paced reading horror and thrillers discussion

One of our buddy reads for January.
Let me know in the comments if you're interested in joining and I'll add your name.

Please post spoilers in spoiler tags and put the % where you are.
Have fun! :)

So far:

RachelvlehcaR
Kate
Vicki
John
Scott
Kasia
Ashley
Jennifer Lynn
Joshua

Excellent, John! I've just added you. :)

Hi, I have not been active for several years due to my job. That has changed and I have time. I also just bought the Dark Tower box set and am ready to start reading. So YES add me to the Buddy Read.

Scott wrote: "Hi, I have not been active for several years due to my job. That has changed and I have time. I also just bought the Dark Tower box set and am ready to start reading. So YES add me to the Buddy Read."

Great to see you again, Scott.
You're added! :)

Thanks Kate. Looking forward to interacting with the group again.

I actually just got the new set of all paperbacks released and I'm up to book four but I might be in for a re-read.

Kasia wrote: "I actually just got the new set of all paperbacks released and I'm up to book four but I might be in for a re-read."

Excellent Kasia, shall I add your name?

I'll join in the discussion. I just barely read this one a few months ago, so I'm excited to talk about it with the group.

Ashley wrote: "I'll join in the discussion. I just barely read this one a few months ago, so I'm excited to talk about it with the group."

Great! I'll add you in. :)

Is everyone okay to start in the next day or so?

Yep, sounds great

I'll put out a group message to let people know we're starting this now. :)

Yes, I am just finishing up Nothing Lasts Forever (Die Hard). Then I will start it in the next day or so.

I'm sure this is common knowledge, but there i s a 'Stephen King Fans' group. Do we want to invite anyone there to this buddy read?

Scott wrote: "I'm sure this is common knowledge, but there i s a 'Stephen King Fans' group. Do we want to invite anyone there to this buddy read?"

I don't think other groups are keen for people to advertise their buddy reads/group reads. I think Justin had mentioned something in another group about one of our group reads and he was given a warning.

aww poor Justin. :(

I'll try to keep up with this one but no guarantees this month. I read it before so maybe I can skim along. Great book, another series I need to finish, especially with the movie coming along soon...

Read the intro and chapter 1 last night. In my print book at least it looks like Stephen King has gone in and re-edited The Gunslinger after he finished the series to make it consistent with the story and add some foreshadowing. Regarding foreshadowing, chapter 1 seems to have quite a bit of it going on. Not that I know for certain since I am totally new to this series.

I got an unexpected gift card from Barnes and Noble so I went and got this book last night. When I got home, my son grabbed it and started reading it! So I didn't start, but I am planning on snagging it back and reading some tonight. (Terrible problem sharing a book, but am excited he was interested in reading it. Maybe he will become a GoodReader too. )

Four you Lego fans. Someone built the dark tower out of Legos. http://www.brothers-brick.com/2017/01...

I think I've read up to chapter 3. Not too much except for some interesting titbits about the man in black.

I started this too. I didn't get very far (about 30 pages).
I did think the forward was interesting. I was so happy he was thinking of me (a person who had never read this before) when he revised the work. LOL

I want in on THIS! Stephen King is my main man! (Also, last night, I had terrible insomnia, grabbed this off the shelf and re-read it for the 1st time in 15 years...all in one night!) -Jen from Quebec :0)

And I *will* follow the pace of the group, despite having read the entire thing in one go!

Jennifer Lynn wrote: "I want in on THIS! Stephen King is my main man! (Also, last night, I had terrible insomnia, grabbed this off the shelf and re-read it for the 1st time in 15 years...all in one night!) -Jen from Que..."

Welcome, Jennifer Lynn.
I'll add you. :)

Thanks! Also, I'll bet an entire writing seminar could be taught just on the amazing, legendary, opening *sentence* of this book! PLOT, SETTING, CHARACTERS- Bam- all established with one brilliant sentence.

I'm at around 42%
(view spoiler)[I really liked the story he told Brown about the town of Tull, how the man in black resurrected a dead man and how he eventually slaughtered the whole town.
Not long into the second part where he finds Jake and has hypnotised him or something to find out more about him. Enjoying it so far. (hide spoiler)]

Scott wrote: "Four you Lego fans. Someone built the dark tower out of Legos. http://www.brothers-brick.com/2017/01..."

That's pretty impressive.

Kate wrote: "I'm at around 42%
I really liked the story he told Brown about the town of Tull, how the man in black resurrected a dead man and how he eventually slaughtered the whole town.
Not long into the sec..."

Wow nice tower! That takes dedication :)

Hmmm... I don't know. Having a hard time getting into this. Am at 22%.

(view spoiler)[ I find it fascinating that Jake is from our modern world, and has somehow ended up in this one.

Like Kate said, the story of Tull is quite tragic, but it certainly establishes The Man in Black as a force to be reckoned with.

Also, I think this story has some great tension and mystery. We don't have very much backstory, so you have to keep reading to unravel the plot. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Ashley wrote: " I find it fascinating that Jake is from our modern world, and has somehow ended up in this one.

Like Kate said, the story of Tull is quite tragic, but it certainly establishes The Man in Black a..."

Those are great comments. (view spoiler)[The lack of backstory is probably what's driving me to keep reading as I want to know more about Roland and the man in black. I also think the world is really interesting, a mix of old west with modern day touches (Hey Jude playing in the bar when Roland drew near to the town of Tull). I don't know if I really 'like' Roland, he's very detached in how he views things and his murder of the townspeople in Tull, including children, show that he is ruthless when required. (hide spoiler)]

I am actually liking this re-read MORE than the 1st time I read it years ago! Perhaps I have more patience these days for this sparse writing style.

(view spoiler)[ The story of Tull happens when it needs to- by that point, there had certainly been a lack of action, you know? Plus, we get to see Roland's crazy skills and know he's a force to be reckoned with! I do feel sorry about Annie, though. I wonder if we ever learn more about Sheb and how they knew each other? (hide spoiler)]

I read some more and am at 40%
(view spoiler)[he is traveling with the boy. (hide spoiler)] That part was more interesting to me.
I don't know though. I feel like I "don't get it". I always find it crazy when I either don't like a book EVERYONE loves or when I love a book everyone hates.

Hi I would like to be added. Sorry I am late to the party just found this group and I am already re-reading The Gunslinger so it fits.

Also, Hey John!

Vicki wrote: "I read some more and am at 40%
[spoilers removed] That part was more interesting to me.
I don't know though. I feel like I "don't get it". I always find it crazy when I either don't like a book EV..."

To be honest Vicki, you are not alone. I think most people love this book because, myself included, they have finished the whole series. Roland is such a complex and amazing character, but The Gunslinger is as John said, an introduction. If you stick with the entire series it has great payoffs as a fan, but it is totally understandable to be turned off, or at least confused in the first book.

Also at only 40% do not worry, this book continues to reward as you continue through. At least for me it does but again this is also my favorite series of all time.

Jennifer Lynn wrote: "I am actually liking this re-read MORE than the 1st time I read it years ago! Perhaps I have more patience these days for this sparse writing style.

[spoilers removed]"

Years ago you probably read the original version and you may now be reading the updated version. The updated version has characters and events that do not appear until much, much later in the series. My re-read of this first book is making me recall so much. What is great is that first time readers will not notice anything at all, but series vets will know right away so much about all the little fill ins.

Joshua wrote: "Hi I would like to be added. Sorry I am late to the party just found this group and I am already re-reading The Gunslinger so it fits.

Also, Hey John!"

Welcome, Joshua.
I've added you in. :)

I'm finished. (view spoiler)[I was loving it up til the end and the confrontation with TMIB, a bit anti climatic and I got a bit bored with the discussion they had about the universe. I am also hating Roland a bit for sacrificing Jake so that he could get to TMIB. I am keen to read the 2nd book but not right away. (hide spoiler)]

Kate wrote: "I'm finished. [spoilers removed]"

I have also finished:

(view spoiler)[ I completely agree that the end of this book is anti-climactic. The first time I read it I was like...ummm, ok? What is the point of all this. I really think the point is that Roland is not in control during that conversation. He has been chasing this man for eternity (time is relative in this series so it could be 40 years it could be 10,000; we don't really know.) But I believe the ending showed that Roland is not quite ready to "win." He is still weak. He chose TMIB over Jake. He chose the tower over Susan, Jaime, Bert, and his mother. Roland's goal is the tower, not the TMIB, he only wants him to get more info on the tower, and I think that is lost in King's back and forth writing style.

I can tell you, the second book is so much better than this one because King is about 20 years older and much better practiced. The books flow much better, there is way less jumping perspectives, and the character development really starts to work.

And finally on hating Roland. You are not really supposed to hate him, more to just understand he is not a hero. He is a Prince that never got to be king. He has lost every single friend and family member, and has been forced to kill most of them himself. He says many times he is not smart, but he his brave and accurate.Without giving anything away, TMIB talks a lot about the drawing of three. This is super important and really sets up the rest of the series. You should read the next book soon so you do not forget all these foreshadowings. Plus if you don't like the next book feel free to drop the series because that will solidify that this story isn't in your interest. (hide spoiler)]

I'm about 30% done. I think I will pick it up and finish this weekend. For some reason I stopped getting notifications on this read so I thought I was ahead and set it aside :). Evidently I was quite wrong.

Made some progress with this one. I am up to chapter 5.
Thanks for the encouragement. It is true that this last section read easier than the beginning. Especially (view spoiler)[ the part that took place on the hand cart with the Slow Mutants and the battle with Cort. (hide spoiler)]
I have about 30 pages to go, so I will finish up this weekend.

Vicki wrote: "Made some progress with this one. I am up to chapter 5.
Thanks for the encouragement. It is true that this last section read easier than the beginning. Especially [spoilers removed]
I have about 30..."

Totally agree. King was not the S.K. we know today. He was much younger and much less experienced than he is now. While the story is very strong, the writing jumps perspectives and the language gets tangled quickly. I can attest that novel 2-8 are much better and flow much more fluidly.

The Gunslinger is SO completely different from the rest of the series (which I am reading atm- I am on book 4). The 1st book is like a self contained story, with a completely different tone and pace than the others that follow... -Jen from Quebec :0)

Well, I finished. I must say, I enjoyed the comments more than the book, but am glad I tried it out.
Not sure if I will continue with series or not because there are already so many books on my TBR that I am wanting to read. I might try the second one, like many of you have suggested to see if I like it more OR I might just live vicariously through you friends! LOL

Given the comments from Joshua and Jen, the second book might just change your mind about the series.
I'm going to try and wade through a bit more of my tbr before I go any further with the series.

It's like King wanted to make up for the slow pace of The Gunslinger and so the 2nd book (The Drawing of the Three) picks up 7 hours after the end of the 1st book and BAM- action, action, action and CRAZY stuff in a nonstop rush! SO worth reading at least the 2nd book before deciding if you want to go on....---Jen from Quebec :0)

Just finished The Gunslinger. I definitely appreciate now the preface King put in this book acknowledging this as an early work. I found it scattered and had a strange yet enjoyable ending. I do look forward to "The Drawing of The Three".