That’s why I’m reading The Shining! Their adapting Doctor Sleep into a film so I thought it was time to go and rewatch the film, read the book and read Doctor Sleep before its made lol. A little challenge for myself.
My top five are – Insomnia – Misery – Pet Sematary – Salem’s Lot – Thinner
Misery and Thinner are super easy reads and would give you a great introduction to early King, along with Carrie. If you enjoy his style, then move onto the likes of It, The Shining and Dr Sleep, Desperation (that’s a controversial one for King fans – they either love it or hate it ?), 11/22/63, Needful Things and The Green Mile. Best collection of short stories (in my opinion) is Different Seasons.
I always suggest starting out small with King, sometimes the vernaclular and the verbosity, as well as the size of his books, can often be overwhelming to those who are new to King. Try a book of short stories, Night Shift, Different Seasons or Skeleton Crew.
I’m having trouble choosing. My favorite is The Shining. But It and the Stand are excellent too. I just finished Skeleton Crew which was a great book of short stories by him
I would start at the beginning simply because some characters/towns carry over into other stories. They can act as stand alones, but for instance, if you read The Dead Zone before Cujo, you’re going to get an introduction to Sheriff Bannerman that you wouldn’t get if you read them in a different order.
Joyland is a short book and is a little different to most of his other books which I have read, it’s not as heavy on wording as some of the others as well. Another is Misery, that’s a good read.
Misery or Carrie! I haven’t read Misery yet but it seems intriguing. Carrie was good and seemed to go by quite fast, while I personally found that Pet Semetary was kinda boring and long.
The Green Mile was originally published as a 6 book serial, in the late 70s or early 80s. Way before ebooks. I read each one so fast I was chomping at the bit for the next one to come out and bugging my local book store! The movie did the books justice.
I agree with the suggestions to start with some of King’s shorter works first. Misery, Carrie, The Shining are excellent places to begin! King can get super descriptive and that can get frustrating if you’re not familiar with his work. I would definitely recommend The Stand and IT, as well The Dark Tower books, but I think you might enjoy them more once you’ve read some of his others and gotten to know his work better. Also, his different collections of short stories are wonderful!
If you’re looking for an introductory that isn’t insanely long and would like to get a feel for his writing techniques, Stephen King’s Thinner, is excellent!! I loved it! Everyone wants to mention all of his big hits books but I would recommend this as a first!
If you want to read a book that is more fantasy than horror, try The Eyes of the Dragon. Stephen King wrote it for his daughter who really didn’t like horror.
My first was the Tommyknockers. After that I read the Dark Tower series. I wanted to stay away from the movies and do not regret that choice. I’ve read everything since then. I loved my path but I’m happy you asked this question. I love seeing what people recommend.
Honestly, I’d start at the beginning of his books – the oldest/first – then work my way up to his most recent. Not only would you get to read all his books, you could also see how his writing has evolved, and his story telling has changed, over time.
Even though I enjoy a lot of his newer books, there are many of his older books I still think are great … classics, even – and could stand well on their own against his newer works.
The shining was great, though staying at his first book would be an interesting option too, since he often refers to earlier books, so you won’t miss out on those little jokes
Misery or Deloris Claiborne and 11/22/63
Carrie was my first Stephen King – but desperation is my favorite
Same on both counts.
Bag of Bones
11/22/63 or the Shining.
I’m starting with The Shining on chapter 5 right now ^^
I love that book so much!
I’m loving it so far! The movie really left out alot of stuff.
Yeah. I agree. I wanna read Doctor Sleep too, I just haven’t yet haha
That’s why I’m reading The Shining! Their adapting Doctor Sleep into a film so I thought it was time to go and rewatch the film, read the book and read Doctor Sleep before its made lol. A little challenge for myself.
Shinning
Needful Things
carrie!
Cell
My top five are
– Insomnia
– Misery
– Pet Sematary
– Salem’s Lot
– Thinner
Misery and Thinner are super easy reads and would give you a great introduction to early King, along with Carrie. If you enjoy his style, then move onto the likes of It, The Shining and Dr Sleep, Desperation (that’s a controversial one for King fans – they either love it or hate it ?), 11/22/63, Needful Things and The Green Mile. Best collection of short stories (in my opinion) is Different Seasons.
Or the dark tower series
Delores Claiborne is more of an easier read of his.
Start at the beginning and read Carrie then his other books in order of publication. Enjoy!
I’ve tried reading a few and his books are just not for me
He’s hit or miss with me, although I really want to read some of his earlier books
have you read the Stand? It’s my all time favourite book
I’m reading 11/22/63 right now and it’s so intriguing! It’s also my first Stephen King book!!
I always suggest starting out small with King, sometimes the vernaclular and the verbosity, as well as the size of his books, can often be overwhelming to those who are new to King. Try a book of short stories, Night Shift, Different Seasons or Skeleton Crew.
The Stand or cell
Ooooh, the Stand ! Forgot about that one
I’m having trouble choosing. My favorite is The Shining. But It and the Stand are excellent too. I just finished Skeleton Crew which was a great book of short stories by him
Misery
Carrie is a good start. it’s shorter, was his first book, and a solid read 🙂
My first SK was Mr.Mercedes ?
Green Mile. Or if you want to go with novellas go with Different Seasons. That has the source material for Stand By Me and Shawshank.
I would start at the beginning simply because some characters/towns carry over into other stories. They can act as stand alones, but for instance, if you read The Dead Zone before Cujo, you’re going to get an introduction to Sheriff Bannerman that you wouldn’t get if you read them in a different order.
Joyland is a short book and is a little different to most of his other books which I have read, it’s not as heavy on wording as some of the others as well. Another is Misery, that’s a good read.
Like follow the yellow brick road! Start from the beginning. Carrie
Mr Mercedes
Revival, hands down
This was good ?
Misery or Carrie
IT
Anywhere – they are all good
The green mile!!!!!
Pick a book with few pages like green mile and pet semetary.
11/22/63!
The Stand, The Shining
I agree with The Stand.
Start with it :p
The Stand or Salem’s lot
11/22/63 ????
The Stand. That’s the very first Stephen King book I read and it’s still my favorite.
Salem’s lot its a good first book for Stephen King 😉
Salems Lot
Carrie!
Talisman
It
Green Mile, if you don’t like horror.
Shining, if you do.
The Shining.
Salem’s Lot
The Stand or The Shining – it’s loads better than the film! X
Carrie start at the beginning
Cujo, Carrie or The Shining.
I read the shining first because I heard a lot about it and was curious
The Stand hands down my favourite
The Stand or The Gunslinger
For our honeymoon we did the Stephen King Tour in Bangor Maine and its includes a stop outside his house (in picture)
Misery
definitely agree. Jyst finished Misery…my first Stephen King book.
Salem’s lot. In my opinion, it’s his best.
Pet Semetary
The Long Walk or Thinner
Start at the beginning. That being said I loved 11/22/63, the dark half, the dead zone.
Misery!!!
It
The Shining then Doctor Sleep
The girl who loved tom gordon
The shining
Misery or Carrie! I haven’t read Misery yet but it seems intriguing. Carrie was good and seemed to go by quite fast, while I personally found that Pet Semetary was kinda boring and long.
I am reading me first, pet semetary and I am enjoying it
Long walk
Love this one?
The only Stephen King I’ve ever liked enough to finish is Firestarter.
The Shining
The green mile
The Green Mile was originally published as a 6 book serial, in the late 70s or early 80s. Way before ebooks. I read each one so fast I was chomping at the bit for the next one to come out and bugging my local book store! The movie did the books justice.
The Green Mile volumes were all published from March to August in 1996.
Really? I was sure I remembered getting them earlier. Thank you.
Sleeping Beauties by him and his son is really good
I just finished Carrie, it’s short and a great one to start with & it’s a great book
I loved The Stand.
I agree with the suggestions to start with some of King’s shorter works first. Misery, Carrie, The Shining are excellent places to begin! King can get super descriptive and that can get frustrating if you’re not familiar with his work. I would definitely recommend The Stand and IT, as well The Dark Tower books, but I think you might enjoy them more once you’ve read some of his others and gotten to know his work better. Also, his different collections of short stories are wonderful!
I have read everything he has written and I still think Salem’s Lot is his scariest book.
Carrie
IT!
Start where he did… Carrie. He got the idea for it while working as a cleaner at a high school during the summer.
I would start w The Shining then Doctor Sleep ( the sequel). DS is prob my fav King book actually.
Dark Tower!
At the beginning. Carrie.
Start with Carrie……
The Stand is his best, but it’s a long one.
Salem’s Lot.
The multilayered ending of The Green Mile can’t be beat.
I have read one – The Green Mile
Carrie
Different Seasons. 3 of the 4 Novellas in this collection have been made into movies. And Shawshank is one of my favorites.
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
The shining and then doctor sleep
Carrie
It or Salem’s Lot
Cujo. First book that got me hooked ?
Gerald’s game was my favorite
Idk if it’s a good starter, I hated dream catcher
The Gunslinger!! Then continue on with the Dark Tower series.
Children of the corn
If you’re looking for an introductory that isn’t insanely long and would like to get a feel for his writing techniques, Stephen King’s Thinner, is excellent!! I loved it! Everyone wants to mention all of his big hits books but I would recommend this as a first!
Yes and I loved The Long Walk
My first was Christine
Start with a shorter book
The Green Mile
Carrie, Misery, The Shining
The shining and Carrie were some if the first I read. I love Delores Claiborne too
Misery
Misery
I loved it
Pet cemetery
If you want to read a book that is more fantasy than horror, try The Eyes of the Dragon. Stephen King wrote it for his daughter who really didn’t like horror.
I was just going to say the same thing. great book. I’ve read it twice.
Misery the Shinning IT Carrie and The Green Mile all good books
My first was the Tommyknockers. After that I read the Dark Tower series. I wanted to stay away from the movies and do not regret that choice. I’ve read everything since then. I loved my path but I’m happy you asked this question. I love seeing what people recommend.
The Stand is about my favorite. The Green Mile a very close second!
Thinner… The first one I ever read !!!
Honestly, I’d start at the beginning of his books – the oldest/first – then work my way up to his most recent. Not only would you get to read all his books, you could also see how his writing has evolved, and his story telling has changed, over time.
Even though I enjoy a lot of his newer books, there are many of his older books I still think are great … classics, even – and could stand well on their own against his newer works.
from page one.
Misery
the shining
The Shining.
The shining was great, though staying at his first book would be an interesting option too, since he often refers to earlier books, so you won’t miss out on those little jokes
Different Seasons, you get several different short stories, but many of them were used for the basis of several films, so they will be familiar.
The green mile
Oh wow! He is one of my favorite authors. I didn’t care for his Salem’s Lot though 🙁
Carrie or the Dark Tower series
The Dark Tower was my first King book and it was 4 out of 5 stars for me but then I read IT and enjoyed it way more.
Start with his short story collections
the stand or shinning
Bag of Bones, it, sleeping beauties, doctor sleep
IT,Misery
It??
Get one of his anthologies
The shining
The shining ??
The shining or cujo!
the shining,it or misery