Dark Tower Project 2017 discussion

Feel free share your thoughts on The Gunslinger (and any of the other texts) as you read. Please indicate spoilers clearly! Happy reading folks!

I will read the short story first thing Sunday Morning! What a way to start the new year.

Ive read the little sisters of eluria this week and really enjoyed it. Im starting the Gunslinger now.
"So it begins.....". Haha

Re-reading The Gunslinger is very rewarding having read the whole series. You notice things that you may not have the first time around. It's clear that the writing improves greatly starting with book 2. However, The Gunslinger is a great entry into a larger world!

Patrick wrote: "..It's clear that the writing improves greatly starting with book 2."

I've heard about this before. I confess I dropped the series after the gunslinger because it didn't capture me. However, in February I'll get back on the bandwagon and hopefully I'll join this challenge until the end :)

Artur wrote: "Patrick wrote: "..It's clear that the writing improves greatly starting with book 2."

I've heard about this before. I confess I dropped the series after the gunslinger because it didn't capture m..."

A lot of people dropped it after The Gunslinger. It is worth it to keep reading! Once you get into book 2, you will be happy that you did!

I've been seeing many similar comments lately and I'm just wondering how many people have already read through the series? Or, if you've stopped, where did you end up stopping?

Happy reading!

Jeff

I read "The Gunslinger" back when it first came out, and I'm glad I'm re-reading it now. I'm enjoying it much more this time through.

I read Little sisters from Eluria back in 2015 in Everything's eventual and re-read it now and really liked it both times. I am reading The Gungslinger for the first time and I like the story, how it's progressing and how it's written but at the same time there is something small that's bugging me and I can't figure out what it is. It's a shame because otherwise it would be a five star read for me. I guess it might change after I finish the book.

I've had this same issue, I'm half way through "It" by Stephen King I am enjoying the plot but something minor is bugging me and I can't put my finger on it!

I forgot to include your far I've gotten in the past..
So I've finished Wizard and Glass, but nothing beyond that. I had a really tough time getting into the fifth book in the series :(
Although, I did spoil the series for myself when I was younger.. Because I was weak and foolish. :o

I actually started my reread last year and got through The Waste Lands so I will catch up with you all then. I've read the first 5 books I think at least 3 times but I have only made it through the series in its entirety one time. I feel like The Gunslinger is not as strong as most of the other books in the series, but its an adequate introduction to the world and the story. If anyone is struggling through it, keep pushing through, The Drawing of the Three is one of my favorite books in the series.
Happy reading everyone!

After writing my previous comment I started to actually enjoy the book to the fullest and near the end it took turn that I really didn't expect and I am pleasantly surprised by it. It was good beginning to the story, not the stand alone novel. Looking forward for the next book.

I've made it to Chapter 5, and am thoroughly enjoying the story so far.

POTENTIAL SPOILER -

Is it just a coincidence that an innocent person with the initials J.C. must die in this story as a sacrifice? Did SK intentionally give us a reference from Christianity or am I reading too much into Jake's part of this story?

Oh never noticed that one...

Previously i had read the original version of The gunslinger,this time however i am reading the revised edition that apparently includes approximately an additional 35 pages.

It will be interesting to see what the differences are.

Anyhow happy reading.

Ray

Hey Y'all,

I'm about halfway thru my much-loved copy of "The Gunslinger". Today I got Robert Browning's "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came", along with "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and some other extras for in between.

I've never been part of a book club as I've always lived too far out in the country. So I'm really enjoying this, knowing others are out there thrilling to Sai King's opus too and having an opportunity to discuss it.

I have a little list of questions and comments I'm going to post when I get my thoughts more in order.

Long days and pleasant nights.

Sammi Jo

A couple of criticisms of "The Gunslinger"

SPOILER ALERT!

Anyone else think that there was too much foreshadowing and discussion of JC's death? I suspect that (at this point at least) his death would have been more powerful if King hadn't set it up so much.

And, doesn't it seem strange that the badass Gunslinger can't even injure the MIB? Their final confrontation seemed anticlimactic and just confusing...to me, at least.

Hi!
SPOILERS!

I agree, JC's death didn't have the impact it should have, Roland claimed to love the boy but as a reader I didn't feel any conection.

As for the final scenes - I liked man in black's speech about universe. But book as a while felt like it was just a hlaf of it, like it should have been longer. If I didn't know it is part of the series I would hate the ending.

The Gunslinger was an absolute struggle bus for me. I think I tried to start this book 3 or 4 times with no success. It's not a bad book, just a tough one to get through.

SPOILERS---
I agree I also found the gunslinger a struggle at the start but then I flew through the last third of the book.
I've been told the books get better and bigger (in length) as you go further through the series.
I'm finding my image of Roland as a bit of a cowboy unnerving.
I liked the fact that he showed his softer side although he continued on through the book proving it wrong especially with jakes death scene.
I'm glad that doesn't seem like the last we will see of Jake.

I'm so excited there's a Dark Tower Group! I started reading the series last year and am on book 6 but I'm excited to revisit the words though these discussions.

Gunslinger was a struggle for me. It was recommended by a friend who was a huge fan of the series and of Stephen King as a whole. This was my first experience reading Stephen King and I had no idea what to expect. I admit I was disappointed, but only as first. The story confused me which frustrated me which is not my preferred reading experience, but there was such mystery and magic involved that I still felt intrigued enough to at least try book #2. That's where I got hooked. I plan on going back and reading Gunslinger again once I finish the series.

If you're reading The Gunslinger and feeling unsure what all the hubbub is about, you are not alone! Power through and I guarantee you'll be happy you did.

For the beginning of the book, I felt like you get a sense right away that Roland had been through a lot before we meet him. His encounter with the old man was funny and a contrast to Roland's tale about Tull. The old man's bird really cracked me up! When the old man says so matter of factly that he thinks Roland will kill him so that Roland won't be killed by the old man in his sleep, shows just how dangerous, and callous Roland may be. Just a few thoughts from the early part of the book.

I finished re-reading The Gunslinger and I think I have a bit more respect for the book now because this time, I went into the book while keeping in mind that it's more of an introduction to the story maybe and to the gunslinger himself. My first reading of this book, I wasn't impressed and was not expecting to read the other Dark Tower books. I still do not love The Gunslinger, but I think I'm more willing to give the other books more of a chance! I hear a lot about the books getting better as you go along. I'm hoping for the best! However, I did like The Little Sisters of Eluria!

I really loved "The Little Sisters of Eluria". I read it last week and one of the biggest things that has stuck with me about it is the idea that perhaps Nadine Cross from "The Stand" is somehow connected to these sisters. I got a similar creepy and unsettling vibe from both her and the sisters, as well as both having mysterious powers and motives. Additionally, the surname "Cross" fits a visual motif found in this short story: the 'Cross Dog' and the gold chains of Johnny and his brother. Whether there is any validity to these (probably tenuous at best) connections, it was very fun to wonder about!

As for The Gunslinger (Dark Tower I), I absolutely love it. To me, it has a distinct surreal and desolate atmosphere that is not present in the other books (I've read up through Wizard & Glass). This book is a unique and fantastic start to what has been an amazing journey so far. I'm so glad I picked this book up, and am thankful for Emily and everyone here who has shared their thoughts!

POTENTIAL SPOILER -

Is it just a coincidence that an innocent person with the initials J.C. must die in this story as a sa..."

Interesting! I hadn't picked up on that... It could be intentional. There seem to be a surprising number of Biblical references throughout the text so far. I'll have to keep that in mind as I keep reading! :)

GUNSLINGER SPOILERS

I didn't notice the significance of J.C. initials until looking at this thread, but MIB does refer to Jake as "your Isaac" a few times, so the Bible hints are definitely intentional.

Probably worth noting, however, that in the Bible Abraham didn't actually have to kill Isaac. He was allowed not to at the last second. I wonder if that's significant?

It took me a long time to finish this book and I have mixed feelings. i found it a bot boring at times and had to take a few breaks from it (the longest was two weeks long). However it did get me interested in the story so I am going to read the next one.

Also, I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Roland's childhood.

I read The Gunslinger when I was younger. If I recall I might have been in the 7th or 8th grade. I finished it and began Drawing of The Three but did not even come close to finishing it.

While I thought it was kind of cool what Stephen King was trying to do, it really didn't resonate with me. I guess I thought it was okay? Several years later (beginning of this year to be precise) I took it upon myself to start reading the books because I knew there's a movie coming out soon and I really wanted to finish these books before it comes out. It is also worth mentioning lot of people in my family have read them and SWEAR by them, so I feel some kind of obligation to finish it.

Lo and behold, I begin with The Gunslinger, and surprisingly I find myself in love with it. I really found myself enchanted by the writing (which is way different from the other books). I guess this goes to show you that the time when you read a book matters! I finished the next three books and am now am reading Wind Through The Keyhole at the moment.

In any event, I feel like the main draw for The Gunslinger -- for me anyway -- is the writing which is really quite different than the other books. I felt that the landscape that he created that is simultaneously apocalyptic and reminiscent of the old west, which I thought was really cool!

Also, maybe this is just my experience, but I really feel like Little Sisters of Eluria reads best after having read Wizard and Glass, as it mentions quite a bit of the events that take place in it.

I just finished reading The Gunslinger and really struggled through it but I might read the next book since everyone says the writing improves.

The second book is where the story really comes together. You should definitely give it a shot