mattjoe's Full Review: Stephen King - Song of Susannah
Roland continues on his quest to the Dark Tower in Song of Susannah, the sixth book in the series. The story is finally beginning to finalize, and the books have come out close together this time, as part five was just out a few months ago, and hopefully, the final book will arrive early next year.
For those who have read the other books in The Dark Tower series, we again have the gunslinger, Roland, and his group, Eddie of New York, Jake and his Billy bumbler Oy, and Susannah Dean/Detta Holmes. As the title suggests, this book is more the story of Susannah than a story of Roland's quest for the Dark Tower. Followers of the epic story know that Susannah is pregnant, but with who's child and what is it?
Song of Susannah explains who Mia (one of the personalities inside Susannah) is, where she comes from and how she has gotten inside Susannah. Is she really just a personality? That is for the reader to discover in the story. How Mia/Susannah got pregnant and who the father is, is revealed to reader, as is much else in the story.
Those who read the recent Wolves of the Calla will recall that the pace of the story was very slow, and took a long time to get to climax. Susannah climaxes early and has multiple climaxes, largely through revelation.
The action in Songs of Susannah is not long waited for, as Eddie and Roland are transported into the time and location they were traveling to in order to find Calvin Tower and follow through on the purchase of the important vacant lot in New York where the rose grows. Eddie and Roland are immediately met with a challenge which continues many pages, one which does not allow the reader to put the book down and wait to see what happens later. Much of the book is written this way, I was reading this in a bar recently and someone began talking to me about The Stand, and saying how he didn't like Stephen King books because they are too long. Well, I think that isn't a problem in Song of Susannah, as it isn't much more than 400 pages, I also don't think this is a problem when someone allows themselves to delve into a story and have an investment in the characters. Song of Susannah became so important to me that I began taking it in the car with me as I got closer and closer to the end, knowing I could read a paragraph here and there while stuck at red lights.
The book wasn't all flawless roses. What I was most disappointed in, was it took until after 300 pages before Jake and Father Callahan appear in the story, however upon completion of the story, it makes perfect sense that they had to wait that long. Their appearance is terribly short, and the book ends in a cliff hanger not unlike part three, The Waste Lands, granted it is not as bad as the riddle asked and unanswered for over five years. Song of Susannah ends right as the story is about to enter an incredibly pivotal moment. Imagine if you took the ending of Star Wars, and left it where the rebel forces took off to attack the Death Star, that is what you have with Song of Susannah. You know big things are just pages a few short pages away, and yet, we are denied the story.
Overall, Song of Susannah is an excellent story and great continuation of the saga, but it does have some drawbacks where it feels like Stephen King is just mailing it in, as if he is lost, and doesn't know exactly where to go next. As his fans know, he has appeared in most if not all, of the films adaptations of his books. Well, he has written himself into Song of Susannah, and with no small part either. It isn't like it's a bad thing, it just seems very unusual, a writer, referring to himself in the third person as the first person. In a way, the scene where the Gunslinger and Eddie seek and locate Stephen King is an explanation to his readers. "Here's why I didn't get around to finishing this story timely." is almost what he is trying to say in the story, and later this is confirmed in the final chapter of the book, which is diary entries over the course of his writing career.
During my time spent reading this story, I found myself wondering, what if I were to die before the final chapter were published? That would suck, I wouldn't know what happens and if Roland reaches the Dark Tower. I thought, I'm certain there have been fans who this has happened to. Again, the final chapter does touch on something just like this, and it makes one sad, but I guess one can see there is a message there. We all have gifts which bring others happiness, share those gifts, if you don't, you might regret it.
Set in a world of extraordinary circumstances, filled with stunning visual imagery and unforgettable characters, the Dark Tower series is unlike anyth...More at HotBookSale
The next-to-last novel in Stephen King s seven-volume magnum opus, Song of Susannah is a fascinating key to the unfolding mystery of the Dark Tower. T...More at Buy.com
The next-to-last novel in Stephen King s seven-volume magnum opus, Song of Susannah is a fascinating key to the unfolding mystery of the Dark Tower--n...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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