The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, Book 7) (original 2004; edition 2006)

Great ( )

I liked the ending of this book. It was surprising to me, and a logical fit.

I felt a nice sense of accomplishment after finishing this book/series. That is odd for me, as finishing a book doesn't do that for me. King writes this series is a topic that runs through all/most of his stories. I think this concept grew over time. When he wrote Gunslinger back in 1970, I don't think it was with a plan. It feels to me the goal is to sell books, and not the literary / spiritual message that is communicated. That is fine with me because the books are worthy.

I read the first five books in 2010. I got sick of the series, but came back to them this year, 2013, and enjoyed the last two books. Here are my comments about the series, with my rating:

Gunslinger (Rating: 2 stars)
This is the first of seven books. I probably will read the others, but this one didn't make me want to run out and get them. One time a person who works at the library asked me if the Dark Tower was worth it. I hadn't read it so didn't know. Figured I would find out.

The Drawing of the Three (Rating: 3 stars)
This was a tough one to rate. I liked it better than Dark Tower I. However, it gets the same number of stars. Book one was Roland hiking across his world to get to this book. This book was a few short stories getting the players together. I am not a fan of short stories. EDIT: 3/26/2011 - after finishing the fifth Dark Tower book I went back and re-rated previous books. Thus this one now has more star than the first one.

The Waste Lands (Rating: 3 stars)
Same reaction to this book as I had to the first two in the series. Okay, but nothing special. I have no urge to start the next book. I will eventually. Here are series I think are better: Hyperion Cantos, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Jack Ryan, Joe Kurtz, John Corey (need to read the Lion EDIT: 4/14/2013 - I hated the Lion), Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.

Wizard and Glass (Rating: 4 stars)
This is the first Dark Tower book I really enjoyed, but hated that I knew one thing that was going to happen at the end. The spoiler was in the very first Dark Tower book. Got to give Stephen King a break though. He wrote 'Wizard and Glass' 20 years after the first Dark Tower book.

Wolves of the Calla (Rating: 3 stars)
King described my feelings about the novel very well on page 476 of this 709 page book: "All the rest had been ritual and preparation, necessary but not terribly helpful." Four hundred seventy six pages of not terribly helpful, not terribly exciting, not terribly page turning, but not terribly terrible material was painful to get through. However, the rest of the book, page 476 to 709, was helpful, exciting, and page turning. Not enough for me though. I will take a short break before picking up the next Dark Tower installment.

Song of Susannah (Rating: 4 stars)
After a disappointing fifth installment of the Dark Tower series, this book, the sixth and next to last one, was well done. The series is reminding me of the television show Lost: time traveling, supernaturally type beings (others = low men,) and, in a hard to describe way, the feel, plot, scenarios, ka? of the whole thing. I am looking forward to checking the last book of the series out of the library. That is very different from how I felt before checking this one out.

The Dark Tower (Rating: 3 stars)
I liked the ending of this book. It was surprising to me, and a logical fit...

Afterward: I recall reading a comment that it was pretty full of Stephen King to write himself into the books. I didn't feel that way, until I read the afterward when he asked his constant readers not to write him or stop into his home for a visit. Mr. King, I have no interest to do either. However, if you want to write or visit me, I would be honored. ( )

I do remember crying my eyes out when finished reading this book and the end of the series.
I am going to re read. That is one thing I know for sure. ( )

Other than one silly scene involving Roland and Jake going back to our world to save Stephen King from being killed by a minivan , this book was a pretty good ending to the series. It got a little bloated in a few spots but otherwise was pretty good. One of King's better endings, especially looking at recent books (ugh, Under the Dome). I would recommend the entire series--it was a good (and long) read.

I wish I'd stopped when he warned me to. ( )