I had hoped that this would be the year I finally finished reading The Dark Tower. That's...obviously not going to happen. But at least it's the year I finally finish rereading the books I read years ago, so that I can finally read the final three.

I read Wizard and Glass not long after it came out, so it's been a while. I found there was a lot I didn't remember, though I still remembered the gist of things. I wasn't quite as annoyed by the detour this time around, since I have the final three right here, whereas the first time I read it, I'd been waiting years and years for a new book in the series and then instead of furthering the plot, it was all backstory.

Still, I didn't like this as much as the first three books. Which is weird, because usually I love backstory and flashbacks and reveals and all that sort of stuff, but I just find the story of Roland's time in Hambry really dull. I mean, obviously I still liked the book, since I gave it a four, but really. Especially anything to do with Roland and Susan was just beyond tedious. Someone needs to sit Stephen King down and tell him not to write romance, because it's really not his strong suit. ( )

A reader learns more about who, and what, makes Rolad what he is. A good read. Great plot twists. ( )

For me, this was a middling book, probably because it was a bit too long. I enjoyed a lot of the story, plus the Wizard of Oz allusions and the crossover into the world of The Stand, but I think it could have been edited a great deal. Roland's back story was probably told better in the comic book adaptation, Gunslinger Born. ( )

This book was sittign on my shelf for a while waiting for me to read the three previous books. Finally decided to dive in and re-read The Gunslinger.Probably my favorite book in the series. Real emotional punch at the end. ( )

I liked book 3 a lot, but I enjoyed book 4 more. Despite 90% of the book being a flashback I think that King did an excellent job. I enjoyed seeing Susan Delgado and the birth of Roland's quest for the tower, as well as seeing his old friends Cuthbert and Alain, of whom he speaks of so frequently. We also got to see Flagg again, which makes me anxious for their showdown. Is he the master of the tower? It seems as though he will be waiting for the travelers in the next stop, either way.

The only part I disliked was the final scene in the throne room. The Tick-Tock man was saved from the hell Blaine left behind in Lud by Flagg for some greater purpose, but he is then cast aside in a handful of pages once Roland's ka-tet reached the throne room as if King forgot what that purpose was to be. It was interesting noting that while Flagg holds sway over things of this world, including those of Gilead, he does not enjoy the same power over those of our world. Maybe this is linked to the skin he wears? ( )