Top 10 *openings* to a Stephen King book - ranking the starts to King novels

Welcome to February's book special! This time around, I'm counting down my top 10 OPENINGs to Stephen King novels, and I'd love to hear your choices too!

By nature of what I'm talking about here, there are some *MINOR* spoilers for the 10 books featured here - basically, I talk about how they begin. So, if you're cool with that please continue. But, if you prefer to go into books totally blind then maybe this one isn't for you.
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[manu]

I love the opening of "The dark half". The revelation of the tumor with eyes, teeth and fingernails caught me off guard.

[RamiroEscamilla]

It wasn’t nearly my favorite King book, but the first third of ‘Fairy Tale’ had me absolutely hooked! All I wanted was more of the relationship between Charlie and Mr. Bowditch.

[bodine]

I love it - only with Stephen King could "the first 200 pages" (The Stand) be considered an opening 😄

[tdrdavies]

Good choices! Two that come to mind that were not mentioned are The Dark Half, and Under the Dome. Especially Under the Dome.

[CliffsDarkGems]

Great List! Fully agree with IT at number 1, Rose Madder was brutal and traumatic. I cannot think of a favorite scene but here is my favorite opening line: " The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."

[RealHollarius]

It has to be no 1. I also totally agree with The Stand and Mr. Mercedes.
In my top 5 I throw in Revival and Under the Dome.

[faceless]

kind of excited to see a review of Cat's Eye ngl, I'm aware that apparently people have a lot of childhood memories of this

[ikward]

My favorite is the 11/22/63 opening, reading Harry’s essay was a really ominous way to open the book and the writing is incredible!

[BookishDrummer]

I love how disorienting the opening of Misery is.
Also, opening of dark tower 3, scene with the bear is great

[charleskeracher]

11.22.63 has a strong opening. It sets up Jake's character traits of rarely crying.

[patricksk]

Haven’t watched this yet (plan to today), but I love this idea.

[nigelmilner]

God so many brillianr openings. you called up Cell which then proceeds to fall apart a bit. The Outsider opening, so good
But we all know if not the best opening...the best opening line...The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

[mtwice]

I agree with all of these. I would add Under the Dome to this list as well.

[BeckywiseTheDancingClown]

Gerald's Game has a gripping opening!

[BookishDrummer]

dead zone is my all time favorite as well, definitely a great opening. dreamcatcher part 1 is great! rose madder and the outsider openings are both rough, regulators opening is crazy lol, cell first 80 pages is fun, i also agree part 1 of the stand is fantastic, rest of the book is overrated, mr mercedes opening is great, IT opening scene is iconic

[jimhasan]

I have only read 13 of his books. Among them I would say it's either IT or Desperation.

[matthewmedley]

It’s a great compelling opening. Ditto mr Mercedes and misery. Good video.

[barry]

One of my favorite openings is The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. It's not a grab-you-by-the-throat opening, like most of the (very good) choices you offer here -- it's more of an "uh-oh, this nice girl is about to find herself in some very real trouble, and I'm not sure if I want to keep turning pages to see it happen, because I'm scared for her." Also, the opening two sentences set the whole thing up chillingly: "The world had teeth and it could bite you with them any time it wanted. Trisha McFarland discovered this when she was nine years old."

[fardeengloryworld]

Wow. Stepping Out Of The Circle Works😉

[angelaholmes]

Here's my picks
Rose madder
Dolores Claiborne
The gunslinger