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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: The Shining—Book vs. Movie


Set in the claustrophobia-inducing snow-covered peaks of an isolated hotel in the middle of the Rockies, The Shining is a classic work of psychological horror that’s just about as chilling as it gets. But it’s so, so much more than your classic story of spirits and a man’s descent into madness—it’s also a tender yet deeply painful meditation on addiction, family, abuse, and redemption. Stanley Kubrick rejected Stephen King's initial treatment of the screenplay, and the author was largely dissatisfied with his novel’s jump to the big screen. So what exactly are the differences between The Shining movie and the novel?

What listeners say about Joyland

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Step Right Up for Creepy Fun!

This was a fun and fast listen. The story was intriguing and I loved all the carney lingo! The narrator was exceptional too!

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Wow!

I couldn't stop listening and when it ended I wanted more. It wasn't what I expected but boy was it worth the credit, an awesome story. Thank you Stephen King for an enjoyable book - I am going to tell everyone to get this book.

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"Hooked for life"

I've been a Stephen King fan for over 35 years.For me it all began with "Pet Semetary" a page turner of a Book that I couldn't put down. The only other book that hooked me at the age of 18 was
"Amityville Horror".
Little did I know I would still be reading King books till this day. Not to mention view movies & television series of some of his many books. As of lately just b4 Covid-19 first hit the United States I have become a fan of Audiobooks by S. King.
I found this most recent audiobook listening a complete pleasure to listen to. And it even brought a tear to my eyes @ 1 point. This Short story was well worth the price of admission. The narrator of this book also made the audio listen more enjoyable 😉.

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one of the best so far!

often times I hit the slump when going from one book to the next, one narrator to another and tend to find myself missing something. I took a break from audible for about a month. just couldnt find anything that peaked my interest. i had downloaded joyland almost a year ago and never started because several king books had caught my eye and took precedence. I wish I had listened when I found it because this book narrated by Michael Kelly is a treasure! needless to say it pulled me from the slump and took me on a journey, a short roller coaster of emotions that showed me how to love books again. thank you to the team that put this all together, and I can t wait to recommend to a friend!

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Wow. I forgot how great Stephen King writes!!!

I am an occasional listener to Stephen King’s work and every time I do I am struck by what an exceptional WRITER he is.

It’s not like he’s the best “horror” writer but one of the most gifted story tellers in any genre.

Joyland is a fantastic coming of age story with a hint of a ghost story and a thriller. It’s vivid, subtle, sad, nostalgic and kept me listening for hours.

I was sad it ended.

Get it. You won’t be sorry.

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So much better narration not by the author

Stephen King is a good writer but he should alway hire a professional narrator. He does not have a pleasant voice!

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    5 out of 5 stars

So unlike Stephen King and yet.....

This is unusual for the author in that his scary monster is not so much a monster in the standard sense of the word. Quite a delightful divergence from the Michael fare we see from this author.

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Predictable but good

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

I enjoyed the narration.

Would you recommend Joyland to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes for a short trip by car it might be good. There are a few sexual parts that may make it difficult for young ones but it is not over the top.

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

No

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Well done Mr King, well done

If people buy this book for typical King horror and shock they're going to be disappointed. It's a beautifully written story about youthful angst, first loves, and a crippled boy who will steal your heart as he changes everyone's lives around him. And okay, just a little murder mystery in a very quirky amusement park thrown in to keep you guessing. Loved it.

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Great book

Great book. Great narrator. Highly recommend! Not a typical, scary Stephen King book. But it is King's typical well told story.

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