Wednesday 17 November 2010

The Dark Tower readalong

I have been dearly loving the Malazan re-read that I do for Tor. Looking at the books chapter by chapter, and discussing all the mysteries, foibles and quality writing with knowledgeable others is one of the highlights of my week.

So I have decided to do a readalong on my own blog. I am hoping that you will come over and comment, that you might read along with me?

My choice is The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It is complete, dense and quirky (from what I can tell). Some love it. Some hate it. Whatever happens, I'm sure it will offer up plenty of discussion.

I don't want to burden myself with too much each week, so I am planning one chapter/commentary to be posted each Friday - the first coming this Friday.

Looking forward to your comments and your support!

13 comments:

  1. Just a word of warning, don't give up after the first book, no matter what you think of it. I almost gave up, but fell in love with the second book and the series is now one of my all-time favourites!

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  2. Having experienced the same with the first half of Gardens of the Moon, I shall totally take that on board!

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  3. I'd like to join in on that... I've had The Gunslinger sitting on my shelf for years! Always meant to get round to reading it, so this is as good an opportunity as any :-)

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  4. You'd be so welcome Cara :-) I need clever heads to join me and tell me where I'm going wrong!

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  5. Are you doing the original or revised editions?

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  6. Good point - should have mentioned that! I already own The Gunslinger in the revised version, so I think I shall go revised all the way. I know purists might be unhappy with that decision, but it helps both my purse and the amount of space in my house :-p

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  7. Glad you're doing The Dark Tower. I've read it twice, I also like all the connections with most of King's other books. The comics based on it are quite cool too.

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  8. Hooray! Your first Stephen King! Although I would have suggested a couple of his standalone novels first before embarking on The Dark Tower (I think 'Salem's Lot is about my favourite book ever).

    I haven't reached The Dark Tower yet so don't know how the series ends, but King is working on book 8. He has also said that The Dark Tower series is really a collection of segments of one much larger novel.

    So whether that means it is complete or not is open to interpretation!

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  9. Having read all seven I'd recommend the first three, take the forth as a great standalone fantasy novel and look at the final three with one eyebrow raised and your tongue firmly placed in your cheek.

    Great series, nearly twenty years of my life reading them, shame about the "ending".

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  10. I'm in, I have read the first 4 but cannot get my brain around Wolves of the Calla at all. I adore many of mister King's works so it's doubly frustrating not to be able to 'get' that one.

    This Friday being tomorrow?

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  11. Yes, first post will be up tomorrow - commentary on chapter 1 of the revised edition :-)

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  12. This sounds like a good idea. I read The Gunslinger a long time ago and somehow never got around to reading the rest when he got around to writing them.

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  13. I love the Dark Tower series (except for book 1 The Gunslinger which I wasn't too keen on). Looking forward to your reviews. I think I feel some re-reading coming on...

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