For many years I have had a mental block where The Dark Tower
series is concerned. A King fan from the very beginning - I believe
I have pretty much read everything at first publication from The
Stand (not his first) to Under the Dome (not his last) with the
exception of The Dark Tower. Oh I have tried countless times,
starting & finishing Gunslinger, opening Drawing ….. and
closing it. There are no words to explain why, or if there are they
will not leave the tip of my tongue.
Several months ago I devoured Under the Dome and was left with a
desire to read more King, so I reprised Talisman, Black House,
Hearts in Atlantis, Lisey's Story ……..then ……. whilst browsing the
King titles in my bookcase I found Gunslinger and Drawing. And I
read them.
For over 20 years I have been missing out on what seems to me now
to be a masterpiece of fiction. The Waste Land is now staring at me
from across the room.
Moral - a book by Mr. King can be a difficult read especially if
you are not attuned to fantasy or horror or able to perform leaps
of faithful imagination - frustratingly, I am all of these things
yet these books confounded me - HOWEVER - from this experience with
the Tower, I say put it aside for a lifetime or two and it will
getcha in the end!