45th book read in 2018.

Number 73 out of 705 on my all time book list.

I have read this book for the second time, and it was much better this time around. It almost gave the impression that the authors took turns writing the chapters. Each chapter seemed to have a unique style and perspective, which added to the overall richness and depth of the story. The characters were more vividly portrayed, and the plot was more engaging. I found myself completely immersed in the book, unable to put it down. This second reading has made me appreciate the book even more, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

Well that was a blast.

This book is truly a remarkable piece of work. It combines a hero's journey with a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase that vividly reminds one of \\n  Endymion\\n in both content and pacing.

A 12-year-old boy finds himself in a perilous situation. He has to traverse the entire United States from coast to coast in order to save his mother's life. Meanwhile, his murderous uncle, who is determined to stop him at all costs, is hot on his heels.

To add an extra layer of complexity, the boy has the extraordinary power to jump into a parallel universe that is stuck in the middle ages. There, he also肩负着拯救垂死女王的重任.

Although much of this book is based on tried and tested formulas, the concept of the parallel universes is executed wonderfully. The journey is not just about the protagonist's physical adventure but also about his profound spiritual growth.

It has all the elements one could desire in this kind of book: charming sidekicks, despicable villains, high stakes, and memorable locations.

I also greatly appreciate how King's novels manage to avoid the common European fantasy tropes and instead create a wholly original American fantasy setting.

Anyway, it was the perfect reading material for the holiday, and I am eagerly anticipating reading the sequel.

This is, without a doubt, my all-time favorite Stephen King book.

You truly have to pick it up and start reading to fully grasp the reasons behind my deep affection for it.

Stephen King has a remarkable talent for creating vivid and immersive worlds that draw you in from the very first page.

His characters are so well-developed that you feel as if you know them personally.

The storylines are filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, constantly guessing what will happen next.

This particular book is no exception.

It has all the elements that make a Stephen King novel a must-read: suspense, horror, and a touch of the supernatural.

Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down until you reach the very end.

It's a book that will stay with you long after you've finished it, leaving you with a sense of awe and admiration for King's writing skills.

Jack Sawyer, a 12-year-old boy, is faced with the impending death of his mother. When he learns that he can do something to save her, he embarks on a huge journey from the east coast to the west coast of the United States. On his journey, he will encounter many difficulties, both physical and metaphysical. Because Jack is one of the few people who have the ability to pass into a different world, full of magic but also dangers and monsters beyond imagination.

This book has several very interesting characters. The Wolf is the one that I distinguished the most. The friendship between Jack and Richard develops very beautifully, as does Jack himself as a character. Generally, it is a very interesting fantasy adventure, but it tired me a bit in some places and in the end I was impatient to finish it. It's not a small book...

However, the biggest negative of this book is not its size nor the boredom that the story causes in some places. Its basic problem is that for a rather long period the book clearly refers to pedophiles, calling them, nevertheless, homosexuals and unfortunately this is not the only example of homophobia in the book. In this area, King has disappointed me terribly, but I think he couldn't have written anything worse than this. Of course, this had the result of spoiling the magic for me and making me not enjoy the story as much as I could.

Overall, while the book has its merits in terms of character development and adventure, the presence of homophobic content detracts from its overall quality. It's a shame that such a good story is marred by this issue.

I would still recommend the book to those who enjoy fantasy and are willing to overlook its flaws. But for those who are sensitive to issues of equality and acceptance, it may not be the best choice.

Perhaps in the future, authors will be more careful to avoid such harmful and offensive language in their works.

I must admit that while I did truly enjoy reading the book and there were certain parts that I absolutely loved, fantasy is not my top favorite genre. However, this fact would not prevent me from highly recommending this epic adventure to others. The story within the book is filled with captivating characters, thrilling plot twists, and a vividly imagined world that draws the reader in from the very beginning. Even though fantasy may not be my personal go-to genre, I can still appreciate the skill and creativity that went into crafting this amazing tale. So, if you're looking for an exciting and engaging adventure, I would definitely suggest giving this book a try, regardless of your genre preferences.

So I am scaling back my rating on this to a 3.5.

I read this years ago and was completely enamored with it. At that point, I hadn't delved into many of King's books, so perhaps my perspective was different.

This time, listening to it on Audible, I found myself surprisingly bored. In fact, I was so unengaged that I stopped after just a few hours and was able to get a credit back from Audible.

I prefer to explore new literary territories. Therefore, I am lowering my rating from 4 to 3.5. It's still a great book, although it feels rather long considering the simplicity of the story. It just doesn't measure up to other King works that truly deserve a 4 or 5-star rating.

I also think my dissatisfaction might stem from the fact that the narrator had the same voice as in all of the Dark Tower audible books. Now, don't misunderstand me - I have the utmost respect for the late great Frank Muller. He was always magnificent in his work. However, at times, it felt as if I was back in Jake's journey rather than on Jack's. I really wish they would have chosen a completely different voice for this one, just for a change of pace.

This will likely go down as my most disappointing read of the year.

I never really connected with Jack Sawyer. There just wasn't enough dedicated to his relationship with his mother to make me care about his journey. His mom has cancer, yet she is also moving into a new place and doesn't seem to mind that her son just takes off. There's a quick intro into all of that, but the book is mostly dedicated to Jack wandering from city to city. It felt more like a short story collection than an actual novel.

I'm not sure how the writing process went. It felt like King and Straub just passed the story back and forth, never really outlining anything or tightening anything up. What they end up with is a disjointed mess. Jack is ping-ponged into random cities and adventures with cookie-cutter characters. Some sections were better than others, and the middle of the story is easily the best part. But Jack lingers way too long at each stop with not much going on at times. This book's length could have easily been cut in half, with the last third or so especially just dragging on needlessly. Things slowly descend into more and more silliness before finally wrapping things up in an unsatisfying, predictable ending.

I'm a huge King fan and love a plethora of books from his bibliography. But this one just didn't work for me. Maybe it's the co-author thing with Straub, but I just didn't connect to this story at all. What makes King so great is his characters and the time he spends developing them and their environment. In The Talisman, however, the action and story are prioritized way ahead of the characters, which made it hard for me to care about what happened.

The middle of the book is pretty decent though once we finally meet a particular character. But the journey before and ever wasn't worth it. Oh well… on to the next one!

How to review a Stephen King masterpiece? It is a beautiful story about an extremely brave boy who embarks on an epic and life-changing expedition. His true, lion-like heart gives him the drive and determination to complete an adventure that is far beyond his wildest imagination.

As always, King's writing leaps off the page and right into your own imagination. He leads us on a journey through unbelievable lands, pulling us from one extreme to another, twisting and turning our hearts with beautifully perfect characters, and taking us to the place where time and space converge, quite literally.

The message conveyed is one of courage, loyalty, and unselfish love, not necessarily in that specific order but definitely one that should be spread more frequently in our society. It is a book that I still wish I could pick up again and continue reading. King and Straub form a great literary partnership.

This Stephen King masterpiece is truly a work of art that engages the reader from beginning to end. The vivid descriptions, well-developed characters, and thrilling plot make it a must-read for any fan of literature. It not only entertains but also leaves a lasting impression, making you think about the important values in life.

At first, I had my doubts. I wasn't certain that I would like this story. However, as soon as the narrative started to unfold and gain momentum, it completely pulled me in.

Throughout the entire journey, I found myself firmly routing for Jack. His character was so engaging and likable that I couldn't help but cheer him on.

And let's not forget about Wolf. I really loved this character. There was something about him that added an extra layer of depth and intrigue to the story.

As always, the authors have an incredible talent for creating great characters and immersive worlds that I truly care about. Their attention to detail and ability to bring these fictional universes to life is truly remarkable.

I'm really excited about checking out the follow up novel. I can't wait to see what new adventures and challenges await the characters that I've grown to love. I have a feeling that it's going to be just as精彩 as this one.

A young boy named Jack Sawyer embarks on a remarkable quest to save his mother's life. After meeting Speedy Parker, a friend till the end, who introduces him to the multiverse he can access, Jack treks the long and lonely road West.

This quest is an adventure filled with a mix of wonderful and dark scenes, battles between good and evil, and various win and lose scenarios. Throughout, magic is present, and the need to reach the mystical and powerful Talisman drives Jack forward.

I found it highly reminiscent of the DT quest, with Jack walking the long roads and encountering interesting characters, both friends and enemies, along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I did feel the need to deduct a little star. In the beginning, I was rather bored as it seemed to plod along without much happening to enhance the adventure. However, it's important to note that these areas are all integrated into the ending, which culminates in a thrilling finale. This aspect earns it some forgiveness.

'So, after many weeks of arduous adventuring, facing darkness and despair; after finding and losing friends again; after days of toil and nights spent sleeping in damp haystacks; after confronting the demons of dark places (including those within his own soul) - after all these things, it was in this manner that the Talisman came to Jack Sawyer...'

The Talisman was a great epic journey, and I won't wait long before delving back into the multiverse of King and Straub with the sequel!

'All will be well... all will be well... and all manner of things will be well. Only believe; be true; stand; do not falter now.'

In my childhood, I read a lot of King. The writer made me love reading. I still think it is ideal to start reading books. In my adolescence, few books can give the taste that It gave me. Of course, later, you are reading King, right!.. Cookies, spending time like this with these, based on the comments and suggestions of the adults around me, they made me pick up Sophie's World and the novels that are regarded as having a "high" literary value.... Fortunately, they made me pick them up. However, I still think King should not be underestimated. Fortunately, I have read and I am reading.. I can't get the old taste, that's a different one... And because I can't get it, I am also sad, that's another different one :) Well, at least I haven't given up yet, I hope my enthusiasm doesn't disappear in my chest....

Reading has always been an important part of my life. It not only broadens my horizons but also enriches my inner world. Each book I read is like a new adventure, taking me to different places and introducing me to different people and ideas.

Although I have discovered many other great books and authors over the years, King's works still hold a special place in my heart. His unique writing style and ability to create suspense and horror have always kept me on the edge of my seat.

I believe that reading is a lifelong pursuit, and I will continue to explore different books and genres in the future. Who knows what other wonderful stories and experiences are waiting for me?

El Talismán is a book jointly written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. This book was written when the authors were much younger, so the writing style seen in this book is somewhat different from their current books. The book tells the journey of Jack Sawyer, a twelve-year-old boy who doesn't live like the rest. His sick mother is all his concern. When he is offered a way to save her, no matter how fantastic it sounds, he doesn't hesitate to embark on the journey that could save his mother. The book is full of twists, some predictable and others not so much. It shows a diversity of people who can be full of insane malevolence or unexpected kindness. I believe that is part of the magic, that kindness you find in the least expected places. The magic exists, here and now as Lobo would say. Although the book is dense and can be heavy in some chapters, Jack's experience on his journey made me remember that I was once a child who imagined an endless number of worlds full of magic. This book is a reminder that magic is still real. I recommend this book to all the fans of these incredible authors and to those who like fantasy. I recommend it to you 100%.