The Shining...

[Tama]

I picked up the book at Walmart (only $6, little paperback) thinking it would be a great gift for Al's mom.

But then I peeked inside.

Then I bought it for myself (with intent to regift it to her for Christmas when I am done).

I'm told that it's a good intro to Stephen King, whose work I've never read before.

Is it?


I was hesitant -- horror movies tend to bore me, so I've grown to hate the genre. Maybe Stephen King can help change that.

[sms001]

It's the only thing of his I've re-read, so that counts for something. May or may not "scare" you, but will give you the creeps. And if you HAVE seen the movie (I'm with you, I find most of the genre boring, but Jack rules, so...) be prepared for fairly major plot differences; more so than almost any other King book-to-screen.

[Tama]

I have seen the movie, and found it rather interesting. Jack is the best! Although it was a bit weird, seeing him younger...

Anyway, I don't remember too many plot things (aside from his drinking and going nuts and the kid being a big part and so forth). I tend to hate movies that are different from the book, so going in reverse should be a small treat.

[fireheart]

"No TV and no beer make Homer something something."

[SongsOfDragons]

"Go crazy?"

[Geek King]

If it helps, I've also found most people like "The Stand" and "It" by King. He's got some great characters in those.


Plus, The Stand is terrifying if you start getting the sniffles while reading it.

[TheSHAD0W]

King's stories do tend to get prosaic; if you're easily bored,you may wind up abandoning the book. His short-stories are faster-paced.

[Eireann]

It's a very good book, heavily influenced by Shirley Jackson's classic novel The Haunting of Hill House. King used the real Stanley Hotel in Colorado as a model for his fictional Overlook Hotel (the Stanley is haunted, by the way). It has the usual "evil female" character so common of his early work, and at times you really want to smack one or both of the parents, but it's very scary and a good read.

[cashierbex]

The Shining The Stand and Salem's Lot are my favorite books by King. Actually fully got me into horror type movies.

[MadMike]

"Go crazy?"

Don't mind if I do! BLALALALALALA!!!

[Tama]

I think what bored me about horror movies is their reliance on screaming and gore and the usual crap. You guys make it sound quite interesting.

[Bardmaiden]

Plus, The Stand is terrifying if you start getting the sniffles while reading it.

My Dad got a cold halfway though reading The Stand It made it creepier

[Kaylyn]

Plus, The Stand is terrifying if you start getting the sniffles while reading it.

The Stand is absolutely my favorite Stephen King book and I would recommend it to anyone as a first-time King book. The first time I read it I developed a cold towards the end and I was like OH SHIT OH SHIT IT'S HAPPENING WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!

I also recommend one of his newer ones, Under the Dome.

[Tama]

So after I finish the Shining, which do you think would be a good second?

The Stand, or what? I won't say Salem's Lot, as...well, I just don't like vampires at this point. I wasn't a fan of the hedonist ones of Anne Rice's, or the Joss Whedon ones...etc.

Then again I didn't like horror and I was intrigued by just a few sentences from The Shining...

[Jay 2K Winger]

My introduction to Stephen King was actually by reading "The Green Mile." In its original, serialized format. I was away at school, and saw it at the library. I picked it up, enjoyed it, and worked my way through that entire book, and then through most of the rest of the library's Stephen King collection.

"The Stand" remains my favorite, but I do love the "Dark Tower" series.