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A review by permanentlei
The Dark Tower I, Volume 1: The Gunslinger by Stephen King
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is my second time reading this book and I was drawn up into the story just like the first time.
The book is confusing for sure, but I like confusing. I don't mind not understanding everything that's going on. I enjoy getting tidbits and facts that have absolutely no context because it could connect later or it couldn't but it adds something to the characters or the worldbuilding.
This story has a place in my heart. Roland is such an interesting character to me and I hate him but I don't. For what he did to Jake, poor John Jake "There are other worlds than these" Chambers. For going and going towards a goal no matter what. I don't understand him but I want to follow his story.
The world, and the concept of being a blade of grass in someone else's world which is a blade of grass on another, interests me. I want to know more.
I'm planning to follow Roland's story this year. I want to see this world, and this story and these characters, expand. Whether I understand Roland's motivations or not (cause I don't). But I got to know where this is going.
The book is confusing for sure, but I like confusing. I don't mind not understanding everything that's going on. I enjoy getting tidbits and facts that have absolutely no context because it could connect later or it couldn't but it adds something to the characters or the worldbuilding.
This story has a place in my heart. Roland is such an interesting character to me and I hate him but I don't. For what he did to Jake, poor John Jake "There are other worlds than these" Chambers. For going and going towards a goal no matter what. I don't understand him but I want to follow his story.
The world, and the concept of being a blade of grass in someone else's world which is a blade of grass on another, interests me. I want to know more.
I'm planning to follow Roland's story this year. I want to see this world, and this story and these characters, expand. Whether I understand Roland's motivations or not (cause I don't). But I got to know where this is going.
UPDATE THREAD (spoilers) BELOW:
February 16, 2021
Started Reading
February 16, 2021 – page 32
Interesting world. Interesting characters. Interesting lore.
February 16, 2021 – page 74
Roland really and truly went blam blam blam. Wow
February 16, 2021 – page 79
Oh no I think this man bout to meet Jake again and I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE HE DID THAT TO THIS LIL BOY
February 16, 2021 – page 85
"I don't like people. They fuck me up."
- John "Jake" Chambers.
boi, same
February 16, 2021 – page 93
He is too young to have learned to hate himself yet, but that seed is already there; given time, it will grow, and bear bitter fruit.
First of all this is a personal attack. Please loose me.
February 17, 2021 – page 104
It occurred to him later that this was when he began to love the boy - which was, of course, what the man in black must have planned all along. Was there ever a trap to match the trap of love?
February 17, 2021 – page 132
February 17, 2021 – page 135
Time's the thief of memory.
Another attack on my person.
February 17, 2021 – page 146
His teeth felt strange in his head, tiny tombstone set in pink moist earth.
EW EW EW EW i hate this imagery why
February 17, 2021 – page 178 %
"Neat, huh?" the boy said, and his voice was full of loathing. The silence was deep. Roland could hear his organs at work in his body, and the drip of the water, and nothing else.
The mental separation between Jake and Roland when Roland catch he feelings for Jake despite knowing he gonna kill him soon was so sudden and complete for a moment I didn't even realise Roland wasn't calling this boy Jake no more.
February 17, 2021 – page 179
February 17, 2021 – page 178
So I pretty sure I deleted all of my progress on this book
February 18, 2021 – page 218
Sometimes Roland refers to Jake by his name and it also catches me off guard cause his mind separated him to the boy. Which shows that Roland's feelings for Jake is stronger than his foolproof mind.
And he still gone let his young boy go. Muddoe.
February 18, 2021 – page 222 88.45%
"Go there. There are other worlds than these."
Jake words be so powerful man."
February 18, 2021 – page 222
..he twisted his head back, for a moment in his agony striving to be Janus - but there was nothing, only plummeting silence, for the boy made no cry as he fell.
ROLAND, HOW YOU DO THAT.
Bey I still as mad and as angry as the first time I read this. I still can't BELIEVE, but then I also can cause that's who Roland is but wow bey wow.
Let's hear it for Jake tho cause he truly is that one. Not a single sound.
February 18, 2021 – page 243
I hate hate hate reading things that theorize that the world and universe itself is small and just a part of a larger whole, a blade of grass in someone else's universe which is a blade of grass in another person's universe. I don't need to be thinking this hard.
But a fascinating concept nonetheless."
February 18, 2021
Finished Reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Child death