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Joyland  By  cover art

Joyland

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Michael Kelly
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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.

Featured Article: Authors Like Stephen King


Best-selling author Stephen King has published a staggering amount of work, from gripping crime thrillers to epic fantasy series, winning prestigious awards. Yet King’s varied writing is united by common themes, styles, characters, and settings. King fans will recognize a book by him for elements ranging from child characters to atmospheric settings, from eerie psychological horror to New England locations. Undeniably, King’s influence is evident in many of the horror genre’s leading and emerging authors. If you're a fan of Stephen King, these horror authors should be on your radar.

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What listeners say about Joyland

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
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A nice quick story

Any additional comments?

Another moving story. I really like the characters in this story. He always makes you see them as friends.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Slow start. Then gets good.

Slow start. Took about half the book for this to really get going. And then it was quite wonderful. The Narrator was solid, but not great. All in all I enjoyed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A Great Ride!

Would you listen to Joyland again? Why?

Yes, because it is so well written and I loved the characters.

What other book might you compare Joyland to and why?

After the night, because it was a very emotional listen.

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

He is an amazing narrator, I loved his voice it went so well with how I envisioned the character to be.

Who was the most memorable character of Joyland and why?

Devin because he is so kind, noble and honest. He is what a man should be.

Any additional comments?

I was crying when I finished this book. It touched me deeply.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent book

Seriously, this is a great book and performance. Frankly, better than most Stephen King books, and I like Stephen King.

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Ignore negative reviews

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

Yes. Great book. Not predictable imo. I. Finished it in 2 days because I couldn't stop listening!

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

It is not a tense nail biter. It is just good. Stephen King crafts a world that you find yourself feeling a part of.only his books have created such a sense of feeling part of the story.

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

They are all good. But he does a great ny jewish mother.

If you could take any character from Joyland out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Milo. But theres a catch.....the Jesus kite has to come too..

Any additional comments?

Awesome read for any time of the year. A lot of reviews say great summer read but I think its good for any season.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoy a Mystery by Kind that is Not so Scary

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

Top 25%

What other book might you compare Joyland to and why?

Don't know

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

No

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

I would not rename it

Any additional comments?

Sometimes King books drag with too much detail, but this was a fast paced who done it that was completely enjoyable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Wow! You did it again Mr. King.

A wonderfull story performed beautifully. This is a book i will read again. loved it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Awesome

I really enjoyed this book , I would highly recommend it to people who want to go with lighter horror of Stephen King. The story was very interesting and the narration was well done.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A Masterpiece.

Would you listen to Joyland again? Why?

Absolutely. I could listen to this story again and again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Joyland?

Mike's trip to Joyland.

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

The whole cast of characters.

Who was the most memorable character of Joyland and why?

Mike. For a kid dealt such a terrible hand he had such an amazing outlook on life, and a great personality and sense of humor. He's such a good kid.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding Old School King

Sometimes you read a book that makes you realize that you over-rated the other books you've been reading. This is one of those. King's storytelling is so descriptive and his characters so crisp, you quickly remember that he is head and shoulders above most of the rest. This is only slightly a horror story, but more a coming of age story. It sucked me in from the start, and I loved every minute of it.

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