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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This novel started out slow, but picked up about 20% into the book. A decent book on it's own, but a must read if you want to read the surrounding lore for the Dark Tower series.
Good story in need of an editor who knows how to cut words. Normally I like King's long winded style but damn this book needed cuts.
3.5 Stars, I actually like this better than The Talisman. It was more engaging and had less slow and boring parts.
As a huge Dark Tower fan, I read this without having read The Talisman first. I do plan to read The Talisman soon, but it wasn't necessary to understand this story.
Black House had some fascinating characters and a terrifying plot. The only reason I'm giving it four rather than five starts is because the final battle seemed a little contrived, the final evil the characters encounter not as terrifying as it could have been.
Black House had some fascinating characters and a terrifying plot. The only reason I'm giving it four rather than five starts is because the final battle seemed a little contrived, the final evil the characters encounter not as terrifying as it could have been.
What a book. What a story. Despite reading the first one (The Talisman, published 1984) just two weeks ago, reading the Black House (published 2001) gave me a nostalgic feeling that just can't be explained... I felt like I've missed the characters of Jack Sawyer and Speedy for the amount of time between publication plus the last 23 years. When I first read Jack Sawyer in the Black House, it felt like it had been DECADES since I have known him from his initial journey in The Talisman. Woah, just such incredible writing to invoke that kind of feeling in a reader.
And of course, having read the entire The Dark Tower series, this book's mere mentions of Roland and his new ka-tet just gave me such immense joy to know that, somewhere in the universe, Roland continues on his journey to the meet the Crimson King (no spoilers here!). I had grown to love everything about The Dark Tower series so this was such a nice treat. And I see you there, Blaine and Patricia!
But back to the story... what we have here in an immensely competent extranatural murder novel with an unbelievable cast, starting with the protagonist (Jack Sawyer), characters like Henry and Beez and Tyler and Judy, all wonderfully written with rich details given to each and every one of them. It's what you have come to expect of Stephen King and here he (along with Peter Straub) delivers in spade.
If you have read the Talisman, this is a must-read. If you are interested in this book, please do not, do not, skip The Talisman. And finally, if The Dark Tower series left you wanting more, this book will scratch that itch nicely. Highly recommended!
And of course, having read the entire The Dark Tower series, this book's mere mentions of Roland and his new ka-tet just gave me such immense joy to know that, somewhere in the universe, Roland continues on his journey to the meet the Crimson King (no spoilers here!). I had grown to love everything about The Dark Tower series so this was such a nice treat. And I see you there, Blaine and Patricia!
But back to the story... what we have here in an immensely competent extranatural murder novel with an unbelievable cast, starting with the protagonist (Jack Sawyer), characters like Henry and Beez and Tyler and Judy, all wonderfully written with rich details given to each and every one of them. It's what you have come to expect of Stephen King and here he (along with Peter Straub) delivers in spade.
If you have read the Talisman, this is a must-read. If you are interested in this book, please do not, do not, skip The Talisman. And finally, if The Dark Tower series left you wanting more, this book will scratch that itch nicely. Highly recommended!
I was surprised how much I enjoyed The Talisman when I read it earlier this year. I did so as I read not only the Dark Tower series, but the connective tissue.
Black House has more direct connections to the Dark Tower, and it's required reading for those on the path of the beam.
I thought it was a notch below The Talisman, but on the whole it's very solid. I did not, however, enjoy the sections of birds-eye perspective. The book opened with the unusual narrative style and I think that if it continued that way for 600+ pages, I would have put it down.
Black House has more direct connections to the Dark Tower, and it's required reading for those on the path of the beam.
I thought it was a notch below The Talisman, but on the whole it's very solid. I did not, however, enjoy the sections of birds-eye perspective. The book opened with the unusual narrative style and I think that if it continued that way for 600+ pages, I would have put it down.
Really exceptional writing... even if it is completely creepy! I have to admit, the first time I started this book, I had to put it down when the authors delved into descriptions of child killing, dismemberment, and cannibalism the exceedingly evil villain perpetrates. Just too dark, too dismal, too... chilling. But after listening to a couple of excellent podcasters (Scott Daly and Matt Freeman of The Kingslingers) dissect and analyze the writing, I decided to give it another try. This time, though, instead of reading a hard copy, I listened to the audiobook, read by the incomparable Frank Muller.
What a difference! Yes, the descriptions were sickening (but shouldn't they be?) but these two guys talked about the book in such an entertaining and educational way that I not only was enjoying what could be some of Stephen King's best work (yes, he co-wrote it with Peter Straub), I was learning about the craft of writing as well. By the end of the third chapter, I was totally hooked. I really loved this book, and enjoyed seeing Jack Sawyer all grown up. I definitely recommend it, but only after you've finished The Talisman... and ideally, find The Kingslingers podcast and start listening to it right away!
What a difference! Yes, the descriptions were sickening (but shouldn't they be?) but these two guys talked about the book in such an entertaining and educational way that I not only was enjoying what could be some of Stephen King's best work (yes, he co-wrote it with Peter Straub), I was learning about the craft of writing as well. By the end of the third chapter, I was totally hooked. I really loved this book, and enjoyed seeing Jack Sawyer all grown up. I definitely recommend it, but only after you've finished The Talisman... and ideally, find The Kingslingers podcast and start listening to it right away!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So the Talisman was my jam when I was a kid. I read it twice, once when I was 14, and again a couple years later.
I liked it because it was sprawling and adventurous. Things moved and happened because it was basically a roadtrip book. And then there were the territories, which added a new dimension, something different, with different creatures and types of people. I liked, no loved The Talisman because I felt like I was part of the story in a way.
This is not that. It’s just really a Stephen King novel with all the Stephen King cliches. It’s just ordinary and other than a few, very short forays into the Territories, it doesn’t leave the small town in which it’s based. Boring.
Sure, I could make out the vague markings of Peter Straub who’s far more inventive and poetic. You could see his influence in the actual Black House scenes and places therein, but it’s mostly King doing his tired, sadistic, overly cruel Stephen King things. I get it, you got the whole murder-torture thing down.
This book was okay, but it’s mostly held up by what I assume are Straub’s more imaginative contributions than King’s plodding pace and overwrought writing.
I liked it because it was sprawling and adventurous. Things moved and happened because it was basically a roadtrip book. And then there were the territories, which added a new dimension, something different, with different creatures and types of people. I liked, no loved The Talisman because I felt like I was part of the story in a way.
This is not that. It’s just really a Stephen King novel with all the Stephen King cliches. It’s just ordinary and other than a few, very short forays into the Territories, it doesn’t leave the small town in which it’s based. Boring.
Sure, I could make out the vague markings of Peter Straub who’s far more inventive and poetic. You could see his influence in the actual Black House scenes and places therein, but it’s mostly King doing his tired, sadistic, overly cruel Stephen King things. I get it, you got the whole murder-torture thing down.
This book was okay, but it’s mostly held up by what I assume are Straub’s more imaginative contributions than King’s plodding pace and overwrought writing.