Rating: 
Summary: Wolves Of The Calla
Review: What can possibly be said about this book that every Stephen King fan doesn't already know. You could talk about this book or any other book written by Stephen King every day of the week and either you are a Stephen King fan or you're not. This book comes out of the mind of a real King of writing and only the mind of Stephen King could bring you a book like this one. Once you pick up any of Stephen Kings books you just can't put them down, your mind turns into a movie screen and with the talent of Stephen King you live the story through his eyes as if you too lived within the dark tower of the Stephen King mind. The book is a must read and if you are a King fan know one needs to say more.
Rating: 
Summary: Harold Bloom is right
Review: This is not quality writing. King juggles comic book and B-movie cliches, and displays zero ability in constructing believable characters or writing dialogue.
Rating: 
Summary: RECOMMENDED READ FOR THE STEPHEN KING FAN
Review: I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any fantasy/horror fan, it is a fine addition to the series. It was a little slow to begin with, took about 50-75 pages to really get into it, but once I was past that, it was hard to put down. Others have complained about all the time spend on Father Callahan, and I admit that his story was pretty indepth, but as with the other major characters in the ka-tet, his history was needed. For the most part, the other members we have had a chance to explore and learn their history/stories as we go along, with an extensive section of writing done about them when they are first introduced. I see the same with Callahan, the only difference being he is being added near the end of the series so King doesn't have the luxury of spreading out Callahan's history/story over several books like the others. Overall, very pleased with the book and am anticipating the next installment of the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Sort of disapointing
Review: "Wolves of the Calla" is the fifth part of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series. In it Roland and his ka-tet happen across a town that is besiged by The Wolves; monsters that kidnap children and return them damaged. Also Roland crosses paths with Father Callahan from "'Salem's Lot". Callahan tells Roland his story and gives them another crystal ball that they need to to back and forth to New York City. This is a very long book that could have been edited down a lot. First of all it bares to much a resembelence to "The Magnificent Seven", I know it was intentional, buy it still annoyed me. They spend an lot of time planning the ambush, but the final battle with the Wolves is much ado about nothing. You here about the end of Roland's first ka-tet, but it goes by so fast that it seemed an after thought. All the details that are left hanging are not suspenceful, but annoying. For everything that was wrong with this book, there were a few things right. I liked Father Callahan's story. I think that Susanna's pregnancy will turn out to be interesting, at the least. And I like that Jake found a friend close to his own age to hang out with. All in all, it isn't too bad, just should have been better.
Rating:
Summary: "A stone, a rose, an unfound door."
Review: Farther along the path of the Beam is a smallish town called Calla Bryn Sturgis. It hovers at the edge of Mid-World, the final step along the road to End-World, and so to the Dark Tower. It is a farming community, the people grow rice and corn there. And once every generation, the Wolves come to steal their children. It is to this place that Roland and his band of gunslingers have come. To some, they are a welcome salvation... to others, a dangerous change from the way things are. In Calla Bryn Sturgis they meet many memorable new characters, and at least one that we may recognize from an even older story. As the story progresses, Roland will dance, Jake will make a new friend, a new life grows within Susannah, and the bond of ka-tet is threatened even as it gains a new member. "Wolves of the Calla" continues King's tale of Roland's quest for the Dark Tower by strengthening the bonds between characters and offering up tantalizing new hints to what is to come. King's gift for portraying ordinary people in extraordinary situations is as strong as it ever was in this book, but what sets the "Wolves of the Calla" apart from King's other recent work is the power and breadth of his vision. King is telling an ambitious tale here, and this part of it is full of nobility, courage, and above all, simple human frailty. The Dark Tower series is shaping up to be Stephen King's broadest tale in scope. The last 20 pages of "Wolves of the Calla" yield at least a couple serious shocks that may leave the reader wondering about what they've just read, and anxious to read it over again to pick up details they might have missed. But of course, like any skilled writer, King also leaves the reader wanting more. In a good way. In the best way. If I'm right about where King is going with this long tale, the ending should be absolutely astounding. Even if I'm wrong, however, the rest of the story should be interesting, at the very least.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling but predictable King inches his way to the Tower
Review: The pacing of the fifth Dark Tower is by no means slow-- it's AGONIZINGLY slow. And yet The Wolves of Callah still manages to compell and entertain. Looky here now, I'm all for three-dimensional characters, rich backstory and leisurely tale-telling (ala Wizard & Glass), but Wolves of the Calla (again) finds King wallowing in too much of this excess. Yep, it's another one of those rousing stories put on hold for hundreds of pages in the name of "poetic license"; think every book after--and including--"Bag of Bones" and you'll know what I mean. But hey, that's Stephen King's prerogative and that's what most long-time Constant Readers have come to accept/expect. "What the hell? Poetic license?" you say? Ah. I'm alluding primarily to the Father Callahan backstory, which, while interesting and enlightening at times, eats up a good seventh of the story and really does little to advance the plot that we purchased the book for-- the continued journey to the Tower. So although Callahan is poised to become an integral part of Roland's quest, and though the Calla is a pivotal stop along the way of the quest, both facets of the story come off as frustrating impediments to the questing itself. But then again, this one's more of a metaphysical journey through dissappearing-reappearing doorways than actual walking. In other words the book kinda drags. At first it's a pleasant drag: we get a chance to slowly reacquaint ourselves with the craggy Gunslinger and his likeable posse of misfits; then we get to tour the troubled town of Callah and meet all its quirky residents; then we get the cool Salem's Lot tie-in. And then? Well, then you start to realize, around the 150 page mark, that King has little intention of delivering action or adventure this time around. Here, it's all about character-development and craft, and while King has always been a master of writing brilliantly demonic/sardonic characters (Flagg, Leland Gaunt, Pennywise the Clown, etc.), let's be frank: character development is better delivered through action rather than talk--and boy does King subject us to chatter over the course of this 700 pager. Fortunately enticing plot developments are sprinkled throughout--some so intruiging that they'll undoubtedly keep me (and thousands of others) reading until page 1,919 of the seventh and final entry. What's Mia's agenda? Who or what is the mysterous force enabling it? How does Flagg/Walter fit in? When will Traveling "Talisman" Jack show up? How will King make me give a s*** about boring old fart-breaker Ted Brautigan and his role? Like I said before, it's extremely compelling, nerdy stuff. But for all the dangling carrots, I sometimes wish King would hire a new editor and hurry things up. I want to enjoy the quest for the Dark Tower; not keep wondering: "Are we almost there yet?"
Rating:
Summary: Improvement in the Series
Review: Yes, the book is a little too long, the pace perhaps a bit leisurely, the artwork makes you wonder if Bernie Wrightson even read the book, but even with all of that it is an improvement over the last two books though not as marvelous as The Drawing of the Three. As King ages, the books seem to get bigger and bigger, this being the longest of the Dark Tower series judging by their widths on my bookshelf. The extra pages are filled with King's strength, characterization. Roland and company fight their battle on three fronts, in near modern day New York City to protect a vacant lot holding the rose which is a Dark Tower analog, in the Calla against child-stealing bandits and in the mind of Susannah who has to again fight against another personality. Father Callahan from Salem's Lot gets a large portion of the story, and though his journey doesn't really move the plot along, it is enjoyable just for what it is, the fall, struggle and attempt at redemption of a troubled man. As I mentioned above, the length of the book allows King to fully characterize not only the gunslingers, but also the secondary Callahan, as well as a number of the townsfolk in the Calla. As far as plot progression goes, the overall story arc is not moved very far forward. This is the sort of adventure you would imagine Roland having in every troubled town he comes to. However despite the slow pace of the book and the fact the plot did not progress well it kept me quite interested because the story he told, basically an aside to the overarching quest, was a good one. King is a storyteller and he does it well, whether he tells an epic, or detours to tell the story of a minor character's trip through alcoholism. This is definitely recommended for those who've kept on with the series as it is an improvement over Wastelands and Wizard and Glass in my opinion. Hopefully the next one will be as great as The Drawing of the Three. The ending of this one does bode well for a more fastpaced resolution as the problem left hanging needs immediate resolution.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling as always...
Review: For the first time, a Dark Tower book FEELS as though it's part of a series, probably due to King writing the last three at one stretch. And I think I'm getting an inkling of where he's going with this, as he introduces himself as a character (as yet unseen) near the end of the book. It makes perfect sense, after all. King is the creator of the world of the Dark Tower, and all the other worlds bound to it, so it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he's the one sitting up there in the top level. From another author, this would seem a lame device, but assuming I'm right about this, I'll bet King can pull it off. Can't wait to see how he portrays himself! The only downside? Bernie Wrightson's illustrations are easily the worst of any book in the series. The guy is overrated.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the wait!
Review: I was never much of a reader before i started reading King's works. I only read when I had to and no more. Then about 2 years ago my friend loaned me his copy of the Gunslinger. I have to say that the first version of that book started off kinda slow, and i almost lost interest. But I know this for a fact know that if you can make it to at least 50-60 pages into the book, you will be hooked. This can be compared to great stories like Lord of the Rings, and shows many simularity to it. It will suprise you at how much little details tie in to the story's whole. As far as this book goes, it's not my favorite (mine would be The Wastelands), but it brings in some of his other works and brings in some more exciting plot twists. I totally recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: This book was absolutely outstanding. The fifth book of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King, this book is also the longest. But the length is not daunting; the story flows easily and is by far the most entertaining, suspenseful, and gripping of the five books published so far in this 7-book series. One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the occurence of characters that appear in his other novels (like Callahan from "'Salem's Lot", or Flagg and the Super Flu from "The Stand"). This somehow works to connect all his novels and makes it seem like all these novels occur in the same world. I definitely recommend this book, but I urge you to read the other four first. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but you're missing out on a lot of history and important information that may clarify the plot if you choose to start with this book. This book was worth every cent!
|
