Best Stephen King book?

[PurpleDaisies]

My husband read a book on writing by a Stephen King and really enjoyed it. Neither of us have ever read a novel of his. Any recommendations? I don’t really like horror….

Thanks!

I enjoyed The Institute.

The Stand is my absolute favourite, keep going with it

I love The Langoliersn (short story) and The Tommyknockers.

Most of the audiobooks are great that I've read by King, and I've enjoyed them more than the written books. Some authors work sounds great when read aloud, and King is one of those.
My favourite is 11/22/63, but the new one Billy Summers was very good too. The narrator for It is great too, not sure I'd start with that one though.

Under the Dome! Everybody I know that has read it has had a complete addiction to it!

The Stand is awesome

The Shining and as a pp says his short stories are my favourite.

Per Semetary is worth a read. I wouldn't say I liked it (it's way too long) but no book has haunted me like this one. To me it's the best example of how life changes your reading experiences, as reading it before you have kids is very different from reading it as a parent!

Enjoy, I'm very envious you get to experience his stuff for the first time

I actually think On Writing is one of his best bits of writing, even though it's not a novel or fiction. If you don't like horror, it's probably a good one to start to see if you like his writing style.

Of the fiction, mine is Pet Sematery. I can't say I like it because it is a study in escalating grimness and human pain twisted into something awful. It's not a pleasant read and the ending is nihilistic in the extreme. But my goodness, it stays with you. I respect that book hugely.

My gateway King was Misery. It has horror elements — most of his novels do — but is tightly paced and genuinely unsettling. In Annie Wilkes he created a unique antagonist. (Kathy Bates took that character and ran with it in the film, much deserving that Oscar I would say.)

@dibberly x-post re Pet Sematary!

The Stand is my favourite book ever

Also agree with 11/22/63!

The Stand for me as well, read it a couple of years after it came out (about 1980/81)

Not so keen on the newer books.

Different seasons. It’s a collection of four novellas and includes the stories which became Stand by me and The Shawshank redemption.

Black House is the sequel to the talisman so I'd personally start with that one

I love his earlier stuff and have just read salams lot again. I'm thinking of rereading and culling some , ive already had a cull of his later stuff which I enjoyed but won't read again

I've got two copies of the stand. The original paperback version and a hardback complete and unabridged version

I'd honestly struggle to find a favourite in his earlier works

Danse macabre is excellent if you like non fiction

Wow. I will start with the Stand and hopefully work through the other suggestions if I enjoy it.

Such a great response-genuine thanks to all.

Can't see that anyone has mentioned Firestarter as yet? It's a great read and a thriller not a horror. Also recommend Misery on similar lines.

You've read every single one of them?

Agreed!

I have two books of short stories... the early one I didn't like, but the later one I did. SK seems more relaxed and good humoured later on.

I also read Pet Sematary. I loved it but it's really gruesome. And the gruesomeness doesn't lie in the supernatural but in the real and human.

I've read most of his, but Insomnia is probably my favourite, followed by Needful Things. They're all good though! Loved Mr Mercedes too, but they're not his typical horror genre.

Misery
Carrie
IT
The Institute

You don't think it's a horror, what could have happened if...?

If you don't like horror, maybe start with The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon or Cujo or Gerald's Game - they are all based on things that could actually happen, though I think he acknowledges early on, especially with It is that what makes something really scary is your own mind.