The Talisman

Rating:
Summary: A rare novel
Review: I claim that this novel is "rare" because it is seldom that one finds a novel that gets such enormous hype, and doesn't even come close to the expectations. I heard about this novel from a professor and checked out the average reviews from the faithful supporters of Amazon.com. Amazingly, I saw 63 reviews with an average of five stars! I thought to myself, "Not even Homer's 'The Iliad' is worthy of five stars by such a varying audience. This book must be special in its appeal." To those of you who haven't read this book, DON'T. I have never read a book that is strung out as long as this one. NEVER. A twelve year gets beat beyond belief, and not only survives, but goes on to shoot werewolves with an uzi. It's relationships (such as the one with Wolf and Jack) are about as heart warming as Bill's with Hillary. I wish the readers would have taken a "blind reading test" and been unaware that Stephen King and Peter Straub co-wrote this bore. I'm sure my two stars would be about par... In closing, I strongly recommend C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." That novel is "the ultimate experience in terror" and furthermore - a classic.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for all ages
Review: As I was browsing through Amazon's books, looking for a new read, I happened upon The Talisman. I have read the book twice, and will read it again. The story just "does" something to me. It brings out childhood memories of being able to escape into a wonderful fantasy dimension as only King (and Straub) can do. I have read almost all of Straub and King, and there is a clear distinction in the Talisman between the parts that King wrote and those that Straub wrote. I must confess that I prefer the King parts. If you like total escape fiction, and want to get completely absorbed in it, then you must read The Talisman.

Rating:
Summary: My all-time favorite book
Review: I have read this book so many times that I could probably recite it. The first time I read this book, I immediately began it again; I could not bear to let it end. There is no feeling more wonderful than finishing a book with tears streaming from your eyes and a smile on your face. Stephen King and Peter Straub created a masterpiece. I love, love, love this book.

Rating:
Summary: A journey of discovery.
Review: I read this book shortly after it's initial release. I was active military living overseas with my 8 yr old son. We were going through a very difficult time and he, especially so. We lived on the "economy" and had no American (English speaking) TV or Radio. My son is HDSD and we were both struggling with this. Then we began a regiment of reading, The Talisman. Of course, I took the liberty of editing some of Kings & Straubs language and text. I would read ahead and then allow him to read to me those chapters I felt he could. At the end of the book, after all was said and done, the message that came across to us both was: Each of us has magic buried deep inside. Each person's magic is different, but very strong. Sometimes, bad things have to happen to make us tap into that magic, but when we do tap into it, amazing things happen. We can control our lives and what happens to us, if we understand that we are magic and we can share our magic to make it stronger. Thank you Mr. King and Mr. Straub. You helped me, help my son, understand his amazing magic.

I still hold Jack and Wolfe and Richard so very close in my heart. My son is now 21 and he is re-reading the book and finding out Mom left a lot out, but finding again the magic that will always be there, in every word, in every reading. We (my son and I) are totally hooked on "The Dark Tower" series. We pray each night that Mr. King lives long enough to complete it.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome, realistic, and thrilling Talisman beats Misery
Review: This is the best King book I have ever read. Its so real it feels like Im on the journey. It was also very emotional.

Rating:
Summary: One of the three finest books I have ever read
Review: "The Talisman" is a masterpiece. It has become part of my holy trinity of favorite novels, alongside J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany." Readers of all three books may notice a common thread of heroism and deep love. The three novels also share writing so vivid that it creates an alternate reality that is hard to leave once the book is over. As with "Owen Meany", I immediately started "The Talisman" again the moment I finished it, with tears still drying on my face.

King and Straub understand love. Love is the motivating force in this book, and the true magic of the book, more so than the hunk of glass of the title. The vividly drawn main character, 12 year old Jack, loves his mother and goes through Hell for her. Likewise, Jack loves his best friend / brother / soul mate Richard uncommonly deeply. Love like this has the power to save the universe.

Peter Straub and Stephen King have my deepest gratitude.

Rating:
Summary: masterpiece!!
Review: The Talisman is just the right blend of a fantasy world and the real one, so one can get a dose of both. Jack is a real hero, he has this combination of streetsmart and innocence. I think this is one of the few books King wrote which is more adventure than gore. I think a lot of people can relate to Jack. On the whole, it was a great experience. I've reread the talisman many times, and I'm still not bored of it!

Rating:
Summary: A thrilling journey through two worlds!
Review: This is tied for my favorite book of al time(along with Dean Koontz's `Phantoms') I read it once and couldn't figure out what was going, so I read it again and voila! I loved it, The best part: Jack and Richard go to War, and the Sunlight Home part, can you say Hallelujah!!!

Rating:
Summary: I am only allowed 5, but I really give this book 10 stars!
Review: These characters are so well described that you feel that you know them. Jack's trials and tribulations are so true to life that through King's writing you live them yourself. P.S. It hurts so good!

Rating:
Summary: Scared the %&$# out of me!
Review: When I read this, I was on a family vacation and had (no pun intended, King fans) insomnia, so I stayed up until 4 a.m. reading this thing in the hotel room. I was so scared by the train journey to the alkalai flats that when I finally was tired, I couldn't go back into the darkened room where the beds were! This is so good, and King and Straub seem to have made a seamless collaboration. You can't, if you are familiar with their respective styles, tell when one leaves off and the other begins.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves King or anyone who has never read King, as it is not a bloody, gore-fest, as It and Desperation were. It is almost a fairy-tale, similar to The Eyes of the Dragon, another great King book.

Read this book!