Stephen King Fans discussion

tec wrote: "Join with me to read the dark tower... For first time or the 100th time!!"

What kind of time frame are you looking at? Do you mean beginning with The Gunslinger and going straight through?

I’ve tried to read The Gunslinger a number of times because of the promise that the rest of the series is outstanding but I’ve never been able to stick with it.

I’d like to try again though!

Laura wrote: "I’ve tried to read The Gunslinger a number of times because of the promise that the rest of the series is outstanding but I’ve never been able to stick with it.

I’d like to try again though!"

I can almost promise that if you stick with it, you won't be sorry. I would suggest you read his updated/edited version, as opposed to the original. That might help. I struggled with it the first time, but when I had finished the series and circled back (Ka is a wheel, don't ya ken) I loved it because Roland had grown so dear to me.

I agree. I first tried reading the original Gunslinger back in the early 90's (The Plume paperback edition). Could not understand or get into it at all. My Comic Shop owner recommended I start with The "Drawing of The Three", which I did. That was a good call.

As Kandice said, read the updated Gunslinger King released I think in 2003 by Viking. King has a nice forward where he acknowledges the weaknesses in the original story. Have fun.

I did not read the updated version of The Gunslinger on my first journey to the Dark Tower. I also have never read The Wind Through the Keyhole.

I think The Wind Through the Keyhole is very underrated. One of my favourites in the series.

Interesting! When do you wantto start?

tec wrote: "So me and Laura decided to start the journey on November 1st!
And end with 2020 ... ( I want to remember 2k20 with dark tower as everything else is a mess {covid})

Everyone is welcome to join... &..."

You plan on reading all eight books between November and December?

I’m probably not going to be able to read them all in that time frame. I’m a slow reader and I plan on participating in NaNoWriMo starting this weekend x

Good luck with NaNoWriMo! One day I will try that too.

Below is the schedule we made. It will be one book a week, starting sunday. That leaves us one week before the end of the year to either celebrate our accomplishment or as a buffer if we get delayed.
Yes we are ambitious!

We would love it if more people joined. You can do the whole thing or join in the week of the book you want to read.

nov 1-7: 1 the gunslinger
nov 8-14 : 2 the drawing of the three
nov 15-21: 3 the waste lands
nov 22-28: 4 wizard & glass
nov 29 - dec 5: 4.5 the wind through the keyhole
dec 6 - 12: 5 wolves of the calla
dec 13-19: 6 a song of susannah
dec 20-26: 7 the dark tower

I would love to join but I already have tentative plans to read the series with a buddy starting in January

Awe.... I've read into book 4, it's been a couple years. I'll be starting over with book 1 again after the holidays. I did recently re-read the Little Sisters of Eluria, good little story.

Laura wrote: "I’ve tried to read The Gunslinger a number of times because of the promise that the rest of the series is outstanding but I’ve never been able to stick with it.

I’d like to try again though!"

When I first read the Gunslinger, I couldn't get into it either. I struggled through it anyway and went on to read the rest of the series. But it's a funny thing; once I'd read some of the other Dark Tower books, I was somehow better able to appreciate the stage-setting and character-building in Gunslinger, and my opinion of (and enjoyment of!) the book went up considerably. I reread it a few years ago, and enjoyed it immensely!

Six days apart for those beasts of books. Aren’t some of them upwards of a thousand pages?

I think the longest one is in the 700s so it's not too bad. But that is why we have an extra week for delays.

I think book 4 and book 7 are the longest

Hahaha sounds like you are having fun with halloween!

I am about half way the first book. Turns out that the prologue about the Eluria sisters was included in my book 1 so I read it after all.

So far, I don't understand much haha, but I guess that is kind of the point. Roland does not know what is real either. But he seems to know more than me though. And that desert sounds awful!
The narrative is great: I want to know what comes next. But on the other hand I don't care very much yet because I don't understand. But I guess I will learn little by little.

We are still going strong. This week on to book 3!

Laura wrote: "I’ve tried to read The Gunslinger a number of times because of the promise that the rest of the series is outstanding but I’ve never been able to stick with it.

I’d like to try again though!"

Laura,

The same with me. I'm trying it again though.

I'm a little late in the game but I'm going to try and read with you guys.

Welcome Kellie!
I am almost done with part 4, 20 pages left. Part 4.5 is scheduled for this week. But feel free to follow your own pace. I would love to discuss the books when you are ready. They all feel very recent, still.

How are you getting along with the gunslinger this time? I did not understand much of it and got very frustrated but now they are referencing back to it and i am starting to understand it better.
I just stuck with it and it gets better from book 2. Or at least less frustrating that you dont understand. From part 3 things get more clear as to the why of it all and how the world came to be.

How are you all doing? Today we start book 5 but are we still on schedule or should we postpone a bit? I am good to go but will finish another book before starting the next part of this series

Great! I am having a lot of fun with the books but am ready for the quest to move along. After 2 books of flashback and now the lets help the village delay. I know it is all a necessary part of the journey, but still. But it seems they have something to deal with first...

I finished my other book in between and am now halfway book 6. King is really messing with realities, so smart and also hilarious. I am in complete admiration of his creativity.

I will wait a bit to start book 7, the final stage. Let me know when you are ready.

Kellie are you still reading? It seems like tec has disappeared from goodreads. I don't know what happened.

Laura wrote: "Kellie are you still reading? It seems like tec has disappeared from goodreads. I don't know what happened."

Laura,

Yeah I’m still trying to read it. It does say that tec is a deleted member. Hmmmm

Good you are still trying! I already heard tbe recommendation that you can start with part 2 and read the first one at the end. I just finished the series and you could totally do that.

Or you could continue and complain to me about how weird it is. I certainly did not understand much of this book. Maybe it helpsyou finish haha