The Talisman

HLS · 10-12-2018, 09:35 AM

By Stephen King and Peter Straub. Is it worth reading? I’m about 250 pages in and still bored. Is it worth continuing to read? This is the first Steven King book I ever found to be dull.

gmw · 10-12-2018, 11:56 PM

My opinion is yes. When I last read this I noted that "it got a little long and wordy in places, but overall it was well done and very enjoyable to read". I gave it a 4/5, but then I like King's voice (as it was back then, not so much now), so for some of this I was happy just to go along for the ride.

But if you don't like slow starts, I suggest skipping Black House - the sequel. I gave that a 3/5 with the comment: When it finally does get going (about a third of the way in) the characters are great and the story really starts to grab you... and then it sort of fizzles again at the end.

HLS · 10-14-2018, 02:22 PM

Ya, I stopped reading and now just listening to the audiobook. I bought the sequel when i bought the first book. I am bored to death but not quite giving up.

Peter Straub Ghost Story was slow also. I could not see how the story had to do with ghosts till 60% in then it all fell together and got really good

gmw · 10-14-2018, 09:24 PM

If you do try Black House I will be interested to hear what you think. My review notes overlaps with Dark Tower - which annoyed me greatly, but if you're a Dark Tower fan (I hear that they do exist, just not in this house), then this might be a plus for you.

PKFFW · 10-15-2018, 10:39 PM

I'm a Dark Tower fan until about halfway through book 5. Book 6 I mostly enjoyed until right near the end and Book 7 was just a woefully self-indulgent way to wrap up what had started as a great series.

I read the Talisman years ago and enjoyed it. Listened to the audiobook last year and enjoyed that. Didn't even know there was a sequel so might have to grab the audiobook.

HLS · 12-09-2018, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKFFW

I'm a Dark Tower fan until about halfway through book 5. Book 6 I mostly enjoyed until right near the end and Book 7 was just a woefully self-indulgent way to wrap up what had started as a great series.

I read the Talisman years ago and enjoyed it. Listened to the audiobook last year and enjoyed that. Didn't even know there was a sequel so might have to grab the audiobook.

I did not like the dark tower much but I read it all. I will not spoil the end but it is a frustrating ending yet a genius ending. I think I would have liked it more if I read his other books first

HLS · 12-09-2018, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

If you do try Black House I will be interested to hear what you think. My review notes overlaps with Dark Tower - which annoyed me greatly, but if you're a Dark Tower fan (I hear that they do exist, just not in this house), then this might be a plus for you.

I noticed the Talisman really reminds me of The Dark Tower Series. I do plan to read Dark House but not for some time. I am still suffering thew The Talisman. I am 70% done. I am also reading Angels & Demons which is really good and Jeff Vandermeers ( not sure of his name spelling) Authority right now. Then I am going to read John Gresham The Reckoning and Then The Andromeda Strain

gmw · 12-09-2018, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcladyz

I noticed the Talisman really reminds me of The Dark Tower Series. I do plan to read Dark House but not for some time. I am still suffering thew The Talisman. I am 70% done. I am also reading Angels & Demons which is really good and Jeff Vandermeers ( not sure of his name spelling) Authority right now. Then I am going to read John Gresham The Reckoning and Then The Andromeda Strain

It's been a while, but I remember enjoying Angels & Demons - much better than the movie they made from it.

It's a shame you're not finding more fun in The Talisman ... you sound determined to finish. I get like that about some books, but I'm less obsessive about it now than I used to be.

HarryT · 12-11-2018, 02:54 PM

Mr King has always seemed to me the archetypal example of “the author who thinks he’s too important to be edited”.

gmw · 12-11-2018, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Mr King has always seemed to me the archetypal example of “the author who thinks he’s too important to be edited”.

Well, not always. But yes, eventually. Of course there's nothing necessarily wrong with “the author who thinks he’s too important to be edited”, it mostly goes wrong when the editors think so too.

HLS · 12-30-2018, 04:37 PM

Finally finished it! Dear god it was a hard read. Good ending tho.

HLS · 12-30-2018, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

It's been a while, but I remember enjoying Angels & Demons - much better than the movie they made from it.

It's a shame you're not finding more fun in The Talisman ... you sound determined to finish. I get like that about some books, but I'm less obsessive about it now than I used to be.

I read Angels & Demons just finished it a week ago. Loved it!

10-12-2018, 09:35 AM	#1
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,027 Karma: 15107670 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	The Talisman By Stephen King and Peter Straub. Is it worth reading? I’m about 250 pages in and still bored. Is it worth continuing to read? This is the first Steven King book I ever found to be dull.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Other Fiction Sadlier, Anna Theresa: The Talisman. v1. 20 Aug 2014	crutledge	ePub Books	0	08-20-2016 07:44 AM
Talisman Of El - YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi	Alecia Stone	Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers	1	04-15-2013 10:47 AM
Historical Fiction Scott, Sir Walter: The Talisman, v.1, 12 December 2008.	Patricia	IMP Books	0	12-11-2008 10:45 PM
Historical Fiction Scott, Sir Walter: The Talisman, v.1, 12 December 2008.	Patricia	BBeB/LRF Books	0	12-11-2008 10:40 PM
Historical Fiction Scott, Sir Walter: The Talisman, v.1, 12 December 2008.	Patricia	Kindle Books	0	12-11-2008 10:35 PM

10-12-2018, 11:56 PM	#2
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	My opinion is yes. When I last read this I noted that "it got a little long and wordy in places, but overall it was well done and very enjoyable to read". I gave it a 4/5, but then I like King's voice (as it was back then, not so much now), so for some of this I was happy just to go along for the ride. But if you don't like slow starts, I suggest skipping Black House - the sequel. I gave that a 3/5 with the comment: When it finally does get going (about a third of the way in) the characters are great and the story really starts to grab you... and then it sort of fizzles again at the end.

10-14-2018, 02:22 PM	#3
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,027 Karma: 15107670 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	Ya, I stopped reading and now just listening to the audiobook. I bought the sequel when i bought the first book. I am bored to death but not quite giving up. Peter Straub Ghost Story was slow also. I could not see how the story had to do with ghosts till 60% in then it all fell together and got really good

10-14-2018, 09:24 PM	#4
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	If you do try Black House I will be interested to hear what you think. My review notes overlaps with Dark Tower - which annoyed me greatly, but if you're a Dark Tower fan (I hear that they do exist, just not in this house), then this might be a plus for you.

10-15-2018, 10:39 PM	#5
PKFFW Wizard Posts: 3,681 Karma: 28297636 Join Date: Dec 2008 Device: BeBook, Sony PRS-T1, Kobo H2O	I'm a Dark Tower fan until about halfway through book 5. Book 6 I mostly enjoyed until right near the end and Book 7 was just a woefully self-indulgent way to wrap up what had started as a great series. I read the Talisman years ago and enjoyed it. Listened to the audiobook last year and enjoyed that. Didn't even know there was a sequel so might have to grab the audiobook.

12-11-2018, 02:54 PM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Mr King has always seemed to me the archetypal example of “the author who thinks he’s too important to be edited”.

12-30-2018, 04:37 PM	#11
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,027 Karma: 15107670 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	Finally finished it! Dear god it was a hard read. Good ending tho.

Advert

Advert