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Comments
I expect King probably regards Jack as community property and wouldn't expropriate him for his own use. There's still the possibility of a third Territories novel.
I thought it was bad storytelling that Jake died for real.
Has borrowed him, matey
I've loved him ever since watching episode four of the Gunslinger short...hehe
I am not sure what the "West Siiiiide" bit means mind you, but him holding the gun looks way cool
It is a semi-common joke around this part of the world, mostly mocking gang members and their names and signs.
Makes sense now
Also with the ending, does this mean Roland will meet everyone again and all the same things will happen?
I'm not going to guess on too many broad "theories" since the book is left open for interpretation by his constant readers.
After finishing this book, I have decided that DTIII is still my favourite because it formed the first strong alliance of the ka-tet - that was very powerful for me.
However, DTVII, on an emotional level, touched me the most. The death of Eddie was the worst for me, the absolute worst
Jake has always been my favourite character and I think SK paid him a great honour as being his personal sacrificial lamb so to speak. But Eddie. I did NOT see that coming.
Susannah... that part was a little disturbing for me because at that point I had assumed that all of the ka-tet must die sacrificially to allow Roland to continue his quest. I feel like Susannah copped somewhat at that point, but she was in love, and love makes us do silly things sometimes.
Flagg's early departure (and at the hands of Mordred of all creatures) was a total surprise. I really wanted to see Roland deal with Flagg, I believe it was his destiny to do so. Maybe next time.
Characterization in this book was once again amazing - Irene, John and Moses became very memorable.
One thing I found really interesting about Roland's "journey through the rooms" was his memory of his experience with the prostitute. I often wondered if there had been an Oedipal issue of sorts between him and his mother since she betrayed his trust with Marten at such at impressionable age. It made his killing her a little more symbolic in my personal opinion.
So.... at the end of this journey, for me anyways, the Dark Tower is not a tangible structure, but simply Roland's "Judgement Day" where he is told whether he has fulfilled his destiny (or Ka). If he has not, he is doomed to repeat it as was somewhat foretold by Vannay. (Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana, The Life of Reason, Volume 1, 1905 US (Spanish-born) philosopher (1863 - 1952)) To me, the Crimson King is Roland's alter-ego of sorts, ever watchful of his path, hoping he will f***-up along the way, eyes ever-watchful.
I think the horn is a symbol of better days ahead for Roland, or I would like to think so - DTIV suggests that Roland did not redeem Cuthbert's death at Jericho Hill when the horn was left.
Overall, I loved the book, the writing was superb to say the least. (Lou, you were right, he outdid himself on the gross factor on many occasions.
As far as Gan goes, I don't understand that "entity" completely - but I guess it's that from which all else comes forth. I'm sure there are different interpretations of Gan.
Sad to see it end.
Lin
Like I posted earlier, I'm an optimist so I believe his next go around will be last. OTOH one could easily build a case that Roland is only one step closer with many more to go before he breaks the loop - if ever.
DT7 ranks as my favourite because the level of writing was so high throughout the book. King's clever switch to the storyteller's POV when explaining that deus ex machina was not available for saving King's life was brilliant. Especially when King used it elsewhere throughout the story.
The other mantra he threw our way - as King was out for his walk - was 'Resolution requires compromise' or was it sacrifice? - sorry don't have the book in front of me. Those three words encapsulate the climaxes of all of King's writing. Also a clever way to foreshadow.
DT2 is pretty close because it brings the ka-tet together. If Jake's second appearance had been part of the DT2 instead of DT3 - then DT2 would definitely be the best book for me. That stretch from DT2 to Jake coming back ranks as the strongest part of the story for me.
I'm sorry, I'm confused. Jake appears to complete the ka-tet in his second coming (from the Mansion) in DTIII. Am I misinterpreting your meaning somehow?
Lin
I'll modify my post to correct that. Thanks!
Lin
Lin
Lin
Oh definitely... I thought Mordred was written quite sympathetically, if that's not too strong a word. My heart ached for him and his "condition". It also touched me that Mia saw only what she wanted to see in her "beautiful" baby boy. Before he ate her face off that is. Poor Mia.
Lin
Yes - he was a very tragically outside character.
I think his only real ambition was to be on the inside for once. But he blames Roland for his condition of being outside...
I felt sorry for him.
Actually this goes back to Insomnia, which I now have in front of me, checking.
SPOILERS FOR INSOMNIA, JUST IN CASE:
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* This being his picture of "The Dark Tower". A little further ahead, as they make their way out of the Civic Centre (Sonia and Patrick):
Therefore, had Patrick's "picture" not been saved, but only Patrick himself.. would the whole story had been different (knowing what we know now about his "drawings"). Just mho, you unnerstan'.
There was a lot of "foreshadowing" in this book but what made it interesting is that you really didn't know all the time what was coming, you could guess and sometimes it was wrong - for me, definitely when Eddie got shot. I mean, it was alluded to as the five members gathered together (never to be together as such again), but d-a-m-n, that was a HUGE surprise.
I didn't touch on Dandelo in my comments, because I was somewhat "puzzled" by the end-result of that comment made by Eddie, which to me should have been profound. I found the "profoundness" of it in the discovery of Patrick, but not so much in the shapeshifter, who I actually liked until then. *hmph*.
(In a perverse way, Roland almost laughing himself to death made me laugh too, I couldn't help it.)
From Bev Vincent:
THAT would be fine. I would love to hear what happened to Jack and Sophie, and more of Judy who was one of my favourite characters in Black House.
Anyways, nice to have a quiet moment to put down some more random thoughts.
Lin