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francesfincher's review against another edition
4.0
soft 4.5 - did sense the twist but still found the read really enjoyable and forgot how truly engaging king's writing is, also made me want to join a carny crew
tomasthanes's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second book by Stephen King that I've read; the first was "The Colorado Kid". Neither of which were "mainstream Stephen King".
This book may be the best written book I've read this year. It was carefully crafted, like a tapestry which had each individual thread in exactly the right place. There were no superfluous (or dangling) objects in the story; each had its place.
Neil Gaiman interviewed Stephen King on NPR where the latter said the the novel sprang from "...a single image he had had for 20 years of a boy in a wheelchair flying a Jesus kite on a beach" [Wikipedia]. That pretty much captures one of the primary trusses supporting the plot.
King also said that "...Canobie Lake Park, an amusement park in Salem, NH, was one of the main sources of inspiration for the novel [Wikipedia].
I can't imagine the research that Stephen King did to capture the "carny cant" spoken by the experienced employees of Joyland. It leant the story a deep credibility that is otherwise hard to obtain. It makes you want to sneak between one of the tents at your local County Fair and listen to the people who work the shys.
There is a higher level of profanity in the book that I'm comfortable with. Consider the source and leave it at that.
This book may be the best written book I've read this year. It was carefully crafted, like a tapestry which had each individual thread in exactly the right place. There were no superfluous (or dangling) objects in the story; each had its place.
Neil Gaiman interviewed Stephen King on NPR where the latter said the the novel sprang from "...a single image he had had for 20 years of a boy in a wheelchair flying a Jesus kite on a beach" [Wikipedia]. That pretty much captures one of the primary trusses supporting the plot.
King also said that "...Canobie Lake Park, an amusement park in Salem, NH, was one of the main sources of inspiration for the novel [Wikipedia].
I can't imagine the research that Stephen King did to capture the "carny cant" spoken by the experienced employees of Joyland. It leant the story a deep credibility that is otherwise hard to obtain. It makes you want to sneak between one of the tents at your local County Fair and listen to the people who work the shys.
There is a higher level of profanity in the book that I'm comfortable with. Consider the source and leave it at that.
daisymaytwizell's review against another edition
4.0
Short, sweet and pacy. Coming of age story meets amateur detective novel, with a fun setting in the amusement park and a Shining-esque element that could thread it into the rest of King's canon. Fun read, would recommend!
Small warning for language though, Mike's disability isn't always discussed with the best phrases. Although sometimes that is more of a character condemnation than an actual error.
Small warning for language though, Mike's disability isn't always discussed with the best phrases. Although sometimes that is more of a character condemnation than an actual error.
sconroy9697's review against another edition
4.0
This is something I never would have picked up. But, I heard King talking about it on NPR & it sounded good. I really liked it. It is the story of a young man working at a amusement park & figuring out his life. It reminded me of my year working at Knott's Berry Farm when I was 19. It just has a little bit of crime & ghosts mixed in.
emiiz's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cursing, Violence, Death, Murder, Grief, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness
eyeball83's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kflinn182's review against another edition
5.0
A nice change of pace from SK. A slice of life novel that is an easy and rather quick read painting a nostalgic picture of youth and growing up... with a little murder thrown in for good measure. A quick read with fun characters, perfect for balancing out some of King’s more intense stories.
4.5/5
4.5/5
pagingdrmudkip's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
The last good time always comes. I’m still seething about the idea that a story about a down on his luck young man, recently dumped, spending his summer as a carnival worker, evoked emotions of mortality, grief, and hope.
Say what you want about King, but the man is a master of painting genuine human emotion, particularly in children. Maybe it is because of the similar nature of feeling lost, like the main character, but I am profoundly connected to this story.
While not full blown horror at its core, the supernatural still manages to squeeze itself in into Joyland, giving you just enough to satiate your spirits.
If you’re any fan of mysteries or appetizer-level ghost stories, I implore you to give this one a shot. While it may not be considered King’s “best”, it certainly is up there for me.
Say what you want about King, but the man is a master of painting genuine human emotion, particularly in children. Maybe it is because of the similar nature of feeling lost, like the main character, but I am profoundly connected to this story.
While not full blown horror at its core, the supernatural still manages to squeeze itself in into Joyland, giving you just enough to satiate your spirits.
If you’re any fan of mysteries or appetizer-level ghost stories, I implore you to give this one a shot. While it may not be considered King’s “best”, it certainly is up there for me.
woodselisa76's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0