A Kingathon - My Journey Reading Stephen King Part 1
A Kingathon - My Journey Reading Stephen King Part 1
Many years ago, when I was young, around fifteen, someone once said to me “don’t bother with Stephen King, his books are really difficult to read”.
As a result, I never touched one of his books, and I’ve only ever read non-fiction, usually about WW2, a topic I find deeply fascinating.
Nevertheless, my love of horror never waned, it only grew. I loved writing horror, watching horror and playing horror. It was only when I met Ash, another writer here at DTC, who LOVED Stephen King that I even considered giving the maestro another shot.
This article is to chronicle the beginning of my journey to (re)visit Stephen King in my mid-thirties. I’m hoping to make a follow-up to this article so that I can continue this as a thread.
Here’s a list of the following reads and what I thought about them, so far:
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
So this may be a strange place to start, but I wanted something that could inspire me further on my love of writing. Writing is a craft, you have to practice it over and over. The more you write, the better you get.
But writing can deplete your energy battery, and you need to read more to energise it. That’s why I wanted to start with Stephen King’s autobiography/ advice on writing, it’s a hybrid on how the man thinks, stories of his upbringing, and what things in life influence him the most.
What a fantastic read it was! I almost wish I’d read it with a pen and paper to note down all of his insights into the world of writing. He also injects a huge amount of humour in there too, which if you read his work, you’ll notice is infused with everything he does.
Would definitely recommend: 9/10.
‘Salems’ Lot
Once I’d completed my first outing with the King, I thought I’d start with his second novel, ‘Salems’ Lot. I wasn’t too fussed with Carrie as I wanted something fresh and new for myself.
‘Salems’ Lot did not disappoint. It’s like a modern-day vampire epic. A whole mixture of characters teaming up to take down a common enemy, with a climactic ending that should make even the most Hollywood of movies blush.
HBO Max is releasing the most updated version of ‘Salem’s Lot in 2024, which is exciting! It’s even got the blessings from Stephen King himself.
Apart from trying to keep up with the amount of characters, it was a thrilling read.
My verdict: 8/10.
Pet Sematary
I’ve seen both the 1989 and 2019 version of these movies and thought they kind of sucked. I felt like they missed the mark on what the book was really about. I thought I’d see what King himself wrote, because I had heard the novel was way better.
Hands down, it is my favourite King novel so far. Honing in on just a few characters, the Creed family, as they move from the big city of Chicago to the quiet and remote town of Ludlow in Main. It felt like it gave a much more focused view on the theme of fearing death, and what its consequences are if you try and cheat it.
The horror and mystery of the pet cemetery was fascinating and Judd Crandall as a character was stellar. The story really shocked and unsettled me, but it’s one that will resonate for a helluva long time after.
My score: 10/10.
The Shining
OK, so this list is in the order in which I read them. I know it’s kind of bizarre that I didn’t jump onto this pinnacle Stephen King novel first or even second, but I felt that I had watched the movie so many times, how could the book be any better?
Well, it certainly was.
From beginning to end King takes us on a journey descending into madness, mystery, and mythical power. Watching Jack Torrance slowly unfold right up until he goes completely insane, was a masterclass in the gradual destruction of the human mind when it's hellbent on desire and addiction.
It’s fascinating to read as the enchanted clutches of the Overlook take hold, which is more prevalent in the novel than in the movie.
By the end, I preferred the book to the movie, controversial I know.
Absolutely brilliant: 9/10.
I still have a way to go yet, but so far I’m thoroughly enjoying my Stephen King readathon. He’s had so many of his books adapted into films, but it’s sometimes good to check out the source material as well; to see how they differ and how they work as separate mediums. Go and check out Ash’s other article titled “5 Stephen King Stories Begging for a Movie Adaptation” to see which ones haven’t yet made the cut.
My advice is, if you haven’t already, go check the King Of Horror out for yourself. If you have any other recommendations for me for my next series of read throughs, let me know in the comments.
