Scan barcode
subparcupcake's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this last week, but needed time to sort out my feelings. Truth be told, after reading the ending my mind was reeling. It was hard to start another book, because I was so hung up on this one. I know a lot of people took issue with the way it ended... But for me, personally? I loved it.
BIG ENDING SPOILERS! DO NOT READ UNLESS FINISHED!
For the record, I'll post here my take on the ending... Keep in mind, I'm a King noobie. So many of his novels are connected to the Dark Tower somehow, and I've read virtually none of them, so this view is strictly from a noobie perspective. I'm sure as I read more connecting novels my interpretation will change, and I will welcome that! But for now I'm happy basing it only on what I know, and letting it grow and change from there. So here goes, please bear with me...
It seems like a lot of people think that Roland is doomed to repeat the loop, over and over, until he gets everything right. Like he made mistakes he has to rectify, one by one. That's not the impression I got... It's hard to articulate my thoughts on it, but I'm going to do my best. This is purely my speculation and interpretations, but I'm going to state it as fact to make it easier to follow.
Roland's problem is the tower. His obsession is the tower. His willingness to sacrifice anything and everything to get to the tower is the problem. He could have turned back any time after stopping the breakers, certainly after erasing the Crimson King. At that point I feel like his job was done, there was nothing more Roland himself could do for the tower. But he didn't turn back.. He had to see what was at the top of the tower. He was obsessed, couldn't turn away. He chose the tower over everything else, and climbed the steps. As he climbed, he tried to block out the rooms that painted a picture of his life up to that point - he didn't care about anything, didn't want to pause to appreciate those he loved and his life, he just needed to see the top. It's always the tower for him, above anything and everything else.
And it will always be the tower for him, unless something changes. Unless, through the progression of his loops, he realizes that nothing that matters is in there, and puts his companions first. Puts those he loves before the tower, rather than the tower before his loved ones. Taking time to pick up the horn is a sign that he's getting closer... Maybe even almost there. The horn is a purely sentimental object, and he picked it up only because of his love for Cuthburt. He had never bothered before, even though it would only take a moment to do so. Picking up the horn shows he's getting closer to who he needs to be to turn away once his task is complete, and not climb those steps.
Who knows what Roland was like on previous loops. Maybe he never loved Eddie and Susannah and Jake and Oy, maybe he heartlessly sacrificed them, maybe he selfishly made Patrick grab the rose for him. And this time around, this time that we saw him, he loved. He cried. He was one step closer..
Maybe this next time around he'll save the universe and say that's enough, it's time to rest, I don't need to see what's at the top of the tower, I have everything I need right here around me. People I love, who love me.. What else is there?
Maybe... One can hope.
So that's my take on the ending, and for now I'm happy with it. It feels right for me, and that's what I love about this conclusion to a truly epic series - we can all find what feels right for us, and build from that should we continue to explore the SK universe.
I'll end this review now, as it's already just about the longest one I've ever written. Before I do, a quick shout out to Chris and Becky; they held me down and tickled me until I agreed to start reading some King, and in particular to start the journey to the Dark Tower, and I couldn't be more grateful! Ok, maybe they didn't really tickle me... But they're plenty scary when they want something bad enough, you're better off just obeying ;)
BIG ENDING SPOILERS! DO NOT READ UNLESS FINISHED!
Spoiler
What I loved most about it is how it was sort of left open for interpretation. I can see why many people would be pissed.. He gets to the top of the tower and it loops him back to the beginning of the story? WTF! But for me it fit, it worked perfectly. I've discussed the ending with several people, and it seems we all have different theories on why he loops back to the beginning, and we are all equally convinced that ours is the most fitting reason. I love that! It leaves so much room for friendly debate!For the record, I'll post here my take on the ending... Keep in mind, I'm a King noobie. So many of his novels are connected to the Dark Tower somehow, and I've read virtually none of them, so this view is strictly from a noobie perspective. I'm sure as I read more connecting novels my interpretation will change, and I will welcome that! But for now I'm happy basing it only on what I know, and letting it grow and change from there. So here goes, please bear with me...
It seems like a lot of people think that Roland is doomed to repeat the loop, over and over, until he gets everything right. Like he made mistakes he has to rectify, one by one. That's not the impression I got... It's hard to articulate my thoughts on it, but I'm going to do my best. This is purely my speculation and interpretations, but I'm going to state it as fact to make it easier to follow.
Roland's problem is the tower. His obsession is the tower. His willingness to sacrifice anything and everything to get to the tower is the problem. He could have turned back any time after stopping the breakers, certainly after erasing the Crimson King. At that point I feel like his job was done, there was nothing more Roland himself could do for the tower. But he didn't turn back.. He had to see what was at the top of the tower. He was obsessed, couldn't turn away. He chose the tower over everything else, and climbed the steps. As he climbed, he tried to block out the rooms that painted a picture of his life up to that point - he didn't care about anything, didn't want to pause to appreciate those he loved and his life, he just needed to see the top. It's always the tower for him, above anything and everything else.
And it will always be the tower for him, unless something changes. Unless, through the progression of his loops, he realizes that nothing that matters is in there, and puts his companions first. Puts those he loves before the tower, rather than the tower before his loved ones. Taking time to pick up the horn is a sign that he's getting closer... Maybe even almost there. The horn is a purely sentimental object, and he picked it up only because of his love for Cuthburt. He had never bothered before, even though it would only take a moment to do so. Picking up the horn shows he's getting closer to who he needs to be to turn away once his task is complete, and not climb those steps.
Who knows what Roland was like on previous loops. Maybe he never loved Eddie and Susannah and Jake and Oy, maybe he heartlessly sacrificed them, maybe he selfishly made Patrick grab the rose for him. And this time around, this time that we saw him, he loved. He cried. He was one step closer..
Maybe this next time around he'll save the universe and say that's enough, it's time to rest, I don't need to see what's at the top of the tower, I have everything I need right here around me. People I love, who love me.. What else is there?
Maybe... One can hope.
So that's my take on the ending, and for now I'm happy with it. It feels right for me, and that's what I love about this conclusion to a truly epic series - we can all find what feels right for us, and build from that should we continue to explore the SK universe.
I'll end this review now, as it's already just about the longest one I've ever written. Before I do, a quick shout out to Chris and Becky; they held me down and tickled me until I agreed to start reading some King, and in particular to start the journey to the Dark Tower, and I couldn't be more grateful! Ok, maybe they didn't really tickle me... But they're plenty scary when they want something bad enough, you're better off just obeying ;)
alunike's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I found the beginning half of the book a little slow paced to me. This, together with work and other real world events, took away some time from me to complete this book earlier.
However, do not repeat my mistake, I beg ya, continue reading it until you come to a part where the author wrote “…the rest of the tale will be short… compared to all’s that gone before..” cause after that things really moved so fast that the next thing I know, I’ve completed the book.
Overall, I do think that it’s a good ending to the whole story arc. I do like how the author wrote the ending and I do think that it’s a fitting end. I also like how he connected some of his other books into this series; I will definitely be trying to see glimpses of Roland and his ka-tet in the future Stephen King books I read.
However, do not repeat my mistake, I beg ya, continue reading it until you come to a part where the author wrote “…the rest of the tale will be short… compared to all’s that gone before..” cause after that things really moved so fast that the next thing I know, I’ve completed the book.
Overall, I do think that it’s a good ending to the whole story arc. I do like how the author wrote the ending and I do think that it’s a fitting end. I also like how he connected some of his other books into this series; I will definitely be trying to see glimpses of Roland and his ka-tet in the future Stephen King books I read.
m4riareads's review against another edition
5.0
El mejor y más desgarrador final. La review la estoy buscando, pronto la subo.
es_the_book_hoarder's review against another edition
5.0
Unbelievable. I'd swear but I've just been ranting in my kitchen. Unbelievable!
geauxread85's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
readsagain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Rating for this single book: Like a “C” in school = 3.5
For the series:
Do I think it would be good in theaters? No.
Would I want to re-read it? No.
Would I want to learn more details about the characters: No.
So, like a 60% in school, I’d give the whole series 3 stars.
Best of the series:
The very best books in my opinion of the entire series were “Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands” (5 stars) and “Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass. (4.5 stars). All the juice in those two basically.
What I liked about Dark Tower 7:
Basically, disappointing. I can see why people like SK's writing and some turn out to be good films.
mrbananacheeks's review
5.0
“Ka is a wheel.”
Early in the series, Roland is warned that the top floor of the Tower is empty. That’s partly true. But it also contains the entire series itself.
This book was long, sad, and powerful. All but the original ka-tet survive for what could be close to a happy ending, but the idea of Susannah going to some version of NYC that Jake and Eddie live in made me pretty emotional while driving. Even during that moment, when I believed that Roland’s story would end with the doors of the Tower closing behind him.
In a book where they literally save the life of Stephen King, and a moment of deus ex machina where SK literally writes in notes to a character, the inclusion of Patrick at the end felt a little cheap. But I can’t imagine that there would be very many satisfying endings to such a long series. The joy is in the journey, after all.
Amazing how we can read thousands of pages while wishing along that our “hero”, gets to the Tower, climbs the stairs, finds peace at the top, and maybe becomes whole again. And feel so disappointed when SK leaves us hanging; telling us to stop reading. Then Roland opens the last door, and sees nothing but the desert and cold campfire in front of him that the first book begins with; forced to go to the Tower again and again, with this next time maybe being different, with hints provided by the Tower itself that he immediately discards from memory once he steps through completely.
So I dream of a tale where he is simply content with disposing of the Crimson King and finds his way to NYC with his ka-tet. Though SK has made it clear that reading each of his books is one of the Tower, I am sad to finish it. Maybe we’ll get more, maybe not. But for now, every time someone starts reading the series, we’ll have to be okay with the greatest opening line of a book, and greatest final line of a series:
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”
Long days, and pleasant nights.
Early in the series, Roland is warned that the top floor of the Tower is empty. That’s partly true. But it also contains the entire series itself.
This book was long, sad, and powerful. All but the original ka-tet survive for what could be close to a happy ending, but the idea of Susannah going to some version of NYC that Jake and Eddie live in made me pretty emotional while driving. Even during that moment, when I believed that Roland’s story would end with the doors of the Tower closing behind him.
In a book where they literally save the life of Stephen King, and a moment of deus ex machina where SK literally writes in notes to a character, the inclusion of Patrick at the end felt a little cheap. But I can’t imagine that there would be very many satisfying endings to such a long series. The joy is in the journey, after all.
Amazing how we can read thousands of pages while wishing along that our “hero”, gets to the Tower, climbs the stairs, finds peace at the top, and maybe becomes whole again. And feel so disappointed when SK leaves us hanging; telling us to stop reading. Then Roland opens the last door, and sees nothing but the desert and cold campfire in front of him that the first book begins with; forced to go to the Tower again and again, with this next time maybe being different, with hints provided by the Tower itself that he immediately discards from memory once he steps through completely.
So I dream of a tale where he is simply content with disposing of the Crimson King and finds his way to NYC with his ka-tet. Though SK has made it clear that reading each of his books is one of the Tower, I am sad to finish it. Maybe we’ll get more, maybe not. But for now, every time someone starts reading the series, we’ll have to be okay with the greatest opening line of a book, and greatest final line of a series:
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”
Long days, and pleasant nights.
closteroven's review
5.0
(10/10)- I did it. More than one “it”. The first “it”. I finished the Dark Tower, and followed Roland through to the end, if you want to get poetic I guess. Second “it”: I rated a book 10 on 10, because this was just that good. Yeah, there were a few minor flaws that bugged me a tiny bit. But then again, the character arcs were amazing. The story itself came full circle in a way I really liked. It changed, but that change just led right back to the start. Ka is a wheel, I guess. I can’t even begin to explain how much I love this series, so I won’t. Just know that it’s a lot.
Also it had my name in it at one part so that’s cool too.
Also it had my name in it at one part so that’s cool too.
ishara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0