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.

Fun, nostalgic storytelling. Great voice work!

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

King is really good when waxing nostalgic. In Joyland he simultaneously glorifies and condemns the past, much the way he does in 11/22/63.

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

Yes and no. It wasn't that kind of book (though I expected it would be). I found myself more concerned with the state of Dev's relationships than the crime he's [kinda] trying to solve.

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

I knew the voice immediately as Doug Stamper from House of Cards. I thought he did an excellent job!

Great who done mystery

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

I really enjoyed listening to this, I found I couldn't wait to get in the car so I could listen some more.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Annie, she is awesome

Short but sweet!

I’m one of those people who generally passes on short books. Since this one was by Stephen King, I felt I owed it to myself to give it a listen and I’m so glad that I did!! I loved this story for so many reasons. Nobody sucks me in the way Mr. King does because he is so great at writing likable characters, and making you care about what happens to them. This was not a creepy scary book. Okay, yes, there was a little bit of that, but it was more of a hopeful story that shows how much goodness some people share with friends and strangers alike, and what a difference acts of kindness can make in this world. I should also point out that Michael Kelly gave an awesome performance and made listening to this book so very enjoyable! Great book! Thank you!!

Loved it!!

Any additional comments?

I typically do not read books in the horror genre or SK for that matter, but after reading great reviews, I took a chance on Joyland. I absolutely loved it! It is not a gory horror book, rather a suspenseful well told tale. So glad I listened and I will probably revisit this book in the future.

Did not expect King capable of making me cry...

Would you listen to Joyland again? Why?

Yes, I would. It doesn't matter that I know "whodunit," though my memory can be quick to fade as I read so many books. The narration and the style of the story were such an unexpected pleasure, coming from King, and reminded me of some of my all-ltime favorite Bradburys, which I read in high school.

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

Not so much- it's not that kind of King. Yes, there is a gruesome murder, but it's far in the past. There's a mystery to be solved, but in the end that isn't really what drives the plot. Actually, I felt the climax of the book, which focused on the resolution of the mystery plot, was a bit weaker than the rest of the book because it veered in to more typical King territory, and the strength of the book lies in the coming-of-age plot.

What about Michael Kelly’s performance did you like?

I LOVED Michael Kelly's narration. I'd just finished listening to Mr. Mercedes, and that narrator could not do a plausible woman's voice if you paid him (which, I guess, they did). Michael Kelly's characters were all distinguishable without being over-the-top, as a Southerner I appreciated his southern accents, and his women sounded like people, not breathy halfwits. I'd throw roses at his feet just for that, because I am SO TIRED of men who seem to think that to speak "woman" is to speak like a cartoon. BRAVO, Michael Kelly.

Who was the most memorable character of Joyland and why?

I actually liked the narrator quite a bit, which isn't often the case for me. He was just a really good kid.

Any additional comments?

I cried at the end. Couldn't help myself. I usually scoff at King and only listen to/read him when it's summer or I'm exercising because you can drift in and out and not lose much, but this one held my attention and made me believe it. Wish I could ride that Carolina Spin...

Usual great listen

Joyland is the usual compelling story by Stephen King.....a great listen enhanced by a superb narration!

Michael Kelly nails it. Stephen King's wonderful, touching coming of age tale is brought to life masterfully.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Michael Kelly bring all these characters to life. It was awesome to listen to this story on a long car ride and it helped me stay alert because I could tell which character was speaking without having to hear, "Devon said...". I think my favorite character was the different nuances between Madame Fortuna and Rozzi's respective voices. Great story too! I remember this one bringing me to tears the first time I read it. Hope everybody enjoys it! Probably good for everybody from golden oldies remembering their pasts wistfully down to those struggling with teenage angst. A little NSFW, but then, what Stephen King novel isn't?

Narrator Made This Story!

I thought this story was narrated beautifully. Michael Kelly did an awesome job with the characters and made the story more compelling than it might have been had I been reading it instead.

Love the characters in this book--one of King's talents--and the carnival setting made for a fun read. This one won't leave you shaking in your boots like The Shining, but it's got enough of the classic King chill to keep loyal fans happy.

A Warm-Hearted Coming-of-Age Mystery-Horror

That was a long review title with a lot of dashes, wasn't it? It was definitely hard to try and slap a single genre label on this, and even then the three I put up there may not represent it well as a whole.

Stephen King tells us a story through his protagonist Devon Jones, a 21 year old college student who starts working at an amusement park for the summer, and it's in and around this amusement park that the bulk of the story takes place. Devon's personal story starts with heartbreak early on, and it's at this amusement park where he learns to mend his broken heart through the people he works around, be they the children who love him when he dons "the fur" (a mascot dog costume), the friendly older mentor-types who take him under their wing, or the two friends, Tom and Erin, whom he spends most of his time outside the park with during the season.

While Devon's personal story and growth could have made for a fine book all on it's own, there's more to expect from Stephen King here as one might expect. There are stories of the ghost of a girl who was murdered in Joyland's only dark ride, and Devon embarks on a journey that starts out more as simple curiosity in checking out the ghost story and becomes one of solving the girl's gruesome murder. The park fortune teller tells him of two children he'll meet, and how one of these two will have "the sight."

And finally there is Devon's slow growing relationship with the woman next door and her son, Mike. Mike is a sick wheelchair ridden boy, and after meeting he and Devon take to each other quite quickly. There's a mild attraction to the cold and quiet mother of the boy, and Devon's interaction with this family over the year changes his life in ways he never would have guess before moving to work at Joyland for the summer.

There are so many different plots in this book, but it's never too much. it never feels like it's jumping around. Every transition from point to point feel natural as Devon goes along throughout his days, and the character development presents of the best slow burns in a book that I've read in a long time. You can feel things changing and feel a real sense of character progression every step of the way.

This book is more than satisfying to read. I'm only sad that it had to end.

Seriously one of Stephen Kings best

I loved the storyline. It was different than his usual writing style, but still intriguing.