Ashamed to admit it, but I've never completed a King book
Talk King's Dear Constant Readers
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1CurrLee33
As much of a horror fan I am (of both books and film), I have never actually read a whole Stephen King novel. I have honestly never even come close to finishing one. My problem is that I usually get distracted and lose interest quickly (probably because I am already quite familiar with many of the storylines as so much of his work has been turned into movies and miniseries). The sheer size of many of King's novels intimidate me as well.
I own a handful of his books and I just don't know where to start. Here is what I own:
Desperation
Bag of Bones
The Mist
Duma Key (ashamed to say I even reviewed this for a journal when I didn't even finish the whole thing)
Dolores Claiborne
Black House (written w/Straub)
Cell
Dreamcatcher
My question is, what would King readers suggest for me to read first? It doesn't necessarily have to be from my preowned collection. In fact, it might be better if it wasn't. Maybe I need to even consider reading an anthology or short story collection. Regardles...help!!
I own a handful of his books and I just don't know where to start. Here is what I own:
Desperation
Bag of Bones
The Mist
Duma Key (ashamed to say I even reviewed this for a journal when I didn't even finish the whole thing)
Dolores Claiborne
Black House (written w/Straub)
Cell
Dreamcatcher
My question is, what would King readers suggest for me to read first? It doesn't necessarily have to be from my preowned collection. In fact, it might be better if it wasn't. Maybe I need to even consider reading an anthology or short story collection. Regardles...help!!
2jseger9000
Of the novels you have listed, I would recommend Desperation (which I LOVED, but some King fans don't seem to like).
The Mist is short and starts strong and is an amazing story.
Cell and Dreamcatcher both start strongly and are fun, but neither was as good to me as Desperation and The Mist.
As for recommendations not from your list, I'd recommend 'Salem's Lot (which takes a while to start, but is a great read) and Misery (which is short for a 'modern' King novel and is tense throughout).
The Mist is short and starts strong and is an amazing story.
Cell and Dreamcatcher both start strongly and are fun, but neither was as good to me as Desperation and The Mist.
As for recommendations not from your list, I'd recommend 'Salem's Lot (which takes a while to start, but is a great read) and Misery (which is short for a 'modern' King novel and is tense throughout).
3bibliorex
Of the ones you've already got, I'd suggest starting with The Mist -- it's pretty short and it's darn good, IMO.
I haven't read all the works on your list, but I will say that I consider Cell to be fairly weak.
I would certainly second jseger9000's recommendation of 'Salem's Lot. That is one of my favorites of King's, and it's got an extremely evocative mood and tone. But yeah, it does start with a long, slow build-up, and I'd hate to suggest you buy a new book when you have so many to choose from already.
I haven't read all the works on your list, but I will say that I consider Cell to be fairly weak.
I would certainly second jseger9000's recommendation of 'Salem's Lot. That is one of my favorites of King's, and it's got an extremely evocative mood and tone. But yeah, it does start with a long, slow build-up, and I'd hate to suggest you buy a new book when you have so many to choose from already.
4Moomin_Mama
I'd go with 'Salem's Lot too as it's classic King, being set in a small town and very scary.
What about Skeleton Crew? You get a great novella to start - The Mist - plus plenty of short stories.
What about Skeleton Crew? You get a great novella to start - The Mist - plus plenty of short stories.
5Raychild
Everybody here has the same opinion as I do. As for your unowned King, 'Salem's Lot. It's on the shorter side and easy to read.
I'd also try The Mist for the same reason. And Moomin_Mama suggested a great short story collection. I also loved Nightmares and Dreamscapes for its short stories.
My personal favorites are Duma Key, Bag of Bones, The Eyes of the Dragon (not horror, per say), Lisey's Story (also not necessarily horror), Cell, and both The Talisman and Black House.
I'd also try The Mist for the same reason. And Moomin_Mama suggested a great short story collection. I also loved Nightmares and Dreamscapes for its short stories.
My personal favorites are Duma Key, Bag of Bones, The Eyes of the Dragon (not horror, per say), Lisey's Story (also not necessarily horror), Cell, and both The Talisman and Black House.
6jseger9000
Oh yeah, if you read The Mist, read it in Skeleton Crew. Why it was ever released as a stand alone is a mystery to me, since the entire thing is in Skeleton Crew.
However, if you do have the stand alone The Mist read it and enjoy.
However, if you do have the stand alone The Mist read it and enjoy.
8Bookmarque
King is subtle at times and more of a storyteller than the average horror writer, so if he's not coming across, maybe you shouldn't force it. Then again, you don't really have his best work in your collection, so that could be a factor although I loved Duma Key. Also, depending on your age, he might not translate well and a lot of his references can be missed.
9TheBentley
LOL. Okay, let me start by saying I really like some of the books you've already tried. I'm a fan. But what you have there (with the exception of The Mist) is a list of some of King's most overwhelmingly panned books by general readers. If the most popular contemporary writer in America has "commercial failures," you have a list of them right there. It's like saying you don't get Hitchcock because you walked out of "Family Plot" and "Frenzy." (The other fans are going to skewer me for this, I know, but, let's face it, people--if you could take one King book to desert island, would it be Dolores Claiborne?)
Because I can't really remember NOT getting King, I always recommend to my friends who haven't read him to start where the world started--Carrie. 1) It's short and accessible. 2) The feel of it is sufficiently different from the movie that even though you know how it ends, you want to keep reading. 3) It's actually considered a classic. (It's on the AP Reading List. There are questions about it on the national test to skip LIT 101 in college.) So even if you don't love it, you'll have a satisfying experience knowing that you've responsibly engaged in a cultural experience that you are intellectually SUPPOSED to have attempted. And I guarantee it's less demanding for that little gold star than, say, Moby Dick. ;-)
But Salem's Lot is also a good recommendation. :-)
Because I can't really remember NOT getting King, I always recommend to my friends who haven't read him to start where the world started--Carrie. 1) It's short and accessible. 2) The feel of it is sufficiently different from the movie that even though you know how it ends, you want to keep reading. 3) It's actually considered a classic. (It's on the AP Reading List. There are questions about it on the national test to skip LIT 101 in college.) So even if you don't love it, you'll have a satisfying experience knowing that you've responsibly engaged in a cultural experience that you are intellectually SUPPOSED to have attempted. And I guarantee it's less demanding for that little gold star than, say, Moby Dick. ;-)
But Salem's Lot is also a good recommendation. :-)
10TheBentley
LOL. Okay, let me start by saying I really like some of the books you've already tried. I'm a fan. But what you have there (with the exception of The Mist) is a list of some of King's most overwhelmingly panned books by general readers. If the most popular contemporary writer in America has "commercial failures," you have a list of them right there. It's like saying you don't get Hitchcock because you walked out of "Family Plot" and "Frenzy." (The other fans are going to skewer me for this, I know, but, let's face it, people--if you could take one King book to desert island, would it be Dolores Claiborne?)
Because I can't really remember NOT getting King, I always recommend to my friends who haven't read him to start where the world started--Carrie. 1) It's short and accessible. 2) The feel of it is sufficiently different from the movie that even though you know how it ends, you want to keep reading. 3) It's actually considered a classic. (It's on the AP Reading List. There are questions about it on the national test to skip LIT 101 in college.) So even if you don't love it, you'll have a satisfying experience knowing that you've responsibly engaged in a cultural experience that you are intellectually SUPPOSED to have attempted. And I guarantee it's less demanding for that little gold star than, say, Moby Dick. ;-)
But Salem's Lot is also a good recommendation. :-)
Because I can't really remember NOT getting King, I always recommend to my friends who haven't read him to start where the world started--Carrie. 1) It's short and accessible. 2) The feel of it is sufficiently different from the movie that even though you know how it ends, you want to keep reading. 3) It's actually considered a classic. (It's on the AP Reading List. There are questions about it on the national test to skip LIT 101 in college.) So even if you don't love it, you'll have a satisfying experience knowing that you've responsibly engaged in a cultural experience that you are intellectually SUPPOSED to have attempted. And I guarantee it's less demanding for that little gold star than, say, Moby Dick. ;-)
But Salem's Lot is also a good recommendation. :-)
11quartzite
I agree with The Bentley--What you have there for the most part are not his best books -- Carrie, 'Salems Lot, The Shining or The Dead Zone would all be a good choices, and if you are willing to try a longer book It or The Stand (though for the later I prefer the shorter original vs. the expanded uncut version.)
12jeffreyholst
Read Bag of Bones. A few months ago my sister asked me which SK book to read. (She owned none, and had not read any) I recommended Bag of Bones and now shes hooked. Its a classic ghost story told by the story teller of this generation. Trust me you wont regret it. Its a good easy read and a nice SK starter.
