Joyland VS Doctor Sleep

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Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Hey king fans!

I just wanted to know which of the two novels stevey wrote for us last year you thought was the better one. I personally prefer Joyland, even though Doctor sleep was amazing and it was great to be back with Dan.

Who is this 'Stevey" you speak of? (any relation to Stevie Nicks? :adoration:)
:lurve:

so, to answer your question - Joyland was good in a different kind of way - I like it as a love story and a mystery.

I think that Doctor Sleep was pretty cool too, but I did not compare it to the original "The Shining" since that was written so long ago and I did not feel like doing a reread in anticipation of Dr. Sleep coming out.

I was pretty thrilled to go to Chapters the day Doctor Sleep came out to buy my own personal copy (now that I am older and not a poor starving student or young housewife any more!)
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
11,749
34,805
I preferred Doctor Sleep. Joyland would have been okay save for the end that would be a spoiler if I posted so I wont. Or...to be honest, I could have done without the politics coming from a narrator who had all the time in the world to be political during a very political time--the 60s, Viet Nam--and it isn't until the end that he becomes political. That bit about the heart took me right out of the story.
 

notebookgirl

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2013
858
4,940
Somewhere over the Rainbow
Tough question. There was so much anticipation surrounding Dr. Sleep, it was hard not to get excited about it. Joyland to me was a different read as it was slated as a "Hard Case Crime" book, not my typical fare. Also, in my mind, there wasn't as much hype for me when it came out. However, after reading, it was amazing and it became little more treasured. Of course, though, Dr. Sleep was the book I have signed by King. It's also a great read and has this extra bonus factor about it.
 

Autumn Gust

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2012
3,360
15,346
Joyland, for me, had a kind of dreamy, nostalgic tone. When I was little I lived for a while down the beach from Ocean View Amusement Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Mr. King really nailed the whole amusement park/carnie vibe. Dr. Sleep wowed me in a different way. It is scary book but it also has strong themes of hope and compassion. The best thing, though, is the constant tension that flows throughout the story; it picked me up early on and swept me along until I couldn't put the book down-- I just HAD to know how it all turned out. I think both books succeed in what they set out to do.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
It's gonna have to be Joyland for me, all the way. I think it's one of the top ten novels King has written, so far. The story is awesome, the characters are real and believeable, the setting is great. King was able to put me into the story from the first chapter (like alot of you I had a hard time adjusting to the 'voice' in this one), but once I got the flow down, it was a fantastic read! He made me cry- that, to me, is the ultimate in a great book. Dr. Sleep was a great read also, but it just left me feeling kind of flat. I guess with all of the hype I was expecting more from it. Maybe after a re-read it will move up towards the top of the list for me.