Should I read DT first?

[JellybeanJay]

I have a copy of Insomnia and I have picked it up a few times but had a really hard time getting into it.

Someone suggested that I should read the DT series first (yes I will admit I haven't read it) and that will help me appreciate Insomnia so much more.

Any thoughts?

[Doc Wilson]

Yes it will. Even so, its probably not ever going to be your favorite SK book, and there are better reasons to read the DT series.

[Moderator]

Hmmm....that may be true, but there's a character in Insomnia who plays an important part in The Dark Tower but isn't introduced until the end so seems to come out of nowhere. It's almost a chicken or egg thing, though, because that character's appearance in The Dark Tower makes you realize his importance in Insomnia but you wouldn't know that until you've read the Dark Tower and there are other aspects of Insomnia that make more sense once you've read DT. Sorry, that was absolutely no help at all.

[Spideyman]

I read Insomia when first published, also reading the DT series as published. If you are one to remember characters well from books previous read, then as you read the last DT book, a light bulb moment occurs as you discover a character from Insomina. There is a suggested reading list - what connecting books should be read in what order to connect with The DT series- but many who read them as published did not follow that list. If the DT books calls to you more than Insomnia, read on. Then when you read Insomina that light bulb will go off - seeing the connection of the same character. OK MsMod, I agree- confusing to answer this question

[Bev Vincent]

Those of us who read the books as they were published didn't face this dilemma. We read Insomnia before Wizard and Glass, for example, because that's the order in which they appeared. To me, that's the most organic way to experience the series, because certain things are established in non-series books and taken almost as fact when they show up in the series itself. It's hard to imagine reading the final few books without having already read Hearts in Atlantis, for example, or appreciating Wolves of the Calla to the fullest without having first read Salem's Lot.

[nate_watkins]

It's hard to imagine reading the final few books without having already read Hearts in Atlantis, for example, or appreciating Wolves of the Calla to the fullest without having first read Salem's Lot.

The only SK book I've read before the DT series is Cell. Once I finished DT, I went and read a lot of his other books (DT related, and unrelated). For me it's hard to imagine reading Salem's Lot, and Hearts in Atlantis without having read DT.

I'm about half way through Insomnia now, and I'd say what Spidey said. Whichever 'calls' more, just go with it.

[GNTLGNT]

I don't think the reading order matters...either way, you'll discover the tie-ins, and I hope you don't give Insomnia the brush-off-it IS a good read....and Marsha, do you have a degree in double speak...

[Moderator]

Yeah, a PhD -- Pretty Hard to Decipher!

[flea]

It's one book I've not been able to finish yet, have gotten three quarters through twice

[JohnDalglish]

Hmmm....that may be true, but there's a character in Insomnia who plays an important part in The Dark Tower but isn't introduced until the end so seems to come out of nowhere. It's almost a chicken or egg thing, though, because that character's appearance in The Dark Tower makes you realize his importance in Insomnia but you wouldn't know that until you've read the Dark Tower and there are other aspects of Insomnia that make more sense once you've read DT. Sorry, that was absolutely no help at all.

Hi,

Would you like to run that one by me again, Ms Mod? LOL

I enjoyed Insomnia more after I read DT 5-7 but it's certainly not essential, but I'd strongly advise you to read DT anyway (I enjoyed life more after I'd finished DT!).

Long days and pleasant nights