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.

It's all heart and a yard wide

First, let's dispense with the obvious: Stephen King is an incomparable writer and a master storyteller.

This is one of the best books I've read/heard in a very long time.

The elements of suspense and the supernatural are there as expected in a King novel. But while they provide a framework for the story, they are *not* what this book is about.

This novel is, at its core, a coming-of-age story; a story about life's transitions with all their attendant sweetness and pain. We get to experience life's pain and the sweetness through a group of lovable characters, one of whom is an amusement park called Joyland.

I finished the book in awe of King's writing and I give it my highest recommendation.

Michael Kelly brought the book to life with a heartfelt and nuanced performance. I look forward to hearing him again.

I can't say enough good about this audio-book. The one downside? The book I started after Joyland cannot live up to King's writing or Kelley's performance. Its flaws are grossly magnified by the unfair juxtaposition.

King does it again!

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

The story was good and the narrator was equally as good. Joyland came to life for me.

Not the King I remember.

What did you love best about Joyland?

Á good story but different from the some older once from King.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The live in Joyland is interesting and exiting. Nothing was not interesting, just a little bit less. Young people finding place in on this earth and exploring murder and afterlife.

Have you listened to any of Michael Kelly’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I had not so I cannot compare him but he is good and pleasant to listen to.

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

I dont know, never thought of that.

Wonderful

Like 11/22/63, it is several genres in one novel. College coming of age, ghost story and murder mystery. He can do it all and better than anyone else. King just keeps getting better as he gets older. You won't be disappointed.

Wow Got so much h from this amazing book!

I really can't say enough of this extremely well written book. I cried, laughed, was frightened, scared, curious, annoyed, joyous, a full range of emotions. This much more than a horror story and and one of Kings finest works. The audio is great and sucked me in deeper. Amazing must read!

expected more macabre from this author

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

the narrator was good

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

the male perseption of being a virgin

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

actual voice and the feeling of the lost love portray from a male perspective

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

no

Any additional comments?

need it more, from the dead girl in the joyland carnaval......

Joyland was a joy

I've listened to this story several time now. Each time it gets better. The characters are great and the reader does them justice.

Wonderful

This book was engaging from the first chapter. It was another great example of king's ability to develop characters that become friends. I didn't want it to end.

Not what I expected... much better.

I grew up with Stephen King. I loved his early books. I lost interest at some point for reasons that I can't explain. I was drawn back in by 11/22/63 and now Joyland. All I can say is that what I found when I came back isn't what I remember leaving behind. King's masterful ability to wield the English language has been honed to the point of near-perfection. This didn't surprise me in the least. What did surprise me was the emotional power that his latest work held over me. I don't recall ever being moved close to tears by his earlier works. I won't soon forget having been so moved by his more recent ones. I could say so much more about the characters, or the setting, or the plot, but I won't. As I was listening to Joyland, I didn't want it to end. Now that it has, I still wish it hadn't.

very good

What did you love best about Joyland?

The story, Kings style pulls you in with typical scenarios from everyday life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

All the characters were good, a few hinky dye dye.

Have you listened to any of Michael Kelly’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The performance was excellent, clear, and I cried a few times because it was convincing.

Any additional comments?

Kings Story without hardly any scary or gory stuff. A good story especially if you have or just had a carnival in town.