There's a reason why I am re-reading the Dark Tower series. It's hands down one of my favorites though the last few books break my heart because IMHO King needed to reign himself in a lot. Let's not talk about the world's most copped out ending ever that still has fans mad to this day. 

So far through my re-read I am up to book #4, hope to knock a few more of these out for this year's bingo.

I think the reason why this is still my favorite is that you have this group of people who end up doing what they can to put the world they know of it and other worlds to right. They love each other, are willing to die for each other, and in the end they will all do what they can to get to the Tower. King plays with a lot of fantasy elements inspired from King Arthur, grimm's fairy tales, and of course his own works. There are a lot of Easter eggs for King's Constant Readers which also makes this series fun. 

I do not aim with my hand. He who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I aim with my eye.

I do not shoot with my hand. He who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father. I shoot with my mind.

I do not kill with my gun. He who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father. I kill with my heart.

Thankee sai.

Audiobook

It's hard to categorize this book because I'm not sure if the place is real. Is it a type of purgatory or some dystopian alternative world? This feels like a super gritty, non-religious Pilgrim's Progress to me. I'm wondering if I'm the only one who thought that. I'm not sure if I'll listen/read to the rest of the series. Maybe if I had been high I would have understood it.

Series: The Dark Tower #1

I think this is a popular series but this first book really didn't work for me. It started to go downhill when the Gunslinger gets together with Alice. I'm not particularly intrigued by the mystery of the tower and the man in black seemed to just be spouting gobblygook when he was talking about the mysteries of the universe. I also definitely wasn't impressed that the last standoff consisted of sitting around the campfire and chatting. The writing and characterization felt sloppy and the fantasy setting didn't strike me as all that original, especially with the blatant misogyny slathered all over the place. I won't be continuing this series. I should note that the narration for the audiobook was pretty good, however.

Previous updates:

12 % (This is where things started going downhill)

So this was going pretty well until we stumbled into some serious slut-shaming. Why do you hate women, gunslinger?

This probably dropped a star because of that (the line about regaining her maidenhood if not her head).

I'm playing the Victim card today for The Gunslinger in honor of "the fastest sharpshooter in tomorrow's West, Serendipity "Pity" Jones.

(Read a book where the main character carries a gun)