Joyland

I have mixed feelings about this book. I was very excited because I thought that Stephen King was a scary writer and the reading would be exciting, but it was rather dramatic and very depressing. For a moment, I felt very lost in the language of the fairground and at times it became somewhat incomprehensible, but I liked the story development. Although I would have preferred to have more mystery and terror. However, I enjoyed it and it was great.

Fantastic read. One of the best books I've read in 2013 and a long time. Definitely pick this book up if you love Stephen king and mystery novels

Can't go wrong with Stephen King.

What can I say about this book? First thing that comes to mind? It's perfect. I can honestly say without a doubt or second thought that it is now my favourite novel and is top on my list. Alway been a fan of King books, but this story filled every need I have for a good story. There's reflection, loss, love, friendship, tragedy and bliss from the simplest of moments. I'm blown away by this story. I have never been more impressed by King's ability to make you feel for his characters.

I found this pretty boring. I'd have given up on it if it had been longer, but it was short, so I persevered. Can't really say I'm glad I did. Not like SK to do a straight-up murder mystery, albeit with a psychic disabled kid. I just didn't care whodunnit.

This was my first kind of “meh” encounter with King. After my very first two King books (The Stand and 11/22/63) blew me away, I couldn't get warm with this one. I don't know, maybe everything is happening too fast but I couldn't get sucked into the story like the other two did. I liked the ending at the beach though.

I really don't know how King does it, again and again turning out a great novel, even when it's rather short. His characters - both the bad and the good guys - are so true to life and scaringly relatable in many ways.
King knows people and humanity and I like that he doesn't shy away from the ugly sides of life and that he, at the same time, has a great love for humans and the utmost respect for their struggles.
Though not scary, Joyland provides deep insights and tons of quotable phrases on every page and leaves you teary-eyed with sadness and, yes, joy.

Executive Summary: Not exactly what I'm used to from Mr. King, but quite enjoyable none the less.Audio book: The book is narrated by Michael Kelly who is probably better known as an actor than as an audiobook reader. This is the first book I've listened to with him. Unsurprisingly he speaks in a clear manner, with good inflection. He does a few accents for some of the characters, but not many. He's a decent reader, but doesn't really add much to it.Full ReviewI'd like to think of myself as an experienced [a:Stephen King 3389 Stephen King http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg] reader. I'm no expert though. I've read about 25 of his books, but that's only about a 3rd of what he's written.At first I found myself wondering if I had the author right. I kept waiting for horrible things to happen: evil clowns, monsters, Randall Flagg. You know, a [a:Stephen King 3389 Stephen King http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg] book. There are carnies, but no evil clowns.That's probably not fair on my part, he has written a variety of things over the years, and not all of it is horror. Still it's what he's best known for, and it can be a bit surprising when evil isn't lurking around every corner. That isn't to say this book doesn't have some spookiness and a sense of the fantastical going on. Joyland is about a 21 year old college student named Devin Jones, recently ditched by his girlfriend who takes a summer job working at an amusement park in North Carolina called Joyland in the 1970s.One of Joyland's biggest attractions is the Horror House, said to be haunted by the ghost of a girl who was murdered during the ride a few years past. That sounds more like the [a:Stephen King 3389 Stephen King http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1362814142p2/3389.jpg] we all know, right?During his job interview, he meets the resident “physic” who gives him a prediction about his future. He's skeptical, because surely, it's all just an act for the show, right?What follows is a time that Devin will never forget, and a story I greatly enjoyed. It's actually quite heart warming in places. It's really a book about people more than anything.It's certainly not one of his scariest books, but it's one of the best of his I've read. It's certainly more [b:The Shawshank Redemption 39662 The Shawshank Redemption Stephen King http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1329662611s/39662.jpg 2248680] than [b:It 18342 It Stephen King http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1309376909s/18342.jpg 150259].At only 283 pages/7.5 hours it's much shorter than Mr. King's usual fare as well, but I'd definitely recommend it as a quick read.

“Joyland” is Stephen King at his best. With echoes of “The Dead Zone” and “Bag of Bones”, “Joyland” is a story that tugs at your heart-strings. A crime story with a smidgen of horror, the master storyteller grips you from page one and pulls you in. At times funny, at times sad, this book is an emotional roller-coaster and, in my opinion, the best Stephen King novel in recent years.