Finally Finished!!

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Nomik

Carry on
Jun 19, 2016
3,973
22,555
47
Derry, NH
Ive always been a fast reader. Honestly, I can read a tome in a few days---no problem. Part of my issue is having a little one; when your kids are little, it is difficult to read.
These sound like excuses...in truth, I can't tell you why it took me so long to finish Joyland, but I'll try.
It was a good little novel, complete with all of the usual Stephen King characters and colloquialisms. As an English teacher, I look for the basic elements of plot in any book. That and the central point of conflict. King's novels are normally a rich mixture of plot and characterization, and Joyland may be the exception here. I don't want to have to hide this little commentary behind a spoiler, so I will say that this was a very character driven book. I enjoy the first person point of view; a technique few can successfully pull off. I also like the little hearts marking the top and the bottom of each section.
Oh heck ....here
this whole book is basically a flashback sequence, and a good one at that. I can't tell you what an utter joy it was to read about places I'm so thoroughly familiar with, like UNH and the dining hall, and Hamilton Smith (the actual English department building). Even Joyland itself carried a hint of Canobie Lake, a New England amusement park. His description of the little secret passages for Howie throughout Joyland were enticing; almost as though the reader were privy to inside information(that and all the carny talk). I lived (loved....silly autocorrect)this book!
 

Nomik

Carry on
Jun 19, 2016
3,973
22,555
47
Derry, NH
I have read that SK actually used one of my all time favorite places, Canobie Lake Park, as his muse for the Joyland amusement park. I just went there for the first time in over twenty years. Wow! Lot's of new rides, but it is still the same wonderland it was during my youth. I'd like to share some pictures of the inspiration for Joyland with you.
This is us! (Kevin and I, Danny and little Alex)
4TMQT9Gl.jpg
The Pirate Ship
VFrmuINl.jpg
Alex mistook this for the "terror go round"
gp8vJzil.jpg
The new roller coaster (scary vertical drop, lot's of loops)
yDVYnbwl.jpg
Kevin being a goofball
P6zQDsGl.jpg
The other rollercoaster (The original, rickety wooden "Yankee Cannonball" is the best, but I didn't get a picture)
lU4GSasl.jpg
 
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Hill lover35

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2017
3,717
20,019
42
Alberta canada
I have read that SK actually used one of my all time favorite places, Canobie Lake Park, as his muse for the Joyland amusement park. I just went there for the first time in over twenty years. Wow! Lot's of new rides, but it is still the same wonderland it was during my youth. I'd like to share some pictures of the inspiration for Joyland with you.
This is us! (Kevin and I, Danny and little Alex)
4TMQT9Gl.jpg

The Pirate Ship
VFrmuINl.jpg

Alex mistook this for the "terror go round"
gp8vJzil.jpg

The new roller coaster (scary vertical drop, lot's of loops)
yDVYnbwl.jpg

Kevin being a goofball
P6zQDsGl.jpg

The other rollercoaster (The original, rickety wooden "Yankee Cannonball" is the best, but I didn't get a picture)
lU4GSasl.jpg


Did you see Bowie the hound