Would You Guys Give Stephen King To Your Child To Read?

[rockpharm]

It's funny..my daughter (14) recently, and innocently enough, asked, were there any SK books I thought she would enjoy?
MehmygodIthoughtthisdaywouldnevercome! Hold on just a sec! I almost fell off the couch in my hurry to get to the garage. She was a little grossed out when I came back with 2 moldy dog eared paperbacks, misshapen and bent from exposure to all elements...the first 2 SK books I ever purchased, both while in my teens..the Bachman short stories and It. I said, I'm giving you my most precious possessions..and I am sure I looked Gollum like. She looked scared.

I then scampered to find my DVD of It and popped it in babbling non stop. Somewhere in the second disc her eyes began to glaze over. I retreated..ok, I went a little overboard and I will self correct. But..one of my coolest parental experiences, short of taking my kids to their first concert, bar none.

 

[FlakeNoir]

It's funny..my daughter (14) recently, and innocently enough, asked, were there any SK books I thought she would enjoy?
MehmygodIthoughtthisdaywouldnevercome! Hold on just a sec! I almost fell off the couch in my hurry to get to the garage. She was a little grossed out when I came back with 2 moldy dog eared paperbacks, misshapen and bent from exposure to all elements...the first 2 SK books I ever purchased, both while in my teens..the Bachman short stories and It. I said, I'm giving you my most precious possessions..and I am sure I looked Gollum like. She looked scared.

I then scampered to find my DVD of It and popped it in babbling non stop. Somewhere in the second disc her eyes began to glaze over. I retreated..ok, I went a little overboard and I will self correct. But..one of my coolest parental experiences, short of taking my kids to their first concert, bar none.

Gorgeous....

 

[booklover72]

YES, anythything/anybody that can develop a child's love of reading is fine by me.

 

[Agincourt Concierge]

Absolutely ... in fact they both love H. P. Lovecraft as well .... there ya go ...

 

[McGinnisNC]

I was never told what I can and cant read...and because I think my parents did a great job (haha). I'll be the same way with my kids.

 

[Agincourt Concierge]

I was never told what I can and cant read...and because I think my parents did a great job (haha). I'll be the same way with my kids.

ditto

 

[Grandpa]

Well, my kids are in their 30s, and they have lots of Stephen King books under their belt. I do have teenage grandkids, though.

One of my kids got tutored at about age 14 or 15, I think, and the tutor, a Stephen King fan, assigned it him to read It. Then I read it and thought it (or It) was a bit much, at least regarding the underage sex scene. I gave the tutor The Dead Zone and Firestarter and said, let's try one of these instead, sparky.

I would not give my daughter Cujo to read, but only because she likes good resolution to her sympathetic characters, and I would not want to see the book thrown through the front window.

And every writer, aspiring, beginner, or accomplished, should read On Writing.

So the answer is yes, with minor qualifications.

 

[LEELEEBG]

Yes I would so far its misery and the stand ...

 

[HPMcClendon]

Absolutely. I started reading King when I was only 11. My daughter showed an interest last year when she turned 14 and I was all too happy to oblige. The started with The Shining (loved it) and went on to Carrie which was and still is her favorite. She is currently mid-way through Skeleton Crew.

 

[Kurben]

I would not hesitate to give Stephen King to young kids to read.

As Ally said, consideration would have to be taken for the individual child, but if the fit is right, it's right.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a good one for younger readers in addition to Eyes of the Dragon and The Talisman.

The Body