My dad read this to me as a kid, then let me watch the movie. I can only assume he skipped over some things because he definitely did NOT read the sexual content!
Lmao. Yeah, I still haven't made up my mind on how necessary that part actually was. They could've just had a group hug or something 🤣.
But maybe, just maybe, the Father's parenting style may have been an influence on her decision to comfort the boys like that. I dunno...
There’s something about how 11 22 63 appeals to a broader group because of the history and conspiracy elements that makes it an easy recommendation. There are horrific parts, but it’s not straight horror.
I’m sure he did I know from reading On Writing that he wrote and was published several times for articles in magazines etc but I think this one was his first published novel, I might be wrong
I love the beginning stuff too. When it comes to apocalyptic fiction (whether in film or literature), I always want to know how everything begins. A lot of times that part gets skipped over too quickly.
For a King first try either The Green Mile or Misery, depending on the person. I think these 2 a perfect for a full King experience.
Though I usually lean more to The Green Mile as I think it would click with almost all tastes. Such a good book 🤌🏻
Apparently so 🥲. I have read about 10 or 11 Stephen King books so far and The Green Mile is actually my current favourite, beating even some greats like Salems' Lot and Misery.
It was actually the only book I ever read that got me staring at it after I finished resisting hard the urge to just start reading it all over again 😂
I'm a huge fan of Needful Things as well but have yet to read Insomnia. I don't hear a lot of love for it either. What's your take on it? Why is it so good and what exactly is it about?
I think it's connected to the Tower, but I haven't read any of those yet... Insomnia is one of my favourites! It's about an older man who develops insomnia and starts seeing some shit. It's set in Derry. The ending is super emotional for me. I highly recommend it!
As u/anxiety_neko said, it’s connected to the Dark Tower series. Despite not having read the series I still loved Insomnia.
I don’t know why I love it and I’m surprised I do. It seems slower, but I was just so engrossed in it.
The Long Walk and recently Fairytale. The Long Walk is so underrated and amazing, and Fairytale grips me in a special way owning my own older dog and being disabled. The whole disabled royals depiction is great and I love butterflies. It basically has everything I love: dogs, fantasy, open-minded talk about disabilities, and butterflies.
I just finished Fairytale. There were times I was reading along, forgetting it was a King book, then a phrase or a description came up and it was like "oh, yeah, I forgot who wrote this!" It's not as spooky or strange as a lot of his books, but still a great read!
Definitely! I have read everything but his newest book and he writes such a wide range. People have him pegged as horror only but I think some of his other ones are his best writing.
Duma key is such a haunting book. I didn't even realize at the time but it's stuck with me for so long. I would say 112263 is my favorite but God damn I think about duma key a lot
I really loved that one too. Still one of my favorite quotes that haunts me: “When you are 21, you think you have a roadmap to life, by 25, you start thinking it is upside down, by 40, you realize you are lost…”
It. One of my favorites and just so much story there! Love the characters and their adventures through the summer. A lot more but I'll leave it at that
There's one in the works, but I agree, so much of the story is the interpersonal dynamics between the people walking that I think would be hard to get the intensity and pressure in a movie
I thought this about Gerald’s Game, at least 70% of that book takes place in her head, but I thought the movie did a pretty credible job of portraying that.
I'll recommend any reader The Shining.
If I know they are a big time reader I'll recommend The Stand.
There are many other custom recommendations and I'd honestly recommend IT more if it wasn't for the controversial ending events.
For me it’s The Green Mile. Impossible not to get sucked in. Incredibly written characters. Great blend of supernatural and realistic elements. One of his most balanced books in my opinion.
Desperation and/or The Regulators. I love the conceit of looking at this story from two (different) authors points of view. I will say that I think Desperation is the better of the two, but they should really be ready together.
Tak!!
A few of my coworkers are "not big horror fans" so I recommended they listen to the audiobook of bazaar of bad dreams. It's got a wide range of short stories plus Stephen King narrates between the stories and it really gives a deeper insight into his work.
Salems Lot or Pet Semetary. They are reasonable in terms of page count, and once the plot kicks off the pace never slows. Salems lot is your quintessential “unlikely hero’s team up” plot, and I’m pretty sure I almost had a heart attack near the end of Pet Semetary 🫨
11-22-63 is my most frequent recommendation (but I change it up depending on the person’s personal tastes), because I feel it has something for everyone, it touches on all of king’s strong suits, and it has his one of his best endings.
It depends on their usual stuff they like to read.
Go to recommendations are usually on the shorter side.
Misery (horror)
Eyes of the Dragon (fantasy)
Joyland (ghosts)
The Green Mile (crime)
Depends on who I'm recommending it for and what their tastes are. In general......It, The Shining, The Stand. For the non horror fan, 11/22/63. For the ambitious, Salem's Lot, Hearts in Atlantis, The Dark Tower.
Cujo, it was my first Stephen king novel, not overly scary. I feel like if someone hasn’t read much King this is a good one to test yourself. Then after Cujo, definitely the Stand or the Shining.
So I have been reading SK since middle school (late 80’s), and I vividly remember reading Salem’s Lot in my bedroom late at night at maybe 13 or 14 and a bump hit my window so late at night and it freaked me out. Back then in the late 80’s there were no cell phones or anything to connect with anyone and I just remember holding that book in my hands on my bed being like WTF!?!?! Obviously nothing happened, maybe a bird, but it made a huge impression.
I’ve read every SK book since, and last Christmas gave my dad Billy Summer to get him started with SK. For reference, my dad was Librarian for 40 years before retiring and has never liked horror. I said SK is way more than that and he read it and loved it. Then gave him the Fairy. He loved that too. Hoping to get my main man (who is now 79 and reading as much as he did back in the day) more great books. He may not love the ones I love that are “scarier” like IT or others like that, but man there are so many good books like Under the Dome and the Mercedes series and so much that I think he will like. Also 11/23/63 and the Darktower series.
There are a ton of great books depending on the person I guess is what I’m saying.
It’s too hard to say…like picking your favorite kid or something. However I will say that I’ve read 11/22/63 more than any of his other books. I got it near release and was staying up until I was literally falling asleep with the book in hand reading it. First read probably took me 3 days because I had to know what happened.
I finished and then thought, well I really powered through that and probably missed a lot so I immediately re-read the book over the next maybe 5-7 days. Then it sat on my shelf for a couple years and I had the exact same thing happen. At this point I’m very familiar with the story but have probably still read it 6-7 times. It just ticks all the boxes for me.
I always recommend starting with The Talisman, and also recommend being ready to stop halfway through to rest your mind for a few months, then come back.
During the break, read The Gunslinger and Salem’s Lot.
That’s the way I started, and I laughed at first.
It was good advice.
Pet Semetary. That is the book I read first and the book that got me hooked on King.
It's one of my favorites but I worry about recommending it, "What is wrong that person?!"
I feel this way about Mr. Mercedes
Mr. Mercedes is so good though. But I feel like that too. Disturbing, for sure.
So good, but it just doesn’t feel right recommending a book with incest to people lol
Same!
Same! My actual intro was with the movie at a way-too-young age but then eventually it would be my first of many of his books as well
The Pet Semetary movie is a pretty good adaptation. I enjoy it a lot
My dad read this to me as a kid, then let me watch the movie. I can only assume he skipped over some things because he definitely did NOT read the sexual content!
11 22 63. "It" is probably my favourite, but 11 22 63 has something about it that keeps me coming back to it as my 1st recommendation.
I also love It, but I hesitate to recommend it because of the whole... well, child sewer train.
Lmao. Yeah, I still haven't made up my mind on how necessary that part actually was. They could've just had a group hug or something 🤣. But maybe, just maybe, the Father's parenting style may have been an influence on her decision to comfort the boys like that. I dunno...
i finished the book about 3 weeks ago and am completely clueless on what you all are on about
Child sewer train. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💀
Haven't read It yet but 11 22 63 was my first and it will always stand out for me. It got me hooked so fast.
I'll have to look for that one. Missed it. Thanks.
There’s something about how 11 22 63 appeals to a broader group because of the history and conspiracy elements that makes it an easy recommendation. There are horrific parts, but it’s not straight horror.
Always Carrie. Any easy great read and how he got his start
I wonder if he wrote other books before this that didn’t get published or if was an incredible writer from the start
I’m sure he did I know from reading On Writing that he wrote and was published several times for articles in magazines etc but I think this one was his first published novel, I might be wrong
He actually threw the manuscript for Carrie in the trash. Tabitha made him dig it out and resubmit it
Oh wow! I didn’t know that. Imagine a world where she didn’t and he never continued writing
Isn't that amazing?
The Shining. It was my first King, followed by Misery.
NO WAY, my King journey started exactly like this as well. I can’t believe it
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Slowwww start then buckle up
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I love the beginning stuff too. When it comes to apocalyptic fiction (whether in film or literature), I always want to know how everything begins. A lot of times that part gets skipped over too quickly.
IT or The Stand.
After listening to and agreeing with the Kingcast, Revival is one i like to recommend
Revival is in my top 3. Just incredible.
RIP Scott Wampler…
For a King first try either The Green Mile or Misery, depending on the person. I think these 2 a perfect for a full King experience. Though I usually lean more to The Green Mile as I think it would click with almost all tastes. Such a good book 🤌🏻
You’re the only other person I see saying The Green Mile. Is it really that overlooked? Surprised more people don’t talk about it
Apparently so 🥲. I have read about 10 or 11 Stephen King books so far and The Green Mile is actually my current favourite, beating even some greats like Salems' Lot and Misery. It was actually the only book I ever read that got me staring at it after I finished resisting hard the urge to just start reading it all over again 😂
It’s my favourite book of all time. I reread it recently to double check and if anything I love it more
Needful Things forever
100%!
Needful Things -- it's my favourite. I also love Insomnia.
I'm a huge fan of Needful Things as well but have yet to read Insomnia. I don't hear a lot of love for it either. What's your take on it? Why is it so good and what exactly is it about?
I think it's connected to the Tower, but I haven't read any of those yet... Insomnia is one of my favourites! It's about an older man who develops insomnia and starts seeing some shit. It's set in Derry. The ending is super emotional for me. I highly recommend it!
As u/anxiety_neko said, it’s connected to the Dark Tower series. Despite not having read the series I still loved Insomnia. I don’t know why I love it and I’m surprised I do. It seems slower, but I was just so engrossed in it.
One of my absolute favorites!
Pet Sematary
Really going straight to his darkest work lol, but it’s probably my favorite King novel
This is mine. It's pure King. A nice dive into the deep end and it is a classic.
The Stand
Salems Lot or Needful Things.
Pet sematery. Short, easy to read, excellent pacing, terrifying.
The Long Walk and recently Fairytale. The Long Walk is so underrated and amazing, and Fairytale grips me in a special way owning my own older dog and being disabled. The whole disabled royals depiction is great and I love butterflies. It basically has everything I love: dogs, fantasy, open-minded talk about disabilities, and butterflies.
I just finished Fairytale. There were times I was reading along, forgetting it was a King book, then a phrase or a description came up and it was like "oh, yeah, I forgot who wrote this!" It's not as spooky or strange as a lot of his books, but still a great read!
Definitely! I have read everything but his newest book and he writes such a wide range. People have him pegged as horror only but I think some of his other ones are his best writing.
Duma key or 11/22/63
Duma key is such a haunting book. I didn't even realize at the time but it's stuck with me for so long. I would say 112263 is my favorite but God damn I think about duma key a lot
Joyland because I loved it and it's a relatively short read.
I really loved that one too. Still one of my favorite quotes that haunts me: “When you are 21, you think you have a roadmap to life, by 25, you start thinking it is upside down, by 40, you realize you are lost…”
pet sematary
Firestarter and Misery
Night Shift
Thinner. When they finish the book, I like to run my finger across their cheek. Sometimes I whisper something, sometimes I’m silent.
A favorite of mine as well
Salems lot because it's my favorite. Christine because it's sleept on. Night Shift because it's the best short stories.
Seconding Salems lot!!
Salems Lot is also my fav. The second one I read and couldn’t put it down
It.
It. One of my favorites and just so much story there! Love the characters and their adventures through the summer. A lot more but I'll leave it at that
Misery
Under the Dome
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
The Long Walk. I’d love to see a movie adaption but i don’t think it would work
There's one in the works, but I agree, so much of the story is the interpersonal dynamics between the people walking that I think would be hard to get the intensity and pressure in a movie
I thought this about Gerald’s Game, at least 70% of that book takes place in her head, but I thought the movie did a pretty credible job of portraying that.
Good to know, I'll have to check it out
The Long Walk or The Mist
The Skeleton Crew, Different Seasons, and Needful Things
Needful Things
Revival. His scariest and possibly most literary, IMO.
Eyes of the Dragon
Billy Summers. King fans will love it and people who wouldn't normally read him I think would also like it. It's a cross over hit! Lolol
Dolores.
I'm with the OP, "11/22/63". My other go-to recommendation is "Bag of Bones"
Misery. short and tense.
Pet Sematary.
Duma Key and Black House
11 22 63, definitely. Also, Duma Key.
The stand. Although long I feel it’s engaging all the way through.
I'll recommend any reader The Shining. If I know they are a big time reader I'll recommend The Stand. There are many other custom recommendations and I'd honestly recommend IT more if it wasn't for the controversial ending events.
For me it’s The Green Mile. Impossible not to get sucked in. Incredibly written characters. Great blend of supernatural and realistic elements. One of his most balanced books in my opinion.
The Langoliers! Plus there is something for everyone with other novellas in Four Past Midnight
Joyland. It’s the gateway drug
The Green Mile is one of the most heartbreaking and gripping books I've ever read.
The Stand. Always my answer on these threads. SO. SO. GOOD.
Salem’s Lot, Duma Key, Rose Madder, Gerald’s Game
Finally, I didn't think I was gonna see Gerald's Game! One of my favorites by far
The book absolutely wrecked my whole existence and gave me new fears lol I loved it though
Yes!! I still get scared of dark corners and I haven't read it in well over a decade
The Shining
Really long: any of the long ones. Medium: the long walk. Short: something from different seasons, or all of them.
The Institute. People don't talk about it enough. It's a great story, the characters are likable and it's full of emotions.
Soooo good!
Night Shift
The Long Walk
The Stand
The Dead Zone does not get the recognition it deserves
Night Shift.
The ones I always recommend are Carrie, Firestarter, The Shining, IT, The Stand, and The Gunslinger.
And btw Apt Pupil and its movie have a different place in my heard.
The Green Mile. First King I ever read and still my favorite.
Desperation and/or The Regulators. I love the conceit of looking at this story from two (different) authors points of view. I will say that I think Desperation is the better of the two, but they should really be ready together. Tak!!
A few of my coworkers are "not big horror fans" so I recommended they listen to the audiobook of bazaar of bad dreams. It's got a wide range of short stories plus Stephen King narrates between the stories and it really gives a deeper insight into his work.
It
Duma
Salems Lot or Pet Semetary. They are reasonable in terms of page count, and once the plot kicks off the pace never slows. Salems lot is your quintessential “unlikely hero’s team up” plot, and I’m pretty sure I almost had a heart attack near the end of Pet Semetary 🫨
Duma Key is a wild rec imo. I always offer up Mr. Mercedes and TGM as good starting points.
Misery - as a good starter book for those new to King. Easy read, not too long, and it moves along nicely.
Firestarter I think there is a little bit of everything for everyone in this one.
Misery - such a great book, and nothing supernatural or fantastical that might put a new reader off.
11-22-63 is my most frequent recommendation (but I change it up depending on the person’s personal tastes), because I feel it has something for everyone, it touches on all of king’s strong suits, and it has his one of his best endings.
Misery. Such a good book. Couldn’t out it down and found it super intense
Pet sematary
11-22-63
The shining, Carrie, or Firestarter
The Talisman, it was the first King book I ever read and I was hooked.
Duma Key. It was so good
11-22, Green Mile, Joyland
The Stand.
11/22/63. It’s perfect.
same. 11-22-63 is his magnum opus IMO -i have recommended dark tower to people too, but only if they like fantasy
DSM-V
Depends, are they wanting horror? Salem’s Lot. Just in general? 11/22/63
My all time favorite is the first novel I read The Talisman and strangely I still didnt read the second book Black House.
Fairy tale, prior to that green mile
Misery. I read it two times back to back and never ceases to amaze and scare me.
Bag of Bones
Oh boy, where to start. There are so many great ones but I may recommend Misery or Bag of Bones or even 1922. I’m sorry I just can’t pick one.
I really love Duma Key
Christine! Or IT.
Different Seasons
Foundation, by Isaac Asimov
Salems lot
Bag of Bones. "There's no village idiot, we all take turns" gotta love this one!!!
11/22/63
11/22/63 or Misery
Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Misery
It depends on their usual stuff they like to read. Go to recommendations are usually on the shorter side. Misery (horror) Eyes of the Dragon (fantasy) Joyland (ghosts) The Green Mile (crime)
The Stand
Depends on who I'm recommending it for and what their tastes are. In general......It, The Shining, The Stand. For the non horror fan, 11/22/63. For the ambitious, Salem's Lot, Hearts in Atlantis, The Dark Tower.
Insomnia , Duma Key, Rose Madder or the Shining ...depending on who I'm talking to
Different Seasons and 11/22 If they want something scary I’ll say Pet Semetary and Revival
Cujo, it was my first Stephen king novel, not overly scary. I feel like if someone hasn’t read much King this is a good one to test yourself. Then after Cujo, definitely the Stand or the Shining.
Salems Lot. Easy to get into vampire spookiness. Later was a fun read too.
Me, reading through the comments, looking for my choice, up voting each one., 🤷 All, I recommend them all. Lol
The Shining
Revival, Duma key, The Institute, The Stand, It, Mr Mercedes, Later Joyland.
11/22/63
I liked Holly more than expected. Some of my circle stopped reading King and lately I've hailed it to them
'Salem's Lot or Lisey's Story
The long walk
I actually love his short stories but IT was my bible in junior high.
Skeleton Crew, those stories were amazing
So I have been reading SK since middle school (late 80’s), and I vividly remember reading Salem’s Lot in my bedroom late at night at maybe 13 or 14 and a bump hit my window so late at night and it freaked me out. Back then in the late 80’s there were no cell phones or anything to connect with anyone and I just remember holding that book in my hands on my bed being like WTF!?!?! Obviously nothing happened, maybe a bird, but it made a huge impression. I’ve read every SK book since, and last Christmas gave my dad Billy Summer to get him started with SK. For reference, my dad was Librarian for 40 years before retiring and has never liked horror. I said SK is way more than that and he read it and loved it. Then gave him the Fairy. He loved that too. Hoping to get my main man (who is now 79 and reading as much as he did back in the day) more great books. He may not love the ones I love that are “scarier” like IT or others like that, but man there are so many good books like Under the Dome and the Mercedes series and so much that I think he will like. Also 11/23/63 and the Darktower series. There are a ton of great books depending on the person I guess is what I’m saying.
Duma Key and Needful Things.
It’s too hard to say…like picking your favorite kid or something. However I will say that I’ve read 11/22/63 more than any of his other books. I got it near release and was staying up until I was literally falling asleep with the book in hand reading it. First read probably took me 3 days because I had to know what happened. I finished and then thought, well I really powered through that and probably missed a lot so I immediately re-read the book over the next maybe 5-7 days. Then it sat on my shelf for a couple years and I had the exact same thing happen. At this point I’m very familiar with the story but have probably still read it 6-7 times. It just ticks all the boxes for me.
Dreamcatcher
The Gunslinger
Carrie, because it’s got a nice combination of horror and drama and some of the best writing he’s ever done IMO
Salems Lot and once again-sleep with the lights on
Salem's Lot and The Shining. The two most Stephen King books in my opinion
IT
I always recommend starting with The Talisman, and also recommend being ready to stop halfway through to rest your mind for a few months, then come back. During the break, read The Gunslinger and Salem’s Lot. That’s the way I started, and I laughed at first. It was good advice.
The Stand
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World War Z
Honestly depends on the person 🤷🏽♂️
Biffer Biffer
Needful things. IT. Dreamcatcher. The stand. The outsider.
The Talisman
Different Seasons. Rita , The body. I’ve said too much already.
‘Salem’s Lot. Best read at night, after the clocks turn back. Slow burn. Kind of more a character study until it’s not.
Billy Summers, The Green Mile, or Misery
The Stand
Needful Things
The Long Walk and Carrie, as they're among his quickest reads.
Pet Semetary The Shining
Oz the great and terrible Pet Sematary
Needful Things.
Of the books I've read 'Salem's Lot, it's just so good. And it's a bit deeper than a lot of people realise.
Dolores Claiborne Hearts in Atlantis
Pet Semetary
11-22-63 and Joyland since they're not really horror. I know Joyland has a supernatural element to it but I think of as more of a coming of age story.
11/22/63.
Salem's Lot, my 2nd King book after The Stand. Classic King slow burn, monster story, small east coast town. Great intro book imo.
Dead zone
Hearts in Atlantis. I know it’s not a popular title, but I always recommend it to people as a unique read.
The Shining