A Joy To Read!

Joyland by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Of course I finished it with tears on my cheeks. (OK, only on the right cheek.) I have said that in many reviews, and wonder if it's because now I have to leave the author's world and either return to my own or find another "transpporter." Partway through this book I wrote in my Journal "Stephen King made me almost shed a tear with the most “casual” sentence in this funhouse book, demonstrating that no good deed goes unpunished, and that life is most unfair when you are trying to do a good thing and instead of gratitude you get a massive slap. Ouch!” [No need for a spoiler alert, you'll have to decide for yourself the precipitating exchange.] I’ve said for decades that part of King’s power is to inject personhood into even his secondary and bit-part characters – the opposite of many authors’ “cardboard characters” - and he hasn't lost that touch. Some of the strongest criticism of his work, especially the longer ones, is how he ties up (or doesn't) the endings. Joyland finishes exactly as it must, with plenty of regrets, but none regarding the craft of the author. Thank you, Stephen King.

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