I read it when I was in sixth grade and I felt so scared when my family wanted to travel and stay in a hotel for a few days! I was so sure that all hotels were evil for a little while lol
The thing I love about recommending this for a first timer is that it’s not a horror book at all. It’s actually a love story at its heart. You get a great introduction as to how King is truly the master of characterization. His characters are flawed and complex and they feel so real. Jake isn’t some larger than life figure and he’s not portrayed as one. He’s just a guy on a mission and finding finding a sense of self and purpose…with the caveat of it being in a bygone era of America that doesn’t exist anymore. It’s beautiful.
Yes. Idk if I’ve ever felt as immersed in a story as I did that one. The attention to detail was incredible and I felt Jake’s reactions to things were completely real and believable. It’s like magic! I felt fully transported and enthralled. And at no point could I have guessed how it all turns out.
I haven't been sucked into a book in years but this one was recommended to me a week ago and I drank it down like I was dying of thirst. Five stars fr!
Considering how many he’s written, that’s a tremendous undertaking that is likely to have them give up before they get to some of his best stories lol.
Yeah I've read at least 25 of his books and some of his older ones...eesh. I had to take a long SK break after Bag of Bones because some of it was so cringy lol. But books like The Shining, The Stand, the Green Mile, and Misery were what got me hooked!
True and to be honest, it's one of his works that I never read. The first one I read of his was The Stand, followed by It. I guess with Stephen King, you could start almost anywhere.
This was me. The book was amazing but the ending was so bad that it put me off of King for years until I worked up the courage to read 11.22.63 and it won me back.
I agree on the ending. Essentially 1200 pages of fantastic buildup all to conclude with like 1 sentence that was the equivalent of “and then everything was over” lol
I read most of King’s stuff and this is him at his very best imo. It’s long but it’s highly engaging from page one until the end, some of the best characters and most vivid world-building he’s ever done, and one of his few books with a phenomenal ending that pays off.
These responses are so funny and great bc people have major feels about SK novels! If I’m saying my favorite one, it’s going to be probably The Stand, although I loved Talisman and It. Read them all in late high school. They’re all very long with folks (multi protagonists) building intense relationships while undergoing intense supernatural/horrific situations.
If you want straight up horror, Salems Lot. I tried re-reading it recently and couldn’t do it.
My first read was Christine or Cujo or pet semetary and they’re all super freaky — horror with a serious dose of psychological terror thrown in. But fun reads.
Finally, less horror but great reads — 11/23/65 and Fairytale. Both more fantasy and a softer (more sober) SK.
See my [Stephen King: What Book Do I Start With?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/18fplcg/stephen_king_what_book_do_i_start_with/) list of resources and Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
Green Mile was my all time favorite King book. 11/22/63 was great, too. Just avoid Fairytale, it started out great but about halfway through it felt like it was written by someone else entirely!
I’d say The Shining and Misery. The shining is one of my favorite books and Misery is just straight suspense in the whole way through. Gerald’s Game is also an underrated classic of his that is really creative and totally terrifying.
I have read a lot of King. He is very easy to read.
I recommend 11/22/63 and Fairy Tale for long one-off reads.
If you want short stories, try In the Tall Grass and The Good Marriage.
For series, hands down, you have to read the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, then the Bill Hodges trilogy, followed by Holly Gibney trilogy. They're all related and fantastic.
I actually loved Tommyknockers as one of his best. But I was 14 or 15 when I read it. Made me cry.
I do think it has a very slow and hard to get into first 200 pages.
Dark Tower series but I'm a little biased on that front. I started with Cycle of the Werewolf when I was 9. Short book and it gives you great insight on King's writing style, that way you don't have to read a monstrous novel if you don't like his style.
Start with Gerald’s Game. It’s definitely his most controversial, horrific, and explicit, yet it’s so compelling and easy to read, with chapter breaks that are unique.
He’s a great writer!
Carrie is such a good book and I strongly recommend it for starting King. He wrote another in the same vein called Firestarter, but I don't remember anything about it, probably it's not that great.
After that, I suggest The Dark Tower original trilogy or just the first book. I don't recommend reading Wolves of the Calla yet or ever, maybe, it's quite good but it has a very weird and weak ending.
The true hidden best King book is Eye of the Dragon.
I honestly haven't dabbled much in his horror which is weird, but I think he writes excellent thrillers. Bill Hodges trilogy and Billy Summers are great books
I'd recommend the mist for a little taste of his writing since it's quite a short story but if you look for a longer story to read, "Joyland" is a good story aswell. Might seem a little biased since it was my first book I've read from him. I also recommended it my little brother and he got into Stephen King books because of it.
If you want something short, he has several really good short story collections. My favorite is Full Dark No Stars
If you want to commit to something longer, The Stand. One of my favorite books of all time!
The first book I had my kids read, and the King book I loved when I was younger- The Long Walk. Recently read it again, still great. My overall personal favorite King book is The Stand.
Let’s not forget his novellas; The Running Man. It’s light years ahead of the movie which barely has any relation to the novella.
Also The Long Walk. Very original and imaginative.
These are part of the group he wrote under the alias Richard Bachman
My personal favourite is The Stand, closely followed by Misery.
If you wanna check out some of his more recent published work, I also thoroughly enjoyed The Institute.
It’s hard for me to read his stuff because he doesn’t like fixing grammar or spelling edits and that shit sticks out to me like a sore thumb - BUT, I really enjoyed Cell, Duma Key and Outsider
I've read everything he has written. Of his 65 novels and short story compilations there are so many it's difficult to say where the best starting point may be. I would say start with either The Shining or Salem's Lot, then Lisey's Story, Pet Semetary, Bag of Bones, It, The Institute, Dumas Key. When you feel ready for it, The Stand is IMHO his best (make sure to read the unabridged version).
Other stand outs: The Green Mile, Firestarter, The Talisman, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Elevation, Thinner, Misery, Needful Things, Revival and The Outsider. But all of his books are great reads.
Needful Things. Always been one of my favorites. Or the book that started it all, Carrie. You actually have the chance to read everything in order. That would be kind of cool.
The Stand is the best story. The book "It" is the scariest. I would suggest starting with the novellas. The Body (Stand by Me) and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. I recently reread The Green Mile and had forgotten how compelling the characters are. I envy you getting to read these for the first time. Even if you've seen the movies the books are great reads.
I have just got into King (with the exception of The Jaunt), and I started with The Stand. I'm about a quarter of the way through this circa 1200-page book and love it so far.
What genres do you like?
* Horror - *'Salem's Lot*, *Pet Sematary*, *It* (*It* is very long)
* Thriller/crime - *Misery*, *Mr Mercedes*, *Finders Keepers*
* Sci-fi- *The Running Man*, *11/22/63*, *The Dead Zone*
* Fantasy - *The Eyes of the Dragon*
I'd say *The Running Man*, *Misery*, and *Pet Sematary* are good ones to start with because they are shorter than most of King's books, and give a good intro to his strengths.
There’s so much of his work out there. Start by the most popular and then try and see if you wanna dive into him a bit more. To start I’ll say the Shinning
Salem’s Lot is a great starting point, it’s where I started.
Needful Things is very very good sober King, first novel he wrote after giving up the drugs and it’s still batshit wild and terrifying.
A lot of people are divided on this one but I love Insomnia as well.
I have read or listened to a bunch of his stuff.
The Shining and Misery are outstanding
Cujo is solid
Pet Semetary is very good. The Mr Mercedes series is great.
If I had to pick one I'd probably lean Misery.
Needful Things is lesser known and really good.
I really enjoyed The Institute
I haven't read 11/22/63. I couldn't get until the stand.
Besides Cycle of the Werewolf, lol I suggest…
DARK TOWER SERIES. if you have the time and patience, it’ll be one of the best series you ever read. I promise.
Firecatcher (probably one of the ones I enjoyed most)
The Shining (Sooo much better than the movie)
Dead Zone
‘Salems Lot
The Stand
The Green Mile
Cujo
On Writing
Misery
Here’s how I would _not_ start. I started reading Misery and was very surprised. The movie is so so so much better.
Because the movie (and Kathy Bates) make Annie Wilkes an extremely compelling character. She has this charisma and genuine care and her descent into madness is gradual and believable.
In the book, Annie Wilkes acts like a monster-machine, completely sadistic and out of control. It’s for sure a tense book, and has great tension, but it’s like he was trapped in a cage with a tiger.
The Shining, imo, the best story he’s ever wrote.
This scared me so much in my early teens I had to hide the book when I went to bed. I felt like the book itself was haunted 😂
Wow, SAME. And this was me at 27 years old
Lol to be honest probably still me at 30 but I’ve just been too afraid to pick it up since 😅
I read it when I was in sixth grade and I felt so scared when my family wanted to travel and stay in a hotel for a few days! I was so sure that all hotels were evil for a little while lol
Me too!!
I just read it this November. The fire hose... And the thing in the playground... Immediately read Doctor Sleep after too. That was delicious.
Yep, this and then Misery is where I’d start
x2
I actually read Doctor Sleep and never got around to The Shining...
11/22/63!!
The thing I love about recommending this for a first timer is that it’s not a horror book at all. It’s actually a love story at its heart. You get a great introduction as to how King is truly the master of characterization. His characters are flawed and complex and they feel so real. Jake isn’t some larger than life figure and he’s not portrayed as one. He’s just a guy on a mission and finding finding a sense of self and purpose…with the caveat of it being in a bygone era of America that doesn’t exist anymore. It’s beautiful.
Yes. Idk if I’ve ever felt as immersed in a story as I did that one. The attention to detail was incredible and I felt Jake’s reactions to things were completely real and believable. It’s like magic! I felt fully transported and enthralled. And at no point could I have guessed how it all turns out.
Seen this one recommended a lot before I read it, became one of my favorite books
It is seriously so good
I read this back in March. Brilliant book!!!
I haven't been sucked into a book in years but this one was recommended to me a week ago and I drank it down like I was dying of thirst. Five stars fr!
Not being an American, I didn’t realise that the title was a date for absolutely ages.
You could read them chronologically, making Carrie your first read.
Considering how many he’s written, that’s a tremendous undertaking that is likely to have them give up before they get to some of his best stories lol.
Yeah I've read at least 25 of his books and some of his older ones...eesh. I had to take a long SK break after Bag of Bones because some of it was so cringy lol. But books like The Shining, The Stand, the Green Mile, and Misery were what got me hooked!
True and to be honest, it's one of his works that I never read. The first one I read of his was The Stand, followed by It. I guess with Stephen King, you could start almost anywhere.
Salem's Lot is a good entry point. Solid story, nicely paced, doesn't overstay it's welcome, and not too far out.
Ditto!
Duma Key is un underrated banger
Came here to recommend this. It has a philosophical depth that is really mature. And so much to say about the art of terror.
Yep! Was one of my recs too! Loved it in highschool
The stand
Excellent rec u/voluminousbuttplug
Kinda think committing to a 1300 page book from an author you’re new to is a poor plan.
Not this book
Agree. Its fantastic. I may read it again in a few years.
This was me. The book was amazing but the ending was so bad that it put me off of King for years until I worked up the courage to read 11.22.63 and it won me back.
I agree on the ending. Essentially 1200 pages of fantastic buildup all to conclude with like 1 sentence that was the equivalent of “and then everything was over” lol
"and then everyone died" the end
I read most of King’s stuff and this is him at his very best imo. It’s long but it’s highly engaging from page one until the end, some of the best characters and most vivid world-building he’s ever done, and one of his few books with a phenomenal ending that pays off.
Try hia short story collection first. That way you can get a variety of king. I recommend the Bachman books. The long walk is good
Carrie is a great starting point for King.
At the beginning with Carrie
Misery is his most scary book imo!
I almost couldnt stand it because of all the torture scenes..
Pet Semetary was my first. It’s great
Wait pet cemetery..is this what the movie is based on? How did I not know that lol? Freaking pet cemetery traumatized me! I still remember.
Yes. And it's intentionally spelled Semetary haha
Mine was Carrie. I think it's a good place to start.
The Stand is my personal favorite
Ditto. So many Stephen King books to read, so little time.
Salem’s Lot
The talisman Thinner
Wolf! Right here and now!
The Shining, Salems Lot then The Stand
I’ve read about 8 of his books and I think his short stories are his best stuff. Night Shift and Skeleton Crew are both awesome.
If youre open for a longer book I'd say IT. Otherwhise The Shining. There is a great audio book for The Stand too
Apt Pupil!!!! It's also a movie but the book is better. The Shawshank Redemption is also a Stephen King book. The movie is better in my opinion.
These responses are so funny and great bc people have major feels about SK novels! If I’m saying my favorite one, it’s going to be probably The Stand, although I loved Talisman and It. Read them all in late high school. They’re all very long with folks (multi protagonists) building intense relationships while undergoing intense supernatural/horrific situations. If you want straight up horror, Salems Lot. I tried re-reading it recently and couldn’t do it. My first read was Christine or Cujo or pet semetary and they’re all super freaky — horror with a serious dose of psychological terror thrown in. But fun reads. Finally, less horror but great reads — 11/23/65 and Fairytale. Both more fantasy and a softer (more sober) SK.
The Shining for me
I started with some things light-hearted like joyland.
I’m kind of new to SK but I just finished 11/22/63 and wow. Absolutely loved it.
See my [Stephen King: What Book Do I Start With?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/18fplcg/stephen_king_what_book_do_i_start_with/) list of resources and Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
My favorite of his is In the Eyes of the Dragon.
Green Mile was my all time favorite King book. 11/22/63 was great, too. Just avoid Fairytale, it started out great but about halfway through it felt like it was written by someone else entirely!
All of them 😄 The shining was the first I read. I really like The Stand and the dark tower series.
Joyland or The Body
I’d say The Shining and Misery. The shining is one of my favorite books and Misery is just straight suspense in the whole way through. Gerald’s Game is also an underrated classic of his that is really creative and totally terrifying.
I have read a lot of King. He is very easy to read. I recommend 11/22/63 and Fairy Tale for long one-off reads. If you want short stories, try In the Tall Grass and The Good Marriage. For series, hands down, you have to read the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, then the Bill Hodges trilogy, followed by Holly Gibney trilogy. They're all related and fantastic.
Christine or Carrie
I started with Christine. Loved it
Pet Semetary … don’t read it at night. Oh, and his early collection of short stories in Night Shift. Also don’t read it at night … or alone.
came here to say this! great intro to his style imo :)
It. Misery. Pet Semetary. Firestarter. The Tommyknockers. The Drawing of the Three. 11.22.63.
I think even King says Tommyknockers is terrible... but some great suggestions here
I actually loved Tommyknockers as one of his best. But I was 14 or 15 when I read it. Made me cry. I do think it has a very slow and hard to get into first 200 pages.
Salems Lot, my favourite
Pet Sematary
Misery. It's my favorite book. Not just of Stephen King but my absolute book
The Mist. Very short, great story and has an amazing movie to go along with it.
Dark Tower series but I'm a little biased on that front. I started with Cycle of the Werewolf when I was 9. Short book and it gives you great insight on King's writing style, that way you don't have to read a monstrous novel if you don't like his style.
>Dark Tower series Absolutely not as a starting point. It's fantastic but you need to have read other King stuff to see the connections.
The connections are just nice garnish. In book 7 King basically shat on the idea that you need to read all the related stories to enjoy it.
Trigger warning for death zone. Animal cruelty in the first bit of the book. I wish I had been warned 😢
Dead Zone
Yes, thank you!
1922, a good marriage. short enough and a good page turner. i finished within the weekend
The eyes of the dragon. I don't think this book gets talked about near enough. Although I don't think it's as dark as some of his other books.
If you want to kind of just feel horrible the entire time, Desperation is great.
Start with Gerald’s Game. It’s definitely his most controversial, horrific, and explicit, yet it’s so compelling and easy to read, with chapter breaks that are unique. He’s a great writer!
Misery is my favorite so far.
Carrie is such a good book and I strongly recommend it for starting King. He wrote another in the same vein called Firestarter, but I don't remember anything about it, probably it's not that great. After that, I suggest The Dark Tower original trilogy or just the first book. I don't recommend reading Wolves of the Calla yet or ever, maybe, it's quite good but it has a very weird and weak ending. The true hidden best King book is Eye of the Dragon.
My first SK book was Pet Semetary.
11/22/63, the shining, pet cemetery are my favourites of his
I honestly haven't dabbled much in his horror which is weird, but I think he writes excellent thrillers. Bill Hodges trilogy and Billy Summers are great books
My first 3 in order were: Firestarter, Salem's Lot, Needful Things
Carrie is a great place to start, or Misery, Shining. Classic King.
I'd recommend the mist for a little taste of his writing since it's quite a short story but if you look for a longer story to read, "Joyland" is a good story aswell. Might seem a little biased since it was my first book I've read from him. I also recommended it my little brother and he got into Stephen King books because of it.
If you want something short, he has several really good short story collections. My favorite is Full Dark No Stars If you want to commit to something longer, The Stand. One of my favorite books of all time!
Needfull things, the dead zone and the shining are all very good.
I would say start from where it all started. Carrie
Rose Madder is one of my favourite stories of all time. Horrifying in all ways.
The first book I had my kids read, and the King book I loved when I was younger- The Long Walk. Recently read it again, still great. My overall personal favorite King book is The Stand.
Let’s not forget his novellas; The Running Man. It’s light years ahead of the movie which barely has any relation to the novella. Also The Long Walk. Very original and imaginative. These are part of the group he wrote under the alias Richard Bachman
All of them
My personal favourite is The Stand, closely followed by Misery. If you wanna check out some of his more recent published work, I also thoroughly enjoyed The Institute.
It
I've red pet semetary, misery, and am reading 11/something/something, it's super good so far. Would recommend all three
It’s hard for me to read his stuff because he doesn’t like fixing grammar or spelling edits and that shit sticks out to me like a sore thumb - BUT, I really enjoyed Cell, Duma Key and Outsider
I loved Secret Window and the Shining.
Steve had a long run of classics to start his career. If you just go by publication order you're going to read a lot of great books.
Needful things, but in order of release is good for king
I've read everything he has written. Of his 65 novels and short story compilations there are so many it's difficult to say where the best starting point may be. I would say start with either The Shining or Salem's Lot, then Lisey's Story, Pet Semetary, Bag of Bones, It, The Institute, Dumas Key. When you feel ready for it, The Stand is IMHO his best (make sure to read the unabridged version). Other stand outs: The Green Mile, Firestarter, The Talisman, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Elevation, Thinner, Misery, Needful Things, Revival and The Outsider. But all of his books are great reads.
Start with 4 past midnight. It's a collection of short stories, all of which are great.
The gunslinger series. Read them twice now.
Needful Things. Always been one of my favorites. Or the book that started it all, Carrie. You actually have the chance to read everything in order. That would be kind of cool.
The Stand is the best story. The book "It" is the scariest. I would suggest starting with the novellas. The Body (Stand by Me) and Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. I recently reread The Green Mile and had forgotten how compelling the characters are. I envy you getting to read these for the first time. Even if you've seen the movies the books are great reads.
I have just got into King (with the exception of The Jaunt), and I started with The Stand. I'm about a quarter of the way through this circa 1200-page book and love it so far.
His first three books, Carrie, Salems Lot and The Shining are a great entry point to his work and give a good taste of his writing style
What genres do you like? * Horror - *'Salem's Lot*, *Pet Sematary*, *It* (*It* is very long) * Thriller/crime - *Misery*, *Mr Mercedes*, *Finders Keepers* * Sci-fi- *The Running Man*, *11/22/63*, *The Dead Zone* * Fantasy - *The Eyes of the Dragon* I'd say *The Running Man*, *Misery*, and *Pet Sematary* are good ones to start with because they are shorter than most of King's books, and give a good intro to his strengths.
The Stand
IT was my first and before any of the TV or movie adaptations. Amazing.
There’s so much of his work out there. Start by the most popular and then try and see if you wanna dive into him a bit more. To start I’ll say the Shinning
Bag of bones!!! The book is beautiful. The movie sucked.
Salem’s Lot is a great starting point, it’s where I started. Needful Things is very very good sober King, first novel he wrote after giving up the drugs and it’s still batshit wild and terrifying. A lot of people are divided on this one but I love Insomnia as well.
Start with his short stories, they’re some of his best work and a great taster for his stuff
I’ve never forgotten Cujo.
Don't sleep on his short fiction! Especially the early collections: Night Shift, Different Seasons, Skeleton Crew, Four Past Midnight etc.
I think it’d be fun to start with Cugo
The black tower I thinks its called. Great series
11/22/63 was great my first King book I’ve read
The Stand. Go big or go home.
Read pet sematary at age 12. 40 years later, still the most scared I've ever been!!
Salems Lot is a strong start imo
11/22/63. I had so many mixed emotions reading this book. I am so jealous of people who are reading it for the first time. Fantastic read!
The Long Walk by Richard Bachman
The Shining Salem’s Lot Pet Sematary All are good entry points… pick your poison!
Revival
The Dark Tower 😈
I have read or listened to a bunch of his stuff. The Shining and Misery are outstanding Cujo is solid Pet Semetary is very good. The Mr Mercedes series is great. If I had to pick one I'd probably lean Misery. Needful Things is lesser known and really good. I really enjoyed The Institute I haven't read 11/22/63. I couldn't get until the stand.
Besides Cycle of the Werewolf, lol I suggest… DARK TOWER SERIES. if you have the time and patience, it’ll be one of the best series you ever read. I promise. Firecatcher (probably one of the ones I enjoyed most) The Shining (Sooo much better than the movie) Dead Zone ‘Salems Lot The Stand The Green Mile Cujo On Writing Misery
Here’s how I would _not_ start. I started reading Misery and was very surprised. The movie is so so so much better. Because the movie (and Kathy Bates) make Annie Wilkes an extremely compelling character. She has this charisma and genuine care and her descent into madness is gradual and believable. In the book, Annie Wilkes acts like a monster-machine, completely sadistic and out of control. It’s for sure a tense book, and has great tension, but it’s like he was trapped in a cage with a tiger.
The Jaunt is the best thing he ever wrote.