Any Stephen king fans who can advise on book for teen son?

[pollycazalet]

In my never ending quest to find books for my son to read Stephen King has been suggested. Son is 13. Can anyone advise on a good one for him to start with? have never read any so feel free to advise that they are completely inapproriate. I had Cujo in mind - only because I remember the film vaguely....

[CoteDAzur]

I read Tommyknockers in my teens and the only thing I remember from it is a glowing spaceship and a woman with several breasts.

[OzmaofOz]

I must have missed the woman with several breasts

[StuffezLaBouche]

How about Misery? Not sexually graphic, that I can remember. Tense and creepy though!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

'Misery' is a good rec, actually. DD2 doesn't 'do' reading (I'm sure she is a changeling) but loved the film, so I might try throwing the book at her!

Cote - Under The Dome isn't bad at all. It felt rather like a return to good form at the time it came out. The teenage characters are actually really quite endearing, more so than some of the adults. It allows him to do a lot of what he's good at - ie look at a group of pretty interesting people and watch how they interact with each other, to good and to bad. It's just that the reason for the dome, and the way the resolution occurs, is (imvho) ridiculous.

[StuffezLaBouche]

And thanks to Misery, I still get uncontrollable urges when someone's pissing me off to shout at them you.....DIRTY BIRD! thank god I never have!

[SarahMumsnet]

Ah, my people!

I'd say IT, as it's about kids of around his age. Plus it's RIDICULOUSLY brilliant.

[OzmaofOz]

Yes, I shout you dirty bird at people when they piss me off.

[OzmaofOz]

oh dear, just read that properly and you don't actually do it. Just me then.

[StuffezLaBouche]

Haha! Yes just you, ozma! :-)

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I just live in fear of losing my 'E' key. :)

[Svrider]

I'd go with the talisman
More fantasy than horror
Young boy at its centre

Also needful things

[Procrastinating]

The Talisman. Ideal for a boy his age. I loved it and read it lots of times.
I wanted to marry Stephen King when I was 13.

[OzmaofOz]

at losing the E key, didnt the A fall off too ?

[Valpollicella]

Four Past Midnight is also very good. 4 of his short stories, one of which is the Langoliers

[NoMoreMarbles]

Val I was just going to post exactly that!

Different seasons as well specifically 'the body' is a very good place to start.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

The Langoliers is brilliant - one of my very favourites. Sad though. :(

[Frawli]

Personally I found Cujo really upsetting and I'd never recommend it.

I used to love Stephen King when I was a teenager. My favourite was Misery, I enjoyed Rose Madder but if I am remembering it right there may have been some sex in that one, not sure if you want to steer clear of that. IT is scary. I know I enjoyed the Tommyknockers and Needful Things but I really can't remember any details so can't say if suitable. Looking back my post is not that helpful is it! Go for Misery, fab book.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Needful Things probably not suitable - lots of masturbating women writhing around with pictures of Elvis Presley etc. It is also (again imvho!) a load of twaddle: his very, very worst I think.

[Frawli]

Another thing I liked at around his age was short stories of Philip K Dick. He wrote the original stories that became lots of famous films, such as Total Recall, Blade Runner, Minority Report etc.

[SarahMumsnet]

... am guessing he's already been down the John Wyndham route? Do try him on a couple of those if not - Day of the Triffids and The Chrysalids were (are!) my favourites

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Yes to Dick and to Wyndham. Can write a huge list of YA recs if you want them too, Polly.

[HumphreyCobbler]

The Chrysalids. I love that book.

[bringbacksideburns]

I'd say The Tommyknockers or Under The Dome. Under The Dome drags a bit but the second half is good.

Actually I think i might point my DS in his direction. He's into Zombies and post apopoclyptic shennanigans. Wonder if he'd enjoy The Stand.

Very first King book i read was Carrie and i still love him.

[FriedSprout]

I would suggest Christine - about a car with 'attitude'. or The Dark Tower series.

How lovely to have so many unread books before him.

I knew an old chap once who reckoned the only good thing about getting old and forgetful, was that he could now read, as though for the first time, all the books he used to love when younger.

[pollycazalet]

Thanks so much everyone who's posted on here. I've ordered Different Seasons for him and if he gets on with that we'll go and have a browse in the bookshop at others. I think he'd be overwhelmed looking online as there are so many.

He used to read all the time. As he's got to secondary it's become more difficult to find books to engage him, he tends to revert to series he knows, but am plugging away.

Thanks too for the John Wyndham and Philip k Dick reminder - had forgotten those. Not my cup of tea at all (nor is S King really altho have seen a couple of the films) but might be DS's.