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Original poster

Best Stephen King to get started with?

66 replies

Slipsliding · 19/01/2013 11:59

Never read him as put off by potential gore but loads of MNS recommend him so I must be wrong!?

OP posts:
Ceasnake · 22/01/2013 04:13

Cujo and NEEDFUL THINGS? No, no, no. Even King admits that he barely remembers writing either of them (written at the height of his addictions).

For beginners:

Pretty much any collection of short stories - esp. Skeleton Crew
Different Seasons - wonderful collection that is pretty much not horror. 'Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption' particularly brilliant.
The Stand
IT
Misery

tillyfernackerpants · 21/01/2013 22:47

I liked Misery, there were a couple of moments in it that were really heart-stopping for me. But agree that Needful Things was dire.

Has anyone read Blaze? Read it recently but haven't come across anyone else who's read it.

CoteDAzur · 21/01/2013 22:42

Thanks for the vote of confidence, pointy, but I don't think I'm a SK expert, at all Smile Remus has probably read more SK than me. I read all his books (I think) until they started getting a bit dopy with Misery, Needful Things, etc. I came back to SK with Duma King which was exceptional but then read The Cell which was shockingly awful. So can't say if I will read another SK anytime soon.

pointythings · 21/01/2013 22:30

I agree with Cote - that's a good way to start with King (but then she is a King expert Smile). Just please don't miss Duma Key.

CoteDAzur · 21/01/2013 22:17

I'd start with Dead Zone, Firestarter, The Stand, and The Shining. Old favourites.

I wouldn't say any of the above is really scary, except The Shining in parts. Duma Key really scared me, though. It is one of his best imho.

Original poster
Slipsliding · 21/01/2013 19:22

It's going to be Duma Key ...... or The Stand but could also be 11.22.63 Confused still. But thanks for all the heartfelt recommendations - he's obviously worth reading as you're all so passionate about the subject.

OP posts:
pointythings · 21/01/2013 18:51

I think Duma Key is one of his very best - not gory, just very, very creepy. I also really like The Dead Zone and The Green Mile, and IT. The Shining is the only book that has ever given me nightmares.

I also like Under the Dome, Insomnia and Needful Things, just because King does small town awfulness so very well.

tillyfernackerpants · 20/01/2013 22:25

Hope the OP comes back & tells us what she picked.

Probably a different author altogether Grin

Slainte · 20/01/2013 17:22

Admittedly Remus I was in my 20s when I read it but it was the book that got me started on reading him so I may be looking back on it with misplaced affection :)

Sallystyle · 20/01/2013 11:07

11.22.63 is awesome!

The Stand is also amazing. They are both in my top favourite books of all time.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 19/01/2013 20:22

Loving the divided opinions.

Slainte - I adore King and would happily read his shopping list / notes to the milkman - but 'Needful Things' imho is shockingly, embarrassingly awful.

The Stand is sublime - but I wouldn't recommend it as a starting point.

Agree that 'The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon' could be a good one to begin with.

OmgATalkingOnion · 19/01/2013 20:15

I also thought Under the Dome was disappointing.

OmgATalkingOnion · 19/01/2013 20:13

Bag of Bones.

I thought 11.22.63 went very flat at times. It was too long. Imho.

Lol poor Slipsliding will be more Confused than ever now we've all said different ones.

Manda472 · 19/01/2013 20:13

My all time favourite is the stand, have read it so many times but have never tired of it.
It does depend on though what type of books you like as his a lot of his books are not necessarily horror.
Would agree that his earlier ones are the best.
Can't wait for his sequel to the shining that's due out in sept. Now if horrors your thing the shining is excellent....."here's johnny" Wink

SoYo · 19/01/2013 20:09

Needful Things first and then The Stand if you like it, also The Dark Half.

SpeckleDust · 19/01/2013 20:08

The Shining

VivaLeBeaver · 19/01/2013 20:07

The stand and under the dome are his best IMHO.

I'm trying to get into the gunslinger series as everyone raves about it, have read the first 3 I think but not loving it.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 19/01/2013 20:04

The Stand and then The Dome, struggled slightly with 11.22.63

tillyfernackerpants · 19/01/2013 20:03

Different Seasons!

Original poster
Slipsliding · 19/01/2013 19:24

Wow, he obviously arouses strong feelings and disagreement. Not sure where to start now Confused. Maybe the short stories...? Or The Stand or 11.22.63, but again , not a unanimous choice. Hmmm

OP posts:
PariahHairy · 19/01/2013 18:55

Oh god yes how can I forget the shining and misery, I adore insomnia, the stand and others but not sure I would recommend them to get people hooked.

sookiesucksvamps · 19/01/2013 18:54

I agree the stand the dome and cell couldn't get into liseys story shall I give it another go what's it about?

PariahHairy · 19/01/2013 18:52

I wouldn't start with the stand tbh, took me a few goes to get through and I am a fan.

The girl who loved tom gordon is pretty absorbing and short, not very supernatural though. IT is very very long, but quite easy to get into, the dead zone I liked. Bag of bones is very good and moving, more of a ghost story.

One that I really rate is the long walk, it's in the bachman books, really stays with you.

EndoplasmicReticulum · 19/01/2013 18:39

The Stand is my favourite. I read one of his more recent ones where everybody's mobile phone turned them evil - it was just silly.

fedupandtired · 19/01/2013 18:38

Ooh yes, I loved The Cell too!