You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Several of us want to read The Dark Tower Series together in a buddy read. We discussed the first book, The Gunslinger, with the September 2014 group read.

Suggested start time for book 2, The Drawing of the Three is after the October toppler. How does everyone feel about that?

Here's the LIST for The Dark Tower Series.

Works for me.

Me too. I might have to rejig chunksters list to include book 3 & 4 as they are bigger than the first two. These are physical books and I need to prioritise those now so I can sell them in preparation for my house move.

Janice, thanks for creating the thread :)

I want in on this :) But I guess I have to catch up and finish Gunslinger first, right?

Paolo wrote: "I want in on this :) But I guess I have to catch up and finish Gunslinger first, right?"

The group read for September is The Gunslinger. The thread is in the Group Read folder (link is in msg 1). We won't be starting book till end of October, so you have lots of time.

Just checking in to see when we were starting but I guess that hadn't been decided exactly. I thought it was just my memory slipping

I want to read the second one but I have quite a few other buddy reads on at the moment so I'm not sure when I'll get to it.

I am in no rush. In fact I only remembered after the gunslinger was in that sale. I could start today or a year from now anf anytime in between

Thanks Janice for the link on Gunslinger I will read that one first then connect with you guys for the second. I have really wanted to read these books and actually all of Stephen Kings books

Can we put this off for a week then, or two weeks? I've got another buddy read starting right away.

Sounds good to me Janice!

A lot of buddy reads about to start plus Tasha wants to read gunslinger. I don't know if anyone is chomping at the bit so whenever people want to start just make sure I know about it

Also fine with me!

hi everyone, just wanted to let you know I am done Gunslinger. Let me know when you guys want to start The Drawing of the Three

How about if we start on this coming Sunday? That way we can be finished by the time Revival comes out.

I'm going to have to give it a miss for now unfortunately - I need to get my current reads read!

I'm leavin it up to everyone else I have no preference at all.

I know how you feel, Sarah. I really packed things in for November.

I'll be starting tomorrow and hope to have it done in time for the start of Revival.

No spoiler this is just from a few pages in. Where is this jaw bone from. Same as in gunslinger or a new one

The jawbone makes a reappearance, does it? Interesting. I'll be listening for it.

Are you listening, Travis?

I planned on reading the print version I owned then I woke up thisorning and went audio. I can be hit ot miss with Frank Muller but I am rather liking him this time around. Liking the whole of what I've read so far. Nice quick gunslinger summary to start off with which was most helpful

I get lost with chapters when I listen to audiobooks. I'm in New York with Eddie Dean, the Prisoner, whatever chapter or chapters that's in.

First, I think the jawbone that Roland had at the beginning of this book is the jawbone (view spoiler)[ he took from The Black Man at the end of the first book. (hide spoiler)].

I like the continuation of the tarot cards (view spoiler)[that The Black Man pulled for Roland at the end of The Gunslinger. (hide spoiler)] I had forgotten about them.

I was a little confused when Roland found the door, but I quickly managed to figure out what was going on and was completely pulled into the storyline of the Prisoner. It's funny how I found myself rooting for him, and yet repulsed by what he was.

When was it the airlines banned smoking on flights? It was odd to hear it mentioned in the first section. I'm enjoying the slightly skewed words in Roland's world (lobstrosity/lobster). I've forgotten what Roland called tuna sandwich.

I'm really enjoying the story so far... much better than The Gunslinger.

Frank Muller is doing a great job. He makes me think of Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in FBI.

Well my internet has been spotty today so if it straightens out I'll be back later. I have reached door #2. I'm assuming there are 3 if I understand the title at all. I know I shouldn't but Eddy really cracks me up. One place in particular I'll discuss later. I hate messing with spoilers on my phone

Travis of NNY wrote: "Well my internet has been spotty today so if it straightens out I'll be back later. I have reached door #2. I'm assuming there are 3 if I understand the title at all. I know I shouldn't but Eddy ..."

Yes, there are three doors. I don't think that's a spoiler because I've found it on one of the book blurbs.

Yeah, Eddy is a likeable gangster. (view spoiler)[ The way he handled the customs officials, and the things he said made me laugh out loud. (hide spoiler)] I look forward to your spoilers.

Roland is about to enter Door #2. Eddie is (view spoiler)[ such a loose canon. He came unglued when they approached the second door. Maybe he figured it would return him to his world. (hide spoiler)]

Love that it was mentioned that (view spoiler)[ Johnny Cash was known as the Man in Black, and that ka ka is baby shit. (hide spoiler)]

I've decided that I really like Eddie, in spite of his flaws. (view spoiler)[ Deep down, he has a good heart. (hide spoiler)]

Here's a quote I like:

"Fault always lies in the same place...with him weak enough to lay blame."

Well I finally return. I have finished the book but will head back to start here.

the jawbone: (view spoiler)[I forgot Walter had given another at the end of first book. Something tells me this jawbone is going to keep popping up through the series just to make people keep saying what is so special about the stinking jawbone. (hide spoiler)]


Upon meeting Balazar: (view spoiler)[we start with the card house and then on to the card tower. Relatively simple concept so why the need to go on and on about this. I assume this was a way to compare what would have been the tower in Eddies world to the tower in Rolands world. The tower representing the highest level of achievement or life goal or something (hide spoiler)]

By time reach door 2 (view spoiler)[ Eddie has really come into his own a bit. He's off the sauce and accepted this new role in his life. He has a nice blend of wit and humor. It really cracked me up when he tells how he takes the gun while Roland sleeps and plans to shoot himself. Says he doesn't because there are so many dud bullets and a person only gets balls enough to do it once and either way he'll shit his pants. If it's a dud and he shits his pants he has no way to wash them or get a new pair and he'll have to live the rest of his life in a horrible stench. (hide spoiler)]

Door 2 end of chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ we begin to learn about our next recruit. An amputee with no legs. I question why such a highly flawed group. Roland now missing fingers and toes. Eddie the once anyway junkie and now Odetta with no legs. Is this something to do with them each needing each other to use their strenghs to support the others weaknesses and making each other whole or why such characters. (hide spoiler)]


end of Door 2 I hate Odetta (view spoiler)[this was a bit confusing for a while until we discover the multiple personality thing. Do not like this character at all (hide spoiler)]

End of door 3 section (view spoiler)[ finally we find out the schizophrenic not just 2 people but ends up being 3 people but Roland finds a way to fix the problem after killing Mort. (hide spoiler)]

Starting door 3 I really don't care for this character to start and it is so disturbing how big of a role Mort has already played in Rolands life indirectly.

end of door 3 (view spoiler)[ this section was great. I loved Roland alone in the city trying to communicate with people using old words. I also liked his cleverness in both the gun shop and drug store. This ended up being my favorite section of the entire book (hide spoiler)]

All in all I really enjoyed this one. It made much more sense than the Gunslinger did. There were parts that were confusing but usually if you kept going the missing pieces would appear and everything would once again click.

I'm going to have to save some of your spoilers. I didn't get anything read today. Well, I did enter door 2 but I'm a little confused so am going to listen to that part again.

I can understand. It was confusing at every new door opening. In this case I think I know what is confusing you. All I can say is if you relisten and are still confused don't worry just keep going and it will all makr sense. I had to backup a few places myself.The way each new part is introduced with bits of information. We are given it as Roland discovers it. King really isn't giving the reader any hints but just letting the story unfold through Rolands eyes. Rather literally.

I do know that Odessa (view spoiler)[ has multiple personalities. There's Odessa and Dessa being talked about right now. And something about her going away, and where does she go to? And how did she get that big bruise? I'm not sure who Andrew is and why Muller makes him sound like a woman with an Irish accent. (hide spoiler)] Maybe I won't re-read. I'll just keep going.

Whew I rememer the strange accent but could not recall te character. I assumed it was someone with a very minor role. Funally I searched enough to find the answer. (view spoiler)[ Andrew is Odetta Holmes limo driver who is driving Odetta and telling her of JFK assassination and referring to JFK as the last gunslinger (hide spoiler)]

Ahhh.. okay. That makes sense now. (view spoiler)[ Interesting that he says JFK was the last gunslinger. Was it because of Vietnam? Andrew was quite happy about his death wasn't he? Or did I mis-hear that. (hide spoiler)]

A couple more hours of work and I can dive in for an hour or so. I have a book club meeting tonight, so won't be able to listen too long. The meeting is out of town and since I will have a passenger, I won't be listening while I drive. :( How antisocial can I get that I begrudge having company on a drive. LOL!

I finished the book this afternoon and I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about it. I gave it 4 stars. I figured if I have to debate this hard about whether or not it's a 5 star, it probably isn't. But now I can get to your spoilers, Travis.

Flawed characters (view spoiler)[ I also wonder why the ka-tet is so flawed. Do they find healing or redemption along the way? (hide spoiler)]

Odetta (view spoiler)[ When you say you hate Odetta, isn't it the Detta personality that rankles the most? Odetta was actually quite palatable. Detta was a real nasty piece of work. I like how Roland repeated that they were Honky Mutters, or something like that, and that he could only understand one of 10 of her words. (hide spoiler)]

Eddie-isms (view spoiler)[ I laughed when Eddie said that he had gone from being an addict to being a pusher. He was really quite gullible wasn't he. In spite of Roland warning him to be on his guard, he was blind to Odetta's (or should I say Detta's) nastiness. At times, he was quite astute in his observations about Roland and the tower. (hide spoiler)]

Door #3 - (view spoiler)[ I was also surprised at how Jack Mort had played such an intricate role in both Jake and Odessa's lives. I also really enjoyed this "door", and almost cheered when Jack Mort died. It was tense though. I knew that Roland would make it through the door, but it was still quite tense. I was disappointed that he didn't bring Jake back with him.

Oh, and the jawbone (view spoiler)[ makes a reappearance at the end. Hmmm.... (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I meant Detta yes. As to Mort (view spoiler)[ now that King has allowed a time paradox to occur where or what will be Jakes role. Will he be back along the way. Toland saved his life. The one thing that put Jake into play in The Gunslinger was his being dead and sent to an alternate world. Then he was killed the second time. Now he is back alive. Be i teresting how this plays out. I dare say we will meet up with Jake again at some point. Perhaps join the ka-tet. (hide spoiler)]

I just picked up the next book in the series from Audible. The Waste Lands. Apparently, according to the full book blurb there, we meet up with Jake.

When do we want to read book 3? Shall we give some time for those who still want to read book 2?

I started a long book yesterday which I'll put down tomorrow to start Revival. After Revival I need to read my fact not fiction book then finish the one I just started. This will probably keep me busy for most of 2 weeks. Guess we can see if anyone has popped in saying they are reading book 2 . If it stays a ghost town around here we can start anytime after I finish the next 3 books I have lined up.

I like to picture Roland as Paul Hogan aka Crocodile Dundee type character. I can't say why but it works for me

Sounds good to me Travis. I've started Revival, and then I have Mister Slaughter slated.

OK so Travis (and Stephen King) has convinced me to read The Drawing of the Three as my next book! I'll jump in to the discussion soon. Hoping I can understand what's going on as it's easily been 6 months since I read The Gunslinger.

You almost can skip the Gunslinger and start wuth this one. Plus this is much easier to follow. If there is a section that is a bit confusing just keeo reading and it most likely will make sense eventually

I'm glad you're going to join in, Sarah. Comment away and we'll respond, even though we've finished.

That's good to hear Travis. The copy I am reading is a first publication and it is illustrated too which should be interesting. Just starting it now!

Just read the prologue and the gunslinger rundown (the latter was most helpful and I wasn't expecting it). (view spoiler)[that lobster type thing did a real number on Roland's fingers and toes. (hide spoiler)]

This book starts 7 hours after the first book finishes according to the bit at the beginning so I'm assuming the jaw bone he finds is the same one from the first book. Thanks for reminding me Janice who it belonged to as I couldn't remember. I'm still not sure why he picked it up.

I had forgotten about the tarot cards being drawn.

I have just finished chapter 1 (view spoiler)[and he's found the door on the beach which is really him looking through the eyes of The Prisoner. It made me think of the phrase "the eyes are the door/window to the soul". (hide spoiler)]

I have been sucked in - I'm enjoying it more than The Gunslinger already.

Even though it hadn't been that long since I read the Gunslinger I was surprised how much I had forgotten. I think I rated it 4 stars but am thinking I should go switch it to a 3. I can't remember a book long after I read it but my memory can usually be jostled. This case was different which made me believe the Gunslinger really didn't make much of an imoression on me. I liked the run down on what I figure King makes the most important bits from the Gunslinger. There are one liners here and there of characters or places from it so I don't regret my struggle with reading it, but most of them in this book are minor references that aren't much more than reading them and saying I remember that. I think you caught on to what was happening with the prisoner faster than I did though. It took me a bit to get with the program.

I'm with you on recalling The Gunslinger - I rated it 4 stars too even though I wasn't exactly sure what was going on! There was 7 years between King publishing book 1 and book 2 - you can see the difference in his writing style - I understand now why he went back an edited The Gunslinger to bring it in line with the others.

I am liking that this one looks set to be in our world. chapter 2 (view spoiler)[it's good that the gunslinger can bring back things between the door - hopefully he'll be able to heal himself that way - he doesn't look in good shape at the moment. I'm liking that Eddie has awareness when Roland invades his mind and that those around Eddie can also notice a difference, the eyes and language in particular.

Roland calls tuna fish tooter-fish! I like it when he said Thankee sai to the air hostess!
(hide spoiler)]

The Prisoner (view spoiler)[wondering why he is called the prisoner. Is it because he is shackled by the bonds and chains that is heroin addiction or is it foreshadowing of things to come when he reaches New York with his 2 pounds of Cocaine under his armpits?!? (hide spoiler)]