A beginner could start with 'The Shining'. It's a classic that showcases King's ability to create a spooky atmosphere. 'It' is also a good option. Although it's long, the story of the Losers Club and their battle against Pennywise is engaging. And 'Pet Sematary' is a relatively short and straightforward horror novel that will give you a taste of King's dark imagination.
I would recommend starting with 'Carrie'. It's one of his earlier works and a great introduction to his style of horror. Another good one is 'The Green Mile'. It has elements of the supernatural but also a lot of heart. And 'Misery' is also a great choice. It's a tense thriller that shows how far a deranged fan can go.
I know 'Billy Summers' is one of his recent works. It's a great read with a unique story. Another could be 'The Institute', which has an interesting plot full of mystery and suspense. These two would be a good start for a beginner to get into Stephen King's world of writing.
You could start with 'Pet Sematary'. It's a horror novel that explores themes of death and the consequences of trying to cheat it. It has some really creepy moments, but it's also easy to follow and will introduce you to King's style of writing in the horror genre.
Stephen King often starts his novels with a captivating and mysterious event or scene that hooks the readers' attention right from the beginning.
Stephen King started writing novels around 1970. His early works quickly gained popularity and established his reputation as a master of horror and suspense.
Another good option is 'Misery'. It's about a writer who is held captive by his 'number one fan'. It's a psychological thriller that really gets into the minds of the characters.
I would recommend starting with the ones that have been made into movies or TV shows. For example, 'Carrie'. Since you might be familiar with the story from the adaptation, it can be easier to get into the book. Then you can move on to 'Pet Sematary', which also has a movie version. After that, you can explore his less - known works like 'Bag of Bones'.
I would recommend 'The Green Mile'. It's a great starting point as it has a really engaging and emotional story. It follows the lives of death row inmates and the guards who watch over them. The characters are well - developed and it has elements of the supernatural that King is known for, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming for a new reader.
I would recommend 'The Body'. It's not too long and has a relatable theme of friendship and growing up. It gives you a taste of Stephen King's storytelling ability without being overwhelming in length or horror elements.
I'd recommend 'Night Shift'. It has a lot of short stories that are relatively easy to get into and are great introductions to King's horror style. The stories in it are not overly complex in terms of plot but still manage to be very spooky.
I think 'It' is a good place to start. It's a long but engrossing read that showcases King's talent for weaving complex and terrifying tales. Plus, it's widely popular and has had several adaptations, so you can compare the different versions after reading the book.