The Talisman: A Novel

I first read this book in late high school or early college. It’s interesting how perspective and perception change. I’m 51 now and this coming of age story resonates with me as a mother and educator. A 13 year old living several lives in a short time is an interesting concept. I feel like it took forever for me to finish reading this book but it was worth it.

When I first read this book, I was a teenager and loved it then. Now in my 50's, I have a deeper appreciation for the nuances I missed as a teenager. The authors have the capacity to not only make you enjoy the story, but to make you feel as if you are with Jack every step of the and to live every moment as if you are Jack. I loved the book as a teenager and I love it now. I can't wait to get stuck into "The Black Hotel" which I'll be reading for the first time, but surely not the last. Bravo Stephen and Peter!

I’m a novice reader but, this book was the longest book I’ve ever read. This is my 4th King book. Try to stay away from books that are movies. I was just proud that I got through 900 plus pages but there were rich moments.

The main character goes through a lot of turmoil to get to his end goal while traveling in another world. He meets a lot of different characters some good and a lot bad. Great meaning behind it as well.

I’d say for me it was too long for my taste, great moments.

The Talisman by King and Straub tells the story of a adolescent boy named Jack who embarks on a cross country journey to retrieve a magical talisman to save his dying mother. Taking into consideration the two guys writing this tale, you would be correct in assuming it isn't a simple journey. It is a perilous and tedious quest that involves flipping back and forth between this world and an alternate reality while dealing with all kinds of unpleasantness in both realms. I found it hard to finish this book. The writing at times great and other times awful, many parts of the book are either memorable or cheesy or both... and this book starts off very very slow. By way of example, Jack needs to make it from New England to California. So naturally, he sets off on foot. 400 pages later he is in Indiana. Then the book shifts at about the 500 page mark and really goes of the rails. At this point Jack goes from being Tom Sawyer-lite to Rambo... Armed to the teeth with explosives, several uzis and many rounds of ammo, unleashing death on the inhabitants of the blasted lands ... at least when he isn’t catering to the needs of his fragile friend or pausing to muse about highbrow stuff like potentially renaming a comic play by Noël Coward. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone but reading stuff like that seemed a bit unfair after having already invested so much time with this book. As the story plodded along, I kept wondering why someone as resourceful as Jack never thought to book a round trip flight to California and as I read on, I kept wondering if Jack would take a train on the way back or walk, Talisman in hand. I guess a plane ride would have made for shorter book but who knows, it might have been better? Anyway this is getting long winded and I know when to stop. 3/5