If you could recommend ONE Stephen King book...

[Sliced Bread]

Hello all

My wife, who has never read a Stephen King book, has agreed to read one of his books on my recommendation. I doubt she'll ever become a Constant Reader, but I would love to get her hooked and bring her over to the dark side . The problem is, trying to pick just one out of all those wonderful books is so hard! I'm thinking of going with my favourite, Duma Key, although I know a few people who didn't enjoy it. I was just curious, if you were in this situation which one book would you recommend?

(of course, I could cheat and give her Different Seasons - she's bound to get hooked with four stories!)

 

[carrie's younger brother]

I would go with Joyland. Even though it's one of his more recent, it has a nice love story at its heart, is not what outsiders think of as "typical SK" and pretty short. Plus, it is very well written. I have been a constant reader since 1975 and have read pretty much everything. That said, I think Joyland is one of his best.

 

[MarkS73]

I think Duma Key is not a bad choice. I persuaded a few colleague's to read 11/22/63, i'm not saying they're turned now but at least they somewhat understand why i'm a SK fan. I'm a librarian so i'm supposed to be in heavy literature

I've given up with my girlfriend, i think i'll have to live with the fact that she'll never be into Stephen King. Or zombies...

 

[Sliced Bread]

I would go with Joyland. Even though it's one of his more recent, it has a nice love story at its heart, is not what outsiders think of as "typical SK" and pretty short. Plus, it is very well written. I have been a constant reader since 1975 and have read pretty much everything. That said, I think Joyland is one of his best.

Oh I loved Joyland so much. So beautifully written. Probably my second favorite after Duma Key, but I thought for the first one, I should pick one with a supernatural story. It's what she'll be expecting.

 

[Sliced Bread]

It's the descriptive language and imagery in Duma Key that makes it stand out for me. The sound of the waves, the way the shells rattle under the house. I got so immersed in it that I started playing ocean wave sounds on Spotify when I sat down to read the book

 

[not_nadine]

'Salems Lot! Maybe a story collection?

 

[DiO'Bolic]

'The Plant' It'll leave you guessing...

 

[Spideyman]

Duma Key is a good choice. One of my favorites. How about Lisey's Story, or Bag of Bones?

 

[carrie's younger brother]

Oh I loved Joyland so much. So beautifully written. Probably my second favorite after Duma Key, but I thought for the first one, I should pick one with a supernatural story. It's what she'll be expecting.

Joyland does have a supernatural element to it.

 

[Bardo]

Duma Key is a good choice. One of my favorites. How about Lisey's Story, or Bag of Bones?

Have yet to finish Linsey" story,
;(
I keep returning to already read stories

 

[mal]

I agree with not_nadine. Go back, way way back, to 'Salems lot.

 

[Doc Creed]

Misery hooked me. It was my first, at thirteen, and I read pretty much non-stop over the course of two days.
I'd also recommend The Dead Zone and Carrie.

 

[mymaria]

The first one I read was Christine and that hooked me, but I wasn't long out of High School at the time. For broader appeal maybe It or Bag of Bones. If it's someone who is a big reader and not daunted by a long book, 11-22-63.

I wouldn't recommend The Stand or Dark Tower series as an introduction.

 

[skimom2]

Depends on what type of stories she likes. These are all good, quick intros to Mr. King's stories. We'll save the opuses (opii?) until she's hooked

Horror: 'Salem's Lot
Sociopolitical: The Dead Zone
General fiction: Dolores Claiborne or Joyland
Shorter fiction: Different Seasons or Full Dark, No Stars
Fantasy: The Drawing of the Three or Wizard and Glass

 

[Doc Creed]

It's funny how all of us are ignoring OP's direction, lol. How dare he ask us to choose just one.

 

[skimom2]

It's funny how all of us are ignoring OP's direction, lol. How dare he ask us to choose just one.

Hey! I did one...within categories Recommending a fantasy to someone who disdains it is a waste of time, right? Better to start where they are and move on from there, and Mr. King has written so many types of fiction that there's a fit for just about every taste

 

[Walter Oobleck]

StephenKing.com - Desperation

 

[Doc Creed]

Hey! I did one...within categories Recommending a fantasy to someone who disdains it is a waste of time, right? Better to start where they are and move on from there, and Mr. King has written so many types of fiction that there's a fit for just about every taste

Autumn, you're preaching to the choir, lol. I agree, though. It really is fun to find the "right" book a reader is searching for or to turn them on to a new book or author. I look forward to seeing what she picks and hearing her feedback.

 

[80sFan]

I would go with Joyland. Even though it's one of his more recent, it has a nice love story at its heart, is not what outsiders think of as "typical SK" and pretty short. Plus, it is very well written. I have been a constant reader since 1975 and have read pretty much everything. That said, I think Joyland is one of his best.

I usually agree wiyh CYB and this time is no exception. Joyland has something for everyone.

 

[muskrat]

Arrrrgh, can't pick just one! Too...many...killer books...to...choose from. Ugh.

Dead Zone. No, wait...Pet Semetary. No! The Shining! Yeah...no, wait, Salem's Lot, that's the one I'd give her. Or Misery, sure, that one's perfect. No, The Stand! Oh, wait...

Ugh, so many great books, I can't decide. Just make sure it's one of the scarier ones, let her know what she's in for.