# Best S. King Novel To Inspire Non-reader Teen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 9, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932 "2009-11-09T19:45:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932/61 "2009-11-11T13:49:53Z")
> [@Wonderlust](#): > > All are for me too, of course, since Duma Key is all I’ve read since Firestarter days. We’re cat-lovers and he has a tender heart. Will Pet Sematary be too much? Yeah, it might be. _Pet Sematary_ was a hard one. In fact, in an interview I once read with King, he said it was the one novel he regretted having published. I know everyone in this thread is a King fan, so I don’t know how necessary spoilers are, but since you asked about the book, maybe you don’t know, so I’ll go ahead and box it anyway: Pets buried in the ‘pet sematary’ do indeed come back to life, but they are evil, vicious shadows of their former loving selves; it’s bad enough when he finds this out with his cat, but even worse when he tries it with his young son, killed in a trucking accident. Then, in a final act of lunacy, with his deceased wife.:eek: I will say, though, that it was _very_ effectively scary, and it, too, has one of those great, shudder-inducing closing lines I love so very, very much. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932/62 "2009-11-11T14:38:51Z")
IMO, _Pet Sematary_ is a fantastic book, but it’s very scary. I’m not really the type to get scared at books - as in, I need to keep the light on or have nightmares or anything when reading horror - but that book is seriously creepy and scary. It’s the scariest he’s done, IMO. I’d not start with that one, I don’t think. Unless you think that might be his thing - then go to. Like mentioned up above, _The Eyes of the Dragon_ is a very easy read, goes quickly, and is very storytale-ish. It’s got some creepy parts, but nothing all out horrifying. It captures you fast, holds your attention throughout, but isn’t very long (thus, not discouraging). After you hook him with some short stories, try giving him this book. Really. It’s also my very favorite King book. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932/63 "2009-11-11T16:30:26Z")
Yeah, he wouldn’t enjoy _Pet Sematary_. If he starts his reading assignment today, it’ll be _The Long Walk_, because the other books haven’t arrived yet. Otherwise, I’ll start him on the short stories or _The Eyes of the Dragon_. Thanks for all the great suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932/64 "2009-11-12T02:47:16Z")
Maybe i’ll have to give Pet semetary a go then. I’ve seen the movie and thought it was meh. So i’ll def. gotta check out the real deal. ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932/65 "2009-11-12T02:52:34Z")
Hey Mikey! He likes it! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932/66 "2009-11-12T03:35:16Z")
> [@wonderlust](#): > > Hey Mikey! He likes it! Great! What exactly is he reading that he likes? ---
**Author:** ![wonderlust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonderlust/32/7237_2.png) [@wonderlust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonderlust)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932/67 "2009-11-12T06:09:29Z")
_The Long Walk_, he’s liking it. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-s-king-novel-to-inspire-non-reader-teen/516932.md?page=3)