Joyland. Stephan King.

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rumple

Original Poster:

11,671 posts

158 months

Sunday 7th July 2013
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Just read this, took two days, I really enjoyed it.
I am a big King fan and I considered this a return to form, I didn't like Under the dome at all, but this one hit the spot, a shortish book (for King) about 250 pages its more of a murder mystery than horror, its set in 73 and is told of events that happened 40 years ago, I think he does this sort of thing so well, if you get it, it looks like the story is going to get bogged down with the ex girlfriend, it doesn't, that's it really, I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I would urge anyone to buy it, even if you don't like his usual stuff.

SV8Predator

2,102 posts

172 months

Tuesday 9th July 2013
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Yes I enjoyed it also. A quick summer read, and exactly the sort of 'pulp' fiction that the book cover suggest.

And that's not to put it down, the opposite in fact.

Papa Hotel

12,760 posts

189 months

Wednesday 10th July 2013
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What's King's stuff like these days?

The last books of his I read were Desperation and Rose Madder, thought they were decent enough, but you know King is going to make daft things fit if it kills him. The Regulators was bought but I think I only got a few dozen pages in, it didn't really grip me.

Anything since the mid-90s worth purchasing? I don't know if that's when I just lost interest in King or if he got crap but I would certainly buy again if recommended.

rumple

Original Poster:

11,671 posts

158 months

Wednesday 10th July 2013
quotequote all
Joyland was enjoyable, Desperation was pretty good although it was linked to Regulaters, Hearts in Atlantis was excellent, Cell was good, Duma Key was so so, 11.22.63 was very very good, not all these were horror but typical King, I personally didn't like Under the Dome, if you want my recommendation try 11.22.63, a time travel type book with a twist.

SV8Predator

2,102 posts

172 months

Wednesday 10th July 2013
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I really enjoyed 11.22.63. Once I finished it, the following night I read the last three chapters all over again.

I loved Duma Key, by the way, really got to know the characters.

jbudgie

9,254 posts

219 months

Wednesday 17th July 2013
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Just reading "11-22-63"

About a quarter of the way through it, but it is a cracker so far, the writing is excellent .

Great book.( so far ).

readit

jbudgie

9,254 posts

219 months

Sunday 21st July 2013
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jbudgie said:
Just reading "11-22-63"

About a quarter of the way through it, but it is a cracker so far, the writing is excellent .

Great book.( so far ).

readit
Finished it now -----a very good read.

Ace-T

7,813 posts

262 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
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jbudgie said:
jbudgie said:
Just reading "11-22-63"

About a quarter of the way through it, but it is a cracker so far, the writing is excellent .

Great book.( so far ).

readit
Finished it now -----a very good read.
I read up to the bit where he 'steps through' and just threw it down. I felt it was a bit 'Bobby Ewing in the shower' and didn't make sense within the universe he had created. IYSWIM! smile

Did I just not get the first bit? I would be grateful if someone tells me why I should give it another go!

jbudgie

9,254 posts

219 months

Sunday 4th August 2013
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Persevere mate , its a good read even if the science might not be believable.

SV8Predator

2,102 posts

172 months

Monday 5th August 2013
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Well, how can any time travel 'science' be believable? That's why it's called "fiction".

jbudgie

9,254 posts

219 months

Monday 5th August 2013
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SV8Predator said:
Well, how can any time travel 'science' be believable? That's why it's called "fiction".
Exactly.

I just said it was a good book.

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

184 months

Saturday 10th August 2013
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Just finished 11.22.63 and really enjoyed it but I would loved to have seen a way for Jake and Sadie to have "got it together" somehow. Maybe I'm just a big girl hehe

Ace-T

7,813 posts

262 months

Saturday 10th August 2013
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jbudgie said:
Exactly.

I just said it was a good book.
The science has to work within the context of the universe in which the story is set. So yes time travel can work, just look at Dr Who, but in this case the mechanism really jarred with me and I couldn't get past it. It needs internal consistency.

Bigends

5,676 posts

135 months

Saturday 17th August 2013
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Recently read both Joyland and 11,21,63 - both great King books and cracking reads

CHamphill

4,097 posts

145 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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SV8Predator said:
Yes I enjoyed it also. A quick summer read, and exactly the sort of 'pulp' fiction that the book cover suggest.

And that's not to put it down, the opposite in fact.
I read this in a day earlier this week on holiday. I agree with every word of this; a good read in the "pulp" fiction genre, but with King's yarn-spinning talent. I enjoyed it, on those terms.