Stephen King- where should I start

[3kidsareenough]

Hi just that really I've decided I'm going to read some Stephen king books which would be a good one to start with, don't want to start with anything too scary, will work my way up to those!!! Any suggestions please

Duma Key - I can't believe nobody's mentioned it.

The Dark Half.

Carrie.

Pet Semetary

Dolores Claiborne.

The Green Mile.

The Stand.

Misery.

Dead zone - not v scary, Firestarter, Insomnia. Currently rereading Rose Madder. Ooh, Bag of Bones, Duma Key & Liseys Storey

The first Sk i read was The Shining, i was about 17 & it scared the crap out of me! I was hooked from then on

I'd also recommend 'Different Seasons'. It's made up of four novellas. One is 'The Body' which became the film 'Stand By Me' and another is Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Refemption which also became a film. These are my favourite ever stories and two of my favourite films too. The other two novellas in the collection, 'Apt Pupil' and 'The Breathing Method' are well worth a read too.

I agree that he's a genius and while popular, I really do think his literary talent in underrated.

Cujo or stranger things

I absolutely love salems lot and the tommyknockers.

I.T is really good but it is a long read and probably tough to get into if your just starting out reading Stephen king.

Totally agree Bonnie, I think he gets written off as 'just' a horror writer when he's actually a creative genius and amazing storyteller

I have just bought off eBay IT, Carrie and Salems Lot.....my dd will be thrilled as she loves Carrie.
My collection is slowly rebuilding

I agree about Dolores Claiborne being a good one to start if you dont want to jump into the scary ones straightaway. Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is also ace. Insomnia is one of my favourites now but I found it hard to get into at first so I wouldn't recommend starting with that. Misery is a good scary-but-not-horror one too.

Once you're ready for the more traditional horror ones I'd go for IT (my very fave), The Shining and Desperation.

I loved Bag of Bones and Needful Things too.

Oh and follow him on Twitter - he's quite funny and posts lots of pictures of his dog

Sorry to but in on a book thread, but have you SK fans seen his part in Son's Of Anarchy?

He was an incredibly laid back bloke who made his living from making bodies dissappear.

He was creepy and funny and totally aloof. It was brilliant!

I'd start with Carrie. It was his first novel. Apparently he chucked it in a waste bin and his wife found it and started reading it and made him continue with it because she thought it was so good. It launched his career.

First one of his I read was Pet Semetary when I was 14. I didn't find it particularly scary but rereading recently as a parent now is awful emotionally wise.

Insomnia
Needful Things
Carrie

Then The shining

The Shining is terrifying

I read it after I'd seen the film at least twice and it was much more scary (I had to keep putting it down and collect myself before carrying on )

Thank you for this thread!!

I never read Stephen King before I'm halfway through one MumBod mentioned The Dark Half its quite long but quite good! I have another lined up Gerald's Game I don't know if that had been mentioned?
Following now with interest

11.22.63 is a really good read. I've just this week finished Mr Mercedes, a crime story rather than a horror but I couldn't put it down.

I've been reading his books for nearly 40 years now, my older sister started me on them by lending Carrie to me when I was 10.

Eye of the Dragon is a good place to start

Any of his earlier collections is a good start.
The girl who loved Tom Gordon is good.
The Stand is amazing.
Joy Land is also not full on horror more people centred.
Insomnia is quirky and a novel idea.
Hearts in Atlantis is another non full on horror.
Desperation is unusual too.

Hell pick a book any book 😀😀

P.s. I have had The Dark Tower set for years and never got around to reading them. Am halfway through 2nd book now, loving them, once I start reading I don't want to stop but life keeps getting in the way 😀

This is great folks thanks so much I've ordered Dolores Clabourne, Carrie (I'm really looking forward to this one!) Ths Stand & the girl who loved Tom Gordon I can't wait for my lot to arrive- thanks you wonderful SK fans my Dd (13) is interested too. I'm actually afraid to read IT maybe once I've started I'll be ok

Shameless place marking for ideas for DD.

I've not read many of his but The Stand is one of the best books I've read. I had the full version, apparently he was persuaded to cut a thousand pages from the first publication but then published the full version later.

I read 'It' in 2 nights as a teen. Finished it 3am the 2nd night! Couldn't put it down so make sure you have time when you start it. Same for 'The Stand'😀

Pet Sematary would be my first pick.

I noticed a magazine in W.H.Smiths today all about SKs books that have been turned into films, the themes, ideas behind them etc. Just in case you were interested.

Ohh that sounds good Willow might just buy that for a guide - although I'm trying to keep from finding out too much about the stories as I want to read the books without knowing too much! If that makes sense

Perfect sense 😁