|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 2:10:59 AM
|
|
|
at-home
Posts: 45
Joined: 4/15/2005
Status: offline
|
My 15 year old son really likes Ted Dekker's books. He now wants to read a Stephen King novel, just to see what it's like. I've never read any of his works, nor do I want to! My son asked to read The Stand. I guess, if he were going to read any of King's novels, this looks like the least awful, but I don't really know. Any advice?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 8:45:41 AM
|
|
|
Restored_Heart
Posts: 919
Joined: 7/23/2005
Status: offline
|
Depends on the teen... just as long as he realizes that they will be graphic, sometimes violent and crude....
The Stand is an interesting one....
I liked Needful Things as well...
_____________________________
"Ya mom, I got to see "Some Italian guy" in concert..."
Some Italian guy? (Carman) :p
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 9:06:43 AM
|
|
|
Auben
Posts: 1611
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
|
I wasn't allowed to read King growing up, but I have since late high school/college and I don't think he's nearly as bad as he's been made out. He does wear the stigma of horror (not that I think he's that scary and I won't watch a horror movie) and the supernatural (ghosts, ESP, mystical powers, etc) but not really the occult (that I've seen).
1) Be prepared for bad language. King swears. His characters swear. He considers it to be part of the realism of the characters.
2)The Stand is a long, long novel (1135 pgs). If you son is easily overwhelmed The Stand is not the place to start.
3)There's a cut version (original) and an un-cut version (re-issued). Personally I like the uncut version.
4)The novel has a very religious, Christian central character who has a big effect on the good people in the novel. It's also very much a good vs. evil novel. That make it very popular with Christian readers. However, King is not a Christian (that I know of) so don't expect conversion scenes or even for characters to think very hard about her Christian character.
That's all I can think of. There is violence in the fight of good vs. evil and the general anarchy of the plot. Sex is minimal from what I remember, although it's been 10 years so someone could correct me on that.
If your son is a mature reader I think The Stand would be fine for him to read. However, The Stand is much more in depth, with more characters and situations then your average Ted Dekker novel. If he doesn't have the staying power he'll move on quickly to another book.
Perhaps you can make a deal with him? He can read it at 16 or 17 or after he's read another long (800+ pages or so) book? Or you or your husband could read it with him? Often those solutions help me with my 9 year old, when I feel he's attracted to a book I'm not sure he's ready for.
< Message edited by Auben -- 9/24/2008 9:15:35 AM >
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 9:12:17 AM
|
|
|
zoebob
Posts: 8767
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: land of limbo
Status: offline
|
I would probably let a teen read The Green Mile too. I can't remember if there is language or not though
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 9:15:21 AM
|
|
|
Restored_Heart
Posts: 919
Joined: 7/23/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: zoebob
I would probably let a teen read The Green Mile too. I can't remember if there is language or not though
There is, but not too much - I don't think....
Most I remember was when the warden's wife was speaking (she had the brain tumor).
_____________________________
"Ya mom, I got to see "Some Italian guy" in concert..."
Some Italian guy? (Carman) :p
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 9:17:35 AM
|
|
|
zoebob
Posts: 8767
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: land of limbo
Status: offline
|
THat's right
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 9:18:07 AM
|
|
|
Auben
Posts: 1611
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
Status: offline
|
I doubt there is a King book without language.
From his book on writing it sounded like he gets a lot of mail asking him why he uses so much strong language and he's adamant that common people do. He certainly uses it in his own life.
_____________________________
Tamara
~Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time~
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 10:08:55 AM
|
|
|
GroupW
Posts: 2913
Joined: 11/16/2007
From: Up in the hills of Colorado (very BIG hills...)
Status: offline
|
I've read it. I think Auben's comments are pretty accurate. It could be appropriate for a mature teen.
It's probably the only King book that I actually enjoyed.
_____________________________
“For every problem, there is a solution that is simple, elegant and wrong.” -H.L. Mencken
"Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so." -Bertrand Russell
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 11:38:51 AM
|
|
|
miasma
Posts: 4512
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
My advice, if you're concerned, would be to read it first. Or, read it together. And also find out, more specifically, why he wants to read Stephen King. There's a plethora of other authours in the genre, Xian or non.
Generally speaking, I would not let my teen read a Stephen King novel. However, he has a VERY large ouevre, and no doubt there is something that would be appropiate.
I actually read some King as a teen, and regretted it, because it was just so...dark and sad and violent and evil. And uh, I was a huge Anne Rice fan!
Again, though, you'd need to examine it on a book-by-book basis.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 11:48:48 AM
|
|
|
GroupW
Posts: 2913
Joined: 11/16/2007
From: Up in the hills of Colorado (very BIG hills...)
Status: offline
|
Miasma -
The Stand is a bit different than much of what he's written. A bit less dark. It's a decent good-vs-evil story. The primary issue would be a few very graphic passages. These don't bother me as much as some of his other work. The most disturbing passage is actually integral to the story line. It's not graphic in a gratuitous way - it serves a fundamental purpose. There's a litte bit of sex, and some language. This is pretty hard to avoid.
Still, it's good advice to at least read through or skim it first. What I would be comfortable with a teen reading is likely different from what another might recommend.
_____________________________
“For every problem, there is a solution that is simple, elegant and wrong.” -H.L. Mencken
"Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so." -Bertrand Russell
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 12:32:40 PM
|
|
|
uncabeeil
Posts: 5775
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Joisey. Got a problem wit dat?
Status: offline
|
quote:
he's written some stuff that's really bad. The Dark Half comes to mind. It was good enough for Dekker to copy the concept in Thr3e. Then again, IMO, Dekker is just watered down King anyway.
You really want to scare him off of secular horror? Give him a Clive Barker book. That dude is seriously scary! If he insists on King, then I agree with everybody who recommends The Stand. He would probably like Dean Koontz's work, too. Matter of fact, King & Koontz wrote a pretty decent novel together, "The Talisman".
_____________________________
In loving memory of all who gave that we might be free
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 1:59:53 PM
|
|
|
barbhuff
Posts: 105
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
|
I devoured King's work as a teen. The Stand was a personal favorite.
_____________________________
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
~Benjamin Franklin
www.barbhuff.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/24/2008 4:54:29 PM
|
|
|
stateofgrace
Posts: 2004
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
I've only read one Koontz book, and it was fairly recent, maybe two years ago. Something along the lines of an apocalyptic theme and a young married couple as the main characters? It was much cleaner than King.
The Stand was one of the best King books I read (by far), and I would say depending on the kid, older teens would be ok. But there's a lot of language, some icky violence, and some icky intimacy (not extremely explicit, but icky because it's creepy too), - the chick from NY and the main villain, and also the same girl and this nerdy guy who she manipulates into helping them.
_____________________________
America Needs Revival. Will you commit to pray for it?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/25/2008 11:40:03 AM
|
|
|
miasma
Posts: 4512
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
Please do not give your child Clive Barker books. Or, at the least, be very selective in what you allow him to read -which goes back to my opinion: if you are unsure and concerned, read it for yourself, make your own decision as how to proceed, and go from there.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/25/2008 12:31:34 PM
|
|
|
uncabeeil
Posts: 5775
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Joisey. Got a problem wit dat?
Status: offline
|
quote:
Please do not give your child Clive Barker books. You'll note I said "if you want to scare him off of secular horror".
_____________________________
In loving memory of all who gave that we might be free
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/25/2008 2:05:19 PM
|
|
|
garsyt
Posts: 2235
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: the bottom of the laundry basket
Status: offline
|
There's also his book The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It might be a good intro to King. I know my almost 11 year old could handle it reading level wise - but she is reading way above grade level. She is NOT ready emotionally for it quite yet, but my 14 year old could handle it if he wanted to read it. There are a few instances of language but overall not as much as some of his other stuff. Plus it's only about 220 pages long.
Blessings,
Garsy
_____________________________
My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/25/2008 3:21:42 PM
|
|
|
uncabeeil
Posts: 5775
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Joisey. Got a problem wit dat?
Status: offline
|
I forgot about the Tom Gordon book. That one was pretty good, and there wasn't much in the way of violence and gore. It was mostly suspense if I remember correctly. For a teenager that would be a good one.
_____________________________
In loving memory of all who gave that we might be free
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/25/2008 6:52:05 PM
|
|
|
Wild-Rose
Posts: 410
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
Status: offline
|
I thought the book "Christine" was very good. The movie did it no justice. And a teen boy could relate to having a personal relationship with a car. In the book it happens very gradual so that you can believe it, or at least give yourself permission to believe it.
_____________________________
Wild-Rose
Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/26/2008 11:28:49 AM
|
|
|
alias007
Posts: 145
Joined: 5/6/2008
Status: offline
|
I agree with the other posters who mentioned the option of you reading it first. If you really want to know if its something you want your son reading, the best way is to read it yourself first.
My experiences with Stephen King books have not been good. I tried reading Carrie and one other, I think it was the Shining, and couldn't get through either of them. Way too much profanity and I prefer not to read sexually explicit material. I can handle some types of profanity, but King uses God's name in conjunction with another curse word quite a bit. It just takes away any measure of enjoyment I would otherwise garner from the story.
I would recommend Dean Koontz if your son is interested in science fiction/suspense. But stick to his later stuff, the earlier stuff suffered from some of the same vices as King's books.
Most of his recent books involve issues of faith, and his main characters have a strong moral compass. Koontz does use language on occasion, but it is fairly mild. He steers clear of the graphic sex as well. A good starter would be the Odd Thomas series. Koontz is excellent at characterization, and Odd Thomas is one of his best imo.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/26/2008 11:31:18 AM
|
|
|
alias007
Posts: 145
Joined: 5/6/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: uncabeeil
quote:
he's written some stuff that's really bad. The Dark Half comes to mind. It was good enough for Dekker to copy the concept in Thr3e. Then again, IMO, Dekker is just watered down King anyway.
You really want to scare him off of secular horror? Give him a Clive Barker book. That dude is seriously scary! If he insists on King, then I agree with everybody who recommends The Stand. He would probably like Dean Koontz's work, too. Matter of fact, King & Koontz wrote a pretty decent novel together, "The Talisman".
To my knowledge King and Koontz have never collaborated together. The Talisman was a 1984 novel written by King and Peter Straub.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Stephen King for teen? - 9/29/2008 12:50:28 PM
|
|
|
uncabeeil
Posts: 5775
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Joisey. Got a problem wit dat?
Status: offline
|
quote:
The Talisman was a 1984 novel written by King and Peter Straub. You're right, I'm wrong. Stuff happens.
_____________________________
In loving memory of all who gave that we might be free
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
I like his short stories best, particularly The Skeleton Crew. The Shining is a favorite, however. I don't know, my parents never censored anything I read...but I didn't find Stephen King all that engaging. I probably would let a teen read his stuff. <shrug> 
