Fiction Books

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Embarking on a complete reading of Stephen King's novels. Just reading Carrie now. Wondering if when I get to The Stand I should read the original or the updated/revised. (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 5 months ago by Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/fiction

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I understand that the newer version has a different ending and some new characters and scenes that weren't in the original. But the original is what got all the accolades and was considered his best book.

Which way should I go?

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[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Another vote for the uncut version. I read that version first as a teenager, then read the original version years later and it just felt... sparse.

Also a vote for reading the entirety of Dark Tower. It doesn't end strongly but so many of his works tie into the series that there's no sense in excising the later books.

[–] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I was planning on reading them all chronologically, by first publication date.

That's still my plan, unless y'all are telling me I need to read Dark Tower first.

[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

unless y'all are telling me I need to read Dark Tower first.

Nope, continue on as planned. There were 6-year gaps between 3 and 4, then 4 and 5. At that point (IIRC) he started pulling from more of his catalog to tie things together. To the point where some things aren't going to make much sense without that prior knowledge.

Tangent about my King experience

Honestly, I envy your journey. I started reading King way sooner than I should have (starting with Christine in maybe 3rd grade, just grabbing a random paperback from the bookshelf in the house). I really dug in during middle school, leveraging the local library, not quite getting around to all of the back catalog. By the time I was in high school I started getting the new release hardcovers as gifts. Not everything, but enough. After high school my reading fell off as the Real World took over, but once I went through a couple of jobs and had some extra money to spend I went back and started filling in the gaps. Oh, to read Hearts in Atlantis for the first time again. I kept up through the 2000s, then I started putting stuff in a storage unit as space was tight. I met my now-spouse and free time was redirected yet again. We moved in together, and I retrieved things from storage... all the books covered in mold. Gut-wrenching. I kept buying the new releases, but they just piled up on the shelf. Between the loss of my prior collection and depression getting nice and cozy, I just didn't have it in me to pick King back up. I think the last thing I read was Under the Dome.

Enjoy!

[–] GammaGames@beehaw.org 2 points 5 months ago

Thank you for sharing! Under the Dome was my last book too, it’s a damn good book to end it on if you had to. Definitely a top 5.

I discovered audiobooks when my commute got bad (pre-covid) and then discovered that the library had them, haven’t bought an audiobook in years but I’ve been slowly working my way through King! Finished the Dark Tower last year and am waiting on some newer releases, my reading journey was all over the place so I’m jealous of OP too!

[–] GammaGames@beehaw.org 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I think publication date is more interesting

See ya in five years!