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

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Speedygi81

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2007
813
291
I just started reading Carrie, and although there are alot of teenage elements that I felt were very applicable to teenagers, especially the humiliation that could result from bullying and social exclusion, but I felt it was still a little hardcore in terms of the themes and implications of those themes. For example, the sexual references were obvious and phrases like "taken it in the mouth" can pull off parents when discovered while flipping through the material.

I know many of you started reading Stephen when you were very young, but when it comes to your own kids, would you? Would you hand him or her a dog-eared paperback of Carrie without a hint of regret? Do humor me...
 

~Ally~

Well-Known Member
Nov 11, 2008
10,095
3,626
It would depend on where the child is emotionally/intellectually before I could definitely say yes. We all develop at different rates so it isn't as simple as a straightforward yes or no response. I read IT when I was ten-years old, but my niece is almost 16 and even now I still wouldn't recommend she read a story like that because it would terrify her.

However, on Thursday I am taking her to see the new Carrie movie. She is curious because the trailer appealed to her. I watched it on Sunday and know she won't be scared so have agreed to take her...so that's just a wee example of viewing the situation/story/child on an individual level. :smile2:
 

cat in a bag

Well-Known Member
Aug 28, 2010
12,038
67,827
wyoming
My 11 year old has read Eyes of the Dragon and then I handed him The Talisman, but he didn't have the patience to stick with it. We will try it again at a later date. He loved EotD, which excited me so much! I have found myself being a little selective about content but I think he's more savvy about some of those things than I would like, due to friends and tv and such. :rolleyes: But I am excited about sharing all the stories with him, for sure, and the younger ones as well, once they get older.
 

DiO'Bolic

Not completely obtuse
Nov 14, 2013
22,864
129,998
Poconos, PA
I made Stephen King’s "On Writing" mandatory reading for my talented teenager a year ago. I also had her read a couple of his stories.

Fast forward. I received a book in the mail (3 actually) last week with a contribution of hers published within it. (Almost $30 a copy! Man, I don't even spend that much on a new release of Stephen King.)
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
11,749
34,805
Would you have your child read from the Bible...the Song of Songs? I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste... Curious, that Jesus' disciples thought he was a ghost when he appeared to them...check that story out. What did He say? Can't say, my self...my wife have been trying like hell but we have not been blessed with children. Read everything. Talk about everything with your child. Hold nothing back. We're all in this together.
 

Chuggs

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2012
3,777
6,426
Arkansas
If they were ready for it, and interested, I would. Mine are too young at the present time to understand any of it, but when they are older, I would. The world is full of things that are also in real life. Why hide these things? If they read about them, then maybe they will be better equipped for real life. We can't all live in bubbles. :)