I may be wrong, but I feel like Pet Semetary is one of King’s more underrated books. When people talk about the “best” King books all you hear is- theI may be wrong, but I feel like Pet Semetary is one of King’s more underrated books. When people talk about the “best” King books all you hear is- the Stand, Salem’s Lot, the Shining, It. Now don’t get me wrong, those are all worth reading and all wonderful in their own way, but man… there is something too real about Pet Semetary. A book that makes you question all that you thought you knew is a rare find. Pet Semetary makes you question yourself and how you would react.
When Louis Creed moves his family to the country, he thinks it’ll be the best thing for them. A nice quiet old farmhouse and friendly neighbors to boot. Sure the truckers drive a little too fast up their road, but it’s a small price to pay to have such a lovely lot of land to share with his family. The Crandells come over to introduce themselves and Louis can’t help but feel love for Jud. He’s the father Louis always wanted.
Louis’ wife takes the kids to visit her family and while they’re gone, the family cat, Church, is struck and killed by a car. Maybe even a truck, who can be sure? Louis’ daughter, Ellie calls frantic with panic she can’t explain. She’s had a dream you see, and in that dream Church was dead. Tell me he’s not dead, Daddy. No, dearheart, Church is fine, say thankya. Louis doesn’t wantto upset his daughter while she’s away. He’ll wait and explain things to her when she gets home.
But according to Jud, he may not have to. There’s an old indian burial ground up behind the house. The kids like to take their pets up there to the Pet Semetary. Just follow me, and I’ll show you the way, Louis. Just follow me, and mayhap you won’t need to tell Ellie anything at all.When Ellie returns home, she finds Church home and safe. A little smelly, sure, but he’s alive.
One day while flying a kite, Gage, their 2 year old son, goes running after the kite. 2 year olds fall, everytime they run. (trust me, I have one.). But Gage doesn’t fall this time and what waits for him is a fate so dark, I hate to think of it.
So ask yourself this- in the midst of your grief, what wouldn’t you do to have your child back. The child that was so sweet and innoncent. If given the chance, would you take him up to that old burial ground and see if you could get him back?
I read this back when I was 14 or 15 working a summer job at the beach. I spent my break with my nose stuck between its pages loving every word of it. Going back to it now as an adult, an adult with a 2 year old nonetheless, resulted in a much different reading experience. Even the thought of losing my son is enough to reduce me to tears. I used to think to myself that there’s no way in hell I would try something like that, but I am not even half as sure about that as I was. Now, I think there is nothing I wouldn’t do to get him back to me. No matter the cost.
I think this book contains some of King’s most profound insights into human nature. It plays so deeply on our emotions that I can’t really question any of what happens in it. It made a lot more sense to me now than it did the first time around. And for that it scared the everliving fuck out of me, say thankya.
I strongly recommend snagging a copy of this on audio. It's narrated by Michael C. Hall- aka Dexter Morgan. UGH! I would listen to that man read a grocery list. ...more
I’ve been in a mood to re-read lately. Alright, time for honesty. I love re-reads. Go ahead, judge me. There’s just something comforting about slippinI’ve been in a mood to re-read lately. Alright, time for honesty. I love re-reads. Go ahead, judge me. There’s just something comforting about slipping back between the pages of a good book that I’ve already read. And I find that re-reads allow me a different perspective on the same piece of work. Sometimes this is for the good, and sometimes it’s for the worse. One of my favorite ways to re-read is via audiobooks. Since I have been flying through audiobooks this year, I thought what the hell? Let’s squeeze in some re-reads!!
Under the Dome. The show was a complete fucking disaster. Don’t even get me started. No, don’t. The only good thing about the show was the casting of Mike Vogel as Dale Barbara. That’s all I will say about the pitiful excuse of the show.
Moving on.
The book opens with Dale Barbara, known as Barbie, trying to hitchhike his way out of town. A cute blonde in a pickup truck taps her breaks but changes her minds and keeps on cruising. Who knows what would have happened had she stopped and whisked him away. Alas, that’s a discussion for another day. She continues on her path, he on his. You see, Barbie had been in a 3-on-1 altercation at a local bar. The three that took him on are the hometown favorites. He, being the outsider, is immediately in the wrong. He thinks the best thing he can do is get out of dodge before things get ugly.
But his plans are ruined when the Dome drops. There’s a helicopter crash. There’s broken noses. Vehicle accidents. An exploding pacemaker. People have no idea what the fuck is even happening. There’s an invisible barrier preventing them from going forward, almost like a force field.
No one, and I mean no one, does the breakdown of society any better than Stephen King. He is the King. He understands how the human mind works, but also, how the masses and their communal thought work. It’s amazing. If you need a better example than this book, read the first few chapters of the Stand. *shudders*
What we have is one Big Fish in a very small pond. James “Big Jim” Rennie. Big Jim owns a car dealership. He’s a local and that matters. What matters more is that he was heading a meth production company that no one, other than the few on his payroll, knew anything about. And what’s worse? The town is now trapped under a cotton-picking dome, people! If there is one thing I hate more about Big Jim than his oversized ego, it’s his annoying habit of using stupid little phrases like cotton-picking. Big Jim is a man of God, you see. And he won’t have any of that type of language around him. For fuck’s sake, get a grip. You’re running a meth lab!!!!
Big Jim has a son, Junior. Junior was a football star for the home team. He’s a young, good-looking kid with a big future. There’s only one problem…he’s a fucking lunatic. Crazy. Loco. OUT of his goddamn mind. Like, fucking corpses kind of crazy. How’s that do ya? And the show!!!! Made. Him. A fucking. Dreamboat. Broken soul. Type. GAHHHHHHHHHHHH
*takes deep breath*
Anyway. What we have here is the perfect storm. We’ve got our good guys trying to figure this out. We have the bad guys trying to maintain control while keeping their secrets buried. And what secrets come seeping out they try to pin on the good guys. There’s so much tension and built up suspense. It’s a great read.
I have my gripes with it. I have my gripes with a lot of books. But overall, I like the book a lot. I’m glad I did re-read it though. The audio wasn’t the best, but it was far from the worst. If you’re looking for a good end-of-days type of book that has a nice slow burn that develops into a raging fire, then this is your book. King does a marvelous job of capturing the charm of living in a small town. ...more
Guess who finally finished the World's Longest Buddy Read?
Me.
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Twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer has one mighty task ahead of him. He must make a jourGuess who finally finished the World's Longest Buddy Read?
Me.
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Twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer has one mighty task ahead of him. He must make a journey across the country in order to save his mother. A quest? Aye, you bet. A quest worthy of another young lad we know and love- Jake Chambers. Twinners? Mayhap, mayhap not.
Jack’s father died leaving him with his b-list movie star mother. She’s dying of cancer. Sucking on cigarettes and living the good life, she knows her son must go. Even if she doesn’t fully understand why, she knows in her very bones that he must.
But Jack isn’t going alone. He’s got the help from his friend Speedy Parker. Speedy’s got the magic juice that helps Jack flip from our world to the Territories. The Territories is a parallel universe that somewhat mirrors our world albeit an old-fashioned version. While in the Terrirories, Jack can travel much faster…if he’s not caught.
Jack makes a few friends along the way, and a few enemies as well. He tries to beat his “Uncle” Morgan Sloat. The most notable friend of course is sixteen-year-old werewolf, Wolf. Wolf is the embodiment of all that is good in the world. Sure, he’s a werewolf, but his main goal is to protect the herd! Wolf! You pounded that nail! And his love for Jack seems to know no end.
There are seemingly endless complications for Jack as he makes his way across the country. Both in the US and in the Territories version of it. So many awful encounters that you personally feel exhausted reading it, wondering how on earth one boy could ever endure so much. But persevere he does. He stands and stays true. He and Jake Chambers know an awful lot about handling things that are well beyond the capacity of others their own age; about facing horrors that no one, let alone a twelve-year-old, should be facing.
This is an age-old tale of good vs. evil, of the power of love and friendship. And while some complain it’s heavy handed, I for one happen to appreciate what the authors were going for. There’s nothing quite like reading a book and experiencing the weight of exhaustion that your main character is feeling or finding yourself immersed in a world so vivid you feel you could pluck an apple of a tree. Aye, and the sweetest apple yeh’ve ever tasted it would be too.
While I refuse to re-read Black House, I am glad that I re-read this one. There was so much I had forgotten. I’d like to thank Dan (the 2.0 version), Becky, Kristin, Christopher and any of my other pants-hating friends that joined me on this incredible journey. It only took me 2 months longer than everyone else in the group to finish!...more
The Long Walk is a short story by Richard Bachman, aka a much younger and much more cynical Stephen King. It centers around Ray Garraty, one of the 10
The Long Walk is a short story by Richard Bachman, aka a much younger and much more cynical Stephen King. It centers around Ray Garraty, one of the 100 boys selected to participate in this year’s Long Walk. What is the Long Walk you ask? Exactly what it sounds like: a long fucking walk.
The Rules: Keep walking. Keep up the pace. If you don’t, there are armed guards there to put a bullet in your head. Get too tired? Get shot. Stop to chat? Get shot. Run off and try to get free? Get shot. Slow down? Get shot. Catch pneumonia and struggle to keep up? Get shot.
What happens if you are the last man standing walking? Well, you get whatever you want for the rest of your life, or so the story goes. You get all the riches. You get comforts unimaginable. But will it matter if your mind is gone?
This book is just one giant mindfuck from start to finish. We are inside the mind of Garraty and we get the firsthand experience of what it’s like to walk nonstop day and night through the elements. He’s supplied water and a lovely food supplement that’s squeezed through a tube along with some crackers for good measure.
Garraty is interested in learning about the other boys who willingly volunteered to partake in this walk, the biggest sporting event of the year. He’s still not sure why he volunteered, but it’s buried somewhere deep in his mind. Will he find the answers he is looking for? Will he come out on top or will his be one of the 99 bodies scattered along the side of the road?
I loved this book the first time I read it many years ago, and I loved it even more the second time around on audio. For a book where the premise seems simple and boring, it is an enthralling read. No matter what format you choose, you will not be disappointed.
Approximately 800 years ago I began a quest; a quest to take some much-loved friends of mine on a journey like no other. I enjoy doing things like 3.5
Approximately 800 years ago I began a quest; a quest to take some much-loved friends of mine on a journey like no other. I enjoy doing things like this. I enjoy people reading books that I love so much I am willing to bludgeon them with said books until they agree to read them.
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Luckily, with the Gunslinger I did not need to do too much convincing. That crazy MahFah Jeff joined on willingly enough with Delee and I.
(Little did he know, he’d be spending the rest of his pitiful life in my basement! *cackles*)
Since our journey began we have gathered and lost many. We have had some real fun times adding adverbs and adjectives to Delee’s nickname. We’ve enjoyed the company of one another and managed to not kill Dan 2.0.
Yet. [image]
Song of Susannah is my least favorite in the series. No matter how many times I read the series through, Susannah just never grows on me. Now, could this be because she is paired with my literary soul-mate, Edward Cantor Dean? No, no. That has nothing to do with it…. I swear.
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*dares anyone to question her with her death-stare*
*watches Jeff flinch and cackles*
The reason I don’t like Susannah is that she continuously fucks everything up. She’s difficult. And annoying. And unnecessary. She’s just a character I don’t care for. I don't know how else to put it. Her story does not interest me. I felt like King made her a little flat. Jake, Eddie and Roland all have this wonderfully interesting backstory that draw me in. Parts of Susannah’s story are interesting, but every time I start to think I’m invested in her, I find she does something to make me want to punch that crazy bitch in her throat.
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I try to like her, I really do. But I don’t.
Her story in this gets completely out of control and takes a turn I’ve never liked. It is probably the one aspect of the Dark Tower that I really can't get behind. (Trust me, guys, it gets worse in the last book).
After the events in Wolves of the Calla, Susannah has disappeared. She’s slipped off to the Dixie Pig to deliver her chap. That’s all you need to know. Right there. I summed up her entire story in two sentences. The rest of the book is gold. It’s Eddie and Roland off on one adventure while Pere Callahan and Jake go on another. All the while Susannah makes things worse and worse by the minute. Because she is the worst.
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I am excited to see the gang’s reaction to the finale-except Dan…I think Dan will hate it. (Just a feeling I have, I could be way wrong!) I am also very sad that a 3-year journey is coming to an end. When Jeff, Delee and I started this in 2014 none of us knew that it would become what it has today. I mean, shit! There are people who joined us that literally fell off the face of the Goodreads Planet never to be heard from again! And yet here we are… Me and my favorite GR people preparing to take on the final installment.
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Guys, I’ll try my best to keep the tears to a minimum. No promises. But just remember:
Our journey has left so many behind. We have been attacked, beaten, and threatened. Yet, we persevere. Onward wayward travelers. Let
Commela Come Come!
Our journey has left so many behind. We have been attacked, beaten, and threatened. Yet, we persevere. Onward wayward travelers. Let us continue on our quest to the Dark Tower. Let us travel safely along the Path of the Beam
Our band of crazy MahFahs, led by the craziest MahFah yeh’ve ever encountered- Yours Truly- has seen and done much. I even let Jeff out of his prison luxiourous bedroom at my home to join us in this read. I did keep him on a leash- he’s not to be trusted.
Back to the review:
Roland and his Tet are on the Path of the Beam in search of the Dark Tower. After surviving the Starkblast and hearing another story from Roland’s past the gang is ready to move forward. But they’re being watched by the folken of the Calla. Which Calla? Calla Bryn Sturgis.
As much as Roland’s Tet would love to take a different route, Roland explains to them why they can’t. The duty of the gunslinger is to stand for those who cannot. Stand and be true, aye. He says true. What they find in the Calla is horrifying. Wolves come on horseback once every 26 years to take one from every set of twins. In our world that might not be so bad- but in the Calla twins are as common as Canadian pennies in a handful of change.
What’s worse than that? The wolves send them back once they’re done with them and that twin is forever ROONT; a drooling buffoon capable** of mostly just grunts and giggles.
One of my favorite characters became a favorite because of this book- Pere Callahan. His story in Salem’s Lot was not finished. It is continued here in the Calla.
Calla. Callahan.
But will the other folken listen to his pleas? Can they be convinced that now is the time to stop the wolves? Will Jeff ever get out of my basement for good?
This story is laid out beautifully. You are getting just enough information to keep turning those pages. You’re being teased with information. Your leaders are whispering and even you don’t know what they’re saying. There’s robots, twins, taters and gravy, time travel and talking caves. YERBUGGER.
Wolves of the Calla is a great read and is filled with a language that is sure to make any buddy read more interesting. I just can’t wait to continue this journey with my Ka-Tet.
Graveyard Shift is a book that I am not sure if I read before now or not. I almost think I did back when I was a wee lad teenager. I am almost certain Graveyard Shift is a book that I am not sure if I read before now or not. I almost think I did back when I was a wee lad teenager. I am almost certain I read the first book in the collection. I remembered the rats. *shudders* Oh yes. I remembered the rats.
This short story collection didn't do much for me. It wasn't my least favorite- Full Dark, No Stars. But it was by far not my favorite either- Different Seasons. The stories were decent but only 2 really stood out to me.
Instead of reviewing each story individually I will just talk about the two I liked best.
The first one that stood out to me was The Man Who Loved Flowers- a truly creepy tale. The whole time the guy is talking about getting flowers for his date and what it will mean to his girl. But what you find out is that this girl has no idea who he is. Definitely a 5-star story.
The other one that should be fairly obvious is Jerusalem’s Lot. This is not to be confused with Salem’s Lot though the two are talking about the same place. This tale is one I had read prior to reading it in this collection and is the hands-down winner in this book.
If I’ve said it once I’ve said it 100 times. King’s short stories are hit and miss with me. This collection had both. It had a couple of greats, a couple not so great and one right in the middle. It’s one of his more known works but I am not sure why. I wasn’t very impressed.
Also- if you're thinking of doing audio, I wouldn't. The narration was about as lackluster and unentertaining as my review... ...more
What better day to post a review for this book than on Stephen King’s birthday?
Happy Birthday, ya crazy bastard. ;)
Anyway- as most of the GR communi
What better day to post a review for this book than on Stephen King’s birthday?
Happy Birthday, ya crazy bastard. ;)
Anyway- as most of the GR community knows I am the real life Annie Wilkes a huge fan of Stephen King. He has been a major influence in my life since I was about 10 years old. His writing changed my life. His books changed my mind; my way of thinking.
Listen, not everyone knows this but I’m about to out myself. I am an aspiring writer. I don’t flash it, I don’t wave it out there for all to see; I am just me. I am insecure, I am scared and I lack the confidence it takes to put myself out there. It’s terrifying.
My whole life I have been a writer. I won several awards throughout my high school career and college professors begged me to change my major and focus more on my writing. It’s just that writing for me is a hobby. I’m afraid if I focus on writing it will become a chore. So I write when the mood strikes me and don’t when it doesn’t. There are a handful of close friends on here who have read what I’ve written and have given me feedback. I even went so far as to submit a short story to www.Tor.com. As of right now, that’s enough for me.
I picked up On Writing for several reasons, the first being that I’m obsessed with Stephen King. Duh! Another was because it’s listed as part memoir and I was dying to know more about his life. And lastly, I thought maybe, just maybe, he might have a few good pointers for the wannabe writer.
This book.
No really, you don’t understand. This book changes everything. A lot of what he says is great advice, but it’s the things he didn’t say that really resonate. I know what you’re thinking- this crazy MahFah has done lost her mind! But really- the simplicity of it all is laid out before you. It’s up to you to see it.
I really can’t imagine how my life might be if my uncle had never bought me Bag of Bones. Would I have eventually picked a different one up? Would I have become the super fan that I am today? Would Stephen King be locked in my basement?
I can’t answer those questions. I can only say how thankful I am that he came into my life when he did; a writer who has shaped my life in ways unimaginable. He has enriched my life and saved me countless times. Thank you, Stephen King for giving me books that make life seem like it isn’t ALL bad. I’m your #1 Fan. ;)
I read this beautiful copy on a Sunday morning. I bought my copy in Bangor, Maine at a local comic shop. My library system has every Dark Tower
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I read this beautiful copy on a Sunday morning. I bought my copy in Bangor, Maine at a local comic shop. My library system has every Dark Tower graphic novel BUT this one, so I will be donating my copy to the library system. I would hate to see someone else hit a brick wall like I did and not be able to continue the series.
Gilead has fallen.
9 years have passed since The Good Man and his followers destroyed what was left of the ancient city. Roland and the few remaining gunslingers are determined to end the war and to end John Farson. Their hope is dwindling as the odds keep getting stacked higher and higher against them.
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We see Young Roland making very adult decisions. His instincts are almost never wrong. He seeks the council of his elders, but in the end, the decision rests with him. And Roland only knows one way to deal- in lead.
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There’s a traitor in the midst and soon Farson’s men come marching. They come on horse and on foot. They come in numbers unfathomable. And they come bearing the flag that proudly displays the Eye of the Crimson King.
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Alain, Cuthbert and Roland must make their final stand. Will they defeat the Good Man? Will they make it out to see another day? Will their quest to reach the Tower continue?
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This is another great addition to the Dark Tower Graphic Novel series. And if I haven’t mentioned already 8573505418746 times how much I love Jae Lee’s artwork, hear me now. Yes, hear me loud and clear. Lee’s artwork brings a unique perspective to an extremely complex storyline. I love his interpretations of these scenarios.
Read the Dark Tower series, then read the graphic novels. That’s an order, maggots!
We join up with Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake and Oy…oh! And how could I possibly forget the psychotic choo-choo train, Blain! What a pain! We see a few familiar sights along the way and pick up a couple Easter eggs. Captain Trips anyone? Yeah, I think I’ll pass too.
Roland finally decides to open up to his new Ka-Tet and explain to them what happened to his old ka-tet. And when I say old, I mean old. One starts to question just how old Roland truly is. We get to see Roland’s past, his youth, his friends and his first task as a gunslinger. [image]
But most importantly, we get to see Roland fall in love for the first time with the ever so beautiful Susan Delgado. Ka, like the wind, blows in and sweeps its victims right off their ever-loving feet. It can’t be helped; it can’t be stopped. Ka won’t bend to your will or your wants- it’s Ka and it’s in charge. Susan finally concedes and accepts her new role in Roland’s Ka-Tet….
Aye, so she does. [image]
This is a great story of the bonds of love and friendship and the birth of an obsession. For it is here that we learn how Roland came to see his first vision of the Dark Tower. And listen closely friends, hear me well: once you see the tower, there is no turning back.
The Waste Lands is the third installment in the Dark Tower series. I’ve been through this series so many times over the years I have lost co
4.5 stars
The Waste Lands is the third installment in the Dark Tower series. I’ve been through this series so many times over the years I have lost count. But what has made this trip so important is all of the wonderful people I have gotten to take along the Path of the Beam. I would like to thank my posse for allowing me to hold their hands and guide them on this most epic of quests. Rootin’ Tootin Pistol Packin’ Delee, Jumpin’ Jeff , Calamity Bev and last but certainly not least, Bronco Bustin’ Black Jackin’ Jason
I am a pusher of books, anyone who has had even a minute’s interaction with me can attest to this. I get especially pushy when I know the books could change someone’s life. There is only a handful of books that fall into that category for me-obviously, the Harry Potter series and of course, the Dark Tower series.
While I love the shit out of Harry Potter, the Dark Tower series actually changed my view on life and what it all means. I had a breakthrough. I’ve always been a cynical, show me don’t tell me type and the Dark Tower series gave me something to believe in; something that made sense to me. I’ve never been religious, but I’m not an Atheist either. I fall more in line with Agnostics. My problem is that I want to believe everything so much I can’t believe anything.
Ka.
Ka is something all of its own. It does not bend to your will. It does not care for your plans. If you detour around it, you’ll still find yourself where you were meant to be. The wheel of Ka keeps turning and your best bet is to sit back and enjoy the ride. There’s truly no point in fighting it.
We start out with one hell of a paradox. Poor Roland, given the events in the Drawing of the Three is torn between what happened and what didn’t happen. Did Jake accompany him through the desert and up the mountains? Did Jake exist in this world? Did Roland let him fall? How could he have let him fall if he was never there? Roland is in rough shape and only the key can help.
Eddie and Susannah have taken nuptial vows and found a love that is both deserving and beautiful. They are a good match for one another, though, if I am to be honest, I think I would be a much better match for Eddie. Maybe the wheel of Ka will roll through and make that happen for me? What do you say, Ka?!
*looks around hopefully*
Eddie sees that he will need to play a big role in Jake’s drawing into this world. What he doesn’t know is if he is cut out for it, or if he’ll be ready in time. Eddie is constantly at war with himself from the years of being mentally beat down by his older brother.
Susannah Dean, who was once Odetta Holmes and Detta Walker, is trying her best to maintain her one mind now that her alternate personalities have been forced to face one another. She is also trying to figure out her place in this new strange place.
Jake’s drawing into this world is by far my favorite sequence in this whole book. It is such an intense turn of events. The splitting minds, the split perspective and most especially the fact that while Eddie’s door faces down, Jake enters it vertically just creates this insane imagry that blows me away every time.
Then there is Oy. What a wonderful creature King has produced. Oy makes my heart feel so happy with love and pride I can hardly contain myself. He represents all that is good and innocent in this world and his relationship with ‘Ake is one of the best parts of the Dark Tower series.
Our favorite Ka-Tet is on the Path of the Beam in search of Blaine the Mono. Blain is a pain, and this they know; but he is also a necessity to their quest. Will they make it to him in time? Will Blaine still be there? If he is there, is he sane? Can a train be sane? Where will this story go?
The Waste Lands, while not as good as Drawing of the Three, gives us insight into some of King’s best written characters. We get to know them individually while seeing them interact with one another. My favorite interactions are between Roland and Eddie. Roland, so severe and earnest in every aspect vs. the nonstop joker, Eddie, makes for some great entertainment. The character arcs throughout this series are some of the most fascinating that I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Each and every time I read this series I find something new that makes me love them all the more.
“[Eddie] cried out but his cry was lost in the golden blast of some tremendous horn. It came from the top of the Tower, and seemed to fill the world. As that note of warning held and drew out over the field where he stood, blackness welled from the windows which girdled the Tower. It overspilled them and spread across the sky in flaggy streams which came together and formed a growing blotch of darkness. It did not look like a cloud; it looked like a tumor hanging over the earth. The sky was blotted out. And, he saw, it was not a cloud or a tumor but a shape, some tenebrous, cyclopean shape racing toward the place where he stood.”
I’ve read the Dark Tower Series several times over the years. It is a series I hold very close to my heart, one that draws me in and whispers in my eaI’ve read the Dark Tower Series several times over the years. It is a series I hold very close to my heart, one that draws me in and whispers in my ear; begs to be read again.
The Drawing of the Three is a book that on its own is in my list of top 10 books ever written. This is one of those books that left my brains splattered on the wall behind me. I was completely blown away by this book. It is nearly impossible to put down. The writing is impeccable, it’s very fast paced and the storyline is captivating.
Roland wakes up on a beach-a beach from hell, but a beach nonetheless.
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He must draw three people into his world to accompany him on his quest. Along this beach he finds 3 doors.
Behind the first door, marked “The Prisoner”, he meets my literary soulmate, Eddie Dean. Eddie has a monkey on his back and that monkey’s name is Heroine. [image]
Door number two is marked, the Lady of Shadows and it is from that door that Roland draws Odetta Holmes/Detta Walker. She has lost her legs in a horrifying accident but that is only the tip of the iceberg as the old saying goes. [image]
As Roland, Detta and Eddie travel up the beach in search of Door Number 3 they encounter a few obstacles. And as Eddie points out so politely to Detta, “Well,what was behind Door Number One wasn’t so hot, and what was behind Door Number Two was even worse, so now, instead of quitting like sane people, we’re going to go right on ahead and check out Door Number Three. The way things have been going, I think it’s likely to be something like Godzilla or Ghidra the Three-Headed Monster, but I’m an optimist. I’m still hoping for the stainless steel cookware."
So what does Door Number 3 bring?
The Pusher . Jack Mort. The Man in Black foretold who would be behind these doors and when he got to the third door he told Roland “Death. But not for you, Gunslinger.” Jack Mort. The pusher of objects. Will he be drawn into this world as Eddie and Odetta/Detta were?
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Will Roland get his Keflex in time?
Will the lobstrosities ever satisfy their hunger?
All these questions will be answered.
The Drawing of the Three will not disappoint you. I personally guarantee your satisfaction.
Ps. If you click the names of posse you'll get to read their most excellent reviews!...more
You know how every Potterhead in the world wants more backstory? How we’re all just dying for some tales filled with the shenanigans of James, Sirius,You know how every Potterhead in the world wants more backstory? How we’re all just dying for some tales filled with the shenanigans of James, Sirius, Lupin and of course, Pettigrew too? Well, I have been saying for years that someone needs to write Harry Potter graphic novels. Because, why the fuck not? Exactly.
Anyway, what does this have to do with the Dark Tower Series? Not a lot, but my brain works in a strange way.
Basically this graphic novel gives you a whole lot of background. My favorite part of Roland’s story is that it doesn’t start with Roland. There’s this incredibly alluring backstory about his father and his father’s father and his father’s father’s father. It’s true. I swear. The line of gunslingers traces back to Arthur Eld. And of course, our antihero, Roland, is of that exact bloodline.
BUT in this particular book we get to find out what a complete badass Roland’s father is. Steven Deschain is doing all that he can to ensure the safety of his people. He defends Gilead with the last ounce of his being and makes Roland look like a tic turd in comparison. (I know, it’s almost blasphemy, but it’s true!)
[image] Yes, that is in fact a sword sticking out of his back while he destroys that man’s coward’s face. He just is that awesome.
When John Farson comes knocking on the doors Gilead he comes prepared. Reason number 7396713 why I could never be a gunslinger:
[image] If I saw this guy storming my gates I would pee my pants, cry and then do just about anything to save my own life. (I’m a coward, what can I say?)
The infamous Horn was introduced. This horn brings nothing but sadness, I can promise you that. Dark Tower Junkies like myself know exactly what this horn means and where it was last seen. Here we get to see it used by the great Steven Deschain and later in the hands of his son, Roland.
[image]
Stop wasting your time on other comics. They suck. Read these. (But only if you’ve read the DTS! This puts everything into chronological order and will spoil the fun of discovery in the whole series IF you plan on reading the DTS, which I strongly recommend that you doooooooo.)
**PS. I meant to include this- while these are great you have some major discrepancies since the release of Wind Through the Keyhole was published. I am going to take it with a grain of salt like I do with book-to-movie adaptations and not fault the King for this oversight...this time.
I’m not sure that I have ever felt as conflicted about my feelings on a book by Stephen King as I do about Revival. I loved it. I hated it. It was ok.I’m not sure that I have ever felt as conflicted about my feelings on a book by Stephen King as I do about Revival. I loved it. I hated it. It was ok. It was brilliant. It was a letdown. It was weird. It was something.
I was hooked right from the start. If there is one thing King is top-notch at- it’s creating a rich atmosphere about youth growing up in the good ole days. I think that is why IT will remain my all-time favorite book. There is nothing better than King writing about the 1950’s. I already have an unnatural obsession with that particular decade so anytime there’s a book set in that time period it automatically tops my list. I realize we meet Jamie Morton in 1962 but once again, King manages to transport his readers back to that exact moment in time and it’s so believable you forget the world you live in. The events that take place in that first quarter or so of the book are just incredible. I loved every word.
It’s when we flash forward to older, drug-addicted Jamie that King kind of lost me. I’m ok with character growth and I am definitely ok with characters spiraling down into a pit of addiction and self-destructive behavior. Here’s what I don’t like- getting a brief rundown of “Here’s how it was….here’s how it is now.” with nothing in the middle to get me there. I especially don’t like this when there’s repeated mention of what happened to Claire and then no further elaboration. I felt that was really a misused piece of information that was crucial to Jamie’s regression and damnit I wanted to read more about that!
The same can be said for Mr. Charlie Jacobs. We understand that what happens to him, or rather to his family, is going to affect him greatly. I honestly would have loved to see more of his breakdown. I loved where King took Charlie as far as him turning into this crazed psychopath whose obsession completely takes over his life. That was brilliant! But once again, we touch on it, we hear whispers about it and then we jump ahead. Overall I found all of the time hopping to be rather choppy and poorly executed. King is so much better at crossing decades of time than he showed in Revival. It felt disconnected and somehow unrelated. The events merely spots on a timeline.
Being the avid King reader that I am I did love finding the Easter eggs. I loved that Charles Daniel Jacobs is 19 letters long. I really enjoyed the electricity obsession that Charlie was so keen on proving. I loved what he wanted to do. I could see the madness in his eyes. (Aside: I totally picture Gus from Breaking Bad as Charles Jacobs in this. End of Aside). I found myself gripping my kindle waiting to see what was on the other side, what would happen when that bolt of lightning struck that pole. I was just as excited as Charlie, if not more so.
I see a lot of people upset with what was on that other side. I, for one, wanted to damn the King to an eternity in Todash. It’s true. But not for the same reasons as other people. I know a lot of people are upset over the (view spoiler)[Evil Ant Overlords (hide spoiler)] but that didn’t bother me. After reading the Dark Tower I think I was prepared for something like this. The first line that came to mind was the one about our whole universe existing in a single blade of grass. The concept that size defeats all and that our minds are not capable of processing it. I wanted to damn Stephen King because the thought of death creates this paralyzing fear in me (a fear I don’t talk about often) and the picture he painted was not a promising one. All jokes aside, I texted my friend Jason and told him “I never even thought of that as an afterlife possibility”. And what I mean is that I am already terrified and King just sent me over the edge.
Overall this book left me wanting more and wanting to see a shrink. There were aspects of it that I loved so deeply that I could almost literally feel my heart making room for them. Then there were parts that made me think “Is this really Stephen King writing this?!” So, I have rated this book 3 stars with a confused heart. I think I will revisit this one sooner than usual and reevaluate. I just can’t feel firm in my decision on rating this book at all. ...more
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