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Franchescanado posted:Pet Semetary is great because it's pretty much a sequel to The Shining. Instead of the addiction on the surface manifested in Jack's alcoholism and anger issues, Pet Semetary concentrates on destroying the nuclear family in the tradition of The American Dream and the addiction is manifested as bringing creatures back to life and trying to tell God to gently caress off in your grief. In The Shining, Jack's just an alcoholic because his dad's an alcoholic. In Pet Semetary, Louis turns to addiction as a solution to his dissillusionment with his family life, career, and then eventually his grief. Come to think of it, he *did* say one of the inspirations for the Shining was his occasional urge to beat the everloving poo poo out of his kids.
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Apr 3, 2017 19:21
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I thought the climactic scene in IT would have worked better if the monster had just been straight-up killed by the placebo asthma medicine. That seemed like a really fitting way to kill a psychic monster that’s powered by belief, and it just felt really forced and awkward that Bill (the self-inserty horror novelist, no less) was the big hero destined to land the killing blow on the monster.
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Apr 3, 2017 19:39
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I finished End of Watch last week. Don't get me wrong, it's very enjoyable and an easy read, but I didn't think it was quite up to his recent high standards. A pretty short book for King as well. I may be wrong but I believe there was literally no mention of the woman (Janey, had to look it up) that Hodges was dating and that Brady killed. Not that he needed more motivation to hate Brady, but still I thought that should have some bearing on the plot. Also I went straight from End of Watch to NOS4A2 by Joe Hill and the opening scene of NOS4A2 also has a brutal murderer who is now a gork, but wakes up when there's only one nurse around to witness this.... It's really good, 100 pages in at least.
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Apr 4, 2017 00:13
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My recollection of IT's ending is admittedly hazy, mostly because the ending seems to go a little off the rails compared to the rest of the book that I always feel like I'm misremembering parts that actually happened, but it strikes me as working symbolically and thematically but strays too far from reality and that's why it's unsatisfying. When you change the rules that much at the last second it feels like you're cheating.
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Apr 4, 2017 17:27
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dirksteadfast posted:My recollection of IT's ending is admittedly hazy, mostly because the ending seems to go a little off the rails compared to the rest of the book that I always feel like I'm misremembering parts that actually happened, but it strikes me as working symbolically and thematically but strays too far from reality and that's why it's unsatisfying. When you change the rules that much at the last second it feels like you're cheating. I think King was aware of that, at least in some way. When he has the Turtle say "When you get into cosmological poo poo like this, you got to throw away the instruction manual" I'm pretty sure that was him throwing up his hands and letting the story go where it wanted to. The last hundred pages are a real acid trip. 
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Apr 4, 2017 18:53
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wow, every movie is gonna turn out good! https://twitter.com/StephenKing/status/849248119485288448
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Apr 4, 2017 20:33
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I spent probably an hour talking about King's novels with my 13-year old yesterday. He saw my collection and was asking me all kinds of questions. It's obvious he wants to read some of them. What are your suggestions for the best King novel to start with for a 13-year-old boy?
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Apr 4, 2017 20:40
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The Long Walk
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Apr 4, 2017 20:43
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IT. Make or break.
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Apr 4, 2017 20:50
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Ein cooler Typ posted:wow, every movie is gonna turn out good! Says the guy that didn't like the Shining movie. ConfusedUs posted:I spent probably an hour talking about King's novels with my 13-year old yesterday. He saw my collection and was asking me all kinds of questions. The normal books to start anyone with. It. The Stand. I read those when I was 12 or 13.
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Apr 4, 2017 21:04
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Start with the Four past midnight compilation.
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Apr 4, 2017 21:08
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IT was a serious suggestion, but I'd also recommend Nightmares & Dreamscapes and Skeleton Crew. These were pretty much the first three Stephen King books I read in that order at that age and hooked me completely.
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Apr 4, 2017 21:11
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Start with Night Shift. Worked for me when I was his age. There's so much in there.
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Apr 4, 2017 21:23
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Guys, it's 2017 and you're asking a dad to give his 13 year old son a 1200 pg novel from the 1980's that ends in a teenage gangbang. Like, IT is great, but let's be realistic with what a modern teenager will like as a horror book coming from his dad.
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Apr 4, 2017 21:39
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Serious answer here, The Talisman. Way back when that was the first King book that my mom gave me, and it really was perfect.
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Apr 4, 2017 21:54
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ConfusedUs posted:I spent probably an hour talking about King's novels with my 13-year old yesterday. He saw my collection and was asking me all kinds of questions. Cujo, Carrie, The Gunslinger?
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Apr 4, 2017 21:56
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IT
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Apr 4, 2017 22:07
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Franchescanado posted:The Long Walk My first king book. "Mom, what's a carbine? Oh... ok." "Mom what's an enema?"
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Apr 5, 2017 00:02
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Franchescanado posted:Guys, it's 2017 and you're asking a dad to give his 13 year old son a 1200 pg novel from the 1980's that ends in a teenage gangbang. Kid has the internet and is in middle school. I'm not worried about those few pages in an otherwise amazing book. He's probably seen worse, and certainly heard it. ConfusedUs fucked around with this message at 00:09 on Apr 5, 2017 |
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Apr 5, 2017 00:05
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It is a terrific read, but maybe start him off with The Shining or Misery?
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Apr 5, 2017 00:56
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'Salem's Lot was my first King, that's what I'd suggest.
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Apr 5, 2017 01:12
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Any of the short story collections. King is at his best when he writes short fiction.
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Apr 5, 2017 01:28
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Franchescanado posted:The Long Walk This, or The Running Man.
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Apr 5, 2017 02:19
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ConfusedUs posted:I spent probably an hour talking about King's novels with my 13-year old yesterday. He saw my collection and was asking me all kinds of questions. USMC_Karl posted:Serious answer here, The Talisman. Way back when that was the first King book that my mom gave me, and it really was perfect. My mom just sort of offhandedly told me to try The Talisman when I was 13. My next King book she handed me was The Stand, later that year. The rest took care of itself. You're the Constant Reader now, Jackie 
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Apr 5, 2017 04:06
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Eyes of the Dragon or Girl who Loved Tom Gordon are YA but they're also not really typical King books. Probably have to go with whoever said Talisman which is a great adventure story with some sufficient gross-out Kingisms to get 'em used to the novelty. Or like Casimir Radon said, Salem's Lot is a pretty straightforward horror romp. Comedy option: Lisey's Story. He'll never ask about your King books again.
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Apr 5, 2017 04:11
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Rev. Bleech_ posted:My mom just sort of offhandedly told me to try The Talisman when I was 13. My next King book she handed me was The Stand, later that year. The rest took care of itself. Exactly how it worked for me. I remember being really freaked out by The Tailisman (mostly due to the work camp and also the weird weregoat dude) but also really touched by it (WOLF!) and, in my eyes at least, it is the perfect gateway into King. It touches on a lot of stuff he does really well and avoids stuff that he's only so/so at. The Stand was just a constant mind-blow for middle-school me. I remember really hating Harold and Fran, but then actually feeling really sorry for Hawk. It was my third King book, and then I made the mistake of diving into The Gunslinger. Too bad only 1-3 were out at that point. tl;dr, The Tailisman was really good and Stephen King changed my life.
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Apr 5, 2017 04:23
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ConfusedUs posted:I spent probably an hour talking about King's novels with my 13-year old yesterday. He saw my collection and was asking me all kinds of questions. Short stories, imo. King is at his strongest in short fiction. NIght Shift is probably my favorite, but Skeleton Crew is also p amazing. ladyfingers they taste just like ladyfingers For longer books I would go with maybe The Running Man.
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Apr 5, 2017 05:08
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I think Christine would be good for the kid.
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Apr 5, 2017 05:10
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I read The Talisman, like, last year and didn't really enjoy it. Probably would have had I read it as a kid.
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Apr 5, 2017 05:16
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Four Seasons? It includes Shawshank and Stand by Me. I started with Carrie as a kid and then read whatever I could get my hands on at the local library.
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Apr 5, 2017 05:51
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I think The Shining or Christine would be a good choice. The Gunslinger would be great, but he may want to keep reading the rest of the series (not that that's necessarily a bad thing). Or else something lovely. Chances are a 13 year old won't know poo poo from good anyway and will still want to read more regardless. The Dark Half?
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Apr 5, 2017 07:20
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Depending on his personality, The Running Man might be a ton of fun for him for its shear anti-authoritarian angry Bachman style. Both it and Long Walk, which others have already suggested, are definitely fun reads.
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Apr 5, 2017 07:25
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Nightmares & Dreamscapes. Specifically, The Moving Finger.
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Apr 5, 2017 14:37
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Eye of the Dragon, Talisman, and then The Stand (original). Don't warn him about the King Multiverse and Flagg. Prepare for his mind to be blown.
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Apr 5, 2017 15:29
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Firestarter was my first King book and it's probably as close to an age appropriate book as you'll find for a 13 year old
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Apr 5, 2017 17:26
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Has he seen many of King's movies? If not, Different Seasons would be a great place for a 13 year old to start IMO. A "scant" 500 pages for four novellas should keep their attention, I'd think. But I'm in the "King's at his best when he's writing short stories/novellas" camp.
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Apr 5, 2017 17:49
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The best thing King has written to give to a 13 year old will now and forever be The Langoliers
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Apr 5, 2017 18:11
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oldpainless posted:The best thing King has written to give to a 13 year old will now and forever be The Langoliers Why do you think that?
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Apr 5, 2017 18:34
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I read Desperation as my first King book around that age and loved it. Eyes of the Dragon is fun too.
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Apr 5, 2017 19:16
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Canuckistan posted:Don't warn him about the King Multiverse and Flagg. Prepare for his mind to be blown. oh man. I remember reading Insomnia when it first came out and the ending was all "WOAH HOLY poo poo" to my stupid 15-year-old self.
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Apr 6, 2017 00:35
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