The Talisman
by Stephen King, Peter Straub
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Book Summary Information
Author: Peter Straub, Stephen KingEdition: Hardcover
Published: 2001-09
ISBN: 0375507779
Number of pages: 656
Publisher: Random House
Book Reviews of The Talisman
Book Review: Worth Every Page
Summary: 5 Stars
I was completely blown away with this book. I happened to read Black House before the Talisman, which I now wish was the other way around. While I sometimes like the darker, more gruesome side of King, I really respect this novel for the fact that it's not ridiculously over the top.
One of the strongest moments in the book for me was when jack saw a gull tearing at a clam and he could swear he heard it scream. I fell in love with that line. Jack Sawyer is an amazing character due to the fact that his life is surrounded in death, and he needs to stop the thing that's consuming his life for the sake of his mother.
I remember the first reaction of my friend, who couldn't believe it was 768 pages long. But when I look back on it now, it was worth every single page. The novel has a great view of boy becoming a man, what it means to have goals, and how things never leave you.
I never really cared for fictional stories like Harry Potter, although there are one or two far-fetched things about the story, the realism of the text makes you believe. This book is all your daydreams coming to life while dragging along all thoughts of reality: sexuality, swearing,
common sense.
Only character that consistently bugged me was Wolf. Just for the fact that I couldn't imagine if he'd look like an exact replica of a werewolf, or just a hairy man. I could visualize when he went rabid during the moon, but normally his image kept shifting in and out for me.
Overall, a truely stunning novel. I picked this up at Half Price Books for $2.50. If that's the case, I think everyone should read this. I can guarantee it will make an impact on your life as it did mine.
Summary of The Talisman
To coincide with the publication of Stephen King and Peter Straub's extraordinary new thriller, BLACK HOUSE, here is the story that started it all.On a brisk autumn day, a twelve-year-old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make a journey back across America--and into another realm.
One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written, The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening, terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save his mother's life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape of innocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredible truths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more. Let the quest begin. . . .
In celebration of the publication of Stephen King and Peter Straub's extraordinary new thriller, Black House, we offer here the story that started it all -- The Talisman.
On a brisk autumn day, a twelve-year-old boy stands on the shores of thegray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resortcalled the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father isgone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But forJack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make ajourney back across America -- and into another realm.
One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written,The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening,terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save hismother's life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape ofinnocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredibletruths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more.
Let the quest begin...
"Extraordinary.... Makes your hair stand on end."
THE WASHINGTON POST
"A classic... rare and dazzling."
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Straub, Peter Books
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