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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
Do ya ken?
Friends, this is craziness. I don't think I actually expected to fully understand (or appreciate, heck, even like!) the metafiction that King tied in with these last three installments of the Dark Tower. However...
Something about the metafiction passed a critical juncture, about the time a certain trio encountered Roland on his quest for the Dark Tower. Then it just... clicked. Something in my brain went: "Huh. Yeah, that works." And ka rolled ever onward.
Let me just itemize this review, since there is very little chance that I can coherently pull all of my thoughts together otherwise. Spoilers ahead.
2) While I'm on the subject, let me just say that all of the characters' endings befitted their story arcs. Yes, even Walter, Mordred, and The Crimson King. I don't know how else to explain it, but it makes sense that for the whole span of the series, we have been told that the world had moved on, that, somehow, the good was seeping out of it drop by precious drop. Still, ka is a wheel, and it makes sense that the "boogey-men" who previously put up so much of a fight to Roland and his ka-tet would, at the end, be overcome by their pretensions, their hubris, and their... well, their egos. Through little to no effort on Roland's behalf, these evil boogers were carried away, swept away, (erased away?) through nothing but ka.
3) Well, almost nothing but ka. We had a few sacrifices along the way.
a) Walking a little after finishing this book, it makes sense that the deaths of Jake, Eddie, and Oy might be so frustrating to some. We walked so long with them, saw them grow, change, love, and suffer alongside each other. And Eddie... POOR Eddie! He just gets shot by a villain who Roland didn't quite kill? He did all that work, and an almost-dead wanna-be Christian bumbo pops a bullet through his head? REALLY?
b) Yes, really. For ka is a wheel. Just like all the boogeymen got erased (chased?) away, so too must the ka-tet break. And, for how much I cared about the characters, part of my grief was that their deaths didn't have the glory they deserved. But they died well. And they lived well after, do ya ken?
4) Like I mentioned in the Song of Susannah review, I think that the best parts of the book were the moments that Roland and his tet were in End-World. Stopping the Breakers, walking across Empathica, and finally getting to the field of roses. Still, the sequence beginning with Roland and Jake exiting the door Sheemie made and ending with Roland reuniting, alone, with Susannah was very well written. The illustrations in this book were also phenomenal additions to this section which, to be honest, brought tears to my eyes.
5) Another piece that surprised me is that Roland and Susannah, even through to the very end, never stopped encountering new and unexpected enemies on the final trek to the Dark Tower. Whether it be slimy many-eyed tunnel monsters, shape-shifting vampires, the elements and cold itself, there were always new, fresh, horrifying monsters lying in the shadows at every turn. One fantasy series I love is the Earthsea Cycle, because Ged, the (often) main character always had to battle not only fantastical beasts and sorcerers, but also his own exhaustion and sense of inadequacy. I think that Roland shows a similar exhaustion, filling out the "type" of the exhausted hero, driven on not because of a deep desire to fulfill his quest, but a need. And beyond even Ged, Roland shows an uncontrollable compulsion to reach his goal. He literally could not be stopped... if you didn't read the Coda DOUBLE SPOILERS...
6) There is likely much more to say, but MAN, this was a ride. I'll end by saying that this book series has given me a LOT to chew on (#ripcallahan). I think that this will end up being one of those series that I think about for a long, long time, and I will still be unweaving the significance for a longer time than I may even remember all of the details and tales. But... say it with me... ka is a wheel, friend. And it continues to turn.
Say thank ya.
Friends, this is craziness. I don't think I actually expected to fully understand (or appreciate, heck, even like!) the metafiction that King tied in with these last three installments of the Dark Tower. However...
Something about the metafiction passed a critical juncture, about the time a certain trio encountered Roland on his quest for the Dark Tower. Then it just... clicked. Something in my brain went: "Huh. Yeah, that works." And ka rolled ever onward.
Let me just itemize this review, since there is very little chance that I can coherently pull all of my thoughts together otherwise. Spoilers ahead.
Spoiler
1) Callahan, you BEAST! The beginning of this novel feels almost like a different world from the very end. Still, the scene with Jake and Callahan fighting the low-men, the Taheen, and the vamps in the Dixie Pig was nothing short of legendary. It is scenes like this that kept me going with the Dark Tower series, and one of the reasons I liked Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla so much. His death was so... appropriate to his character.2) While I'm on the subject, let me just say that all of the characters' endings befitted their story arcs. Yes, even Walter, Mordred, and The Crimson King. I don't know how else to explain it, but it makes sense that for the whole span of the series, we have been told that the world had moved on, that, somehow, the good was seeping out of it drop by precious drop. Still, ka is a wheel, and it makes sense that the "boogey-men" who previously put up so much of a fight to Roland and his ka-tet would, at the end, be overcome by their pretensions, their hubris, and their... well, their egos. Through little to no effort on Roland's behalf, these evil boogers were carried away, swept away, (erased away?) through nothing but ka.
3) Well, almost nothing but ka. We had a few sacrifices along the way.
a) Walking a little after finishing this book, it makes sense that the deaths of Jake, Eddie, and Oy might be so frustrating to some. We walked so long with them, saw them grow, change, love, and suffer alongside each other. And Eddie... POOR Eddie! He just gets shot by a villain who Roland didn't quite kill? He did all that work, and an almost-dead wanna-be Christian bumbo pops a bullet through his head? REALLY?
b) Yes, really. For ka is a wheel. Just like all the boogeymen got erased (chased?) away, so too must the ka-tet break. And, for how much I cared about the characters, part of my grief was that their deaths didn't have the glory they deserved. But they died well. And they lived well after, do ya ken?
4) Like I mentioned in the Song of Susannah review, I think that the best parts of the book were the moments that Roland and his tet were in End-World. Stopping the Breakers, walking across Empathica, and finally getting to the field of roses. Still, the sequence beginning with Roland and Jake exiting the door Sheemie made and ending with Roland reuniting, alone, with Susannah was very well written. The illustrations in this book were also phenomenal additions to this section which, to be honest, brought tears to my eyes.
5) Another piece that surprised me is that Roland and Susannah, even through to the very end, never stopped encountering new and unexpected enemies on the final trek to the Dark Tower. Whether it be slimy many-eyed tunnel monsters, shape-shifting vampires, the elements and cold itself, there were always new, fresh, horrifying monsters lying in the shadows at every turn. One fantasy series I love is the Earthsea Cycle, because Ged, the (often) main character always had to battle not only fantastical beasts and sorcerers, but also his own exhaustion and sense of inadequacy. I think that Roland shows a similar exhaustion, filling out the "type" of the exhausted hero, driven on not because of a deep desire to fulfill his quest, but a need. And beyond even Ged, Roland shows an uncontrollable compulsion to reach his goal. He literally could not be stopped... if you didn't read the Coda DOUBLE SPOILERS...
Spoiler
... and it did bring him to ruin - a hell of his own, long creation. For ka is a wheel, friend.6) There is likely much more to say, but MAN, this was a ride. I'll end by saying that this book series has given me a LOT to chew on (#ripcallahan). I think that this will end up being one of those series that I think about for a long, long time, and I will still be unweaving the significance for a longer time than I may even remember all of the details and tales. But... say it with me... ka is a wheel, friend. And it continues to turn.
Say thank ya.
Five stars for the pure stamina of King. Such an amazing storyteller. I loved the metafiction aspect, all of it. I also am impressed with my own stamina, to be honest, finishing all eight books and their thousands and thousands of pages.
Yum. On to the next Stephen King story!
Yum. On to the next Stephen King story!
Every trip to the Tower is more devastating than the last. And it’s like the first, ya ken?
Two years, seven books, and now it’s over? I don’t know how to feel.
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
The end. Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came and there wasn't a dry eye in the house (seriously, I cried intermittently throughout the whole thing but by the end I was bawling like a baby). The whole journey has taken me about 3 months, not including the better part of a year doing pre-reading to make sure I got all of the references. How can I even sum up what makes this journey one of the best and most heartbreaking things you'll ever read? I can't. Just know that if you love a good quest story with rich characters and beautiful worlds to explore then start reading these yesterday. You won't regret it for a single second as the events of these 7 (and a half) books will stay with you for the rest of your book reading life. Ka is a wheel.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
I liked this conclusion to the series. I didn’t/don’t really care for the series as a whole, but I liked the idea of having a long journey played out over 7 books and 20+ years, and then killing most of the characters just before they reach their goal. And having the goal itself be actually bad, sort of. The hint was always there, I mean what goal is worth sacrificing a child for? I think the dark tower is using Roland to protect itself from threats like the crimson king, but it’s torturing him by doing that. The series as a whole felt like reference after reference after reference of pop culture and stuff. I guess I am spoiled after reading so much David Foster Wallace, who almost loathes the pop culture reference spiel. The characters are such a great idea - having a mentally and physically disabled black woman from the 60’s, a drug addicted white Brooklyn guy, and a child (plus a talking dog), as the main cast of “hero’s” was very cool. Seeing each character evolve and become the hero they were supposed to be. Even Roland goes through this.
Despite the cool character choices, and the interesting concept (love the idea of all universes being held up by a tower, very Greek), still the entire series falls flat for me. It felt like the author didn’t even know where it was going, which arguably he didn’t. Plus there are huge swathes, even entire books (wolves of the calla…), that really don’t serve a function at all - just filler. There is some really really good writing though. The gunslingers mantra is so poetic and memorable. And a lot of what Roland says is very pungent. But still, I wouldn’t recommend the series. My favorite book was either the dark tower, or the waste lands.
Despite the cool character choices, and the interesting concept (love the idea of all universes being held up by a tower, very Greek), still the entire series falls flat for me. It felt like the author didn’t even know where it was going, which arguably he didn’t. Plus there are huge swathes, even entire books (wolves of the calla…), that really don’t serve a function at all - just filler. There is some really really good writing though. The gunslingers mantra is so poetic and memorable. And a lot of what Roland says is very pungent. But still, I wouldn’t recommend the series. My favorite book was either the dark tower, or the waste lands.