Joyland

Stephen King

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amusement park setting

coming of age mystery

nostalgic atmosphere

supernatural elements

character development

murder mystery

first love and heartbreak

vivid writing style

1970s north carolina

emotional journeys of characters

relatable protagonist

slow to fast pacing

self discovery

bittersweet tale of growing up

'Joyland' by Stephen King is a coming-of-age mystery novel set in an amusement park in North Carolina during the 1970s. The story follows college student Devin Jones as he navigates first love, heartbreak, and self-discovery while working at Joyland for the summer. Despite being a murder mystery with some supernatural elements, the book is more focused on character development and nostalgia for a bygone era. King's writing style immerses readers in the world of the carnival and creates a bittersweet tale of growing up and finding one's place in life.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Devin Jones as a relatable protagonist, supported by a strong cast that adds emotional depth to the narrative.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is vivid and nostalgic, effectively immersing the reader in the 1970s setting and the characters' emotional journeys.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows a college student working at an amusement park, dealing with heartbreak while uncovering a murder mystery, and ultimately growing as a person.

Setting:

The setting is a nostalgic amusement park in North Carolina during the 1970s, creating a rich backdrop for the story.

Pacing:

The pacing begins slowly, focusing on character development, but accelerates significantly towards the climax.

The heartbreaker was Wendy Keegan, and she didn’t deserve me. It’s taken me most of my life to come to that conclusion, but you know the old saw; better late than never. She was from Portsmouth, New H...

Notes:

Joyland is set in a North Carolina amusement park in 1973.

The story revolves around college student Devin Jones who takes a summer job at Joyland to cope with a broken heart.

The plot includes a murder mystery involving a girl who was killed in the park years prior.

Devin's experiences at the amusement park serve as a coming-of-age story.

The narrative features a haunted house ride and the ghost of the murdered girl, Linda Gray.

The themes of friendship, growing up, and nostalgia are central to the story.

Joyland is part of the Hard Case Crime series, which focuses on crime fiction rather than King's typical horror.

Despite its crime elements, many readers found it more sentimental and nostalgic than thrilling or scary.

King incorporates carny language and culture into the narrative, adding to the authenticity of the setting.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book has medium content warnings, addressing themes of murder, childhood illness, emotional distress, and the presence of a ghost.

Has Romance?

There is a moderate presence of romance in the book, primarily revolving around young love and emotional connections.

From The Publisher:

A STUNNING NEW NOVEL FROM ONE OF THE BEST-SELLING AUTHORS OF ALL TIME!

The #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Set in a small-town North Carolina amusement park in 1973, Joyland tells the story of the summer in which college student Devin Jones comes to work as a carny and confronts the legacy of a vicious murder, the fate of a dying child, and the ways both will change his life forever.

Ratings (64)

Incredible (14)
Loved It (21)
Liked It (17)
It Was OK (8)
Did Not Like (4)

Reader Stats (138):

Read It (65)
Want To Read (36)
Did Not Finish (4)
Not Interested (33)

What can you read after
Joyland?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, and Doctor Sleep are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

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