Stephen King. Where to start?

[Micah]

I was hoping those S&L'ers that really enjoy Stephen King books could give me some suggestions.

I just read my first Stephen King book in a long time and found myself really enjoying it. I read The Stephen King Collection: Stories from Night Shift on audio and liked it so much that I followed it up with Just After Sunset on audio as well. Now I am looking at where to start next in his plethora of novels. I am wondering which ones you guys enjoyed the most. Not looking for the scariest one, but maybe the one with the best story and characters. I guess I am looking for which stand alone books you guys think would be best to start reading?

P.S. I don't want to start the Dark Tower series yet since I don't have the time to devote to any series much less one so expansive. But I'm sure I will get there eventually.

[[deleted user]]

The Stand.

Warning: you'll develop a cough while reading. Do not worry about it.

[Tamahome]

Get the old The Stand if you can. It's half as long.

[Paul]

Tamahome wrote: "Get the old The Stand if you can. It's half as long."

I'd argue against starting with The Stand. Even for a mid period King book it is pretty long (even the original version) and the middle section is really, really boring. Sorry.

I'd say start either with the early stuff - Salem's Lot, Christine, The Shining of, my personal fave, IT - or with some of the shorter, less horror based books he wrote later like Dolores Claiborne. I also highly recommend Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption in Different Seasons, and the others in it are passable.

I do think that King is right to feel he's been under rated by the literary establishment - I genuinely think he is one of the finest writers of character EVER, but when anyone writes as much as he has there is some variance of quality. I went off him when he books were getting longer and longer (something I feel happens when a best selling writer thinks they know better than their editor!). Also, while the Dark Tower series is interesting and often enjoyable, I think it's over rated and rather too self-referential.

If you want me I'll be in hiding.

[Michael]

I really wish some of his older works (under Richard Bachman) was in Kindle format... I actually have to buy a physical book to enjoy some his earlier works...

[Soo]

I enjoy more of King's sci-fi/fantasy style of books. If you want to read a series, give Dark Tower a try. The first few books aren't that long. I really enjoyed Talisman, Eyes of the Dragon, and the Stand.

[Tamahome]

I actually bought these when they first came out:

[JRush]

The first King book I read was Misery. Its a good place to start since its not to overwhelming in the page department but you still get the feel of his books.

After that read the Stand (the long version) and loved it, and The Dark Tower series and loved it even more. I wish he would write more fantasy driven material. He has a weird enough mind to throw new stuff in the mix as far as fantasy goes, and i've yet to run across anyone who can come close to his story telling skills.

[Michael]

I started with The Shining and found it a great starter work, especially if you've seen the film. Otherwise, I think it almost doesn't matter. Unless you're going to read a series, there's really no right place to start.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Ala wrote: "The Stand.

Warning: you'll develop a cough while reading. Do not worry about it."

Completely true but this was my favorite of his hands down. (I claimed not to like King for a long time based on picking the wrong book to start with).

[Micah]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I didn't even know that some of these books were actually King books. I will probably start with one of the smaller page count books like Dolores Claiborne or 'Salem's Lot. And I will for sure throw in any short stories I can get my hands on. After everybody here recommended The Stand so highly I will have to add it to the que. Probably have to wait until summer though. Keep 'em coming if you guys have any more ideas though!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Anti-recommendation - Don't read Insomnia except for as the cure for it. :P

[Micah]

Jenny wrote: "Anti-recommendation - Don't read Insomnia except for as the cure for it. :P"

I'll keep that in mind. I think I remember Tom saying something along those lines on the Podcast too. Probably one to avoid.

I know that I didn't really enjoy the movie much either. But that can be said about most Stephen King adaptations for me. Dreamcatcher anyone?

[Nevan]

'Salem's Lot and 'The Stand' are probably my favourite King books outside The Dark Tower series (which I loved!). I also have a soft spot for Duma Key; it's easily my favourite of his later works. Whilst reading it, I remember thinking that I'd be perfectly happy to continue with it even if nothing horrific/thrilling happened, if it were purely a story about an elderly man trying to piece his life back together after a divorce.

[Dick]

I'm half way into 11/22/63 and so far it is one of his best. It has a time travel angle and a lot of heart. Cant put it down.

[Adam]

I really liked The Shining. The Stand and the Dark Tower series are my all time favorites.

[Jim]

The Stand is the right one to start with for sure.

Cheers, Jim

[Nicholas]

He's pretty consistant. I started with The Green Mile when that came out and I check every few years with whatever the new book is and I haven't had a bad one yet. Cell is good, stand alone and not terribly long.

[JRush]

The Cell was surprisingly good. I started it at work when I did valet in Dallas, and because of that I will never forget the first zombi attack scene (which takes place on a city side walk much like the area I worked). I love when books and real life converge.

[Laurel]

I say go big or go home. baby!

[Jim]

It just hit me - I remember Thinner being pretty good and a quick read as well.

Cheers, Jim

[Kris]

I always thought The Dead Zone was a sleeper hit and his fantasy with Peter Straub was ok...The Eyes of the Dragon

[Kevin]

Kris wrote: "I always thought The Dead Zone was a sleeper hit and his fantasy with Peter Straub was ok...The Eyes of the Dragon"

The fantasy that he wrote with Peter Straub was not The Eyes of the Dragon, but The Talisman.

[Kris]

Kevin wrote: "Kris wrote: "I always thought The Dead Zone was a sleeper hit and his fantasy with Peter Straub was ok...The Eyes of the Dragon"

The fantasy that he wrote w..."

ooops thanks for the correction..

[Sandi]

My first Stephen King was Firestarter. I've read it two or three times. I had a couple of false starts with The Stand. It took finally getting an ebook and reading it on my Nook to get into it enough to finish. In paperback, it's ridiculously thick and the print is impossibly tiny.

I've probably only read about a half dozen Stephen King novels. Firestarter is still my favorite.

[Kevin]

Kris wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Kris wrote: "I always thought The Dead Zone was a sleeper hit and his fantasy with Peter Straub was ok...The Eyes of the Dragon"

The fantasy t..."

Your welcome.

[Micah]

Jim wrote: "It just hit me - I remember Thinner being pretty good and a quick read as well.

Cheers, Jim"

I have had other IRL friends say that Thinner would be a good one to read soon too. I am going to keep my eyes out for a copy at 1/2 price books or some similar store. Thanks for reminding me.

[Linguana]

My first King was one of the big ones, Insomnia, which btw. has nothing to do with the movie of the same title.

I'm surprised I ever read another King again cause the translation (my English wasn't good enough back then) was rather horrible. But it gave me a taste for King's ability to tell someones story - even if not-so-much happens - and make it so damn interesting that you're hooked for 500 pages and THEN the action starts. :)
By now, I've read a lot more by him and I'd probably recommend The Green Mile. It's a quick read and to this day I haven't cried that much when reading a book. Ever. It's worth it, even if you know the movie.
*pencils a re-read in her calendar*

[Michael]

I am suprised nobody has mentioned It. It is almost like an urban fantasy series squeezed into one book. Good characters, a perversely scary monster, a little bit of magic. It's a good one. It has interludes that are epistolary that work well, giving background and whatnot.

edit - oops somebody did mention It. Anyway it's good.

[Graham]

It, The Stand and The Dark Tower are all good, but The Talisman is great, Dreamcatcher reminds me of It. FWIW Under the Dome was disappointing.
On Writing is good, but 'non-fiction' (maybe?)

[David]

"It" is my favorite the Talisman is great but its not strictly a steven king book he wrote it with Peter Straub I would avoid Gerold's Game its one of the few book I ever started but didn't finish

[William]

'Salems Lot is always good, but I'd also recommend the Dark Half being that it was the book that got me to start enjoy reading and not think of it a thing I had to do for school.

[Micah]

I just picked up Carrie on audio from my local library. It will be the first full Stephen King book I have read in quite awhile. I am excited to start it. Sissy Spacek is reading it so it should be a really good performance.

[Kevin]

Micah wrote: "I just picked up Carrie on audio from my local library. It will be the first full Stephen King book I have read in quite awhile. I am excited to start it. Sissy Spacek is reading it so..."

I find that ironic since she was Carrie in the 1976 movie version of the book.

[Micah]

Kevin wrote: "I find that ironic since she was Carrie in the 1976 movie version of the book. "

I did not know that. I had to google it and sure enough she did play Carrie. So that ought to make this book even better since she already knew the character. AWESOME!! Thanks for the heads up on that little bit o' trivia.

[Kevin]

Micah wrote: "Kevin wrote: "I find that ironic since she was Carrie in the 1976 movie version of the book. "

I did not know that. I had to google it and sure enough she did play Carrie. So that ought to make th..."

You welcome, anything to help you out, and making your experience more enjoyable.

P.S. Another trivia from Carrie, this was the first movie and break out role for John Travolta.

[A.J.]

One of my favorite King books is Christine. It's not too long, and pretty creepy. Of course, some of his not-as-scary stuff is also really good. The Green Mile is another one that I really enjoyed.

[Sandi]

I just finished 11/22/63 and thought it was great. I've been kinda lukewarm about Stephen King before, but I couldn't stop listening to this one. It's a huge book, so go for the audio or ebook version. I thought about getting it for my husband as a Christmas present, but it looks to big to read comfortably.

[Dustin]

Misery!

[Micah]

I am almost done with the audio version of Carrie and think it has been a great book so far. But I am also reading the dead tree version of Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill and it is really great so far. He is Stephen Kings son and seems to be a very good author in his own right. Anybody who enjoys Stephen King might want to check it out. It would be worth it IMO

[Suncani]

I would say IT and Misery are definatly good starting points. Bag of Bones for one of his newer books as well.

[Kevin]

Emma wrote: "I would say IT and Misery are definatly good starting points. Bag of Bones for one of his newer books as well."

Yeah, Bag of Bones might be good since its a miniseries right now on A&E.

[Suncani]

really? I had no idea. Not sure i can picture it as a series though, it seems a bit too short for that.

[Tamahome]

IT? Is that about the horrors of computer administration?

[Kevin]

Tamahome wrote: "IT? Is that about the horrors of computer administration?"

lol!

[Suncani]

oops! Although I'm fairly sure Stephen King could probably make a decent horror story out of that as well

[Scfaulkner]

It scared the hell out of me. Pet Sematary is his scariest book to me. (To him too).
It's fairly horrifying.

[Paul]

Emma wrote: "oops! Although I'm fairly sure Stephen King could probably make a decent horror story out of that as well"

That makes me think of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc7ZaZ...

[Michael]

The stand is by far the best King ever...but it is long. If you are looking for a shorter work to start - I suggest Salem's Lot.

[Rob]

I would start with Salem's Lot, then the stand, then start the gunslinger series. Salem's lot and the Stand will have greater meaning later in the gunslinger series. After the first 3 books of the gunslinger series, read his short stories, there is one about a guy who kills people by drawing characters...