What makes this book so special?

[BillyxRansom]

In other words, where does the magic lie? What is it about this particular book that makes it so amazing?

For me, it is the prose, the style, just the way it is written. I understand King himself said the reason he re-wrote the book is because the original version sounded too important (or something along those lines), but I think the way it is written in that first version is something very special.

What is it for you? Is it the plot? The way the events happen? Is it the characters? I think another big part of it, is the interaction between the characters. (Although I must admit, I was pretty annoyed by Jake for a while.)

So, what was it? :)

[Letti]

Huh, hard question. I wouldn't like to go on and on (I could for hours) so let me sum up my answer in one word: Roland

[ola]

Yes I've got to say that the first introduction to Roland is a big part of what makes this book special. It includes short glimpses of all the other things that get fleshed out more in the other books - Roland + Jake, encounters with the Man in Black, and stories of his younger years.

IMO you can also feel that King is tumbling headlong into this series, and feeling around - exploring these things spontaneously. Like when you hear a piece of music that you can tell was done with a certain energy, all in one take.

[candy]

i gotta say that first line got me. but then after that it was the fact that king had ventured out of his comfort zone of castle rock and the surrounding areas, i loved that he was doing something different.

in regards to the style of writing, i agree with billyx, i prefer the unrevised version, although that may have a lot to do with me reading that version first.

for me the time i really got into it though was when jake was introduced. i loved jake and felt he added an extra (missing??) dimension to the book

[BillyxRansom]

Huh, hard question. I wouldn't like to go on and on (I could for hours) so let me sum up my answer in one word: Roland

Roland, for me, was SO DAMN INTENSE! It was like he knew what he wanted, would stop at nothing, but turned out to be so very, very wrong.

Makes me really sad for him. :cry:

[Lady Hitchhiker]

"In other words, where does the magic lie? What is it about this particular book that makes it so amazing?"

Beans beans the musical fruit... :rock:
And the Beatles...

[Venom09]

The first time I read it I can say it was the mystery of the whole plot and the pace at which the questons you were asking yourself were answered. On each subsequent time through the book you just realize how great of a begining it is to the story.

[BillyxRansom]

The first time I read it I can say it was the mystery of the whole plot and the pace at which the questons you were asking yourself were answered. On each subsequent time through the book you just realize how great of a begining it is to the story.

This really comes close to capturing the true essence of it in full, I think. Maybe not nearly close enough to completely capturing it, but closer than I've ever been able to come thus far.

Huh.