Dark Tower #1: The Gunslinger: roll call and first impressions (no spoilers!)

[Shel, Moderator]

Here we go! Let us know if you're reading or planning on reading The Gunslinger, book one of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. No spoilers here please!

[CJ]

I definitely need to reread this series. It's been ages! I have the 1st book checked out and will be joining you.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I will not be rereading this series but will be interested in following the discussion.

[Kateblue]

I am planning on joining for all. I don't know if I will make it all the way through, though

[Random]

I had this book so I thought I would give it a try.

While I don't dislike him, I'm not really a fan of Stephen King.
I am not a fan of post apocalyptic stories.
I absolutely despise Westerns unless they are comedies making fun of westerns.

Yeah, I made it to Chapter 2 and gave up.
Might be my mood as I haven't been thrilled with anything I've read recently. I might try again but I think the odds are stacked against it.

[Forrest]

Simultaneously reading two westerns (also Lonesome Dove) right now is not a situation I thought I'd ever be in in my life. My grandpaw would be so proud. lol

I didn't realize The Gunslinger is a shorter book of just over 200 pages. I've been meaning to read this one, especially since recently watching The Stand on Paramount+.

[Natalie]

I plan on joining in on this series. I read the first book a few years ago and was not impressed. But my dad loves the series so he'll be happy I'm giving it another try.
Like Random, I'm not a King fan but I've heard this series is different. I looked ahead and a couple books in the series are quite long so will take some more time to get through!

[Kateblue]

I finished it! Yay. Fourth time's a charm

[Kateblue]

Random wrote: "Yeah, I made it to Chapter 2 and gave up."

I get it. As you can see, this is my fourth try.

I do like Stephen King, though, usually. I need to go through his books and figure out which I have not read. Are they eligible to be read here? Many of them are set in current times, but have some fantastic elements . . . I suppose they might be fantasy

[CJ]

I really soured on King in my older age, but loved his stuff when I was college kid, which is when I read this series and loved it. I do not know how I will feel about it now. I have not enjoyed King's stuff in recent years, even his more praised horror works, but I recall this being very different from his usual fair. I still have vivid memory of favorite parts of the later books in the series, so I'm eager to reread this and see how it holds up for me.

But I understand other people not being into it. When the series was republished in the 1990s, when I read it, I recall there were people, including hardcore King fans, who did not like it as well. So you're not alone if you find it's not for you.

[Kateblue]

CJ wrote: "I really soured on King in my older age, but loved his stuff when I was college kid, which is when I read this series and loved it. I do not know how I will feel about it now. I have not enjoyed Ki..."

You've gotten me to go try to figure out which of his I have not read so I can read them when I can fit them in

[Katy]

I'll give this one a try.

[Ken]

I have read this twice. Both times to continue the series and I never did. One of my friends loves the series. He doesnt read often

I will join the series read for book 2.