2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Stephen King‘s book, Wizard and Glass.


***Please remember to mark spoilers.***

Participants: Lynn, Catherine, Toni, Robyn, Craig, Daph, Scott

Suggested break down of reading so that you can check in and let us know how you're doing. The following breakdown is purely a suggestion and is therefore not set in stone.

Rather than putting dates for each section I've done it so that it takes into account that not everybody will necessarily have the book at the same time.

Week 1: 211.25
Week 2: 211.25
Week 3: 211.25
Week 4: 211.25

Planning to start this on Saturday! Looking forward to it!

Catherine wrote: "Planning to start this on Saturday! Looking forward to it!"

Wow it's a long one! Maybe that'll force me to set it aside a few times. I'll start it this weekend as well.

I have all the books next to each other on my bookshelf and they just keep getting longer and longer as the series goes on. I think they are pretty fast reads though, once you get into the book. That's usually the case with King books in my experience. I couldn't believe how fast I read 11/22/63!

Started today! My copy is just a little bit shorter, 672 pages. I'm about half done with Chapter 4.

I've just reached the 'Topeka' section and I'm really enjoying this book. I especially love that King opens these books with an explanation of the previous books. It seems to serve as a cannonball dive back into the story for me. I love the writing: even brief asides like Blaine's impact on the mutie wildlife appeal to me. While I know they probably don't forward the plot, it's all just a pleasure to read.

I agree about the recaps at the beginning. I remember reading them in "real time" and it would feel like AGES between books!

I've reached 50% now. There is a very brief interlude back to Kansas. It made me realize how much I've missed our traveling companions and the roadtrip to the Dark Tower. Roland's tale of Susan Delgado and Hambry have been my least favorite part of the series for some reason. I think it's the constant smell of doom in the air :-(

I'll be starting tonight! Can't wait.

Kate wrote: "I'll be starting tonight! Can't wait."

Great Kate! I hope you enjoy the riddling with Blaine the pain :-)

I thought this was an excellent book my favorite of the series so far.

I've heard from a few people this is their favorite in the entire series.

I wish it was my favorite. I'm really struggling to finish it.

You got this!

I hope so. If I can't finish it this weekend, I won't be able to join the discussion for May. I'll do my best!

Ya I'm pushing through trying to get it finished this week too. Started this one a little late.

This one wasn't my favorite either. I'm all about the quest and this is a visit to a backwater in the past with no forward movement. Did it just move too slowly? Were the bad guys too awful? Was the romance dull? Was it just a western without enough magic? Maybe all of the above for me. I did make it through and it did pick up after Roland, Alain and Cuthbert had a cathartic fistfight.

I think part of the problem for me is (view spoiler)[that we already know that everyone dies. Even if I hadn't read the book once already, Roland has had memories of his friends and of Susan and we know that something happens to all of them. I think it's that, combined with the fact that (to me) this book is moving very slowly. (hide spoiler)]

I know exactly what you mean Catherine. But, (view spoiler)[everyone that Roland knows is dead by the time we know him anyway. I was sure Susan would die, but I thought his friends would die in this book too. I was surprised and relieved when they all got back to Gilead.....that alone redeemed the book. (hide spoiler)]

Here we are - almost at the end of April! I have had a great time following your conversations on this series!

Onward to Wolves of Calla!

I guess guess i'm just a sucker for stories with really BAD (as in evil) villains. Rhea really made this book for me. She was just so bad... Kind of like Geoffery in Game of Thrones. A character that's so evil you just love hating them.

On to Wolves...

Scott wrote: "I guess guess i'm just a sucker for stories with really BAD (as in evil) villains. Rhea really made this book for me. She was just so bad... Kind of like Geoffery in Game of Thrones. A character th..."

Rhea was just so evil at the end in Hambry.....I had been hoping her obsession with the pink ball would kill her....ugh.

I finished! YAY! I really struggled with this one. I must not have enjoyed it much the first time I read it either since I didn't remember much of it. Hopefully this one is my least favorite. :)

Yay Catherine! Come on Kate....you can push through to the end.

I've been told I'll rate Wolves five stars......hope so.