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Joe's Reviews > Joyland
Joyland
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I'm abandoning this effort by Stephen King. Published in 2013 by Hard Case Crime, the pulp-styled crime label owned by Titan Books, I picked it up at the library wanting a King book to read and fell in love with the cover art by the legendary Robert McGinnis Glen Orbik. I should've known that redheads are nothing but trouble. The story is set in the 1970s in the aforementioned North Carolina amusement park and is 115 pages of schmaltz and self-indulgence leading up to a whodunit that I never made it to. King might have wanted to hang out in a fun park but gave me no compelling reason to with this story. He breaks one of his own writing rules: "You must not come lightly to the blank page."
What else can I do to entertain myself here?
My favorite TV redhead is Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) from The X-Files.
Who is Robert McGinnis? A cartoonist in the late 1940s, his first cover illustrations appeared in 1956 for True Detective and Master Detective magazines. He produced his first paperback cover in 1958 and never stopped working. The creation of the "McGinnis Woman" often involves long limbs, allure and a sleazy mystique. He became a go-to artists for private dick novels like the Mike Shayne series, the Carter Brown adventures, but Perry Mason as well. His work illustrating movie posters ranged from the James Bond series, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Barbarella and The Odd Couple.
What else can I do to entertain myself here?
My favorite TV redhead is Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) from The X-Files.
Who is Robert McGinnis? A cartoonist in the late 1940s, his first cover illustrations appeared in 1956 for True Detective and Master Detective magazines. He produced his first paperback cover in 1958 and never stopped working. The creation of the "McGinnis Woman" often involves long limbs, allure and a sleazy mystique. He became a go-to artists for private dick novels like the Mike Shayne series, the Carter Brown adventures, but Perry Mason as well. His work illustrating movie posters ranged from the James Bond series, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Barbarella and The Odd Couple.
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Kelli
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rated it 4 stars
Mar 30, 2020 07:08PM
I loved this book and that surprised me. It was very different from typical SK, but I’m certain that it was the audio narrator that kept me engaged. Hope your next book is a favorite!
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Ah! I should put this one on my "so you have red hair" shelf. Yes, don't say I didn't warn you here, JV.
And, isn't Elizabeth Montgomery your favorite TV red head, or are you considering her a strawberry blonde? Don't you favor witches over detectives?
Kelli wrote: "I loved this book and that surprised me. It was very different from typical SK, but I’m certain that it was the audio narrator that kept me engaged. Hope your next book is a favorite!"Very different, but for those who don't like scary books, I'd recommend they pick up Different Seasons by Stephen King. This book reminded me of How I Spent My Summer Vacation by a misanthropic male. Maybe with the right narrator on audiobook, I could've made it through!
Julie wrote: "And, isn't Elizabeth Montgomery your favorite TV red head, or are you considering her a strawberry blonde? Don't you favor witches over detectives?"Samantha was definitely a strawberry blonde. I don't think I have much of a hair fetish, though. I notice it but a character should have something more interesting going on than what their stylist gave them. And yes, I think I need to dig deep into the Julie bookshelves for something really good to read next.
I was very middle of the road with my rating and had I read this I would have been much harsher with my rating.
Shame that the very cool cover art is the best part :-(
Schmaltz. No time for schmaltz, life is just too short!That cover is super fun, though. So stylized and pulpy and pop-art.
What's next on your list, Joe? Are you giving King another chance after this disappointment?
Sonja wrote: "I was very middle of the road with my rating and had I read this I would have been much harsher with my rating."I didn't mind the book for 100 pages. I wasn't engaged but I wasn't put off either. I think maybe the pandemic distracted me and this little trifle just couldn't overcome that.
Gabrielle wrote: "Shame that the very cool cover art is the best part :-("Apparently, Glen Orbik is responsible for the cool cover art as well as Version #3 below, while Robert McGinnis illustrated Version #2. I can't get enough of pulp fiction covers and often, the story doesn't live up to or even correspond with the artwork!
Robin wrote: "Schmaltz. No time for schmaltz, life is just too short!That cover is super fun, though. So stylized and pulpy and pop-art.
What's next on your list, Joe? Are you giving King another chance after this disappointment?."
I understand that not letting lack of a story get in the way of a schedule is how an author publishes 50+ novels, I just don't want to read them.
I'm staying in the horror genre for now with Clive Barker, but am charging up my Kindle Fire to download something great if this one doesn't pass muster!
I'm feeling John D. MacDonald or Charles Williams. I'm feeling like an escape to Florida for sun and sin in the days before spring breakers ignoring warnings spread COVID-19 there. You and Julie are welcome to join me.
I tried to read this book twice and couldn't get into it. I kept it for a third try. I thought it was just me.
David wrote: "I tried to read this book twice and couldn't get into it. I kept it for a third try. I thought it was just me."King is proud that he usually sits down to write a book with no idea where it's going and this one reads exactly like that. Meandering.
Joe wrote: "David wrote: "I tried to read this book twice and couldn't get into it. I kept it for a third try. I thought it was just me."King is proud that he usually sits down to write a book with no idea w..."
And I'm a huge fan, Bag of Bones, Tommy Knockers, Full Dark No Stars just to name a few.
Nice review Joe ......... I guess even Stephen King misfires occasionally! A shame because I’ve had this one on my kindle for ages :)
Great review....I’m going to definitely skip this one.
Joe wrote: "Gabrielle wrote: "Shame that the very cool cover art is the best part :-("Apparently, Glen Orbik is responsible for the cool cover art as well as Version #3 below, while Robert McGinnis illustrat..."
I LOVE Robert McGinnis' work! I had to use a lot of self-control to not re-buy every Neil Gaiman book when he was commissioned to give them new cover art...
Richard wrote: "Nice review Joe ......... I guess even Stephen King misfires occasionally! A shame because I’ve had this one on my kindle for ages :)"Thank you, Richard. Don't give up on this one without reading at least a few pages. You might find something here that I didn't.
Misty wrote: "Great review....I’m going to definitely skip this one."I won't try to stop you. Thank you, Misty.
Gabrielle wrote: "I LOVE Robert McGinnis' work! I had to use a lot of self-control to not re-buy every Neil Gaiman book when he was commissioned to give them new cover art... ."Sending a coffeetable book recommendation your way, Gabrielle ...
Just my humble opinion, but if you did not actually finish reading the book, you should not be commenting on it much less reviewing it.
