My second time through was much more satisfying than the first. I think it has a lot to do with exactly what you said.
My second time through was much more satisfying than the first. I think it has a lot to do with exactly what you said.
The kindness of close friends is like a warm blanket
I'd have to agree with that. I'm almost done with the re-read on #7 and I do like it a lot better this time. I think I was too stressed out about the ending before - I wanted to get to it and find out what happened. Now I'm just enjoying the ride.
"People, especially children, aren't measured by their IQ. What's important about them is whether they're good or bad, and these children are bad." ~ Alan Bernard
"You needn't die happy when your day comes, but you must die satisfied, for you have lived your life from beginning to end and ka is always served." ~ Roland Deschain
There were some WEIRD things that happened in the story and it all culminated in 7. I loved it the first time (I still love the parts about "the writer"). It's brilliant, in my opinion.
Knowing the ending and having lived through this once already makes a lot of things a lot more clear to me.
I'll have to add myself to those who enjoyed their re-read more. I agree with you Daghain, on my first read through I was in a hurry to find out what happened next, and to get to the ending, but on my re-read I just chilled out and enjoyed the scenery more.
So what were your favorite DT7 moments Vols?
"It's his eyes, Roland thought. They were wide and terrible, the eyes of a dragon in human form" - Roland seeing the Crimson King for the first time.
"When the King comes and the Tower falls, sai, all such pretty things as yours will be broken. Then there will be darkness and nothing but the howl of Discordia and the cries of the can toi" - From Song of Susannah
Oddly enough, I think my "favorite" part was the re-creation of the accident. I think it took a lot for King to write that part (how hard must that have been?). I didn't like to see the passing of one of our gunslingers, but the whole section really fit. It brought Roland's world into mine. By way of the writer.
The battle of Algul Siento is def. my favourite.
"You can lead a whore to culture but you can't make her think." - Duma Key
zoneseek@thedarktower.com
I agree with what everyone else has said about the reread being more satisfying. I'm upto Roland visiting the Tet Corporation - Jake and Eddie's deaths weren't as powerful this time round because I was expecting them, but at the same time I felt them more as I'm reading at a less hectic pace - if you know what I mean.
My favourite moments have been Ted Brautigan's story (I loved him in Hearts) and meeting Dinky again...I also loved getting to know Pimli and Finli from a different perspective - you almost liked them and forgot what and who exactly they were doing/working for.
I also really enjoyed Jake's trial of the "mind trap" with the Tyrannosorbet Wrecks - the way SK evoked that childhood memory - of how it feels to be truly terrified of something totally illogical was pure genius.
"It's his eyes, Roland thought. They were wide and terrible, the eyes of a dragon in human form" - Roland seeing the Crimson King for the first time.
"When the King comes and the Tower falls, sai, all such pretty things as yours will be broken. Then there will be darkness and nothing but the howl of Discordia and the cries of the can toi" - From Song of Susannah
Off the top of my head, one of the sections I enjoyed a lot was the whole "Mind Trap" sequence, particularly how it stirred up Jake's memories of watching movies with Mrs. Greta Shaw.
"It's his eyes, Roland thought. They were wide and terrible, the eyes of a dragon in human form" - Roland seeing the Crimson King for the first time.
"When the King comes and the Tower falls, sai, all such pretty things as yours will be broken. Then there will be darkness and nothing but the howl of Discordia and the cries of the can toi" - From Song of Susannah
I have to admit, I kind of liked Flaherty. He was a nice two-scene bad guy late in the game, and since I did figure at some point it was reasonable to expect Jake and/or Oy to die, the first time through I thought Flaherty might be their doom. It was mostly because of the way he handled the mind trap.
Oy going "uck!"
So, earthlings..basically urm...end of the world...Here Come The Drums!
That was pretty hilarious
"Did that animal just say "fuck", young man?"
"It's his eyes, Roland thought. They were wide and terrible, the eyes of a dragon in human form" - Roland seeing the Crimson King for the first time.
"When the King comes and the Tower falls, sai, all such pretty things as yours will be broken. Then there will be darkness and nothing but the howl of Discordia and the cries of the can toi" - From Song of Susannah
The chase under the castle--that reminded me of Roland from the old Waste Lands days.
The kindness of close friends is like a warm blanket
When Jake was decapitating everyone that got in his way with the oriza's at the Dixie pig. Also the Blue Haven battle.
Aside from Walter's death, the Blue Heaven section was my favorite part of the book. The characters of Finli and Pimli were by the far the best new characters introduced in the last three books, and I enjoyed seeing old faces like Ted Brautigan, Dinky Earnshaw and Sheemie Ruiz. It was at this point and this point only that I felt King was building to an epic conclusion to his work.
A hound will die for you, but never lie to you. And he'll look you straight in the face.
My Collection
I have so so many I am not able to choose. Maybe in some weeks but right now I love it all.
Roland would have understood.
I could have read a whole book about these two. Pimli's an interesting character who represents a much more complex dynamic than a standard Good/Evil dichotomy.
I also liked learning more about Ted, especially the setting in which he tells his story.
The hunting of the deer while Suze and Roland crossed the White Lands was especially fulfilling for some reason. I think, even at that late stage in the story, that it rounded out Roland for me further than I expected. I think I just liked the feeling of nourishment that that section of the story provided.
“A Human Thought is an actual EXISTENCE, and a Force and Power, capable of acting upon and controlling matter as well as mind.”
"The ability to speak does not make you intelligent."
"God always punishes us for what we can't imagine."
SK