I finished reading Joyland the other day. Some short notes, none of them giving any deep spoilers -- I don't think. However, I will simply remind you that the blog is generally dedicated to those who READ Mr. King and want to discuss what they read -- so the comments section can be a free for all.
King has said previously that a novel has to answer the question, "Why not just call the police?" King tackles that issue head on, and does it quite nicely.
Not so dark!
I've read some reviews that would make you think the book is almost an emotional black hole. I disagree. The novel has a somber tone, is full of heart break, death and betrayal -- but the sheer energy of the story being told drives it forward with a certain exhilaration. The plot doesn't get lost in an emotional pit. While Devin is given space to explore his feelings, the plot is never far away. Who killed Linda Grey?
That is to say -- while Joyland is dark, I did not find its darkness to be contagious. I think John Knowles A Separate Peace has a similar dark tone, and I found myself depressed the entire time I read it! Not so with Joyland. The story isn't just about boarding school or friendship -- it is driven by a question, WHO KILLED LINDA GREY?! -- and is therefore driven by more than just the emotions of the characters.
There were moments when the tone of the novel reminded me very much of Duma Key. Running up and down the shore, meeting and waving at strangers just reminded me of those early pages of Duma Key -- which was also a dark heavy novel told in the first person. But Duma Key took us almost too deep inside the minds of the characters. It rambled a bit, while Joyland stays more focused.
Mystery: King spares the reader the typical "who done it" -- even though that is a central part of the book. There is no running around, room to room trying to put clues together. When the end came, I really was surprised by who the killer turned out to be. Was this because King did not give me enough clues to put it together myself? Yes. But I didn't want those clues anyway. I was happy letting the story unfold under King's guiding hand instead of me getting ahead of the novel. At no point did I say, "AH! I know who the killer is!" I had some ideas -- but was wrong.
I lot of the mystery novel's I've read play out like a game of Clue. King doesn't play that game! There is mystery, there are suspects and there are clues. . . but there is no bouncing about from room to room and suspect to suspect to lay out the evidence.
ROMANCE: The novel focuses on first love -- and next love. The love we find in the midst of a broken heart. Can that love be trusted? Is it real? Can we really love when we're on the rebound? This is actually a pretty complex emotional equation King sets up for a short book. Kings skill at depicting relationships is superb. He is able to take me back to feelings I had forgotten I once had.
There are moments in King's writing that I feel like I am meeting my younger self -- a self I had almost forgotten. After years of the sweet safe love found in marriage, we can forget the pain that first love brought us.
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| Sharon holding Joyland Summer, 2013 |
- Annie's line, 'My son isn't goods in a trading post" when speaking of the need to forgive her father. I lot of parents -- especially in a custody battle -- would do well to heed that note form Mr. King.
- The theme park setting.
- The new little language King lets the readers in on is a lot of fun!
- The return trip to the 1970's.
- The narration.
- The length. The story is a quick read -- but it's not a lightweight novel. King jumps in to the story without wasting much time. The novel can be broken into two parts: Summer and Fall.
- I liked the Tolkien references. Because Tolkein was popular then and now it makes a connection to a reader years away.
- The ghost in the novel -- all of them -- are just wonderful.
- I loved the climax at the theme park. And I liked Devin's quick thinking to keep Annie out of trouble.
What I didn't like:
Some short whining, and then I'll move on. I don't think King portrays religious characters well -- and in particular preachers. Talk about typecast. King typically presents these men (be they Rev. Coggins in Under The Dome or Annie's pop in Joyland) as hardshell, mean, unbending cruel, unforgiving, self righteous hypocrites. I'm certainly well aware that there are plenty of preachers who fall right in that bulls eye, but someday it would nice to see a little more depth when dealing with men of the cloth.
Is Joyland Like Vintage King?
No. Joyland is not like Carrie, Salem's Lot, The Dead Zone or any other King novel. It's stronger. Much stronger. The characters are deeper and the story is told with a depth of maturity King could not bring to earlier novels. So it may have elements we saw in King's younger work, this is ultimately the work of a seasoned writer.
