Stephen King Fans discussion

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/show...

Neat!

I finished this morning. King really knows how to reel you in. Even though the flashback was a little bloated, I still had a hard time putting it down.

Angie wrote: "http://www.conceptart.org/forums/show...

Neat!"

That's pretty cool, but I envision them differently. Black 13 should be black, for one. LOL

The ball at the center there reminds me more of the Palantir from LOTR in which Sauron's eye appears.

Well, unlike for so many others, W&G has always been my favorite of the dark Tower series. I am going to start re-reading it as soon as I can finish the other book I have been reading.

Tim wrote: "Well, unlike for so many others, W&G has always been my favorite of the dark Tower series. I am going to start re-reading it as soon as I can finish the other book I have been reading."

It is my favorite too! I think the love story is what draws me in, but also learning more about Roland. I thing in W&G you see Roland as human more so than in any other.

This is my third read of the series, and I am reading it much slower this go around. It's kind of cool, because I am catching little things (19 working wells in Citgo) that I never would have noticed before. King is a master storyteller. The love story of Roland and Susan is so heartbreaking and so real. Plus I love the western tones to this one, much deeper than in the others in my opinion.

I am LONG overdue for a DT re-read!!

This was my favorite book of the series. Mainly because the love story of Roland and Susan was the best love story I've ever read. Better than a Nicholas Sparks story in my opinion. With this book, and the entire series, King really showed just how great of a writer he truly is. Most people know him as a Horror writer but he is so much more than that.

Andrea wrote: "This was my favorite book of the series. Mainly because the love story of Roland and Susan was the best love story I've ever read.

What?

Andrea wrote: "Better than a Nicholas Sparks story in my opinion."

Oh, ok.

With this book, and the entire series, King really showed just how great of a writer he truly is. Most people know him as a Horror writer but he is so much more than that.

Hi, Andrea! You are SO RIGHT! Stephen is MUCH more than a "horror writer," IMO.

I'm starting on this one today! I had to take a bit of a break. I'm not very good at reading series books back to back. It makes it feel like the longest book ever. :)

Delphyne, I have never had that issue. This is the first time in all of my readings of the series that I DIDN'T read them back to back. Not that I really have an issue with feeling like the books run together, but I think that they are all different enough to prevent it if I did. ;)

Becky, I used to be so bad about books in series that I wouldn't start the first book until I had/owned/borrowed ALL of the series!

I'm still like that!

I get what you're saying. I read the Potter saga as it was written - the excitement was tremendous and the speculations truly maddening with possibilities. Thankfully, J.K. Rowling pblished the whole saga in a respectable time. Imagine waiting 20 years for Deathly Hallows.

"Green Mile" was bad enough! -- And we won't go into the chronological fits and starts of the Dark Tower -- although, I must admit, when Roland says that King is not hearing the song of Gan anymore, it's an incredibly good explanation!

I envy you guys! Anything longer than a trilogy back-to-back, and I'm just exhausted.

Bondama wrote: "Becky, I used to be so bad about books in series that I wouldn't start the first book until I had/owned/borrowed ALL of the series!"

Me too! I absolutely hate it when I don't have all of a series.

I loved the book as much as I loved the previous one. I was engulfed in the Susan, Thorin, Aunt, Witch story.

I hope I don't see the Choo Choo train again or listen to another riddle (I hate them!).

And...if there are really wolves in the next one, I can't wait to read it :)

As a new King's reader, I appreciate the introductions, arguments, and afterwords. I feel I am getting to know the author more with each book. I am thankful to this group that finally enticed me read Stephen King's books.

Elena wrote: "I loved the book as much as I loved the previous one. I was engulfed in the Susan, Thorin, Aunt, Witch story.

I hope I don't see the Choo Choo train again or listen to another riddle (I hate them..."

I'm about 1/2 way through the next one and there are Wolves.

Elena wrote: "I loved the book as much as I loved the previous one. I was engulfed in the Susan, Thorin, Aunt, Witch story.

I hope I don't see the Choo Choo train again or listen to another riddle (I hate them..."

I love his little intros and afterwards they're something I look to forward to in his books actually :)

Hi Ive been away from the group since forever. I just recently on a whim decided to reread Wolves...and then received email about the group going to read it too. So I will definitely try to hop on with you guys. Wolves definitely does not disappoint...it takes the story in new directions and sets a huge amount of framework for the remainder of the series.

As for W&G...i always had trouble with the last 1/8th of the book more than others have had with the romantic flashback. It just seemed kind of rushed, as if SK wanted to write another 200 pages and was admonished not to by his editor! I liked the whole magic/mysticism themes crossed with the Cowboy motifs .

Welcome back Agrimorfee... :)

Yes, welcome back, Agrimorfee!

Elena wrote: "I hope I don't see the Choo Choo train again or listen to another riddle (I hate them..."

Charlie The Choo Choo (aka Blaine The Mono) I think was one of the most unnerving characters from the Dark Tower series so far. And to make my point even more clear, the damn thing won't stay dead. He appears in other books and stories from Stephen King.
*
*
*
*
*
*
* Spoiler Alert *
*
*
*
* Maybe *
*
*
*
*
* Though it has nothing to do with the plot of Cell *
*
*
*
*
* Spoiler *
*
* You have been properly warned. *
*
Close to the end of Cell he appears again, and just reading his(its?) name gave me goosebumps.
*
*
* You are welcome.

Ka-mai, can you please edit your post to include a potential spoiler warning for Cell?

Thank you.

I have not read W&G recently, but I have a few comments about it. I will agree that the book itself could have been shorter. But I do think that the story it tells is VITAL for you to understand the Dark Tower as whole, especially when you get into the graphic novels. And understanding the Dark Tower as a whole is necessary for you to understand Kings work as a whole. You cant have one without the other. Im not sure which parts of the book should be cut out, but I think it was a necessary flashback novel for us raeders to get a better insight into Roland, and the overall point of his quest. I am VERY excited for Wind Through The Keyhole to come out, though I am not sure when that will be. For those of you that dont know that is a NEW DT novel that will fit after W&G and before Wolves. I usually go through a cycle of reading straight through the series every 18 months or so. My recommendation for books to read after you guys finish the whole series would either be to get into the graphic novels, or start reading the books that have strong tie ins to the DT saga. Little Sisters is a must, as well as Hearts, Insomnia, Black House and a few others.

I always feel like the romance aspects could have been shortened a little... They provide a lot of insight into Roland, so they shouldn't be removed completely, but I feel like they're a bit draggy and I tend to skim these sections on rereads.

But I love the cat & mouse in Mejis and the history of Roland's first mission, if you will. His first test. I really enjoy seeing how he acts and reacts and how much of his training is put into play and how much instinct he has, even so young. I wouldn't see any of that cut.

The reason I read through the entire DT series when I get to do a re-read is for the characters. ---

***** Spoiler *****

I just remember the joy I have when King reveals "Stanley's" identity later on in the series.

Billy is insightful above...but skip Black House and read Talisman instead. BH does nothing but confirm what any smart King reader can infer from Talisman.

Oh, I wouldn't recommend skipping Black House. It's one of King's best ever. It blew me away....

I loved Black House as well. It's very different from The Talisman but well worth a read for the story itself and the DT crossover.

Yeah, definitely. I was put off for awhile reading it because it was so different than The Talisman. But I stuck with it and was rewarded big big.

Which are you supposed to read first? Black House or Talisman?

Dawn wrote: "Which are you supposed to read first? Black House or Talisman?"

The Talisman should be read first, then Black House. The Talisman is when the main character as a child, and Black House when he is a adult, then one is a fantasy quest story, the other is a mystery.

Yep. Black House is quite a bit more... dark and gritty.

I'm hoping for a 3rd book in the series. I believe that King has said that was a possibility. I just hope it doesn't take 19 years if so!

I feel so overwhelmed with all of the King out there I haven't read yet. Excited about it, but overwhelmed by the sheer quantity, and by trying to figure out which one to read next. It's stressful!! lol :)

Don't worry Dawn... we'll walk you through it. :P

SPOILER



I wasn't advocating skipping Tailsman. That would have been one of my other books in the etc., plus it's just a great book regardless. I just listed Black House on there first because it deals more directly with issues relating to the Tower. The Crimson King is mentioned a good amount ( Aballah), the Fisherman is taking children trying to find Breakers, which the boy Tyler is apperantly, and a strong one at that. Also Jacks obsession with the Opopanax, which turns out to appear in Wolves. And while the concept of a Twinner is first introduced in the Talisman, it is also prevalent in Black House as well. The Fisherman is an agent of the Red King, and can "flip" between worlds. Im pretty sure that the Territories are NOT on the level of the Tower that Roland occupies, because Speedy is a gunslinger, but not like Roland. And if the two had known each other we would have surely heard about it.

Well right now I'm reading The Talisman and there are a few question I would like to make as soon as there is a board discussing The Talisman. I think I am in the few 100 pages of the book right now.

KA Mai, and anyone else, feel free to shoot me a private message or whatever anytime if you have questions about the Tower

Ka-mai wrote: "Well right now I'm reading The Talisman and there are a few question I would like to make as soon as there is a board discussing The Talisman. I think I am in the few 100 pages of the book right now."

Feel free to start a thread in the "Talk About The Novels" folder as well. We've already read The Talisman as a group read and the thread has been closed, but you can open a new one if you like. :)

This is my least favorite book in the series so far. I don't really like it. I feel the 500 or so page flashback in the novel when Roland is telling the story, could've been made into another book entirely.

Third time's the charm for me! I first read it when it came out and it was frustrating - let's get back to the Tower, already! But this time (a few weeks ago so I could read Keyhole in order) I really enjoyed it. Incredibly, I was on the edge of my seat hoping that...well that things would turn out differently.

I like W & G! I love reading about Roland's past. I have to say I didn't like Susan Delgado. What happened to her was tragic.

This is my personal favorite among the seven books. I don't know if it is the book itself or the situation I was when I was reading it for the first time. All I know is that for me, it is the very best of the series, indeed.

My least favorite of the DT books.


**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**NOT-SO-SUPER-SECRET ENDING TO A FUTURE DT BOOK IS REVEILED IN THIS POST**
**NOTHING TO SEE HERE**
**MOVE ALONG TO THE NEXT POST**

**THIS CONCLUDES THE REQUIRED MONTHLY TEST OF THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM. IF THIS HAD BEEN AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY...**

It's clunky fromm the standpoint of Roland telling the story. He jumps around a bit and has to add things later that he forgot. Then you find out that the whole thing may not have happened as Roland told it since Maerlyn's Grapefruit had lied to him in the past and he relies on it to bring his tale to a conclusion. And for such an important backstory, that's unacceptable. But that may be just one of the reasons Roland failed in his quest and doomed himself to repeat it.

There it is. Spoiler.

I've read the DT series 4 times (The Wind Through the Keyhole only once) and each time I dread going through W&G--my third least favorite King book).

I did like Roland's (King's) admission in TWTTK that while he wasn't very good to begin with (W&G), he has gotten better at telling stories.

Squire, that's not cool! Can you please edit your post and mark the spoiler for those who haven't finished reading the series yet!

Squire wrote: "My least favorite of the DT books. It's clunky fromm the stand point of Roland telling the story. He jumps around a bit and has to add things later that he forgot. Then you find out that the whole ..."

This is a spoiler from a future book so I would also put that warning in there please!!!

I enjoyed Wizard & Glass. Thought it was a nice break in the middle of the series, like the moment where the characters regroup before they head out to battle again. It was also a good insight into Roland's past and a chance to see him as a younger man before he became the man he is today. I could say more but only at the risk of adding more nasty spoilers!!