Stephen King Fans discussion

I have read a few of his short stories, one being The Mist and I liked it. I just picked up It. What would you recommend for a new SK reader?

Oh man... You have so much awesomeness to read! :D I would definitely suggest more short stories - Night Shift, Four Past Midnight, Everything's Eventual, Skeleton Crew, Different Seasons are all awesome.

As far as novels, I highly recommend The Shining, The Stand, The Talisman, Salem's Lot and The Green Mile. Duma Key and Lisey's Story are both amazing as well, but a little different from the other stuff I've mentioned, and more polarizing. Either you love it or don't. LOL

Maybe I should just write you a reading list? :P

For a new King reader, I agree with Becky: there is indeed a lot of awesomeness ahead of you! I highly recommend The Talisman (my all time favorite), It (my second favorite), The Dark Tower Series, The Green Mile, The Stand & The Tommyknockers. I haven't loved all of his books, but, I've always loved the way he writes. I'm just finishing up The Dark Tower series now and looking forward to reading Under the Dome, which I've also heard great things about.

You mentioned you just picked up It. You won't be disappointed, it's one of his best (I think anyway).

Happy reading...

The first one I read was Cycle Of The Werewolf, so I recommend that one. The pictures are bananas!

My first King's book was Misery and I like it,and I read other King's book since then.

My favorites are The Stand, The Green Mile and Duma Key.

My first Stephen King book was Christine.

I LOVE the Dark Tower series, but I think you'll get a lot more enjoyment out of it if you wait until you've read more of King's work before trying to venture into that universe. There are so many references to other books he's written that I recommend waiting on that one.

At least until after you've read The Stand, The Talisman, Salem's Lot, & Insomnia as a minimum.

Hi, Shay!

First off, welcome to the SK Universe.:)
Your journey has just begun. Indeed, you have many world to explore, populated with a vast array of unique characters, creatures, emotions, etc..
Your life will never be the same, IMO.

I initially read Misery, so I'll recommend that one to you, as well.

Misery was my first King too! My favourites are The Stand, It, The Talisman and Rose Madder. I love the Dark Tower series too, but like Becky said, you'll enjoy them more if you read some of his other books before starting it.

His short stories are great too - Nightmares and Dreamscapes and Skeleton Crew are probably my favourite collections.

Mr King took my virginity with Carrie. Also his first published work. I would recommend The Talisman as well. The Dark Tower books are wonderful, but I would put them off until after you have read others, like were mentioned in previous posts. Wise advice.

Also, FDNS is a wonderful collection, IMO!

Pet Sematary. My first and hooked me forever.

I was hooked by the mist then went on to read Dreamcatcher which was phenomenal, then picked up skeleton crew (The Monkey) which was also wonderful, and then the Tommyknockers...a bit long winded, but stilla good book. Im currently reading Christine and absolutely love it

I think IT is his best novel. Jump into the currrent group discussion on it if you wish.

His novellas and shorts are phenomenal before the 2000s. Different Seasons (although I hate Apt Pupil), Nightmares & Dreamscapes and Skeleton Crew are wonderful.

You'll have fun discovering the common themes and references to his other work as time goes on.

the first S.K. book I ever read was IT and I really enjoyed rereading it again last month. But when I start reading a new author I like to start at the beginning of their career. So I would suggest something like The Shining, Firestarter, or Christine.

After I read IT the next King book I plan on reading is The Shining. I have heard lots of good things about it. I hate the movie, boring and not scary. I know the books are always better so that one will be next.

i really enjoyed The Stand, IT and Under the Dome as they are so easy to read and i got completely absorbed by each one but i felt down let me down with weak endings. For that reason i would nominate Misery

Yes, please wait on the Dark Tower series... My first King novel was Carrie at age 13. I have been hooked ever since. The Dark Tower runs through many books; the darkness is all tied together.

"..The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."

YES!!!

When I was around 28, I had to stay in the hospital for about a week. My father brought me this new paperback -"The Shining" - by Stephen King. I'd read almost everything he'd written up to that point, but this was new to me.

I started the book after dinner, when the "visitors" left, and I stayed up all night long, reading this book. It left me quite literally glued to the page. It's a terrifying novel, extremely well written, and remains, to this day, one of my big time favorite Stephen King books - So... if you're looking for a good King this would be an excellent choice. It's not gobstoppingly big, like "Under the Dome" and "The Stand")but it is an excellent horror novel, one of the
very, very best.

Needful things is twisted, evil, full of characters, story lines, and so very detailed. It's my fav. Even though my King roster isn't the longest.

Jen wrote: "My first Stephen King book was Christine."

So was mine, and I was hooked after that.

I've tried to read Needful Things about three times now, and for some reason it's the only SK book I can't seem to get through. I think it's because its the only SK book that I saw the movie first, I almost always read the book first. Gerald's Game is next on my list!

My first was Bag of Bones.

I would personally recommend The Eyes of the Dragon if you're interested in King's fantasy side. It was the first book I read of him and it's still a personal favorite.

If you're into more post-apocaliptic books, The Stand is an amazing contribution to the genre, and a lot of fun to read.

However, if it's horror you want, you could do a lot worse than 'Salem's Lot, It and Pet Sematary. Salem's lot rescues vampires from the homoerotic cell they've been locked in these days, IT gave me my first panic attacks (and I know that it's all about the strenght of friendship and imagination and childhood and many other things, but it's the one book that my therapist has adviced me to never read again - seriously). And Pet Sematary is horror at its best.

Oh! Of course the Dark Tower series is a must for any Stephen King reader, but it's much more enjoyable if you're familiar with his work, specially because the series contains plenty of references to other books and part of the fun (for me, at least) consisted on picking them out.

Bondama wrote: "When I was around 28, I had to stay in the hospital for about a week. My father brought me this new paperback -"The Shining" - by Stephen King. I'd read almost everything he'd written up to that ..."

Hi, Bondama!

I completely agree with you about The Shining being one of Steve's all-time best! I'm very much looking forward to seeing what he's done with Dr. Sleep!

It used to be The Stand but after a re-read 30 years later... The Shining fits the bill now.

Duma Key is by far my favorite. Other favorites include Dead Zone, Desperation, Pet Sematary and Cell.

So many of you have mentioned that it would be best to wait on the dark tower series until you have read some of kings other works. I have read Misery, different seasons, under the dome, duma key, and the gunslinger. I started reading DOTT but am only about 40 to 50 pages in. So would it be wise to wait and read some of kings other works before continuing with the tower series? Thanks for the advice

oh and I have also read "Cell" almost forgot that one. That the ending really disappointed me left more questions then answers really.

Donna wrote: "oh and I have also read "Cell" almost forgot that one. That the ending really disappointed me left more questions then answers really."

Cell in on my tbr read list so im gutted to read that another book of his has a weak ending.

Its my complaint about The Stand, IT and Under the Dome. All fantastic reads but the endings in each were very weak.

Pickle wrote: "Donna wrote: "oh and I have also read "Cell" almost forgot that one. That the ending really disappointed me left more questions then answers really."

Cell in on my tbr read list so im gutted to r..."

Yes under the domes ending could have been better but what a ride that book was. Loved it. After reading the Cell let me know what you thought of the ending and you will also know why I said it raised more questions then answers. Now if that don't get it moved up on your tbr list I don't know what will LOL :-)

I seem to be in a strange segment of King fans who feel the Insomnia is an example of the best of the best. I am not sure if it would be a great introduction to King's work but it is my all time favorite.

I would say The Shining and Salem's Lot from the classics, Duma Key and Lisey's Story from the newer ones.

I am with you on "Insomnia," Kilgallen. It's the closest thing to a "Dark Tower" book without actually BEING a DT book.

My first SK read was The Stand, and that was me hooked to the great man's awesome stories forever. The DT series is to be savoured when you have built up to it for sure. Other great books of his are The Green Mile, Rose Madder and It.

Without a doubt, this is it:

My favorites are The Shining and IT thus far.

My absolute favorite Stephen King novels are IT, The Stand and Pet Sematary! It The Stand Pet Sematary

Matt wrote: "Without a doubt, this is it:
[bookcover:Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales]"

Ha! The Autopsy Room creeps me out even today!

My favorites would have to be IT and Pet Sematary.

My favourite is Salem's Lot, then The Shining and Cell.

My 4 favorites byStephen King are:

Cell
Desperation
Dark Towers Boxed Set


May not be his best but as a preference these are my favs. I could read them over and over (and I have =)

It or The Stand, though I would give the edge to It. It really depends on your personal preference I guess and what you're in the mood for. Both are luh-aw-aw-ong, but The Stand seems to move at a quicker pace and draws you in a little easier. But once It sucks you in...good luck sleeping or getting anything else done.

IT, The Stand, The Dark Tower saga, Eyes of the Dragon and Insomnia

Christopher wrote: "It or The Stand, though I would give the edge to It. It really depends on your personal preference I guess and what you're in the mood for. Both are luh-aw-aw-ong, but The Stand seems to move at a ..."

I haven't read IT yet, but you make a great point. His style is so versatile, and he's got so many books with different ideas and some are horror, some aren't, some are just a little creepy, or adventure/fantasy, it just depends on what you're in the mood for.

The Shining. - one of the best horror stories ever written.

My favorite is Under the Dome, then 11-22-63.