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Dark Tower Series > Finished my Dark Tower reread

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message 1: by Book Nerd (last edited Jun 22, 2023 04:39AM) (new)

Book Nerd (book_nerd_1) | 94 comments I liked the later books better this time around. I think all the time in between meant I was judging them by my memories of the stories more than the stories themselves.
I thought of Roland as a badass antihero and the first time around I didn't like him becoming more sensitive and caring about people.
I thought Flagg was made really lame but now I realize that intimidating as he was in The Stand he was always a pretty big screwup.
I didn't like that the ka-tet Roland spent all that time gathering and training just went off to a happy ending. But I guess it does make sense that Roland came to the tower alone.

Things that still bug me though:
The cosmology of this multiverse just makes no sense!
I didn't so much mind Stephen King putting himself into the books but hated the goofy deus ex machinas he used himself for. Mail privledges for Gan's sake???

On a side note: Walking my dog at 3 a.m. when I only had about twenty pages to go I found roses growing in front of somebody's house and I just had to steal one. :)


message 2: by Ike (new)

Ike Ward | 6 comments I definitely felt the same way, first read I basically fell out of love w/ it from book 5, onward. I didn’t even finish 7! But after re-reads, I appreciated them (Wolves especially) way more.

5 is even my favorite book in the series now! It’s absolutely iconic I think even more than 3 or 4. And the tone works as well for me now better than even 1 and 2 do. Even with all that… It’s hard to beat the character and ka-tet energy that Wizard and Glass has. Tough decisions! 😅


message 3: by Book Nerd (new)

Book Nerd (book_nerd_1) | 94 comments Yeah, Wolves of the Calla was really good this time around.


message 4: by M. (new)

M. (elder_prince) | 78 comments Man, I really hope I'll get to dive back into the Dark Tower saga at least one more time in my life. It's such an epic tale, almost feels intimidating in its scope. And you hit the nail on the head about Randall Flagg – that dude was one major screwup. I remember feeling kinda let down when he got taken out so early and had his ego crushed. Stephen King had to give us that reminder: villains aren't the ones we should be rooting for, that's for sure.


message 5: by Joseph (new)

Joseph (jsaltal) I have yet to start.


message 6: by Book Nerd (last edited Aug 19, 2023 05:34PM) (new)

Book Nerd (book_nerd_1) | 94 comments Elder wrote: "Man, I really hope I'll get to dive back into the Dark Tower saga at least one more time in my life. It's such an epic tale, almost feels intimidating in its scope. And you hit the nail on the head..."
Sometimes it's fun to root for the villains. Or at least expect them to be competent.
Long series don't really intimidate me anymore. I just plan and read a little each day.

Joseph wrote: "I have yet to start."
A reread or you haven't read it at all?


message 7: by Julia (new)

Julia | 225 comments What can I say I loved them all equally. Thinking of a reread myself. I can’t remember how many times I’ve read them maybe more than 4..?
I enjoy a good villain it makes you appreciate the heroes more..!!:)


message 8: by Jason (new)

Jason Young | 3 comments I wouldn't be able to reread those books. I loved them at the time but rereading it would be a massive undertaking.


message 9: by Kandice (new)

Kandice | 4387 comments Elder wrote: "Man, I really hope I'll get to dive back into the Dark Tower saga at least one more time in my life. It's such an epic tale, almost feels intimidating in its scope. And you hit the nail on the head..."


I know a lot of people complain about how easily The Crimson King ends up going down, but for me, King was showing how much we build up our enemies, or just bad guys in general. Usually in very unrealistic ways. When we gather our courage and do what we must, it is almost never as bad as we thought it would be. Dread is so much worse than memory.


message 10: by Nick (new)

Nick Iuppa | 4272 comments Kandice wrote: "Elder wrote: "Man, I really hope I'll get to dive back into the Dark Tower saga at least one more time in my life. It's such an epic tale, almost feels intimidating in its scope. And you hit the na..."

For me it wasn't the King going down... it was (view spoiler) Of course, as I was halfway through the first read I was riding to work and I told one of the riders that I was reading the dark tower, and he said, "My friend just read that... he didn't like the ending." So that may have set up some bad expectations as well as infuriating me at the time.


message 11: by Kandice (new)

Kandice | 4387 comments In general, I hate stories that repeat events al la Groundhog Day, but in this case it felt like permission (compulsion) to reread. Again, and again. I have been perpetually rereading this series since he finished it, and the ending makes me feel like that's ok.

But I completely understand why it isn't everyone's cup of tea. ;-)


message 12: by Derrick (new)

Derrick | 976 comments I've completed two trips to the dark tower so far. First time was with the original non-revised edition of The Gunslinger and no Wind Through the Keyhole. Second time was with the revised edition of The Gunslinger and Wind Through the Keyhole after Wizard and Glass. Both trips were amazing and I'm sure I'll be taking a third trip eventually!


message 13: by Book Nerd (last edited Aug 22, 2023 06:03PM) (new)

Book Nerd (book_nerd_1) | 94 comments I didn't mind the ending. The only alternative is Roland becomes god. And that wouldn't have been better.

Derrick wrote: "I've completed two trips to the dark tower so far. First time was with the original non-revised edition of The Gunslinger and no Wind Through the Keyhole. Second time was with the revised edition o..."
Same for me. Maybe I'll read again some day.


message 14: by Julia (new)

Julia | 225 comments Derrick wrote: "I've completed two trips to the dark tower so far. First time was with the original non-revised edition of The Gunslinger and no Wind Through the Keyhole. Second time was with the revised edition o..."

What did you think of Wind Through The Keyhole, I thought it was beautifully written and really drew you in. Think I may have read it in two sessions (long time ago).
Yes I do believe a reread is on the cards.. :)


message 15: by Derrick (new)

Derrick | 976 comments Julia wrote: "Derrick wrote: "I've completed two trips to the dark tower so far. First time was with the original non-revised edition of The Gunslinger and no Wind Through the Keyhole. Second time was with the r..."

I definitely enjoyed it! I gave it 4 stars. Strangely, I didn't write a review for it. I'll have to write one when I reread it! I always enjoy whenever King gives us a story within the story. From a Buick 8 is another good example of that in my opinion.


message 16: by Julia (new)

Julia | 225 comments Derrick wrote: "Julia wrote: "Derrick wrote: "I've completed two trips to the dark tower so far. First time was with the original non-revised edition of The Gunslinger and no Wind Through the Keyhole. Second time ..."

I didn’t leave any reviews for any of the series, I wasn’t a member of Goodreads in 2017 ( last reread.) Like you I will do a review after my reread.


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