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.

Fabulous book! Not your "normal" Stephen King

While this book is not the "scary" Stephen King we have come to expect, it does has a ghost and a wonderful mystery. There is an amazing main character. What does it say about a writer when you strive in your life to be more like the main character in his book? I totally am trying to be more like Devin as he is a truly great guy!

This book spans friendships and life as a carnie and having worked at several theme parks, he is right on about a lot of it. This book took place when I was VERY young, and the detail is there, as we have come to expect with a King book.

Again I say it is not a typical King, but it is a very very good story and I was hooked quickly! It is really in touch with a coming into manhood teenaged boy in the 1970's. Bravo Mr. King, BRAVO! Loved it!

Easy to find yourself lost in expert storytelling.

You needn't have read most of King's contemporary tales to enjoy this yarn with enough youthful innocence combined with supernatural undertones to keep you listening the whole day through.

King is the schlockmeister king.

A spooky summer read for a young adult and a return to college summers for those older.

Awesome

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

Awesome story line

Any additional comments?

Glad I chose it. I found it to be more of a mystery than horror but still an excellent choice. I would highly recommend it. Narration was fantastic

fantastic!!!

I loved everything about this book. I could listen/read this over and over. my imagine ran free with this one. as if it were a movie in my head

Descriptive and well-written

Would you listen to Joyland again? Why?

Yes I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The twist at the end was appreciated but not entirely unexpected.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Joyland?

The special visit to the fair

All his best stuff again...

I loved this new book. It was a fast, fun read with a bit of everything I love about Stephen King...a little mystery, a touch of the supernatural (think The Shining but not so intense), likable characters, a little romance, some sadness and some joy. I liked the narration, with the main character reminiscing about his life and his time at Joyland. The only drawback with the narrator was his voice was that of they young man rather than the older man looking back. But that was only a minor drawback, otherwise well-narrated. Very much enjoyed it.

Easily one of my favorite listens ever

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

I've already recommended it to many friends. It's just some really beautiful writing, beautifully performed. I loved that Michael Kelly never forced the emotion as so many audiobook performers do, but let it grow naturally out of the text. His voice and performance was a terrific match for the story.

What other book might you compare Joyland to and why?

I love how Stephen King remembers the past -- poetic and romantic but still very real. There's a bit of The Body/Stand By Me in this book, a bit of the glowing nostalgia that made the 1950s sections of 11/22/63 so memorable. There's even a little Summer of '42 vibe going on.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved Devin's entire journey from greenie to carny -- learning the lingo, putting on the fur. The kite-flying scenes were particularly sweet and memorable.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Actually, yes. Definitely had a lump in my throat more than once, and one particular scene between Devin and his father had tears streaming down my cheeks. I tried to pass it off as allergies, but I don't think anyone was buying my story.

Any additional comments?

It's too bad this book is being marketed as a thriller. While there is a supernatural element and a mystery in the background, this is really a sweet, nostalgic coming-of-age story -- and some of Stephen King's most elegiac writing as well. Combined with Michael Kelly's spot-on narration, this was easily one of my favorite listening experiences ever.

A story along the lines of The Body (Stand By Me)

Where does Joyland rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I think this ranks among the small list that I'd actually listen to again. It was one of Stephen King's lighter stories. I enjoyed the characters and their relationships. It's a place that I'd love to revisit again some day. You feel the sense of nostalgia, even if you weren't around or too young to remember during the time period it's set in.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The murder mystery towards the end provided a little suspense. But since you know the narrator of the story survived (otherwise, how is he telling this in first person?), its not too suspenseful. It reminded me of a Hitchcock thriller.

Which character – as performed by Michael Kelly – was your favorite?

The main character, Devin. He did a great job with the others, but Devin was the heart of the story and he did his voice in a very laid-back "let me tell you a tale" sort of way.

If you could rename Joyland, what would you call it?

The Body 1973 at an amusement park.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this book when you want a pleasant story without a lot of violence or macabre. I'd put this up among his novels such as Duma Key. It's really about the relationships and friendships. You'll smile as you listen to it and might even cry at the end when it's over with.

touching mystery of life

I can never give another book 5 stars. this is a perfect, beautiful story.