Better When You're Older

[delores 74]

I definitely agree. Some of the books I read when I first started on my SK journey at the tender age of 12 and now re-read take on a whole new meaning. Subtle nuances and hints that are glossed over or missed altogether with your first reading are glaringly obvious when you re-read at an older age.
I think some of them get scarier when you are an older reader because you have lived long enough and have just enough wisdom to think through what he is writing. A lot of his horror is psychological in nature, and you have to have a certain level of maturity to fully grasp it.

[crazycrashink]

I'm only 23, but I've been reading Stephen King since I was approximately 12 so a solid decade. I am glad I waited to read Pet Sematary until I had a child as I feel I got the full effect of horror and loss I enjoyed the books when I was younger, but I will also be able to read them as I age, gaining a better appreciation for them and a deeper love of the great characters.

[Seneca_V]

I also find I appreciate his work more now at 29 than I did when I was 12. I think most of it is just that I understand adult issues better now, since I am one, so I guess that's a good thing, lol! I do find that whenever I re-read one of his books, I notice things I didn't notice before, even in books I've read a few times! I am so glad I found SK though, I think I would've been a different person if not for his books. I'm glad that I'll have them all to read for the rest of my life!

-Sen

[Froglady]

I just posted a little note regarding this on another thread called "Duma Key - how'd you like it". I haven't read much of Stephen King during the last 20 years, but am now on my way of rediscovering his literaty qualities. And I do recommend Duma Key if you want a really good read, althoug the Cell was also a great book!

/Marie

[Sms231]

I think that the idea of Mr. King's books being better when the reader is older can apply to all authors, and not just SK. There are plenty of books that I was forced to read in school that I could have cared less about. Now at 28, I've been re-reading a lot of the classics that i forsook when I was younger, and I most certainly have a greater appreciation for literature now then I did when I was coerced into reading them.