at my school library the King books were almost always all checked out. That year my mom gave me a 3 box set of the Dark Tower series, and I eagerly awaited each new addition to the series.
For me it was The Gunslinger (and the following books of the series) just a year ago.
I found a tattered paperback copy of "Carrie" at the library in the mid 70's and I've been a hardcore Stephen King "Constant Reader" ever since and have read most of his books.
Tommyknockers. It was hard at first (I was 12 and had only read R L Stein length prior to it)but I was hooked on King and Barker about that time :)
I believe that it was Night Shift. The bandaged hand with the eyeballs really grossed me out when I was about...oh 10 I think. This was followed quickly by the original release of The Stand.
Carrie, the first publication of Carrie. I was terrified and then hooked for life. The movie, which launched Sissy S. and John T. on the road to stardom, was just "okay". Nothing could replace the images in my head.
my first Stephen King book is Duma Key. and actually its the second book i read passionaly. and the second book i read haha. the first book was Who moved my cheese, pretty good for a starters, i think.
My first Stephen King book was IT at age nine. I found it at my uncle's and that beginning just sucked me in."The terror, which would not end for another twenty-eight years if it ever did began, so far as I know or can tell, with a boat made from a sheet of newspaper floating down a gutter swollen with rain."
When it was time to leave I snuck it home because I knew my parents would never let me read it. I stayed up until I finished it, reading under the covers with a torch. Of course I had nightmares as soon as I fell asleep but I've been hooked on Stephen King since.
My first Stephen King book was Christine. Both of my parents were avid readers and there was a floor to ceiling bookcase in the living room. I don't remember how old I was, just that I could see that book with my name on it(my name is Cristina) and I had to climb the bookcase to get it down. I was hooked from then on.
"The Gunslinger" - I only started reading King this past January. I've since read "Under The Dome" and "The Drawing of the Three".
My first Stephen King book was CARRIE in paperback in 1979. I was only 9 years old, and I was not allowed to see the movie because it was Rated R. But I fell in love with KING after that - of course at 9, I couldn't understand everything in the book so I had to read it a few times in my adolescence. I have read most of his books several times. It is because of Master King that my husband and I fell in love and got married. He could write on toilet paper and I'd read it! And yes, I still have that old musty paperback that I bought in 1979. It has sentimental value.
Lanie wrote: "My first Stephen King book was CARRIE in paperback in 1979. I was only 9 years old, and I was not allowed to see the movie because it was Rated R. But I fell in love with KING after that - of cours..."How did you meet? This sounds like a neat story :)
Kind of a long story, but when I met him, he had a girlfriend. He thought I was a self-centered witch and I thought he was kind of uninteresting - until we got to the subject of KING. We began "arguing" over who liked him more - it turns out he was the first person who impressed the hell out of me about how much he knew. We exchanged email addresses and mostly talked about KING whenever we were online at the same time. He moved to Massachusetts and I moved to New York City, but we stayed in touch - when we talked about KING, we'd lose track of time, and we'd talk about our favorite stories (what age we'd read them, what was going on in our life at the time, etc). endlessly. Finally, when we found ourselves single he was in MA and I was in NY. And after a visit, we realized there was a very strong attraction. It was one of those "how did we not know this?" moments. He drove to NYC to see me in one of the worst snowstorms in 2003. He asked me to be his girlfriend that night - and we must've fallen in love even before that. I just loved his energy, and being in the room with him. Well...needless to say, I live in Massachusetts now. We were married in 2006. Our twin boys were born April of 2009. He drove me to Betts Bookstore in Bangor, Maine a few years ago - maybe 2007? If you've never been there, it's worth the trip. (It's a bookstore full of STEPHEN KING books only). The owner told us he'd never met a couple who were BOTH fans. He told us it was usually one or the other - but if it weren't for KING, I seriously doubt we'd have even been friends at all.:) Hope that was good enough, Amanda.
Lanie wrote: "Kind of a long story, but when I met him, he had a girlfriend. He thought I was a self-centered witch and I thought he was kind of uninteresting - until we got to the subject of KING. We began "arg..."Wonderful story :)! Very romantic and sweet actually :)Congrats on your special bond!
Todd and I are also fans though he's more a fan of Koontz and Morrell.
In 4th grade, a teacher handed me a copy of IT. Best teacher ever. I've read every Stephen King book since, and that teacher made me the reader I am today. At 28 years old, i still thank her every time I see her.
That's very sweet, Jeremy. The only teacher I ever knew that liked KING was my American Lit teacher in high school. I used to always have a KING paperback in high school and most of my teachers didn't like me reading "those kinds of books". It's a shame we have to defend our genre, and of course, literary geniuses like King who have contributed so much to the genre and to storytelling in general.
My oldest son was in 7th grade and reading The Long Walk (for about the third time) when his English teacher called me to make sure I knew what he was reading. I remember feeling offended because the way she was asking made me feel that King was not only inappropriate to my son's age, but a waste of time as well. I have always read along with my children when possible so I can answer questions, and as far as I'm concerned, anything that gets young people reading can't be bad. Not to mention that King readers NEED to start earlier if they want to get through all his work! LOLSilly 7th grade teacher. (Ms. Garcia)
Lanie wrote: "That's very sweet, Jeremy. The only teacher I ever knew that liked KING was my American Lit teacher in high school. I used to always have a KING paperback in high school and most of my teachers did..."Boy do I ever identify. I had a teacher tell me I needed to quite reading horror and that if I wrote it I'd be wasting my ability! So few people understand the damage they do when they take that sort of ignorance and try to force their views on a kid.
Kandice wrote: "My oldest son was in 7th grade and reading The Long Walk (for about the third time) when his English teacher called me to make sure I knew what he was reading. I remember feeling offended because t..."Congrats on being such a great mom :)!
I'm so gonna be like that when my son gets older!
Kandice wrote: "My oldest son was in 7th grade ..."Haha, i can identify with that. I was sent home in 5th grade because of Gerald's Game...After reading the first chapter, my parents and I sat and talked it over, and decided i could read what i liked, and sent a note back to the teacher that sent me home, asking her not to discourage my reading.
As I stated before, CARRIE was my first book and I was 9 when I read it. I'm surprised no one took the book away (after all, Carrie was that outcast who got angry & not only destroyed the school, but the entire town...) from me. I also remember the same reaction about my KISS records (I'm totally 'dating' myself here). But in the mid 1970's, we were not allowed to listen to KISS records (my parents didn't care) - and I know that some kids were punished just for the mere fact that they listened to them WITH me. People are totally insane!
Lanie wrote: "As I stated before, CARRIE was my first book and I was 9 when I read it. I'm surprised no one took the book away (after all, Carrie was that outcast who got angry & not only destroyed the school, b..."in the 90s it was Marilyn Manson which I caught hell for listening to from my mom but I had cassettes and cds of his anyway :)
Yeah I can see that. We've definitely come a long way. I still have my old KISS ALIVE II album (1977 - I was 7 years old) that's even autographed by Ace Frehley. I've listened to it so many times, it's so worn but some great childhood memories.
Well, like I said, I really feel kids should be encouraged to read...anything. I think problems arise when there's no adult with the time or inclination to take an interest or answer questions. I just wish "society" wouldn't penalize the kids that do have adults with the time an inclination.
I agree, Kandice. I'm the mother of twin boys (13 months old) and I think it's important that as parents we have a responsibility to talk about what our kids are reading. What do they like about it? How do they feel about what has happened to the characters, etc? I think so many parents are quick to blame things like: television, movies, books, music, etc. and instead what SHOULD be happening is a discussion rather than try to tell kids "don't read this". I'm glad my parents didn't take anything away from me (I think the only book they took away from me was FOREVER by Judy Blume - but I was only in the 7th grade and too young to read about a young girl's first sexual encounter) - especially Stephen King. Not only did I get to "know" a lot of great characters, but I also became fascinated with the backdrop of New England - and now that's where I live! Everyone gets something different from each author, each book, etc. I think it's great that we can discuss what we love, what we want more of, or anything about stories & authors.
First I read was Eyes of the Dragon. That was probably a year ago...
I was very fortunate in that my parents gave me a lot of freedom regarding my reading material. At my local library branch, kids younger than 12 had to get parental permission to check out books from the "Adult" fiction section. I was about 10 or so when I asked my mom for permission. She signed the form without a second's thought. Thank you, mom.
Jesse wrote: "I was very fortunate in that my parents gave me a lot of freedom regarding my reading material. At my local library branch, kids younger than 12 had to get parental permission to check out books f..."I'm glad my mom was the same way! She recommended "IT" to me when I was 13, and I've never looked back. It was my first venture into the adult section of our library, but luckily, we didn't have to have any signed permission.
I was a reluctant reader-I hated fiction for my age. My first King book was The Stand I think I was 11. Even though I didn't understand a lot of it, I was entraced and my mother was overjoyed since she'd had a hard time getting me to read. I brought the book to school with me and that afternoon the teacher called my parents and told them that I was wasting my reading ability on "trash" and that she insisted they stop letting me read things that would horrify me and corrupt my mind.
My mom had some choice words for her-which included the first and last time I ever heard my mother call call someone a swear word. Then, my mom told me that I never had to ever apologize for what I was reading.
Ridiculous Mrs. Brennan.
My first King book was The Shining. My older brother had it, and I was looking for something to read, saw it on his shelf, picked it up and started to read. This was probably 25 years ago. I've been hooked on Stephen King ever since!
Kirsten wrote: "My first Stephen king Book was Carrie. I finished that about a month ago. (13.) Loved it!"I read it when i was 13 too! But i gave it 3/5. I thought it would be waaaaaaayyy better.
Mine was Carrie also i think i was around 12
my first SK was Cell and i loved it. my second was Duma Key ... right now on my 3th ( Carrie) and 4th (audiobook of bag of bones ) SK books and I'm addicted.
The first King book I read was Salem's Lot in the mid 80's. He has been my favorite author ever since. I just finished The Stand Uncut about a month ago. He has definitely written some real classics.
The first book that I read was Carrie. Then I read 'Salem's Lot immediately after, which I enjoyed much more than the first. This was most likely because I already knew most of The Carrie story before even starting to read the pages. I liked the book more than the movie, all the details helped me understand the story better. Of course, almost every movie from a book is the same way, at least for me.
I honestly can't remember my first King book, I've been reading them so long. I think it was Pet Cemetery. Hmm...
The Shining. I was 12 or 13 and it was my first contemporary "adult" book. I borrowed it from the tiny library at the grade school I went to. A classmate told me it was about "a guy who goes crazy and kills his family". Flipping through the pics from the movie in the center of the book (do they still do that, include pics from the movie version in the middle of books?), it looked like my classmate's summary was correct.
I had no interest in that sort of plot but what drew me back to the book which made me finally borrow and read it was curiosity: How in the world could someone write a book THAT long about just some guy going crazy and killing his family?
So I read it and it completely blew my mind. It's still my favorite by him and I've reread it at least twice now. Since then I've read nearly everything else he's done except for that something-"Kid" book which I keep forgetting exists and his newest stuff which I haven't gotten around to yet.
My first was the shining and then salems lot which got me into reading at 33 years old.
My first Stephen King book was the Skeleton Crew: Selectionswhen I was 11. The story about the toy monket traumatized me, but I was hooked!
I want to say it was Pet Semetary, when I was 8/9.
Wait. Mine was IT this past year.....I was 12
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)
Push? Me? *gasp*....
Was that a deliberate reference to "Firestarter" - or just a happy accident, Chris? (The use of the word "push," I mean."
I think it's a Ka thing.....and that Felina, who is new to Sai King, would give us this term. See....Ka like a wheel.