I'm of two minds about this review, as the book does not necessarily stand on its own merits (as *The Gunslinger* does; TDOTT calls back to that book several times) but perhaps better represents the series as a whole (showing much more strongly than *The Gunslinger* how Roland's story stretches beyond Mid-World and into our own). But that doesn't detract from the true feeling of this book, the one that King describes in the foreword as what inspired him to write the book thanks to *The Good, the Bad and the Ugly* -- the sheer, unadulterated size of the world, the epic mythos of the story, even though this is only one chapter, one volume of seven. What I have read of the Tower makes it a masterpiece of a series; *The Waste Lands* is high on my list of upcoming books.

On my first trip to the Tower, in high school, I only made it partway through Wizard and Glass, the fourth book, before I fell from my metaphorical beam. With my start to reading novels again this year, I resolved myself to see the series through to its conclusion and climb the Tower for myself.

This book is the second step on the way, a step I had already climbed once, and perhaps the going was easier and quicker because of it. I seem to recall that when I first read this book, in high school, it took me a week and a half; this time, it took me only four days. I can't say whether that bodes well or poorly for the rest of the journey, but like Roland, I see no reason to stop - *ka* is *ka*, and what will be, will be. Money talks and bullshit walks, and this time I remember the face of my father.

Five stars, and a permanent place on my shelf with the rest of the series. ( )

As much as I enjoyed the first book in this series, there really is a vast improvement in King’s writing in this book. Something I have always appreciated about King is his ability to write characters so freaking well. I know that’s like the job of an author but seriously - the people he writes feel so real.

Anyway, now my husband can bother me about when I’ll finish the 3rd book in the series ( )

Forgot how crass and vulgar this book can be. I still enjoyed because it's part of the larger Dark Tower story, but it's certainly not my favorite of the set. ( )

Read this a few times. Really getting in to the character development and it is just amazing! ( )

I've been thinking about reading this book for years. After 3 different false starts I finally finished it and am glad I did. It feels very different from other King novels but it is well written and engaging. The world of the story is intriguing and I am excited to begin the next book this is the year I make a dent in my king collection. ( )