So I've never read a horror before, let a lone a Stephen King one...

[carpe_noctum65]

And I decided to give one a try.
I picked up Pet Semetary from my library and so far am loving it. How does it compare to his other books?

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Welcome to the MB, and keep posting!

Well, you jumped in at the deep end IMO, he considers it his scariest book himself and I agree, you have a lot of great reading in front of you.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Natjen26]

Pet Semetary is IMO one of his best. Maybe try Duma Key after this one or Misery. Well they're all good.. :grinning:

[wvlggreg]

I must say The Stand was the scariest for me. And very memorable characters throughout the book. Pet Semetary the movie was pretty good. If you haven't seen it wait until you finish the book.

[Patricia A]

For a real nice buffet of Horror a' la King I'd try one of his short story books.
"Just After Sunset" (My all time personal favorite!) the latest, is fantastic. I'd try that next.
Reading his short stories may help give you a broader appreciation of his work.
Hope you enjoy your trek into the dark end of the library! :bat:

[Bryan James]

Read "Watership Down" by Richard Adams and then go straight to King's "Cujo."

BJS

[wally wonder]

i about overdosed on sk stories, carpe. once you finish that one, check out any and all of them. i enjoyed each and every one, more than once. he's a great story-teller, horror or otherwise. just finished a re-read of desperation awhile ago and on tommyknockers now, both great stories. let us know what you think about the story you're reading, hey?

[JayneH]

The only one of his that I cannot bring myself to re-read ... I salute you :biggrin2:

[michal]

Pet Semetary was my first too, but I'll have to disagree with the Duma Key recommendation. It's not exactly classical horror. For a good fright and a fantastic second story I'd read <b>It</b>, or <b>Salem's Lot</b>.

GOD I envy you. Having all those incredible unread books, just waiting for you out there... You're so lucky!!! :grinning:

[carpe_noctum65]

**********SPOILERS***********

Wow. Just finished it.
It's a good thing I only have to type this because I am speechless.
That was f*cking creepy. I think the first moment that creeped me out was Rachel describing the bedridden Zelda. From that point on there was just a massive sense of foreboding, like any second the hammer was going to drop and the world would end. I guess it did, in a way, starting with Gage. I was lost as to why King informed us of Gage and Normas deaths before they happened, but looking back, I guess it all helped tp generate this inexplicable fear in the reader, the type that the characters felt so many times throughout the book.

I went down to my library to try and get another book but all they had was Night Shift, that collection of short stories. Still, better than nothing, so I got it out.

Thanks for the welcomes, by the way :)

[Patricia A]

I went down to my library to try and get another book but all they had was Night Shift, that collection of short stories. Still, better than nothing, so I got it out.

Thanks for the welcomes, by the way :)

Night Shift is great, I don't think you'll be disappointed. His short stories are among the best of all the short stories I've ever read, it takes a certain touch that Stephen King is the master of.

Enjoy! And your welcome for the welcomes. :biggrin2:

[Renzo]

Wow, you definitely picked his scariest novel right off the bat. I have only seen the movie thus far but from what I hear...Pet Semetary might stress me out too much. I better read it before I have kids, eh?

Welcome to SK and keep reading!

[THISisWHEREiMAKEmySTAND]

I have to say Gerald's Game really gave me a case of the heebie-geebies, but its certainly a differant sort of horror. I thought The Shining was pretty scary, but honestly the shrub-monsters always cracked me up, but I digress. Keep reading, King sai will keep you on your toes!!

[Bryan James]

My local library (two blocks from work) is woefully under-Kinged. I've considered filing a complaint. There's a good countywide intra-library loan system available, though. Talk to your public librarian, because they REALLY seem to want to help.

"Everything's Eventual" is my favorite King shorts collection. Jack London, however, wins it by a nose. He wrote some junk, too, though.

Enjoy the discovery, and don't feel bad if you want to shut one short/book down and try the next.

BJS

[thymeoperator]

**********SPOILERS***********
I was lost as to why King informed us of Gage and Normas deaths before they happened, but looking back, I guess it all helped tp generate this inexplicable fear in the reader, the type that the characters felt so many times throughout the book.

i loved the way that was handled - it lulls you into a false sense of security. i knew gage would die, because i read king's intro to the book about his inspiration for the story, and i dreaded reading it because i have a little boy that age myself. then it came along in the book, and it just said he died, and i thought 'okay that wasn't so bad' thinking the worst was over - then louis has the flashback and it goes into detail when i least expected it and i was just in shock, it was horrible! very well written.

[RavensMirror]

Pet Sematary was my firt Stephen King book too. I grew up on the movie. The movie strikes a nerve with me that I can't explain. People laugh at me when I tell them the only thing I fear is heights and Stephen King's Pet Sematary.

Even though it scares the hell out of me, I watch the movie once a year and I HAD to read the book. I guess it's kind of like facing your fears. Which Stephen King is good at making us do!

After reading the book, I put it on my shelf behind a wall of other books out of sight lol. I may revisit it sometime down the road, but it won't be soon!

My next adventure is IT. I'm only at the first interlude, I'll post my thoughts on it after I've finished it.

[plgordon]

I scincerely hope You enjoy all Of Pet Semetary,because you will truly have opened a door to some unbelievably entertaining reading. Some times I wonder if the world of Stephen King literature isn't way more than just books!