Book reviews: Song of Susannah, by Stephen King

Song of Susannah is the sixth book in Stephen King’s, The Dark Tower series. With over 400 pages of a blend of western, science fiction, horror and fantasy, it’s an intriguing read. As with earlier books in this series, it is important to read the previous instalments to fully appreciate this book.

The Dark Tower series centres on the last gunslinger Roland Deschain and his quest to reach the top of The Dark Tower. The tower is the point where the hearts of all worlds join and something or something is trying to destroy it. Roland’s character was inspired by the Man with No Name, which was portrayed by Clint Eastwood and from Robert Browning’s poem, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came. He begins his journey alone but encounters many friends and enemies along the way.

Song of Susannah continues from where the previous book The Waste Lands ends. Our hero and his travelling companions, a young boy Jake Chambers, his pet Oy, a Catholic priest Father Don Callaghan and Eddie Dean a heroin addict, are on a mission to find the woman of their group. She is pregnant and missing. The party is separated to different times and place Jake, Father Callaghan and Oy arrive in New York of 1999, while Roland and Eddie go back to Maine 1977.

Susannah Dean is on a mission of her own. Since her pregnancy, she has been suffering from split personalities and is mainly under the control of a demon named Mia. It is important to Mia that this baby is born in a certain place and she is determined to reach it.

This book includes the usual revelations and horrors we come to expect from Stephen King. The characters are like family to us now and easy to return to time and again. This book is certainly not my favourite of the series but the suspense kept me turning the pages. The most enjoyable parts for me were the incorporation of Stephen King the writer and Father Callaghan from Salem’s Lot, into Roland’s journey. I imagine there will be mixed reviews from Stephen King fans regarding this book but it is part of the journey which must be taken before the final book in the series can be read.

‘One more turn of the path, and then we reach the clearing. Come along with me, will ya not?’ – Stephen King.

Teaser Tuesdays - Song Of Susannah by Stephen King

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by the lovely MizB of Should Be Reading.

Here's how it works...

Grab your latest read, open it up and share two sentences from the page. Easy as that. Don't forget to link back to MizB and share the title and author of your book so others can add to their TBR (to be read) list if they wish.

Here's my teaser...

'How long will the magic stay?'

At first no one answered Roland's question, and so he asked it again, this time looking across the living room of the rectory to where Henchick of the Manni sat with Cantab, who had married one of Henchick's numerous granddaughters.






Happy reading
Love KB
xxx

KB's Book Shelf

Quote for the day

I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.
- Charlie Brown


Books Read Last Month

5. Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5)
6. Essential Health For Women - Sharon Walker

7. Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6)
Click on links (if there is one) for more info about these titles.


There they stood, ranged along the hillsides, met
To view the last of me, a living frame
For one more picture! In a sheet of flame
I saw them and I knew them all. And yet
Dauntless the slug-horn to my lips set,
And blew. 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came.'
-   Robert Browning - Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came
  
I've almost finished the final book in  The Dark Tower Series. Bet you didn't know the story was inspired by Browning. I have mixed feelings, I've enjoyed re-reading the books so much that I don't want the story to end but on the other hand, I'm looking forward to reading something different. I've been reading the books for a total of nine months, it's definitely time for a change but I'm going to miss Roland and his quest to reach the Dark Tower.


Today I'm grateful for...sunshine - it's getting a little warmer, Spring must be on the way.

Coming Up...Coco's World. She's been up to mischief again.

Have a great day/night
Love KB
xxx

Living With Whitesnake

Whitesnake  and I have enjoyed our couple of days off. My parents introduced us to a new restaurant called Oceans  a few weeks ago. We enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and location. Unfortunately, it was pouring down with rain so we couldn't really appreciate the scenery. The sun was shining on one of our days off so we decided to head back there and enjoy the view. 

I headed to the hairdressers the next day. Spent two hours catching up on the goss from the hairdresser and being pampered. Came home to find the dinner prepared, the housework done and the washing on the line. Isn't my man wonderful! That gave me the afternoon to relax and start a new book - Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6), I'm already 200 pages in,hehe.

Steve has ten days off starting from Monday, woohoo! I can hardly wait.

Later gators
xxx