Tell Us About Your "first Time"

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jacobtlong

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2008
3,646
4,879
33
Mobile, Alabama
The Shining back in 2006, I believe. The movie and a sheer sense of boredom contributed to me picking it up. It was the third time I read a novel of my own free will. Period. In elementary school I only recall reading The Bernstein Bears and Dr. Seuss, but that is about it. Not quite novel type stuff. In middle school I read one whole book (The Outsiders). But after I read The Shining... I began a long journey to make up for lost times with the written word. And I am still making that journey. My TBR list is staggering.
 

AnnaRose

Well-Known Member
Oct 26, 2013
110
650
27
California
Wow, some of you guys started reading his books before I was even born, and I was starting to feel old at 31. I am amazed when people say they read a book in a day or the first 4 Dark towers on a 1 week vacation, at best I can get through maybe 40 pages a day.
I take my sweet time with reading, too! I don't know how people can read so fast...?
 

VampireLily

Vampire Goddess & Consumer of men's souls.
Jul 25, 2013
1,469
8,829
New Jersey
you know, i don't even remember anymore.... it feels like he's always been in my life...lol!

i'm pretty sure it was Carrie in the 7th grade.... i do remember swiping my brothers paperback copy out of his room while he was out smoking weed with his friends.
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
11,749
34,805
The Shining...movie at a theater, early 80s, the one w/Jack Nicholson and Olive Oyle...haven't seen the remake (is there a remake?)...then...late 80s, heading home stopped off to see Aunt Bea in Mount Vernon...Uncle Den had the TV on, The Running Man was playing, Ah-nold...so we sat on the floor drank a beer or two and watched that...but it wasn't until the credits rolled that I realized it was based on a Stephen King story. A few years later, Stand By Me...television movie again...wasn't until...early to mid 90s that I read It, on the recommendation of my brother (gone now but not forgotten)...said here read this this is good it's about a clown. So, I read It...it was good. When Dreamcatcher came out, that was my 1st hardcover purchase...read it, liked it...what was that, 2000? 2001? Wasn't until I picked up a copy of The Gunslinger, '06, that I began to read all of his stories. So I'm either a late bloomer, slow learner, or both. If you haven't read any Stephen King and you're reading this and you like to read and you enjoy a good yarn...it's time to dance. Cue the soundtrack:

 

Cowboy

Lesser-Known Member
Feb 17, 2007
11,053
5,963
Calla Bryn Sturgis
I was 11 and we had a substitute teacher in elementary school reading to us from Night Shift. I came home and asked Mom (who was an avid reader) if I could start reading Stephen King. She would read his books and pass them on to me. Being into horror and the macabre the way I was at that time, it was natural for me to fall in love with his works.
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
74,320
54
Heart of the South
I was 11 and we had a substitute teacher in elementary school reading to us from Night Shift. I came home and asked Mom (who was an avid reader) if I could start reading Stephen King. She would read his books and pass them on to me. Being into horror and the macabre the way I was at that time, it was natural for me to fall in love with his works.
That was a very cool teacher!

Sadly, I wasn't turned on to SK until I was all grown up - I believe it was 1987 - and my brother-in-law (not anymore, miss you Jeff!) gave me his tattered and worn copy of The Stand to shut me up during a really long road trip . I was hooked - after that it was IT, and then I set out the read them all until I was caught up. Constant Reader for many years.
 

Hall Monitor

All bars serve the Beam.
Nov 7, 2013
187
1,013
New Jersey
The Shining...movie at a theater, early 80s, the one w/Jack Nicholson and Olive Oyle...haven't seen the remake (is there a remake?)...then...late 80s, heading home stopped off to see Aunt Bea in Mount Vernon...Uncle Den had the TV on, The Running Man was playing, Ah-nold...so we sat on the floor drank a beer or two and watched that...but it wasn't until the credits rolled that I realized it was based on a Stephen King story. A few years later, Stand By Me...television movie again...wasn't until...early to mid 90s that I read It, on the recommendation of my brother (gone now but not forgotten)...said here read this this is good it's about a clown. So, I read It...it was good. When Dreamcatcher came out, that was my 1st hardcover purchase...read it, liked it...what was that, 2000? 2001? Wasn't until I picked up a copy of The Gunslinger, '06, that I began to read all of his stories. So I'm either a late bloomer, slow learner, or both. If you haven't read any Stephen King and you're reading this and you like to read and you enjoy a good yarn...it's time to dance. Cue the soundtrack:

Walter, you get the extra gold star for Olive Oyle. I think Robin Williams would prefer that we all forget that movie! LMFAO!!!
 

NightShifter

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2013
63
344
Mansfield, Massachusetts
I'm not sure how old I was, but I could read, so I must have been around 10 or so. But before I reveal my first experience with King, let me take you back to when I was a much younger 4 years old. I was at a restaurant and my dad and the place had a vast collection of antiques and old toys in their decor. As a way to entertain an adorable 4-year-old me, a member of the wait staff wound up and placed a monkey doll holding cymbals in front of me. When that monkey chattered his teeth and began crashing his symbols in rapid succession, I was beyond terrified.

Jump ahead to a 10 year-old me in my Aunt's guest room where she kept her immense book collection. Unable to fall asleep on this night, I decided to read one of her books. As you probably guessed, I found a novel with a cymbal playing monkey doll on it. That night I faced my fear...

For those who did not guess it, it was Skeleton Crew.
 

NightShifter

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2013
63
344
Mansfield, Massachusetts
Walter, you get the extra gold star for Olive Oyle. I think Robin Williams would prefer that we all forget that movie! LMFAO!!!
Hi Walter - yes, there was a TV mini-series of "The Shining" in 1997 starring Steven Weber and Rebecca De Mornay. This version more closely follows the novel, whereas Stanley Kubrick's film varied quite a bit. Stephen King was an executive producer on the miniseries as he wanted to make sure there was a film version of The Shining that still felt like his story. King famously disliked Kubrick's interpretation.
 
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Hall Monitor

All bars serve the Beam.
Nov 7, 2013
187
1,013
New Jersey
I read 'Night Shift' when I was... 8? I specifically remember one story in it that scared the bejeezus out of me: The Boogeyman.

But was this the FIRST I ever read of King... I'm not sure. Probably not.
The Boogeyman was a great one. So many good tales in Night Shift . . . Night Surf, Battleground, One for the Road, so many memorable stories.
 

Shoesalesman

Well-Known Member
Aug 12, 2010
1,814
4,093
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Remember it well. 1983, grade seven. After hearing a classmate have a major fit about how good his dad's book was (The Stand), we went to the school library. No SK to be found, so we asked the librarian to order everything at her disposal. When the box finally came, we jammed our arms in there, and I came out with The Dead Zone. Only read two-thirds of it before it was due back, and when I went to renew it the next day, they'd all been pulled from the shelves. They were banned. Someone's parents must have complained. So I went to the city's public library, couldn't find The Dead Zone, but landed Cujo. Funny thing is... I still need to finish TDZ. And I have about five copies now. Maybe this year.
 
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staropeace

Richard Bachman's love child
Nov 28, 2006
15,210
48,848
Alberta,Canada
Well, I was at a dance with my boyfriend and he liked my short skirt, pink halter and lil gold anklet bracelet. We decided to go parking in his Camero up on beer hill. Anyway, Paradise By The Dashboard Light was playing and one thing led to another and we decided to get into the back seat and...............ooops that isn't the first time you meant!!!!!!:bashful: I will show myself out.

Father McMann, if you were reading this, I will just proceed and say 200 acts of contrition and I will go around the stations five times.
 

xkittyx

Unfound
Oct 14, 2007
757
975
38
Deerfield, OH
I was 9. My mom had a few of SKs books, and I'd always liked looking at em (that Pet Sematary cover with the hissing cat, and the It cover with the green claws reaching through the sewer grate, etc). I always read the Goosebumps, and Scary Stories, so was already into scary stuff. We were driving down to visit my uncle in Tennessee, and stopped at Hills to grab me a book. I saw Cujo, the one with the pinkish color, and just the pawprint on the front, and the black and white pic of SK on the back. I liked dogs. Figured it would be good. Which it was. I really liked it. Read it on the drive down, stayed up late to finish it at uncle's house. The next day, we went to a Wal-Mart, as this was before we had them in Ohio, or at least our part of OH, and since I needed new reading material, I got Eyes of the Dragon. The black background with the goldish color trim and dragon head on the front. Oh, I tore through it so fast, I was so in love! It was like the best, most awesome fairy tale ever. Loved it so much!! It's still one of my top faves ever in the world. :love_heart:
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Well, I was at a dance with my boyfriend and he liked my short skirt, pink halter and lil gold anklet bracelet. We decided to go parking in his Camero up on beer hill. Anyway, Paradise By The Dashboard Light was playing and one thing led to another and we decided to get into the back seat and...............ooops that isn't the first time you meant!!!!!!:bashful: I will show myself out.

Father McMann, if you were reading this, I will just proceed and say 200 acts of contrition and I will go around the stations five times.