Dark Tower: Finished

Total and complete spoilers ahead - absolutely do not read if you don't already know how this series ends.



So I finished The Dark Tower at 2:30 AM on Saturday night and it left me speechless. Not to mention slightly insane.

After I fished it, I went to bed (what people usually do before 2:30) and began hallucinating. You know those states of half-awake, half-asleep that you sometimes find yourself trapped in? Where your eyes are open but your brain has checked out? Well that was me for 2 hours after reading the last words of Roland's story. At one point I looked at the clock and it read 3:19 (19, mind you) and, with pounding heart, I seriously thought I was sleeping on the path of The Beam, in Mid-World, searching for The Dark Tower, just waiting for the sun to rise. Weird, I know.

No more late-night reading marathons for me. At least not for a while.

Those who have finished The Dark Tower cycle might (partially) understand my state of mind.

The final book is (Sadie, thanks for nailing it) devastating. And yet, it couldn't be any other way. I don't understand people who loathed this ending. SK has taken an insane amount of heat (as much heat as literary criticism can dole out, that is, which, in the big scheme, isn't much) for ending the series the way he did. I've heard words like Chicken, rushed, cop-out and more, thrown around and I don't understand what these people are thinking.

I'll try to sum up my feelings chronologically.

1) Callahan's passing.
Callahan was one of my favorite characters in the series and his end was hard but I loved it. I was nearly shouting, "Amen, brother!"

I won't forget his words:

Free at last, he thought. Free at last, great God Almighty, I'm free at last. Then: I believe this is redemption. And it's good, isn't it? Quite good, indeed.

2) Mordred's birth
Ugh. Gross. Mia, you have some issues. This scene had me on the edge of my seat. I was extremely affected by it and I'm not quite sure why.

3) Blue Heaven, and farewell Eddie
Eddie's end hit me from left field. I thought Jake was going to be the first to go. Eddie has been such a great character. From his fighting addiction to his (sometimes too-prevalent) sense of humor to his mental torment by his late brother, Henry. After his passing the story just descends into darker and darker territories. And I missed Eddie. The Ka-Tet was definitely broken.

On a side note, what's up with the booger eating in this section? SK, hello? Was making me gag really necessary?

4) Jake's End.
I really got broken up over this. I loved Jake.



5) The White Lands Of Empathica/Daneldo
Was Daneldo, IT? I've never read that book but from what I've heard, Daneldo seems to fit the bill. This scene was great. Quite creepy and out of the blue.

6) Tower Road
This section was heartbreaking for me. Roland's desperation as his final (human) companion leaves his side. (Patrick doesn't really count) The picture says it all. What a beautiful picture.



7) Mordred's End
Finally this little creep gets it. And the last member of the Ka-Tet leaves Roland. Poor Oy.

8) The Crimson King
Some people didn't really like how non-powerful The Crimson King seemed at the end, chucking Snitch's from the dark tower and ranting. I honestly didn't care. It fit into The Wizard Of OZ theme that runs through the book. The Wizard in the end is a bit of a humbug.

The final words of this chapter I'll never forget: Roland approaching the dark tower, calling the names. SK could not have written this any better. I got chills.



9) The epilogue
I didn't really like this part. It's going to be a bit weird in the afterlife, for Susannah isn't it? I mean now there's 2 different versions of her husband. How did the original Eddie feel? I know that this was SK's attempt to leave some of his readers with a happy ending but I didn't buy it. Eddie and Jake died and this doesn't change that.

But this is Roland's story and his end is the one I care about.



10) Coda
And it is devastating.

To all the fans who degrade this ending, you're nuts. The Dark Tower could not end any other way. It isn't happy but Roland's story did not warrant a happy ending. But there's hope. Cuthbert's horn and God's words that there's redemption in Roland's future.

Roland has sold his soul for the quest and such a man cannot see the face of God. And what else is the room at the top of the dark tower? King made this clear.

I think that Roland's perpetual journey is God's (Gan's) way of humbling Roland until he can be redeemed. Roland's arrogance to think that he can ascend to the holy of holies, the room at the top of the dark tower, is wrong. His demand that the dark tower open to him, is pride.

I believe that one day, Roland will not slay Allie in Tull. He won't let Jake fall. He will turn from the tower. He will be humbled. And then the door at the top will finally open to him and, as a man redeemed, he will see the face of God.

I truly loved Roland and his quest is heartbreaking. But I have the highest hopes for him.

So here's my reviews of all the books in order:


The Gunslinger
4/4 stars.

This one's hard to get into and the prose is, at first, a little hard to understand. But it sets the stage perfectly. Roland and his quest are laid bare. And the stakes are high.


The Drawing Of The Three
3/4 Stars

Here we meet Eddie and Susannah and, unfortunately, Detta Walker. Detta is probably the most foul-mouthed character I've ever read. She spews verbal sewage. A tense story to the end. Quite the page-turner.

A few nits though. I felt that parts of this book dragged and needed some editing. The chapters devoted to the mafia felt needless and I had to force myself to keep from skimming.

The illustrations also pale in comparison to the rest of the series.


The Wastelands
4/4

Great expansion of Roland's world. Jake's story is great, Lud is nightmare-ish, and Blaine... What can you say? Perfect.


Wizard and Glass
4/4

Probably my second-favorite of the series.

I thought I was going to dislike Susan (the usual spunky /hero that is really nothing but a good-looking jerk) but King wrote her in such a way that I ended up loving her. She is a real 16-year-old rather then a caricature. Cuthbert is a wonderful character too, as is Alain. I loved every page dedicated to them.

This story is made all the more tragic because you know it isn't going to end well. Susan will die in fire, Cuthburt will die laughing and Alain will die under his friend's guns. Of course, only Roland will go on.

My only problem with this book is the illustrations. Man, do they stink.


Wolves of the Calla
2/4

Maybe it was King's post-accident rust, but this one didn't have a good aftertaste. A page-turner the whole way, building to a climax. But I just didn't love it as much as the others (sorry, Sadie). A good book nonetheless.


Song of Susannah
3/4

This book seems to be the breath before the plunge. The final layers of SK's universe are being peeled back and the last pieces moved into place.

The ending in The Dixie Pig makes this book for me.


The Dark Tower
4/4

King saves his best for last. This is my favorite of the series. It doesn't get any better than this. A tragic and fitting conclusion to the series.

This is such an amazing cycle. I'll never forget Roland and his friends. There will always be a gunslinger wandering, in the back of my mind, looking for a dark tower that stands at the center of all worlds. I hope and believe that one day the door at the top will open to him and he will finally rest.

Dolphins...

So I'm writing a book and I've decided to make dolphins some of the main villains. Everyone always pictures dolphins as kind sentient animals who have nothing better to do than help people to shore, smile and frolic (see above image).

But just picture this baby coming out of the water - STRAIGHT AT YOU!



Anyone else getting chills?

The Dark Tower musings

Warning, a few spoilers



So as I sat on my lunch break Walter/Flagg/Man in black got his and I'll confess to squirming a bit over my bowl of soup. Ugh, suddenly the tomatoes don't look so good.

It was very cool to finally get inside Walter's mind and see what his motivations are. The only problem I had with his end was it seemed a little too easy. This guy has been the main baddie for most of the series (and The Stand, Eyes Of The Dragon and more) and he goes out that quick? I would've liked a little more battle.

But I also appreciate that King was just showing what a bad dude Mordred is. It works.

Other than that, this book is wicked. So far, the best one of the series since Wizard and Glass (which, I think is the best).

One more thing, the illustrations/design of this book is maybe the best I've ever seen for a fantasy novel. I just can't get enough. Definately worth the money to get the hardback.

The Tyger

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art.
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its ly s clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

- William Blake

Finished The Song Of Susannah

Pretty good. Slow at first but things really picked up at the end. The Dixie Pig was amazingly, perfectly evil and disgusting. King certainly knows how to write bogeymen (duh).

I loved Callahan's vindication of faith in the moment where he confronts Black 13. Beautiful.

One thing though, could someone tell King to stop infusing every sentence

(say amen! thankya)

with some little phrase in parentheses. Does he think this is cute? If I read come, commalla one more time I think I'm going to scream.

Anyway, one more turn round the bend before the clearing at the end of the path. Here's hoping it's a dozy.

Now that's a prayer

I wish I could pray like the guy who closed the inaguration. Wow.

I think I teared up a bit.

What the...

I'm watching the inauguration right now and who the heck is this soprano? Does anyone else think this sounds like a joke?

What a corny song.

How would Jesus vote?

I wonder how much wailing you'll hear on how Hillary is exploiting her religious faith just to win votes?

I bet all the punk bands are writing their songs of protest right now.

The dog days of Hollywood

Man this is a bummer time of the year for trying to find a good movie to watch. Just look at last weekend's box office.

1. Coach Carter
2. Meet the Fockers
3. Racing Stripes
4. In Good Company
5. Elektra

Not exactly the cream of the crop.

Most un-subtle song of 04

Sum 41 - We're all to blame

Can you fit more cliches into 3 minutes? I don't think so.

Sum 41 acts like they're defying the very laws of the universe by proclaiming their Liberalism. Punks defying W.? What?!! The universe is ending!

Someone needs to sit down those lads and gently explain to them that, "We get it. You're Liberals. All the other punk bands are too."

The thing that brings a smile to my face is picturing the creative process behind We're all to blame.

I imagine Deryck Whibley hunched over a yellow notepad. Realize we're living in a culture of lies, he writes and a smile creeps across his face. "Yessss..." he thinks and continues to write. The muse is speaking and the words are flowing, he's cooking now. Supersize our tragedy! The words appear on the notepad like dictation from God. And then, everyone wants it all with no sacrifice. But dare he? Dare he write such words - such condemnation - and fling them to the doorstep of the world? His face turns grim. America must hear. No matter what the personal cost - America must hear.

"Guys!" he shouts with tears shining like diamonds in his eyes. "Guys! I've got it. I've done it!"

One by one they read what Deryck has written on the notepad and they exchange nervous glances. Can we? But again the doubt dissolves to resolve and Stevo begins to pound a beat on the drums like a call to war. Cone's bass thuds like the grumble of an archangel and Brownsound's fingers dash over his guitarstrings like lightening.

"Yes..." Deryck thinks as he lifts his guitar and steps to the microphone. "This is it!" And then all else dissolves to the roaring of the music and the words tear out of him like they are alive:

ALL! TO! BLAME! how can we still succeed taking what we don't need telling lies as alibis, selling all the that we breed
super size our tragedies ( you can't define me or justify greed)
bought in the land of the free (land, free)

And Republicans everywhere cower. The truth is out! Their reign is over.

So I finished The Wolves Of Calla...

and things have certainly taken a turn for the strange.

The connections between Roland's world and ours have been mysterious and I can't wait to figure out what's going on. But I still did a double take at the end when The Wolves start throwing "Harry Potter Snitches" and use weapons that look exactly like lightsabers. And the final revelation... Steven King, what the heck? I can't wait to figure out what's going on.

One thing about TWOC is I really appreciated King's ability to write an actual Christian character (Callahan) without resulting to the standard cliches. I loved the flashback to where Callahan's father caught him with the Pl@yboy (misspelled on purpose) magazine. Many authors would've used that moment to reveal that Christian's are really hypocrites by having Callahan's father beat him for reading the magazine or revealing that he also was a reader of said magazine. But instead King told how Callahan and his father simply ended up praying at the foot of the bed, after a few gentle words.

Great book. I'm looking forward to The Song of Suzannah.

Worst songs of 04

In no particular order, here's the songs that have made me want to pull my hair out when they came on the radio.

Let me love you - Mario
This isn't a song, it's stream-of-consciousness smooth talking by some Mario guy. He just rambles on and on ("Girl, you done me wrong. Just let me love you right, yadda, yadda") with no clear destination. It's like listening to Smoove B put to a drum track.

She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
This has to win the award for wussiet-song-ever. The point where he leaps into the falsetto, "she wheeeeelll, be loved..." is when the hair on the back of neck stands up. Yes, the wimp meter is peaking.

Where's The Love/Get It Started - Black Eyed Peas
It takes a lot of guts (or lack of brains) to look at the problems of the world and challenge them by asking, "Where's the love?". And yet the Black Eyed Peas do just that. Wow, Peas. Did yo make that up yourself? This song could not be more annoying and less insightful. Not to be outdone they follow up their hit with a song consisting of the following words: "Let's get it started - hah! Let's get it started, in here! (Repeat 100 times) Whoo hooo! (Repeat 200 times)" These guys may be the next Dylan.

Welcome To My Life - Simple Plan
Is there anything more annoying then listening to the rich, preppy, white, poser boys of simple plan tell me that I don't know what it's like to be, lost, hurt, betrayed, etc.? As they say, "You don't know what it's like, To be like me." Whoops, I forgot that non-celebrities can't have human emotions. Just read the lyrics and you'll understand what I'm talking about.

Anything by Ashlee Simpson
There's some serious Biblical justice being visited upon Ashlee at the moment and after viewing her career you can see why. And her music stinks.

Headstrong - Taproot
This song for me is the epitome of the post-metal/grunge genre. It sounds like everything else on the radio, has an overly-macho vibe and somehow deserved to be played 10 million times on every radio station across the country.

This Love - Maroon5
Wow, Maroon5 again. They've had quite the year. 2 songs with two incredibly annoying choruses.

The Reason - Hoobastank
The lyrics to to this song are about what you'd find on the inside of a 1 dollar greeting card but that didn't stop the radio from playing it 'til it bled.

And finally, the most annoying thing in 2004:

Excessively negative people

Droolllll....

What lovely piece of machinery. How I already love thee Mac mini.

On a side note, does this look like The Cube's little brother?

Doug Christie, gone?

Doug Christie


For

Cuttino Mobley


That's pretty exciting but I will miss DC. His weird hand signals to his wife, the uppercut to pretty-boy Rick Fox, the bullet passes to Peja.

On the other hand it will be nice to have a 2 Guard that actually takes a shot.

Bethany Dillion has a great voice

Over the weekend I've become a fan of Bethany Dillion. She's kinda Jennifer Knapp-ish in her musical style but her voice has a blusey quality that I absolutely love.

Her album is extremely promising. From time to time it strays into CCM territory musically, which ill-suits her voice. When her voice is backed by a musical edge is when she's at her best. I'd love to hear her sing some blues.

Click here for a good album review and some mp3s.

And on that note...

...the trailer for Sin City is amazingly cool. That music just gets my pulse pumping. And I find myself extremely conflicted.

I'm a huge comic book fan but Frank Miller always leaves me feeling dirty. I think his art is amazing and his plotlines/writing are incredible but also depressing and disgusting. He's obsessed with saxualizing the feminine figure and his stuff looks like soft pron sometimes.

So I will not be seeing Sin City (I mean it's called Sin City for crying out loud!). I know I'd just feel guilty and dirty and end up shamefully repenting to The Lord. But I wish the trailer wasn't so cool.

So I saw Garden State...

...and I was pretty disappointed. The original trailer made it look like the best movie in the world but the film itself was pretty blah.

The actings good, the characters are pretty well realized and there were some funny moments. But nothing really happens. This movie is just Zach Braff wandering around in a daze, while Natalie Portman fawns over him and everyone gives their musings on life. The film has no momentum. It's a duck. It's a pooped parrot.

The most interesting part is when the three main characters go on a journey which ends on the edge of an abyss (which they scream into. I get the symbolism, already). That section had at-least a goal.

Ahhh, what a letdown. At least I have this to look forward too.

Everyone who's anyone likes Nick Cave

Just in case you haven't heard, the critics are claiming that the spiritual rock album of the year isn't How to dismantle an atomic by Bono and Co. it's the equally bizarre-titled Abattoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Yeah, I did just the same thing. Who?

But after listening to the roaring gospel of There She Goes, My Beautiful World (a track off Abattoir Blues...) , I think I might be sold. Nick Cave and his awkward pipes might take a little time to grow on you but I'm thinking it's worth the investment.

Than again, I think Crumbs from your table is pretty good too.

Derek Webb: Substance and spirituality

I've been hooked on Derek Webb's album, She must and shall go free.

So often Christian music seemingly falls into 2 categories. There's the, vauge and depressing, artistic stuff where God is never directly refrenced and the bands adimately deny that they are a Christian band despite their Christian record label. (I'm not knocking this stance, in the majority of cases the notion of a "christian band" is strange and extremely extra-Biblical. I understand why many artists struggle with this issue but their eagerness to keep their faith private is also troubling.)

Then there's the Jesus-is-my-boyfriend/CCM pop that ranges from booring to alarming (Um, why am I getting turned on?) and disturbing. This strange hybrid of MTV and sunday morning worship has somehow garnered the endorsement of Christian culture.

Both of these genres have their strengths and failures and some more than others. But there's a third category and that's where I really see a roadmap for the Church's music. And Derek Webb is a perfect example.

Every song on She must and shall go free is dripping with the bold doctrine of the cross. I found myself shocked, edified and convicted as the tracks ticked by.

Take, for example, the lyrics to The Church:

i have come with one purpose
to capture for myself a bride
by my life she is lovely
by my daeth she’s justified

i have always been her husband
though many lovers she has known
so with water i will wash her
and by my word alone

‘cause i haven’t come for only you
but for my people to pursue
you cannot care for me with no regard for her
if you love me you will love the church

For some reason I can't picture Plus One telling their audience that Jesus hasn't come for just them as individuals but for the entire body of Christ. But this is a truth that needs to be known. (Webb also seems to enjoy using the word "whore", which makes the album a little edgey for Sunday morning. But hey, has anyone read the old Testement lately?)

The music on this CD is excellent as well, evoking Bob Dylan or maybe Johnny Cash. Not that Webb actually sounds like those gentlemen in his vocals but the feel is similar.

Hopefully him and other artists can set an example for the rest of the Church's music. Musicians like, Fernando Ortega, Sarah Groves and Jars Of Clay seem to be on the right path.

and playing the part of The Fool...

Ashlee Simpson seems to be acting out a case study of The Fool from Proverbs.

Click here to watch The Fool continue charging towards ruin.

Begining The Wolves Of Calla

My wonderful wife (knowing my growing love for this series) suprised me last night with The Dark Tower Book 5. I started the book with the intention of maybe spending an hour or less reading but unfortunately it fused to my hands.

Steven King knows how to pull you in. Darn, I thought this one might give me a breather.

On a side note, Suzannah eating those swamp creatures is an image that is hard to get out of your head. Especially at mealtimes.

Overractions of the Bible

<sup>Genesis 30: 14-15

14</sup> During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes."

¹⁵ But she said to her, "Wasn't it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son's mandrakes too?"

---

Wow, Leah really goes for the throat over the mandrakes request. Can you imagine what a family dinner was like with Leah and Rachel?

"Wasn't it enough that you stole my husband? Now you want me to pass the salt?"

Geeze...

More Monday poetry...

I had to share this piece of beauty:

A Line-Storm Song by Robert Frost

The line-storm clouds fly tattered and swift.
The road is forlorn all day,
Where a myriad snowy quartz stones lift,
And the hoof-prints vanish away.
The roadside flowers, too wet for the bee,
Expend their bloom in vain.
Come over the hills and far with me,
And be my love in the rain.

The birds have less to say for themselves
In the wood-world's torn despair
Than now these numberless years the elves,
Although they are no less there:
All song of the woods is crushed like some
Wild, earily shattered rose.
Come, be my love in the wet woods, come,
Where the boughs rain when it blows.

There is the gale to urge behind
And bruit our singing down,
And the shallow waters aflutter with wind
From which to gather your gown.
What matter if we go clear to the west,
And come not through dry-shod?
For wilding brooch shall wet your breast
The rain-fresh goldenrod.

Oh, never this whelming east wind swells
But it seems like the sea's return
To the ancient lands where it left the shells
Before the age of the fern;
And it seems like the time when after doubt
Our love came back amain.
Oh, come forth into the storm and rout
And be my love in the rain.

Music to eat crow by

After arriving in the office this lovely new year's morn' I discovered that I had seriously screwed up just about all my co-workers weekends. Goooood morning!

Anyway, (after the equisite serving of humble pie) I've been trying to find some music that fits the occasion.

I've ruled out the following:

• Book of days - Enya
• We built this city on rock & roll - Jefferson Starship
• I am the highway - Audioslave
• The soundtrack to Chariots Of Fire
• Your body is a wonderland - John Mayer
• The music of the night - Adrew Lloyd Webber
  

These are the tunes I'm considering:

• Desintigration - The Cure
• God sends quails - 77s
• For all we know - Further Seems Forever
• Just about anything by Pedro The Lion
• Psychobabble - Frou Frou
• Jesus went to the garden - City On A Hill

It's a start.

Monday Poetry

OF the sharpest function,
That, just as we discern,
The Excellence defies us;
Securest gathered then
The fruit perverse to plucking,
But leaning to the sight
With the ecstatic limit
Of unobtained Delight.

- Emily Dickenson

I put on my overcoat and walked into the winter
My teeth chattered rhythms.
And they were grouped in twos and threes,
like a morse code message was sent from me to me.
and cars on slippery slopes were stuck:
people pushing through their mittens
as I was beginning
to feel like soaking through my shoes,
getting colder with every step I took to your apartment, dear.

- Cab For Cutie (not really a poem but nice anyway)

Am I a bad person for being happy that Jason Bourne's girlfriend died?

I saw The Bourne Supremecy last night and I enjoyed quite a bit. It was everything that the pathetic Italian Job wanted to be but was absolutely wasn't.

One thing though... Jason Bourne's girlfriend. She was a little on the gnarly side wasn't she? I realized as the movie started that I couldn't go through the movie if she was the girl I was supposed to root for. I was about to turn off the movie and then she met her fate at the hand of a sniper and (heaven help me) I decided to watch more.

Have I discovered a dark well of vindictiveness in my soul for tatooed movie stars who are vaugely unnatractive? I hope not.

What signifigance might this hold?