I actually thought the first book was the best. There was a clear goal - make it across the dessert, catch the man in black and it really set the scene (dystopic universe) and told you everything you needed to know about the characters. I know it wasn't King's favourite and he went back and did a bunch of edit's but I don't mind the rawness of it. The later books seemed to drag a bit (okay, a lot) whereas I found the first moving forward at a good clip.
And that first line. Oh that first line. All the books are captured in that single line. It's one of King's favourites too
You really should give it a second chance. Unless you don't like weird as hell. But if you didn't like weird then I doubt you'd be a King fan.