"After his confrontation with the man in black at the end of The Gunslinger, Roland awakes to find three doors on the beach of Mid-World's Western Sea—each leading to New York City but at three different moments in time. Through these doors, Roland must "draw" three figures crucial to his quest for the Dark Tower. In 1987, he finds Eddie Dean, The Prisoner, a heroin addict. In 1964, he meets Odetta Holmes, the Lady of Shadows, a young African-American heiress who lost her lower legs in a subway accident and gained a second personality that rages within her. And in 1977, he encounters Jack mort, Death, a pusher responsible for cruelties beyond imagining. Has Roland found new companions to form the ka-tet of his quest? Or has he unleashed something else entirely?"
The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King is the second book in the Dark
Tower series. After having read The Gunslinger, I was impressed with how the plot came to life and next to it this is one of the finest
books I've read in a very long time that doesn't deal with elves and
dragons. Many readers have said that the Dark Tower series gets only
better with every book.
The book starts off a couple of hours later right after the ending of The Gunslinger. Roland's quest to find the Dark Tower actually begins (sorta) and for that to happen, he needs the help of three other individuals. Now, it's really hard not to spoil things here but I'm guessing by looking at the book cover, you should already have surmised that Roland will somehow have to travel through magical doorways to seek said individuals. The idea behind this is brilliant yet I'm sure some readers will think that this is hardly anything original. Well, this book was first published in 1987 and so it clearly shows the brilliant mind of the author.
As you could have guessed, each individual behind that doorway with which Roland has a connection to all have different personalities and personal problems. Technically, there are three doorways and so there are three different stories altogether. I loved each and every one of them! Because this whole concept with the doors is new to the readers, the author spends a lot of time going over things with the first character that Roland connects to. The funny thing is how conversations can go because Roland is so different, being as he is from a different time. I really don't want to write too much because it will only spoil things. I never had a problem writing reviews but here, I'm having a problem finding words because everything seems like a possible spoiler!
The atmosphere and setting with The Drawing of the Three is amazing. In Roland's world, everything is bleak and dreary. This lends to a very isolated feeling and you can actually feel the struggles of the characters and what they are having to go through. However, I feel that this second book is actually another introductory book in the story. Hopefully with Roland finally having drawn the three, his adventure in search of the Dark Tower can finally begin. Technically, I know that the author has about five more books to complete his story but I'm hoping the next book the real adventure would begin.
What makes The Drawing of the Three so special is that it has a little bit of everything. It shows that this world really is full of unique and special individuals and at any moment, their life could be changed by some event. The writing is also very solid. There really wasn't a boring part throughout the book. Everything is just so gripping and part of it is you genuinely want to find out what happens next! This sounds absurd when I write it but for those who have read a book that you felt it was literally too hard to put down, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Stephen King really knows
how to blend so many different elements together in a book and actually
making them stick. Right now, Roland still feels like a little mystery
to me. Sure, I know his overall demeanor and what he's about but I feel
as if there is so much more that the author is holding back for later.
But whatever the case, this book has definitely sparked my interest in
the Dark Tower series. Luckily for me, every book has already been
released so no waiting!!!
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