My Hurdle

[Mr. Palmer]

Twice, I've attempted to read THE DARK TOWER series. Both times I reach this book and it seems the air comes out of the tire. I just can't make it pass WIZARD AND GLASS. *sigh*

I'm going to give it a third try in the upcoming days, and I've got my fingers crossed that I can make it through this fourth book.

Does it get better after this one?

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Well, personally Wizard and Glass is probably my favourite DT volume so I'm biased but if you're getting stuck then I'd suggest going on to Wolves.

Though I believe you're missing a real treat!

Long days and pleasant nights

[Mary Strickland]

Start with "Drawing of the Three". It has entertainment on all levels---humor, supernatural. suspense. It my favorite for "weird" humor.

[Spideyman]

This book contains a story within a story. If you can read onward, you might find a surprise. Guaranteed it will open up a great insight into the character of Roland.

[Ubasti]

I have to say that W&G was the hardest one for me. I had read it before and when I finally got around to reading the whole series, I didn't look forward to reading it again. It is important to the entire story though so it is a must read.

[michal]

I was close to goving up on the series with the second and third book, but my advice is: Keep it up. Wolves of the Calla is up 'til this day one of my favorite King books and the story gets faster and way more fascinating.

I know what you're going through - really, I've been there myself. But hang in there and rewards will be plentiful. :biggrin2:

[BlackThorn]

Never had that problem. King almost failed to 'get me up' in Insomnia... but I grew up a little, and realized swimming in a shallow pond wouldn't be my forte anyway. I bawled at the end of that book so hard... I remember, I listened to the recycled library audiobook version on the MP3 player in my truck, after I converted the tapes to WAV, then MP3. I remember where I was when I finished the story. It was a dirt road, just off the path Clay took, on his quest for his son. I remember I had to pull over, but you never really encounter anyone on that road, so it didn't matter. But I bawled. My eyes bled right out.

It was just getting into it that bothered me.

Soooooo... DT4 was my favorite dark tower book. Why can't you get into it? Don't you like Jonas? Don't you love seeing Cuthbert young? And alive? Don't you absolutely sway with passion seeing how Roland trained? Can you see Susan? Hotter than all the suns in all the worlds to young Roland? Don't you love how Jonas and Coral make love? Aren't you jealous? "scratching, clawing, biting, swearing..."

The whole book is a game of castles, and everyone is playing. Then again, I longed for this book to come, and King had explained at the beginning of DT3, that he probably wasn't gonna make it through the series, and we might not even ever see a book four. So when I got it, I carried it with me like a baby blanket, for a long time. It had me from the cover. Dunno what it's like to not have that feeling, so I guess I can't help you.

[Cowboy]

Stay the course! It is such a fascinating story.

[MyJadedEpiphany]

I have to agree with John and Spidey. If you miss out on WG, you will come to other parts in the following books that will make little or no sense at all to you. Especially when it comes to Walter. I suggest to keep trucking through because it does have it's benefits. Also remember that Roland is telling the story to his Ka-Tet so there are things happening with them as well as the story continues. I hope you manage to make it through!

[wally wonder]

maybe its the time of the year? winter is the best time for me to read the tower books. or have you switched over to summer air in your tires? that might be it. winter air in your tires during summer can't be good. i can't fathom not reading and continuing if you have gotten as far as you have. wasn't there a multitude of people waiting anxiously for the story to be finished? gotta be the time of the season. maybe try again after the time change if all else fails.

[Ranger_Strider]

You must Stand and be True.
W&G is a great tale on it's own, but also essential to the understanding of Roland's growth during the quest: First (in 1-3) he regains his ka-tet in Eddie, Susannah, and Jake, then (in 4) he regains his heart.
Why wouldn't you like Roland to have a heart?
Could you go on without one?

[Mr. Palmer]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the responses.

After I finish BAG OF BONES, I'm going to get back on the road to the Tower. And this time I will look at WIZARD AND GLASS differently.

[DillonNelson]

The story can seem to drag at first, but sit down one day and just read as much as you can... get far into it. The story really does become quite interesting, and I don't think that you can truely understand Roland at all untill you read this story... trust me, it's WORTH it.

[plgordon]

Mr. Palmer.
I'm a new member myself, but one thing I can tell you is that every one here is a pretty hard core SK fan, Myself included. It's doubtful that You'll find sypathizers of your problem here. I was however suprised to see that perhaps you're not completely alone. W&G (to me) is largely a love story, wich is a bit of Departure for SK from my reconing. If I were to give you some advice, I'd say stick with it!!! I think we have all read a book we didn't particularly enjoy but somehow felt compelled to finish. In My opinion you will be rewarded! I don't think you can skip a book in this series, and if you could I don't think it would be this one. I laughed I cried I loved W&G. It drew emotion out of me like squeezing a wet sponge.

[Sean of gilead]

w&g is probably my favorite so far (I am currently on SoS) the backstory of Roland and his original ka-tet kept me reading till it was done. The things you learn about cuthbert and alain teach you alot more
about eddie and the rest.

[MadamMack]

Start with "Drawing of the Three". It has entertainment on all levels---humor, supernatural. suspense. It my favorite for "weird" humor.


Drawing of the Three is my favorite in the series.

[thymeoperator]

i found this and the first one the easiest of the volumes i've read so far, to get into - i was involved the second this began. a friend read it first and complained it should have been a prequel instead of a detour, so says he, so i was expecting it to be a whole flashback novel...but i was so excited to read that, i couldn't wait to get through book three, because i love roland's past adventure memories.

[Bubonic]

Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
Personally I plan on one day read the series chronologically, going from select pages of Wizard and Glass, the graphic novels, Little Sisters of Eluria, onto the Gunslinger, and once I get back to Wizard reading the surrounding parts, skipping the flashback up until the very end and then onwards!

Awesome post BlackThorn, made me relive some moments.

[KaLikeWind]

That's an amazing idea, Bubonic... I'll have to try that... I don't think I've read everything yet...

I mean, I read the seven Tower novels...

I Read A Gunslinger Born, The Long Road Home, Treachery, and The Fall of Gilead....

Are the others worth it?

[jellydonut25]

I absolutely love this book. The climax wherein Roland, Alain, and Cuthbert ride to meet The Coffin Hunters (don't remember the name, it's been 7 years since I read this book) and they have that AMAZING battle in the night on horseback...totally gripping. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end. I'm halfway through my re-read of The Wastelands and I can't wait to get to this book

[itweet317]

That was honestly my favorite quote of the book, the image of two sweaty ferrets going at it, it was quite entertaining, I had a good laugh

[dominic]

Hi there Mr Palmer Im new to the Board and was just wondering if you ever got through Wizard and Glass. I found this one tricky to go through as I had to leave the characters I was growing to love and start with a new bunch. I also felt that after the finishing pace of wastelands I felt that the Ka-tet were getting somewhere on their journey towards the tower.

After I finished Wizard and Glass I found it difficult to move on and wanted to know more about certain charcters and what they did next lol. Well worth sticking it out in my opinion.

[ghost19]

Hi,

Well, personally Wizard and Glass is probably my favourite DT volume so I'm biased but if you're getting stuck then I'd suggest going on to Wolves.

Though I believe you're missing a real treat!

Long days and pleasant nights
Agreed, completely. I've read Wizard and Glass more times than the other books. It answered a lot of questions about Roland and you get to see how talented he was even as a young gunslinger. I think Roland's character in the later novels is much better understood by reading Wizard and Glass. You can see what kind of person he was from a teenager and you also get a glimpse of how formidable he and his gunslingers can be even as teenagers. Wonderful book. The writing in DT4 is just.......absolutely amazing, but then again, look who wrote it. Great book Mr. King.

[louiscreed]

in my eyes DT4 is the best book in the series.
i got totally lost in it and finished it all too quickly.was very tempted to read it all again straight after.
loved the flashbacks and the insight into Roland's history.

[JohnDalglish]

in my eyes DT4 is the best book in the series.
i got totally lost in it and finished it all too quickly.was very tempted to read it all again straight after.


Hi,

Yes indeed.

I did (as soon as my wife had finished it for the first time anyway).

Long days and pleasant nights