The age to start

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My son Ben is 14, I'd love to get him started on The Dark Tower Series. He's a fast and advanced reader and he will have no problem with the depth and breadth of the series. I hesitate though because I wonder how he'll handle the violence and what sex there is. Also once he starts with Mr. King...well we all know once you start.

I know a lot of people start King younger. hmmmm Just me thinking aloud.

I'd love him to read IT (he was named after Ben Hanscom). The dang group sex and gravel pit scene make me hesitate on that one.
 

HollyGolightly

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Sep 6, 2013
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Heart of the South
I have a teenage son named Ben as well! I wish I could get him to read more - he did like the Hunger Game trilogy. But to your question - I think he can handle it. I think King does a great job with intimacy - for some reason I don't recall a lot of graphic sex in DT, but the violence is certainly there.

Unbeknownst to her, I read my mom's copy of Class Reunion by Rona Jaffe when I was 10 - whew! I learned so much.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
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Spokane, WA
My son Ben is 14, I'd love to get him started on The Dark Tower Series. He's a fast and advanced reader and he will have no problem with the depth and breadth of the series. I hesitate though because I wonder how he'll handle the violence and what sex there is. Also once he starts with Mr. King...well we all know once you start.

I know a lot of people start King younger. hmmmm Just me thinking aloud.

I'd love him to read IT (he was named after Ben Hanscom). The dang group sex and gravel pit scene make me hesitate on that one.

Once you go King, you won't wanna read no other thing! :highly_amused:
 
...I'd rather he be hooked on King than drugs, drink, loveless sex and videogame idiocy...if he's an older soul in a younger body, nothing on the road to the Tower should be a hinderance...

I tend to agree but he's an innocent boy, the books will be there for him when he's ready. I think I'll hold off on suggesting. He will be glad once he gets started though, he cried when the Harry Potter Series ended, as though there would never be anything else to read...little does he know. He plowed through Eyes of the Dragon :)
 
I have a teenage son named Ben as well! I wish I could get him to read more - he did like the Hunger Game trilogy. But to your question - I think he can handle it. I think King does a great job with intimacy - for some reason I don't recall a lot of graphic sex in DT, but the violence is certainly there.

Unbeknownst to her, I read my mom's copy of Class Reunion by Rona Jaffe when I was 10 - whew! I learned so much.
I think Wizard and Glass is the one I'm thinking is the most heavy on the sex, but I agree, it's not gratuitous for the most part, it's part of the story. He was reading Catch-22 and said "Hey mom there's a lot of sex in this book I'm not sure I should be reading it" and he set it aside. Strangely I don't worry so much about the violence or language because I think between killing zombies and riding a school bus, he's been "exposed". I guess I could do worse than having Roland lead the way.
PS: Yea for Sons named Ben
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
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Heart of the South
I think Wizard and Glass is the one I'm thinking is the most heavy on the sex, but I agree, it's not gratuitous for the most part, it's part of the story. He was reading Catch-22 and said "Hey mom there's a lot of sex in this book I'm not sure I should be reading it" and he set it aside. Strangely I don't worry so much about the violence or language because I think between killing zombies and riding a school bus, he's been "exposed". I guess I could do worse than having Roland lead the way.
PS: Yea for Sons named Ben
Funny you mention the school bus - we had an issue just a couple weeks ago - school bus fighting, and I've just opted to pick him up the rest of the year. Our kids certainly see more violence than I ever remember seeing. My Ben is so gentle and sweet.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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I tend to agree but he's an innocent boy, the books will be there for him when he's ready. I think I'll hold off on suggesting. He will be glad once he gets started though, he cried when the Harry Potter Series ended, as though there would never be anything else to read...little does he know. He plowed through Eyes of the Dragon :)
...if you're hesitant, then get him The Girl who Loved Tom Gordon...
 

booklover72

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Jan 12, 2014
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i started reading SK at 14, but i was reading Freddy Forysth books at 8 and it didn't bother me. i say let him read sK, did sk make you happy?. it will make him and anyway reading the dark tower series is a lot better then hanging out at the pool hall, drinking or smoking. Let him read them.
 

taylor29

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Mar 18, 2014
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Maybe it's weird for you to guide him to a specific book since you're his mom -- "Hey, son, why don't read Gerald's Game?" might be awkward --but SK is not terribly graphic for the most part, I don't think. Kids today are exposed to a lot worse and SK handles it as a mature adult would, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
 

booklover72

very strange person
Jan 12, 2014
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Correct Taylor, his sex scences aren't as graphic as say Wilbur Smith and They ARE GRAPHIC. james herber is a little bit graphic. But steve's are mild. you have a point everything there is sex sex, the papers have women/male models in skimpy clothes. TV is as bad. i think it is ok for him to read sk maybe not Gerald's game, but say needful things or salemn's lot.
 

HPMcClendon

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Oct 12, 2012
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United States
I started reading King at age 11. My Mother had me wait to read Gerald's Game and Needful Things but gave me full range otherwise. My first books were The Skeleton Crew, Eye of the Dragon and Misery. I loved them. My daughter showed an interest and started reading King just last year, age 14. She started with The Shining and Carrie. I think it is up to the individual what the right time and right reading material is. Guided by reading suggestions or not, King is a good decision for many young readers.