New King readers: don't start with these books

[fushingfeef]

I've often talked to people who say they don't like Stephen King books, and when I ask them what they've read, it's often a "different" Stephen King book that isn't really representative of his entire body of work (at least, to me).

The purpose of this thread is not necessarily to criticize these books--I love these books, and some of these may be the perfect first book for some new readers, depending on what you know about their tastes. What you recommend as a first book to someone really depends on that person's personality. If they tell me they don't like horror, I'm not going to suggest they read "It", for example.

But lacking any other reader-specific information, here's my list of books that I recommend you should NOT read as your first King book.

The Dark Tower books
The Eyes of the Dragon
The Talisman (and Black House)
Gerald's Game
Insomnia

I'd like to hear what people think of these choices, and feel free to add any books you think aren't good first SK books to read.

[doowopgirl]

Agree with Dark Tower series, also Talisman and Black House. Disagree with Insomnia and Geralds Game. OK, Insomnia is a bit long winded, but I think it's a fine example of SK storytelling. The way it started out about one thing and ended up in a very different place and Geralds Game is IMO a very tight thriller. I wouldn't recommend From a Buick 8 as I don't think it's his finest hour.

[AchtungBaby]

Dreamcatcher
The DT series

[not_nadine]

Lisey's Story
Hearts in Alantis.

Start with short story collections.

[king family fan]

Must say I agree with your choices fusfingfeef. Dark Towers gets way to envolved for a first read.

[Milica]

Start with The Stand

[GNTLGNT]

...good list Fush....kinda have to "sneak up on those" later...

[Shasta]

The Gunslinger was my first SK book. Of course, I was eight, but I don't think anything else would have captured me the way it did. And, while it was frustrating at times, I didn't have to tackle the whole thing because it was still being written so I can see that it could scare people off. But I still have to disagree with your conclusions. The Gunslinger formed the rest of my life. And the Eyes of the Dragon?? What an AMAZING book. I would tell anyone who shies away from horror to read it first thing.

[JellybeanJay]

Whenever I have to recommend a SK first read if its an adult I usually recommend Night Shift or Skeleton Crew and if its a young adult that is just discovering the joy of reading I recommend The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon or Salem's Lot.

[dsurrett]

I'd say a first book should be as 'stand-alone' as possible. If the new reader likes vampires, then Salem's Lot would be a natural choice. If they don't like too much straight horror, I'd recommend Different Seasons or 11/22/63. The Green Mile would be a first good read. The Shining would be a good one. Almost everybody has seen the movie, and new readers would be surprised at how much the book and the movie differ.
For which ones to NOT recommend off the bat, I'd agree with the Dark Tower books, though they're great. It's like swimming in the deep water - it's a lot of fun, but start off in the shallows. If someone is used to fast paced books, I wouldn't recommend Insomnia as a first book.

[Doc Wilson]

I'd OP hit the nail on the head.

[AchtungBaby]

As much as I love IT, I wouldn't recommend it to any first-time reader. I was lost almost immediately with having to keep track of all the characters, the two different time periods, etc. I hadn't read many other King novels besides Misery (which would make for a GREAT starter book, IMO), Christine, and maybe one or two others... I still wasn't completely used to King's style yet...

[Banjo Kazooie]

I'd say to stay away from things like On Writing or Danse Macabre, which are generally only more interesting once you've read a few Stephen King books and know his writing style. Anything else (any fictional book, essentially) is fine to start with. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to start with the Dark Tower series considering how long it is and how much time you have to invest in it (since it really is one long story).

[Sigmund]

Hi!

I would agree with FF. I would also add Full Dark, No Stars, Under The Dome and Desperation.

JMO.

Peace.

[The Nameless]

Of those listed (original post) I have only read half the dark towers, and I would agree that they shouldn't be a first read, or even an early read. As it is also not a normal King style book, I would not reccomend 11/22/63 if you are looking to get a taste of his overall work - even though it was amazing, and my 2nd favourite to date.

I totally understand when people say don't start too heavy, like IT, but I did because I loved the mini series before I had read the book. For me, IT was the perfect first book, because it felt like a new shiny touched up edition of the mini series with a bunch of prequels thrown in.

[Daniel Lee Severn]

I actually disagree with you about From a Buick 8, it is a great piece of storytelling and one of his strangest and trippiest. I would definitely recommend From a Buick 8 to a first timer.

[Chuggs]

I understand where you all are comming from about the Dark Tower books, but they were my first Sai King reads. I loved them from the start, and they got me hooked on King's works. My main reason's for starting at the Dark Tower were: 1-my dad read them and raved abot them, so I had to see what all the fuss was about, and 2-I at one time was a fantasy lover (still am, to an extent). My mom and dad also read other King books when I was younger, and they always talked about them being scary--and to me, as a child, they felt and looked scary--and it led me to reading to want to read King, all of King, when I was ready to.

[Shasta]

I understand where you all are comming from about the Dark Tower books, but they were my first Sai King reads. I loved them from the start, and they got me hooked on King's works. My main reason's for starting at the Dark Tower were: 1-my dad read them and raved abot them, so I had to see what all the fuss was about, and 2-I at one time was a fantasy lover (still am, to an extent). My mom and dad also read other King books when I was younger, and they always talked about them being scary--and to me, as a child, they felt and looked scary--and it led me to reading to want to read King, all of King, when I was ready to.

My parents got me started as well. I remember when I was about 5 my mom read Pet Sematary to my step-dad on a long car trip. When we got home, the book was almost finished so we all sat in the car waiting for my mom to read the end. It was scary!!

My mom also took me to see Christine in the theatre when I was 3 and I hid my head in the seat the whole time and cried.

I also raided her library and that's how I got the Gunslinger - the first one I read on my own - at 8.

So now I have a Dark Tower themed sleeve tattoo and my mom says she shouldn't have gotten me started! She doesn't mean it, though. As soon as The Wind Through the Keyhole came out she was the first in line to get it for me!

I truly think younger people are more open to books like the Gunslinger so if it's a younger reader give it to them!

[fushingfeef]

I truly think younger people are more open to books like the Gunslinger so if it's a younger reader give it to them!
You are probably right about that, Shasta. Younger readers probably don't have as many preconceived notions of what a "Stephen King" story has to be.

[Manxkitti]

I usually recommend his earlier works, like The Stand, Pet Semetary, Salems Lot, and The Shining.

[King fan from trinidad]

I also don't think they should start with any of the bachman books even though I loved The long walk.

[Learah Greene]

In the past two months, two of my friends who never read SK before have started The Gunslinger and gone powering straight into The Drawing Of The Three. I think the Dark Tower is an excellent introduction if the reader shows decent concentration abilities.
Agree that short stories are also good: my brother got hooked through Nightmares and Dreamscapes. I started off with Pet Sematary in '93 after being told for years by my parents that King's novels were too adult. Eventually I just said 'feck it' and dug in. They bought me The Talisman the next Christmas :)

Three that I would not recommend are Rose Madder, Lisey's Story and Gerald's Game. Funnily, they all have strong female characters, which only occurred to me after typing. I loved these (yes even RM, which ties in so perfectly to Insomnia) but I think they require a degree of patience. Their respective stories unfold at a slower pace and they don't boast the wide casts of characters and colourful little details of small town life that draw readers in with a lulling sense of familiarity!

[The Bishop]

This forum is pretty simple. If your interested in trying out SK, you start with his earlier work so you fall head first in love with him, then SLOWLY move your way up through his later works

[nate_watkins]

The Dark Tower is what got me into his other books. The only other SK book I'd read was Cell, which I liked. I did struggle with the beginning of the Gunslinger, but was urged by a friend to finish it. Some books I found very easy to read are: The Green Mile, Different Seasons, The Talisman (and Black House), From a Buick 8, and Rose Madder. But I've found that my tastes differ from others that I've seen posting on the board. And also The Regulators.

[Pufnstuff]

The Long Walk was my first SK book. I recommend it highly to anybody.

[Pufnstuff]

My own experience is a bit on the strange side... Apparently I read all the wrong stuff first.
My first exposure to Sai King was The Long Walk, which at the time was not known to be King. It was while he was still writing as Bachman, my Sophopmore year in HS. Only later, near the beginning of my Junior year, I read Salem's Lot, and realized right away that Bachman was King. Up until then I had avoided King, because I "didn't like horror", not realizing that King doesn't write ONLY horror. Then, in 1984 before leaving for College, I picked up a paperback of The Talisman, and my love for Sai King's work was cemented. After Talisman it was, in order, The Gunslinger, Carrie, Firestarter, and The Bachman Books collection.
When I'm recommending King to other people who have not read, it always depends on what they like to read. If they're not Horror fans, like I was, I usually suggest one of the more mainstream style stories like Shawshank or Green Mile (I got my Dad to read Green Mile after he enjoyed the movie). If they are Fantasy fans, I'll still suggest The Talisman or Dark Tower. For Sci-Fi fans I suggest Firestarter or Tommyknockers. Otherwise, If they're open to the whole King experience, I always suggest they start at the beginning and read in order of publication date. That way, they get to experience Sai King's growth as a storyteller and get to mature right along with him.

[unclelouie]

My first SK novel was Rage. When you could still purchase it at the book store!

[Lina]

I agree with the list of books that one should not start with. I would only add Lisey's Story to it.

Me, I started with The Shining, and I am still in love with the book, it was a great choice for me, so now I can enjoy almost all the SK books.

[shorty27]

It depends on the person and what type of books they like but would agree not to start off with the DT series.

[kylallie]

Being a longtime SK reader, who still hasn't managed to get right through the first DT book :down:, I would recommend The Green Mile, Salems Lot, Christine or the Shining for first time readers. Great gripping stories, with the just the right element of the supernatural for someone who isnt familiar with SK's writing. My first Stephen King book was Christine (sneaked from my Dad's bookshelf when I was a kid) and I loved it!

[not_nadine]

Being a longtime SK reader, who still hasn't managed to get right through the first DT book :down:,

Ah, do it - you won't regret the journey. I still can't believe I waited so long. Or you can do as some say, start at the Drawing of the Three. :smile2:

[Lily Sawyer]

...lacking any other reader-specific information, here's my list of books that I recommend you should NOT read as your first King book.

The Dark Tower books
The Eyes of the Dragon
The Talisman (and Black House)
Gerald's Game
Insomnia

I'd like to hear what people think of these choices, and feel free to add any books you think aren't good first SK books to read.

I'm with you on this, even though The Talisman is my favorite King book. To understand his evolution as a writer, you need to read the old-school stuff first and graduate to the books with elements of sci-fi and fantasy. (I'm not looking to pick a fight about vampires being fantastical elements or not in a book; they're classic horror subjects and as such, the fantastical element is implied.) The additional elements of fantasy and sci-fi in The Talisman readied King fans for books more deeply committed to the fantasy genre and less of the horror, like the Dark Tower series.

I'd stay away from all the ones you mentioned, Feefster, for a King first read.

[Richard Edwards]

I agree with DT, GG, and Insomnia. I think The Eyes of the Dragon is a good starting book. The Talisman can be great as well.

My first was "Misery", which I enjoyed, but, in that same Easter basket, as "It", which is where I knew I'd have to read everything he wrote :).

[Richard Edwards]

I love "Rage". I know why King pulled it from publication, that is probably the right thing to do, but not all people who can relate to that are going to do horrible things.

Obviously.

But that is SK's right, and I respect that.

[Richard Edwards]

I just started a thread asking what the most difficult book to get through was, and my answer was "Christine". Maybe it's because I don't care about cars at all, but I had to try three times to get through that.

You probably have enough under your belt that it is now time to power through "The Gunslinger" and get to "The Drawing of the Three", which gets much, much, easier.

[Richard Edwards]

If you do that, start at TDoTT, maybe go with a few more books, then go back to "The Gunslinger". It is so much easier to read when you have more backstory.

[Sundrop]

Recently, I read Carrie for the first time. Although I did like the book, I'm glad that it wasn't my first SK book.

[Christiane17]

I would suggest those:

Insomnia
The Talisman
Roadwork
Silver Bullet

Or maybe don't start with a story of more than 1000 pages. The best is to read books that were best sellers first. After that you get addicted. :laugh:

[samhain]

For new readers, I'd say avoid starting with any of the following:
-Lisey's Story
-Dreamcatcher
-It
-Insomnia
-The Talisman / Black House
-The Stand
-The Dark Tower series
-From A Buick 8
-The Tommyknockers
-Rose Madder
-Duma Key

You'd be better off starting with Salem's Lot or Cujo

[gypsycrow]

I wouldn't start with Under the Dome, The Regulators or Hearts in Atlantis. The best book to start with is The Shining, Salem's Lot or Carrie.

[moonbeam66]

I would recommend starting with a few recent novels (UTD, Cell, 11/22/63) followed by The Stand and then the Castle Rock books and stories (including Bag of bones). By the time they are done with that, they should be hooked! I mean, those novels were written in four different decades, which I think would not fail to impress anyone!)

SK has a pretty bad reputation among some people thanks to some of the movies, so it would be most important I think, to show them he is so much better than those movies.

I would not recommend starting with Dolores Claiborne or the older novels.

[Tiny]

I have recommend that newbies start with the Tete books (small-tiny)
Mist, Carrie, Gunslinger 1, Cujo, Firestarter ,

Then they can move on to the S books as Tabby King calls them.
The Shinning, Salem's Lot, and the Stand .

If Sci-Fi is better for you then:
Cell, TommyKnocker, Under the Dome, Fire starter (many others)

[charlotte98]

I'd say stay the hell away from "pet sematary", if someone read that, having never read king before, they'd be scared stiff and never wanna pick up another of his books again.
Don't get me wrong, I love that book, but it was bone-chilling.