Thrilled newbie seeking advice to collecting and reading order!

  • This message board permanently closed on June 30th, 2020 at 4PM EDT and is no longer accepting new members.

Echo Looper

Well-Known Member
Apr 2, 2014
54
364
NY/NJ
Hello there!

I'm "Echo Looper". I'm new to the forum and just recently dove head first into the King Universe (multi-verses). When I was in high school, I read The Eyes of the Dragon and loved it. For some reason I stopped there. ( I'm a busy touring musician & usually recording/listening to music) My reading was limited to music biographies and the occasional astronomy book...I'm now in my 30's and picked up the Salem's Lot paperback on a whim. I fell back in love with reading fiction in big way through this tale. I decided to read Carrie and now working on 'IT'. 'IT' just called to me... Something about youth, fear, and growing up etc. It's a stunning book so far! Beautiful. All of this reading has reawakened some kind of youthful imagination and has spurred new creativity in myself.

Okay my question is -what is the best way to collect old SK hardcovers in your opinion(s)? I'm checking craigslist, eBay and goodwill stores. My goal is to read & own all of his books -hardcovers if possible. I want to have my own glorious bookshelves to show off like many of you here in the forum :)

Also do any of you recommend a certain reading order knowing what I've read so far?

My plan is to read The Shining, NightShift, On Writing, and Dr. Sleep next. Good idea or bad idea?

Thank you so much and very excited to hear your responses, I know this was a long introduction. I wrote a novella.. Just in love again with the written word ...

Cheers, T aka Echo Looper
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
I use Half.com for almost all of the used books I seek, though visiting an actual, flesh and blood used book store can yield treasures. Just, if you use Half.com, my advice is not to do business with anyone with a feedback profile under 99.5%. Welcome to the SKMB! Oh, and as for the eternal question of reading order, there really seems not to be the proper one. So to continue to dive or not to continue...

Keep diving!!!
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Welcome! I am so happy to see that you've included thrift stores in your quest. I am a huge thrift store book shopper. You will be amazed at what you can find! For King's older works there just really isn't a better place to find them. His first five books are going to be the hardest, so those ones you'll probably end up having to get thru ebay. Be prepared to part with lots of hard earned cash for those ones! The rest you should be able to get a fairly good prices. I envy someone starting out collecting King. There's nothing like shopping in a used book/thrift store and coming across a King treasure! Good luck!
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
Welcome, T! Hope you enjoy your visits here.

For reading books, I purchase mine from all kinds of places.....thrift stores, used bookstores, half.com, etc....
For collecting books, I recommend Bettsbooks.com.

As far as a reading order, I say close your eyes, spin around three times, and point to one.....this doesn't count for sequels, of course!

Happy reading :)
 

Echo Looper

Well-Known Member
Apr 2, 2014
54
364
NY/NJ
First of all, thank you all so much for the positive responses and advice so far. Keep it coming!

My extended plan after I finish IT, is to go back to The Shining & Night Shift (I've already read Carrie & 'Salems Lot). Then I have a Cali road trip planned for late May which may have to include Doctor Sleep... I don't need to read The Dark Tower series for that right? I'm very curious about King's recent style compared with his early, developing one. Perhaps 'Doctor Sleep' will pique my curiosity.

And of course going to rock 'On Writing', possibly on audiobook for that trip so my wife can absorb that too. (I also bought her 'The Eyes of the Dragon' because she's not so great with the straight horror stuff...you see, this allows me to re-read that as well :wink:)

The Stand and The Gunslinger are next up after this plan is put into motion.... And then Pet Sematary, and...everything else I can get my damn hands on!!?!! So AMPED, Cheers
 

Echo Looper

Well-Known Member
Apr 2, 2014
54
364
NY/NJ
Last edited:

Echo Looper

Well-Known Member
Apr 2, 2014
54
364
NY/NJ
This is strange, I don't recall making an edit on this post at all in the moderation queue, so not sure why that message is showing up. (Just thought I'd let you know that in case you were wondering.)

All good, not wondering at all, just getting my feet wet here.... I do like the general layout of SKMB. Its very well put together. Any further advice to the newbie?