Joyland

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Michael Kelly

Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

"Joyland is a breathtaking, beautiful, heartbreaking book.... Even the most hardboiled readers will find themselves moved."
—Charles Ardai, Edgar- and Shamus Award-winning editor of Hard Case Crime.

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. Joyland is a brand-new novel and has never previously been published.

©2013 Stephen King. All rights reserved. (P)2013 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

A different kind of Stephen King novel

I know had I sat down and listened to this book that I could have finished it in a day or 2, but it is a really great book! I've read parts of other Stephen King books and this one was somewhat different. I had to wonder if there was a little bit of Stephen King's youth wrapped up in the story.

Joyland takes place in 1971 when the world was a different place. The man writing the book, Devin, is writing about his life the year he was 21-years-old and he took time off from college to work Joyland in the summer. He experiences the loss of a first, big break-up and learns a secret language as well as a whole new world working for an amusement park. He gains lifetime friends and works to solve the mystery of who killed Linda Grey in the "haunted house?" Along the way, he saves some lives and learns some valuable lessons.

Stephen King Does It Again!

This is not a terribly scary book at all. Just more like a mystery thriller. Mixed with a very realistic sad story or two along the way as seen thru a college students eyes. I found it intriguing without being omg scary. And I found myself trying to figure out if I could guess who the killer was. I was wrong. The narrator does an excellent job.

Loved it!

Joyland was my first Stephen King novel, and I was not disappointed. I have heard his other novels are very scary, so I wasn't sure about this one, but it really wasn't scary at all. I personally fell in love with the protagonist, his character is what makes the story.

I am honestly not even sure exactly what quality this book had that made it come together so well, but I loved it and recommend it!

A very laid back performance but a great story

A very laid back performance but a great story. I enjoyed the characters and the world of the Joyland carnival.

Stephen King

Stephen King does 'horror lite'. This book could have been written with half of the chapters.

Favorite king book so far

This is by far my favorite Steven King book to date!!!!! Absolutely love it!! Definitely recommend!

The narrator really made this book come alive

The quality of a narrator will make or break an audio book for me.

This is a great book.

And Michael Kelly is a great narrator.

I felt like I Devin was really talking to me - it was a riveting book and I heard it all in only a few listens.

King rules...always

What made the experience of listening to Joyland the most enjoyable?

This was a great book but I think the reader is really what took this over the top.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Joyland?

Enjoyed all the early 70s memory joggers

What does Michael Kelly bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Michael Kelly did a fabulous job with this book!

For the Non-King reader, This is One to Try

Would you listen to Joyland again? Why?

I might listen to "Joyland" in a few years. Just like I plan to listen to "It" again. It is easy to place yourself inside both novels. King writes about a time that feels so familiar. I have read a number of his novels and some are the very definition of creepy. This one isn't creepy in the same way that "Salem's Lot" or "Dreamcatcher" were, but it does have an edge, plus I am always game for a ghost or two in any story.

What does Michael Kelly bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has a voice that is easy to listen to--there was nothing about it that distracted this listener.

Any additional comments?

This was a sweet story and kept me listening when I ought not to.

Not Stephen King

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

not really, Not even near Stephen King. Story itself was ok. Simple, but not very exciting. Loved Mike.

What about Michael Kelly’s performance did you like?

His performance was very good. Characters stood out as individuals and the story was easy to follow.