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gearyofbooks's review
4.0
While not a classic "easy read" it's a digestible read. If, like me, you became aware of this via King and his books then the inspiration is clear as day.
It was a refreshing challenge to read in an older style of writing.
Also, much like the books it influenced there is a lesson in futility here.
It was a refreshing challenge to read in an older style of writing.
Also, much like the books it influenced there is a lesson in futility here.
quillbot's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
breamfish1138's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Is there a lore reason why he doesn't just stop searching for the tower? Is he stupid?
liamkeith's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
dantastic's review
3.0
For the past decade or so, one of the ways I find books to read is to see who or what influenced some of my favorite writers. I discovered P.G. Wodehouse after he was mentioned by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Christopher Moore, for example. One of Stephen King's influences for the Dark Tower saga was this poem by Robert Browning.
I've been a Dark Tower junkie for somewhere between twelve and fifteen years at this point but I never read the poem Stephen King drew inspiration from until today. It's not a long poem by any means. There are many reviews on this site that are longer. Yet it contains a lot of parallels to The Dark Tower series.
The poem is in an AABABB rhyme scheme and told in 34 stanzas. I'll note the Dark Tower inklings that jumped out at me.
The first four stanzas seem to be an inspiration for the first book in the Dark Tower series, The Gunslinger. Roland, recalling his wanderings, is tempted to give up on his quest for the Dark Tower by a lying old man with a staff. Sound familiar?
The seventh stanza also harkens to the Gunslinger, when Roland thinks of the others who have fallen in the quest for the Dark Tower. In the eighth, Roland resumes his quest. In the ninth, he's lost and the only man is gone, kind of like when Roland finds himself lost on the seashore, just before the lobstrocities attack.
In the sixteenth stanza, Roland remembers his friend Cuthbert's face. In the seventeenth, a traitor and a hanging are mentioned. In the flashback sequence in the Gunslinger, Roland and Cuthbert witness the hanging of a traitor.
In the thirty-first stanza, Roland finally sees the Tower in the distance, built of brown stone. Finally, in the final stanza, Roland blows his horn, signifying the end of his quest, something that didn't happen on the last iteration of Stephen King's Dark Tower, but may happen in the next one.
Sadly, there is no giant bear with a satellite dish on it's head in Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came. For the bear, I'll be reading [b:Shardik|92408|Shardik|Richard Adams|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347952145s/92408.jpg|894692] sometime in the future.
I've been a Dark Tower junkie for somewhere between twelve and fifteen years at this point but I never read the poem Stephen King drew inspiration from until today. It's not a long poem by any means. There are many reviews on this site that are longer. Yet it contains a lot of parallels to The Dark Tower series.
The poem is in an AABABB rhyme scheme and told in 34 stanzas. I'll note the Dark Tower inklings that jumped out at me.
The first four stanzas seem to be an inspiration for the first book in the Dark Tower series, The Gunslinger. Roland, recalling his wanderings, is tempted to give up on his quest for the Dark Tower by a lying old man with a staff. Sound familiar?
The seventh stanza also harkens to the Gunslinger, when Roland thinks of the others who have fallen in the quest for the Dark Tower. In the eighth, Roland resumes his quest. In the ninth, he's lost and the only man is gone, kind of like when Roland finds himself lost on the seashore, just before the lobstrocities attack.
In the sixteenth stanza, Roland remembers his friend Cuthbert's face. In the seventeenth, a traitor and a hanging are mentioned. In the flashback sequence in the Gunslinger, Roland and Cuthbert witness the hanging of a traitor.
In the thirty-first stanza, Roland finally sees the Tower in the distance, built of brown stone. Finally, in the final stanza, Roland blows his horn, signifying the end of his quest, something that didn't happen on the last iteration of Stephen King's Dark Tower, but may happen in the next one.
Sadly, there is no giant bear with a satellite dish on it's head in Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came. For the bear, I'll be reading [b:Shardik|92408|Shardik|Richard Adams|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347952145s/92408.jpg|894692] sometime in the future.
vigneswara_prabhu's review
5.0
Readers find different meanings in the books that they indulge in. You, me and the average joe, would chance upon Robert Browning ode to a hero's tale, and take away from it the determination of our protagonist Roland to undertake the perilous and insurmountable quest, his perseverance in face of ever dangerous obstacles, his resilience at the prospect of failure and ultimate death, as well as the burning sense of duty as well as loyalty to his fallen comrades which drives him forwards, whatever the end might hold.
Stephen King read the work, took away that, and much more, using it as the template to craft the rich and enthralling world of Roland Deschain and the Dark Tower.
Like most general readers, the reason I picked up this poem was upon learning how it served as inspiration to Mr. King's acclaimed series. Yet even then I was spellbound at how closely the journey of Browning's protagonist mirrors that of Deschain.
Mr. King is able to take all the defining, engaging and tormenting traits of Roland, and imbue it to his own protagonist, while at the same time fleshing him out and somehow improving upon them, giving us a hero with whom we're willing to journey to the ends of the earth.
Other than Roland, other elements of the poem, such as the treacherous sorcerer, the death inducing suffocating and oppressive world of the desert, as well as Roland's backstory and past were taken oftentimes verbatim and expanded upon, in a manner that would satisfy the readers who would want to know, what exactly happened to Browning's Roland to put him in this path.
In many ways, despite all the challenges, obstacles and failures that he encounters, Roland here is able to keep alive the ray of hope, as well as the determination to see his near impossible task to its completion.
The final stanza of the poem is knight Roland, throwing away the shackles of doubt, suffering and guilt, to proclaim to the dead desert, the oppressive towards, the malicious powers and the whole world, that his will has not yet been broken. That he shall persevere, for giving meaning, not only to his own existence, but also to that of his fellows, who fell along the journey, whose hopes, dreams and mission Roland inherited as his own.
Much like Boromir in the Lord of the Rings, blowing the horn of Gondor, Roland bellows his slug-horn, in defiance to the cruel fate that has robbed much of him, and proclaim to all, 'Here stands Childe Roland, and he has come to the Dark tower', to face fire and brimstone.
Stephen King read the work, took away that, and much more, using it as the template to craft the rich and enthralling world of Roland Deschain and the Dark Tower.
Like most general readers, the reason I picked up this poem was upon learning how it served as inspiration to Mr. King's acclaimed series. Yet even then I was spellbound at how closely the journey of Browning's protagonist mirrors that of Deschain.
Mr. King is able to take all the defining, engaging and tormenting traits of Roland, and imbue it to his own protagonist, while at the same time fleshing him out and somehow improving upon them, giving us a hero with whom we're willing to journey to the ends of the earth.
Other than Roland, other elements of the poem, such as the treacherous sorcerer, the death inducing suffocating and oppressive world of the desert, as well as Roland's backstory and past were taken oftentimes verbatim and expanded upon, in a manner that would satisfy the readers who would want to know, what exactly happened to Browning's Roland to put him in this path.
In many ways, despite all the challenges, obstacles and failures that he encounters, Roland here is able to keep alive the ray of hope, as well as the determination to see his near impossible task to its completion.
The final stanza of the poem is knight Roland, throwing away the shackles of doubt, suffering and guilt, to proclaim to the dead desert, the oppressive towards, the malicious powers and the whole world, that his will has not yet been broken. That he shall persevere, for giving meaning, not only to his own existence, but also to that of his fellows, who fell along the journey, whose hopes, dreams and mission Roland inherited as his own.
Much like Boromir in the Lord of the Rings, blowing the horn of Gondor, Roland bellows his slug-horn, in defiance to the cruel fate that has robbed much of him, and proclaim to all, 'Here stands Childe Roland, and he has come to the Dark tower', to face fire and brimstone.
mysimas's review
2.0
As a non-native speaker, I struggled. Maybe that contributed to why the poem didn’t speak to me much.
rosekk's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this. I liked the idea. Unfortunately, the poetry just didn't grab me. I'm very picky with poetry - the number of poems/poets I have liked are a tiny minority compared with everything I've read (not that I've read enormous amounts of poetry - I like a handful of poems out of perhaps a hundred or so). This just didn't have whatever it is that I liked in those handful of poems.
lannnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaa's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A