Fans of the Dark Tower series were pleasantly surprised by "The Wind Through the Keyhole," a story within a story within a story that takes readers on a journey through Roland's past adventures. Set between the fourth and fifth books, the novel provides a glimpse into Roland's early days as a gunslinger, his encounters with a shapeshifter in a small town, and a fairy tale involving a boy on a quest. The book offers a mix of fantasy and crime thriller elements, adding depth to the Dark Tower mythology while keeping readers engaged with its multi-level storytelling.
Stephen King's writing style shines in this book, with cleverly crafted words and a narrative structure that weaves together different tales seamlessly. The novel stands alone well, appealing to both dedicated Dark Tower fans and newcomers to the series. Despite not advancing the main plotline of the Dark Tower series, "The Wind Through the Keyhole" is praised for its nostalgic feel, providing readers with a heartwarming and enriching experience as they delve into Roland's past and the magical world of Mid-World.
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From The Publisher:
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba.
For readers new to The Dark Tower, THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE is a stand-alone novel, and a wonderful introduction to the series. It is a story within a story, which features both the younger and older gunslinger Roland on his quest to find the Dark Tower. Fans of the existing seven books in the series will also delight in discovering what happened to Roland and his ka tet between the time they leave the Emerald City and arrive at the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis.
This Russian Doll of a novel, a story within a story, within a story, visits Mid-World's last gunslinger, Roland Deschain, and his ka-tet as a ferocious storm halts their progress along the Path of the Beam. (The novel can be placed between Dark Tower IV and Dark Tower V.) Roland tells a tale from his early days as a gunslinger, in the guilt ridden year following his mother's death. Sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape shifter, a 'skin man,' Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, a brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast's most recent slaughter. Roland, himself only a teenager, calms the boy by reciting a story from the Book of Eld that his mother used to read to him at bedtime, 'The Wind through the Keyhole.' 'A person's never too old for stories,' he says to Bill. 'Man and boy, girl and woman, we live for them.' And stories like these, they live for us.
(P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.
Ratings (41)
Incredible (9) | |
Loved It (14) | |
Liked It (11) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Did Not Like (3) |
Reader Stats (60):
Read It (40) | |
Want To Read (17) | |
Not Interested (3) |
2 comment(s)
I think this is my favorite of the Dark Tower series so far, even though it doesn't advance the overall plot of the series. I chose to read it before
Song of Susannah even though King wrote it after he finished the series. At the end of
Wolves of the Calla, I was pretty worried about everyone's favorite ka-tet, and this is a perfect interval (I know it technically goes before
Wolves).
Reading King's story within a story, I forgot I wasn't reading about the search for the Dark Tower. We get to see some more of the experiences that shaped young Roland, and are introduced to his intriguing companion Jamie de Curry. I hope we learn more about him in the future.
I usually find it a bit grating when King references myths not his own, but the little call-out to Narnia really hit home for me. Oh Aslan, you would be a Guardian of the Beam.
We also get some signature King carnage with the hunt for and fight with the skin-man; the Dark Tower series isn't strictly horror, so this isn't always an appropriate type of scene, but it worked so well here.
A nice addition to the dark tower saga.
What can you read after
The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole?
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