Stephen King Book • Page 71

Read that again for the third time in 2020 and it was terrifying.

 

I just finished book 2 of Dark Tower and I really just want to keep reading to find out what happens, haha… so I think I may just do that and read everything else after.

 

For a little more context, I read the series straight through (more or less, I at least didn't make a concerted attempt to following any reading order) and I read books like Black House and Insomnia afterwords, which I think is a totally valid option as well. Black House is basically something that happened in the universe that has big ramifications but you wouldn't know about it just by reading the DT series. Maybe the best comparison I can think of is Rogue One to a A New Hope. Like at the time, when we saw New Hope, it didn't matter that those characters had given their lives in service of A New Hope's story, but after seeing Rogue One, it matters a lot.

Insomnia is a bit tougher, because that one actually does introduce a character that plays a big role in late Dark Tower, and it does kinda feel like they came out of nowhere in the series, but you'd still be fine.

Honestly I feel like maybe Salem's Lot is the only one that it would be weird not to read before book 5.

Also, on another note, if you like young Roland, once you spend some real time with him in book 4, there are more great, if inconsequential stories told there, like Little Sisters of Eluria.

EDIT: Oh weird I was typing this while you posted lol

 

Fuck it. I might go back and try to read Dark Tower now. I only got through book 3 on my last attempt.

I've been meaning to read more King.

 

Good timing, haha. Okay so tell me if this makes sense. I'll just read books 3 and 4, then Salem's Lot, then finish 5-7. Then I'll come back and read any other related stuff afterwards. This way I'm not complicating anything but I'm still getting whatever is absolutely necessary.

 

That makes perfect sense to me.

 

I definitely recommend Salem’s Lot before 5. Also it’s not like you’re pausing and reading a 1200 page monster like the Stand lol

I didn’t read Salem’s Lot at the time and it didn’t ruin my reading experience or anything, but like, it would have definitely hit me a bit more. I knew the obvious connection as I was reading, but definitely would have preferred to have read Salem’s Lot prior!

 

Yeah, Insomnia and Black House are also beasts (and you can't read Black house without Talisman). That's another reason Eyes of the Dragon could be nice early on. Introduce you to my man Flagg with a relatively short story.

(But also, I don't remember when you learn about "twinners" and whatnot so seeing multiple versions of the same character can be confusing without that knowledge)

 

Insomnia is one that’s been on my shelf for years but I haven’t reached for it yet. I’ve heard some mixed opinions on it, but based off the synopsis it seems like something I can’t at all see myself not loving.

I purposely have been waiting because like a decade ago my old boss told me it was one he appreciated the older he got.

 

I definitely get that, Black House is the same way. I tried to read them when I was younger and didn't get far. Both have patented King excess that you either love or hate.

 

And I loved Black House! I’m thinking maybe this year COULD be the year I read Insomnia. We will see depending on how busy the summer gets haha

 

I got laid off from work last month so I've had so much time to read everything on my backlog, haha.

 

I'll wrap up Wizard and Glass tonight and plan to take a small Dark Tower break but not sure what I'll do next.

Narrowed down my options to --

- 'Salem's Lot (been years and years since I've read it)
- The Long Walk (new)
- The Dark Half (new)
- From a Buick 8 (new)
- Needful Things (new)

I'm leaning toward Dark Half.

 

Long Walk times a million. Needful Things might be my favorite of the bunch, but I think Long Walk is a must read.

 

Awesome. Yeah, I'll go with Long Walk.

 

I don't know if I should read Insomnia again but I wasn't huge on that the first time around.

 

It's far from my favorite. I've thought about reading it again too.

 

If you read Needful Things, read The Dark Half first.

 

Yeah Needful Things is subtitled The Last Castle Rock Story (it's not) but it is sort of the end to a whole saga of books that take place in Castle Rock. That's a whole other can of worms having just got done with the Dark Tower discussion lol. I believe Cujo is pretty important to that saga too, as I think the sheriff either returns or is mentioned a lot.

 

In Jeremy Renner's Diane Sawyer interview he mentioned his mom was reading Stephen King to him in the hospital, and on the Kimmel interview he confirmed it was Fairy Tale, and I gotta admit Kimmell was fast with the "at least it wasn't Misery"

 

I absolutely love the older book covers.

 

Nice I don't think I've seen the hardcover before. (I got most of my Stephen King collection from my dad which was hardcovers but that one was sadly missing)

 

I was thinking about Finders Keepers again. Honestly might be one of my favorite King books. If it wasn't the second in a trilogy I would recommend it to new readers

Still need to read End of Watch

 

Forgot I had The Talisman so I'm a decent amount through that right now. Will do The Long Walk after.

 

Agreed about Finders Keepers, but I did not like End of Watch at all. One of the more disappointing conclusions to any book trilogy I've ever read.