Synopsis:
A STUNNING NEW NOVEL FROM ONE OF THE BEST-SELLING AUTHORS OF ALL TIME!
The #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
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.
Review:
Joyland by Stephen King transports the reader back to an era of simple pleasures, sipping flat, warm lemonade on sweltering summer afternoons- to sticky ice-lollies, to playing catch on the beach and to the magic hustle and bustle of theme parks and carnivals. In this enchanting coming-of-age story, King blurs the lines between crime and horror- and I absolutely adore it. For readers looking to dip their feet into the Stephen King waters, this is the perfect gateway.
The year is 1973, and we follow Devin Jones, a college student who finds himself working as a summer temp, at the eponymous theme park “Joyland,” with his new room-mates and friends Erin and Tom. As he adjusts to the “carny,” life, operating rides such as the “Carolina Spin,” and familiarising himself with his kooky colleagues, he finds himself entangled in the mystery the park is shrouded in. Furthermore, Joyland’s eccentric clairvoyant Rozzie Gold AKA Madame Fortuna, prophesizes that there is a “Shadow over,” him. Despite Devin’s passion for his role, the kindness he receives from his colleagues, and the delightful buzz he gets from dressing up as the park’s mascot Howie: something is just a little off. It almost makes you want to run off and join a carnival… almost. Embark on a terrifying yet nostalgic roller-coaster ride with Devin and his friends, as they navigate what will be both the best and worst summer of their entire lives.
“That fall was the most beautiful of my life. Even forty years later I can say that. And I was never so unhappy, I can say that, too.”
Whilst the burning mystery and occasional tidbit that King throws in definitely keep the pages turning, “Joyland,” is propelled from a bog-standard crime novel to a heart-breaking, coming of age story by its characters. For the first 50 or so pages, we simply read about Devin. Devin and his break-up, Devin working, Devin and Tom, Erin and Devin, it’s simply a college student working his first part-time gig away from home. But I was never bored. King utilises the first quarter or so of the novel to really get you acquainted. As is typical of the Master Storyteller, the cast is as diverse as it is lovable, and each character truly leaps off the page, eliciting genuine emotion. Michael in particular really tugged on my heart-strings, he made me laugh one minute, want to cry the next, and then actually sob toward the end. For these reasons, despite predicting who the culprit was previous to the grand reveal and epic showdown, I remained absorbed, intrigued and hungry for more.
King’s prose here is a refreshing departure from his typically dense writing. Whilst still proudly bearing the hallmarks of his distinct story-telling, the narrative flows with a simplicity that welcomes readers of all abilities and backgrounds. Joyland is particularly interesting as the story is being relayed to us by a much older Devin, and it very much feels like listening to your favourite Uncle recount stories from the good old days. That being said, there’s no tension, as we are aware Devin lives a long and full life- meaning we focus more on the other characters and the thrilling atmosphere. His evocative language and vivid imagery effortlessly transports us to the sun-soaked boardwalks and neon-lit attractions that Joyland offers- allowing readers to bask in the nostalgia of the story, and revel in the sheer pleasure of King’s writing.
Imagine Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” had a love child with “It,” who was then raised by Scooby-Doo. There’s an unfortunate lack of dancing clowns and Mr. Darks, but there is (to compensate) an eerie ghost train, a brutal murder, and a merciless killer lurking in plain sight.
Wrapping it up, “Joyland,” is a delightful and reflective blast from the past, when life was simple and “Freddos,” were 5p. In this nostalgic noir, King delivers shocks and chills, and whilst it’s obvious that he needs no endorsement from me, he has it regardless with “Joyland.” This is ultimately the story of a boy becoming a man, working hard, getting his heart broken, finding love and friendship, it’s as stomach-turning as a loop-the-loop and as sweet as cotton candy- and I savoured every page.
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