I suggest starting with either Carrie (for supernatural aspect), The first Dark Tower novel (which expands his writing horizons outside horror) or The Shining (if you like horror) or The Shawshank Redemption (as far from King’s writing while still being King)
His book Defferent Seasons is by far my favourite! It has short stories that in life, The Body, which the movie, Stand By Me was made, Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption, which was where that movie came from!! And the others are great!
I would go for one of his big classics. I’d avoid Dark Tower as your first. It’s very different from his other work, is a massive series and if you don’t like it, it may give you the wrong impression of him.
I’ve read most of his old ones when I was in 8th grade, it became a big deal then, everyone in my class was reading it. Carrie is good, The Shining, Pet Sematary (that one is hard to take in now that I have my own kids, I can’t even watch the movie)
The Stand is too big to start with, nearly 1000 pages. Delores Claiborne would be an excellent start, Carrie, The Green Mile, Christine, Joyride or Mr. Mercedes trilogy. I’m a huge fan lol
Definitely not It! Start with something smaller like Carrie, Salem’s Lot or The Shining. Then work up to something longer – like Christine or The Green Mile. Good luck!
If you like reading chronologically, his first book was Carrie. I like context and feel it really adds to the overall experience, so I started with On Writing, his memoir.
So many great ones! From the classics, Pet Cemetery, Carrie, Misery, Green Mile, lots of great short stories, the more recent 11/22/63(awesome) Mr. Mercedes. SK is an great story teller.
Loved 11/22/63, the only S.K. book I’ve read because it was about JFK’s assassination which I remember vividly. The prospect of a “do over” intrigued me.
Reading 11/22/63 now. It is very interesting and the first time I’m reading one of his books. I thought all his books were really scary horror until I heard about this one
Absolutely! Night Shift’s “Graveyard Shift” still scares me even after rereading it multiple times since it was first published in Cavalier magazine in 1970. Night Shift is an early compilation of his short stories.
I’d go for his short stories first, get a feel for his way of writing. He has Everything’s Eventual which has heaps of short stories in them! Or I would suggest the mr Mercedes trilogy ?
I loved The Long Walk which he wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. It’s like The Maze Runner… only a hundred times better though it was written more than thirty years ago.
Start with his short stories. They’re so good.
I suggest starting with either Carrie (for supernatural aspect), The first Dark Tower novel (which expands his writing horizons outside horror) or The Shining (if you like horror) or The Shawshank Redemption (as far from King’s writing while still being King)
I liked the Mr Mercedes series and 11/22/63. My favorite “old King” is Salem’s Lot.
11/22/63 is my favorite (and only!) Stephen King read. I’m not a fan of horror.
Not all of his works are horror. He has written some amazing stuff. The Green Mile for example was amazing!!
Salem’s Lot
I finished Misery. First book by him that I read and it changed everything for me in terms of what I liked to read.
Wouldn’t disagree. Some of his well-known work is around 700 pages, though worth the effort.
His content can be very confronting and dismal so I would start with his short stories
And if you ever wonder “is x really happening?” YES. YES IT IS
My first (and only as of now) was Revival
Then again I first read Carrie at 13/14 and it got me hooked, if you’re up for some high school revenge gone wrong its good to start there
Delores Claireborne. The Stand. Carrie.
Bag of bones, Duma key, Lyse’s story, it.
The stand is my all time favorite… amazing book!
I read Cujo first! And now I’ve probably read over twenty of his books!
IT or The Shining. Also Needful Things and Insomnia are brilliant.
Needful Things or Pet Cemetary
My first was Needful Things. I would also recommend Dreamcstcher, It, Under the Dome, and The Shinning.
Carrie and The Shining.
Start with the classics, Carrie, it, Christine…..
Dark Tower series since all his other books have references to it
The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon. Shorter than most but so awesome!!
The stand,
The green mile
Mr. Mercedes
My first King was Needful Things. I read it last summer. Now, my next book is Kong’s The Shining. Next summer, I’m attempting It.
Misery
Does he have a very short stories? I would like to start with those if he do have any before I proceed to his novels
His book Defferent Seasons is by far my favourite! It has short stories that in life, The Body, which the movie, Stand By Me was made, Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption, which was where that movie came from!! And the others are great!
Salem’s Lot
The stand
The shining
Salem’s Lot, the Shining, The Stand
I can’t remember what my first King book was but Carrie and Cujo are good quick easy reads if I remember correctly.
I hadn’t read any King in about 18 yrs- but this year listened to the Audiobook of 11/22/63 and LOVED it!!!!
I would go for one of his big classics. I’d avoid Dark Tower as your first. It’s very different from his other work, is a massive series and if you don’t like it, it may give you the wrong impression of him.
The shining
Bag of Bones
The Shining!
From a Buick 8
The stand and IT oh and under the dome
The Stand. My all time favorite and I have a lot of favorites.
I’ve read most of his old ones when I was in 8th grade, it became a big deal then, everyone in my class was reading it. Carrie is good, The Shining, Pet Sematary (that one is hard to take in now that I have my own kids, I can’t even watch the movie)
I read The Tommyknockers in 8th grade!
Carrie
And IT
Misery!
Love this one!!
I’m trying to read IT, it’s really good but so long it’s taking me ages to get through
me too I am still trying to get through IT, but I been reading other books too lol
The Stand is too big to start with, nearly 1000 pages. Delores Claiborne would be an excellent start, Carrie, The Green Mile, Christine, Joyride or Mr. Mercedes trilogy. I’m a huge fan lol
Cujo or misery
I would definitely recommend “Misery”.
The Shining, Needful Things, Carrie, Christine or some of his novellas or short story books. Four Past Midnight is excellent!
Carrie or On Writing.
Sleeping Beauties
It!
Definitely not It! Start with something smaller like Carrie, Salem’s Lot or The Shining. Then work up to something longer – like Christine or The Green Mile. Good luck!
I have just started The Shining
I enjoyed Needful Things
I would start with The Green Mile. King is an amazing writer.
If you like reading chronologically, his first book was Carrie. I like context and feel it really adds to the overall experience, so I started with On Writing, his memoir.
Carrie
The Mr Mercedes trilogy
My first book by King was Christine. I wouldn’t start with It. That one kept me up at night.
Pet Sematary, Salem’s lot & Mr Mercedes are my favourite.
The Dark Tower
The shining ?
Misery
The Green Mile
I read On Writing last year and really enjoyed it. I have The Green Mile and 11.22.63 on my TBR list.
So many great ones! From the classics, Pet Cemetery, Carrie, Misery, Green Mile, lots of great short stories, the more recent 11/22/63(awesome) Mr. Mercedes. SK is an great story teller.
Salem’s Lot and Eyes of the Dragon are both fun, first time King books. ?
The Stand it was my first got me addicted
Any of them!
Under the dome
Salem’s Lot was my first King book and it hooked me
At Christmas I received Stephen King’s 11/22/63 all 800 and some pages. Has anyone read the book and what’s your opinion?
Loved it!
@Deanna Thank you. This weather is so frightful I think it’s a good time to start a long book.
Yes I also loved it, may me think about the way it could be
@Angel I love to hear positive reviews! Thank you.
Fun read, goood time to do so with the cold
Loved 11/22/63, the only S.K. book I’ve read because it was about JFK’s assassination which I remember vividly. The prospect of a “do over” intrigued me.
Reading 11/22/63 now. It is very interesting and the first time I’m reading one of his books. I thought all his books were really scary horror until I heard about this one
Absolutely loved it
Yes I really loved it and read it pretty fast!
Such a great book !! Loved it! Read it , listened to it and watched the mini series
The Stand. It’s one of my favorites!
11/23/63 was awesome
Just finished The Stand. Excellent book!
It
Gerald’s game
One of my favs of his!
It. I’m just starting Sleeping Beauties. Good so far.
On of my favorites is 11/23/63 time travel to save JFK with a King twist.
Reading this right now.
I really liked “Dreamcatcher”
Carrie.
If you want a fantasy aspect read “through the dragons eye” it’s under the Richard bachman banner but is real good
This is easily one of his worst books.
I really enjoyed it. But in my defense I was 12 when I read it
The Stand.
Salems lot
Excellent.
Yep– it was like one of his first’s..
I would start with a compilation of short stories to see if I liked him. Like Different Seasons, Skeleton Crew or Full Dark No Stars.
Absolutely! Night Shift’s “Graveyard Shift” still scares me even after rereading it multiple times since it was first published in Cavalier magazine in 1970. Night Shift is an early compilation of his short stories.
Carrie
The Shining, Carrie
Pet Semetary
I’d suggest the Dark Tower series. But whatever you do, don’t read Eye of the Dragọn.
Don’t.
Just my opinion, but go with Dean Koontz instead ?
Happy reading!
I liked 11/22/63
The Stand or The Shining – tbh though, I love most of his stuff!
It
I’d go for his short stories first, get a feel for his way of writing. He has Everything’s Eventual which has heaps of short stories in them! Or I would suggest the mr Mercedes trilogy ?
Bleak house once you get past the first chapter
Black house
Dream catchers is also good along with his black dark tower series
I loved The Long Walk which he wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. It’s like The Maze Runner… only a hundred times better though it was written more than thirty years ago.
IT or Pet Sematary
Don’t waste your time. Read Robert Harris instead. (Y)
The Shining