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Where do you guys recommend starting with Stephen King? I’ve never read anything of his and there are so many it’s overwhelming ?

Where do you guys recommend starting with Stephen King? I’ve never read anything of his and there are so many it’s overwhelming ?

Jenna #recommend #horror

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62 Answers

Emma

Salem’s lot, misery are really good

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Jacqui

People I know who have started on SK lately have all started with the short stories – Night Shift is a good collection, as is Everything’s Eventual. The main problem with the novels is that there’s a phase where he was not being edited well but wasn’t really writing well either. (He had drug and alcohol problems and doesn’t remember writing certain novels at all!)

If you’ve the patience for it, The Stand is worth wading through as a first read (the shorter version if you can find it).

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Stephanie

@Jacqui Skeleton Crew is my favourite short story collection, followed by Night Shift.

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Julie

Almost everything is magic! But not cujo, Christine or Gerald’s game. I love The stand if you like a long book. Other good ones too many to mention ?

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Paul

the gunslinger is a very good read, it’s the first and best in his dark tower series

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Carol

Misery or Delores Clairborne ?

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Laura

Different seasons is my favourite collection of short stories. The green mile and misery I love too

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Paula

Under the dome and desperation are my Stephen king favourites x

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Catherine

Salem’s lot or pet semetery

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Ruth

One of his short story collections. I also love the stuff he wrote under the name of Richard Bachman ? reading Sleeping Beauties at the moment and it is BRILLIANT!! But a big brick of a book.

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Julie

The Bachman Books is my favourite too. The Long Walk is the best thing I’ve ever read and one of the few books that I re-read regularly.

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Melissa

I’ve just started reading his and I started with his first book and working my way through. Some good, some bad but my favourite so far has been the shining. I still have a long way to go so I’m sure I’ll find more good ones x

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Alison

Misery is a really good read

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Katie

the first one i read was cell phone doesnt really matter where you start with it

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Louise

Bag of Bones is one of my favourites, it’s not typical of his other books but very spooky. I also love The Shining.

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Tamzin

Full dark no stars it’s a collection of 4 short stories! Amazing the first one!

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Emma

I’d love to but I can’t read him. I hate his writing style.

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Victoria

Same here x

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Jo

Pet semetary.

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Marie

He waffles on too much lol x

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Michelle

The Stand! It is still a brilliant book and the only book I re-read!

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Emma

@Michelle I loved the Telly version, but that was mainly because don’t fear the reaper is played in it and it’s one of my favourite songs *vacant*

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Lindsay

Joy land is a great little book to start with

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Sandra

The Bachman Books
His Book Of Very Good Short Stories.
When He WroteUnder The Name Of Richard Bachman!

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Grace

Carrie was my first. It’s a nice little short one and one of his classics

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Sharon

Loved the Stand

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Nicola

Read his short stories and novellas first. That will give you a flavour of his style. There are loads to choose from.

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Suzanne

Start with one of the clsssics like Pet Semetary, the Shining or Carrie, then move onto Needful Things or The Stand (my personal fave) x

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Susan

Shawshank Redemption, it’s very short but absolutely brilliant!

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Lauren

The Shinning, Misery and Under the Dome are my favourites ?

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Lesley

Rita hayworth and the shawshank redemption is a short story also the body. Both were made into films. Stand by me was based on the body. Great stories to get you into hid style

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Nadine

I’ve just finished rereading Carrie and enjoyed it, in February I’m going to reread Salem’s Lot. I’d recommend starting with his early books, Carrie, Salem’s Lot, Misery, Pet Sematary. Lots and lots to choose from 🙂

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Simon

Dark Tower

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Amanda

The green mile is amazing and not scarily long like some of the others. I loved The Stand but it’s off-puttingly long!

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Heather

IT was my first Stephen king and I have read it numerous times x

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Corina

The Stand was my first by him… I adored it. Misery is great, so is Carrie, Cujo and Christine.

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Louise

Start with his short stories. Having said that, the first King book I read was ‘IT’. Wonderful, beautifully written book.

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Fiona

Carrie and Misery are brilliant ones to start you off. Prepare to end up down the rabbit hole though… His books are outstanding… See you next year! ?

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Ashley

The shining or Carrie imo

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Donna

One of my favourite author’s read his first one at 14 and it was IT, highly recommend that one or the shining, The stand is amazing!! Yes it is long but if you stick at it you will not regret it♥️♥️

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Kat

Desperation was the first one I read, which I loved at the time. Firestarter is great as well, I remember I couldn’t put it down. IT, the Shining, Pet Sematary, Misery etc are all excellent classics. The stand is very long but great too x

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Julie

Love most of them, but the only one I have read more than once is Talisman- a collaboration with another author whose name escapes me for the moment. I absolutely loved the characters.

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Lesley

@Julie i have wished for a movie of the talisman for years….was.it Peter Straub?

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Julie

@Lesley Yes! That’s it! I have also thought it would make a great film.

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Lesley

@Julie i got all excited to read it again but cant find it.
.going to have to get a copy. Talisman and Weaveworld by Clive Barker are old favourites

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Julie

Did you ever read the sequel? Black House, I believe it was called. Years after the original, but great. In fact, I think I may have to reread it! ?

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Lesley

@Julie no i never did. Will have to look for that too

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Julie

@Lesley It was lovely to catch up with Jack as an adult. I was worried that it might be a disappointment, but it was really satisfying. A little like the sequel to the shining, which I also loved.

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Callie

The first King book I read was Carrie but my favourite is Gerald’s game,it’s not that long either x

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Sandra

My dad gave me Carrie to read when I was young, and I worked through them in order using the list at the beginning of the books – the Castle Rock books remain my favourites though.

On another note, I’ve never found another author who writes prefaces like SK does, I love some of those more than the books.

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Hayley

I would recommend Carrie. Nice and small compared to others ?

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Heather

His stuff is fab. Green mile. Shawshank redemption. His short stories are so good.

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Julie

Needful Things x

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Stacey

Misery

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Marie

Carrie.

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Elizabeth

Just finished Salem’s Lot. It was very good.

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Simone

Needful Things will grip you straight away. Enjoy! ?

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Michelle

Firestarter is good and all of the above as well.

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Caroline

The shinning!!

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Emily

@Hayley cos u wanna read him x

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Hayley

@Emily I’m starting with green mile I think what Jack lent me x

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Elizabeth

The green mile. Not scary but brilliant

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