Three Years Ago Today.... *end of series spoilers*

[sarah]

Three years ago today I was in Washington babysitting my nieces. I took them to school and went straight to Target. I bought The Dark Tower 7 and Green Day's American Idiot. I put the cd in the car and drove back to my sister-in-laws and started reading. It took me a few days to read it as I was watching my nieces and couldn't ingore them when they came home from school. I didn't really have good internet access and was freaking out wanting to talk to someone. I had so many emotions at the time and now, three years later, I've come to terms with Roland and his katet.

How did you get your book?

How long did it take you to read it?

What was your first emotion after reading?

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?

[Daghain]

How did you get your book?

I got it when it came out in paperback. I'm cheap like that.

How long did it take you to read it?

Probably about a week.

What was your first emotion after reading?

Speechless. I thought it was a perfect ending, but it was kind of sad at the same time to know it was all over.

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?

Hands down my all-time favorite story. Especially considering it took 20 years to tell it, and I was there from the beginning.

[She-Oy]

How did you get your book?

We had to have this book. We couldn't wait. I remember I called one of the local bookstores (mom & pop type place) and asked if they had in already. I think it was a Sunday, the Sunday before the Tuesday release date. I told the man that my husband's birthday was Monday (which was a lie, Will's bday is in Jan) and he wanted this book more than anything and that I would look great if I could get him the book before it was released.
The man at the store told me he understood and he was a fan too, so he actually sold me the book two days early!
I felt like I had really accomplished something! LOL

How long did it take you to read it?
I think it was a week. I remember sitting on my front porch drunk crying about Jake and Oy, so that had to have been the next weekend.

What was your first emotion after reading?
Exhaustion

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?
Three years later and those characters are still as close to my heart as they were from the beginning. I can't believe it's been three years.

[Matt]

How did you get your book? I went straight to walmart and picked it up. I couldn't believe the cover and Roland standing there, in front of the tower...it was amazing. I jabbered at anyone who would listen in line and told them to read the series if they had not.

How long did it take you to read it? I was done over the first weekend I had it.

What was your first emotion after reading? I felt drained when I got done, emotionally and physically. My first reaction to it was not positive but I believe that had more to do with the end itself as opposed to how it ended. Meaning it was over and I was pissed, nothing would have been good enough

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it? I believe it is a great work of literature. The characters have burned a place in my hard and everyone of us treats them like actual human beings in our remembrances of them. That is the measure of a great writer imo.

And...I started this website in homage to the man and this body of work so that people would have a place to appreciate it as much as I do.

[Jean]

What was your first emotion after reading?

dear friends who have already answered this question in this thread,

please repost your answer in that thread that pre-dates the current one and should probably be kept as a separate thread, not merged here. I also suggest removing this question from the starter post (or modifying it to avoid redundancy); it's a great thread even without it, thank you maerlyn!

[Mike Beck]

How did you get your book?

Waited in line with some of my good friends. Sat in the cold with strangers, met some awesome people. the energy in that line, waiting for this final book, was outstanding. And it paid off.





How long did it take you to read it?

Hmm. I got very excited and began reading like a little crack-fed reading monkey, but I forced myself to slow it down. I didn't want the journey to end yet, so i took my time on the last few chapters. i think it took me about a week to finish.


What was your first emotion after reading?

A mixture of sadness and peace. I left the very last part of the book for a special place to read. i went to a place called the Cascades near my town. sat outside by a creek. smoked cigarettes. smoked a joint. and finished the book as the sun was setting on Lake Mohegan. it was a pretty special moment for me. i'll never forget it.


Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?

Now that i've had time to digest and see the story as a whole. The best thing i've read. I believe, throughout the last 15 years that the story has formed a bit of how i think and perceive. I was of the crew that didn't like the ending at first. And slowly, as i let go of my silly ideas and expectations, I came to realize what a beautiful ending it really was. of course there are things i can nitpick, but that's my own selfishness intruding. It's King's story, and I couldn't be happier or more thankful that he created it (and finished it!).

[Darkthoughts]

How did you get your book? I had mine on order from my local bookstore, the day it came out I picked it up, went home and started reading

How long did it take you to read it? 2 days...I really tried to take my time because it was the last book and I didn't want to end the quest, but it was futile...I stayed up until the early hours to finish it on the second day.

What was your first emotion after reading? Fulfilled yet sad, also confused...there were things that hadn't turned out as I expected and I wanted to think about them for a while.

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it? That its a series that anyone who loves books must read. Its an amazing, shocking, sad and satisfying end to one of the best adventures I ever had.

[She-Oy]

Mike Beck wins. Not that this is a competition, but um, damn, that's one sure fine way to purchase DT7!

[Frunobulax]

How did you get your book?
Through Amazon.com.

How long did it take you to read it?
About three days I think.

What was your first emotion after reading?
Sadness, closure, and general happiness.

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?
I'm still happy and looking forward to a re-read in the next few months of this good last volume. It's a worthwhile tome.

[DTrose19]

How did you get your book?
My parents wouldn't let me go to the books store to get it so the next weekend when I went to the flee market with my papaw someone had it already for sale for 5 bucks. But I never knew someone could be that hard on a book in 5 days, I later bought a copy in good condition for collector purposes.

How long did it take you to read it?
It took me a week or two because after the first day I refused to take it to school. it was grass stained and got tea spilt on it because of stupid imature guys. But they got beat up for it

What was your first emotion after reading?
I just sat thereand cryed.those books had helped me through so much and I couldn't bare that it was over and there would never be another part of the journey to share with Roland and his Ka-tet. I loved the way he ended it though. truly amazing.

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?
The books are still as close to my heart as when I picked them up for the first time. THe charecters inside those pages are as much my friends as anyone in the so called real world. I can't believe it has already been three years. . . I think I have to carry a copy of DT with me to graduation this year because it's honestly what got me through the first part of high school. I've said it before and I say it again, those books truley changed my life.

[She-Oy]

That's pretty cool DTRose19! Enjoyed your story!

[Mattrick]

Ah, The Dark Tower 7. That was quite a journey. I'll first explain my Dark Tower Timeline.

1997 (eleven yrs.) Read The Gunslinger
May 2003 - Read Drawing of the Three
July 2003 - Read The Wastelands
November 2003 - Read Wizard and Glass
Christmas 2003 - Read Wolves of the Calla
Spring 2004 - Read Song of Susannah

Now, this was the hitch. When Book seven came out my dad was freshly retired and my mom (separated) didn't make much so I couldn't read the book. After the new year I was itching to read it again. In February 2005 I began reading the revised Gunslinger for the first time. Then, but late spring I was done them all again. Going through everything twice before reading book seven. In August I got a good job and bought the book almost immediately.

How did you get your book?

Walked in and bought it at Chapters.

How long did it take you to read it?

Saturday around 6 pm until Monday around 6 am. I also worked 10 hours in there and had a nights sleep. Not sure how I sped through that book so fast.

What was your first emotion after reading?

Considering how fast I went through it the entire book played out like a movie for me. Almost one, constant rush. At the end I was flabbergasted to describe it justly. It blew my mind. I re-read the coda several times before going to bed at sunrise and again when I woke up.

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?

25 months for me. Since then I've read the whole series again so it's great. I'm going to let it sit for years and years. I'll read it again when I'm thirty. about eight years. It'll be great that way. I read it three times in 4 years, along with about 30 bother books.

It's by far my favourite story and a journey I'll take over and over again until the day I die. I'm sure most of you can agree that the story truly sticks. Nineteen always stands out to me, words, names. I almost wished I lived in New York for constant reminisence. The Dark Tower truly is what inspired me to want to write, to want to create worlds and people. Worlds not much unlike our own beneath the surface. The way many of us feel about this must be equivalent to what Lord of the Rings did for people in the thirty and forty years ago. It's just such an incredible journey.

[Wuducynn]

How did you get your book?

I took the day off from work and went and bought it at a nearby Stop and Shop (local big grocery store chain) and sat looking at it in the parking lot amazed that I was finally after all these years holding the end of the series in my hands, it was a very emotional moment just holding the book for me.

How long did it take you to read it?

I went to the local Barnes and Noble and spent the whole day and into the night reading a copy of the store's. Then I read it most of the day after the following days work and part of the day after that. So it took me a little over two days altogether.

What was your first emotion after reading?

Very hard for me to describe. A mixture of tremendous sadness, wonder and loss.

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?

Still my favorite of the series and probably always will be. I sometimes can't believe the series is over, because for awhile I didn't think it would be. They are still my favorite books and I can't get enough re-reading the series and chatting about it and recommending it to everyone. Proud to be a Dark Tower junkie, always will be.

Post Script: I hate you Mike Beck. Fucker.

[Mike Beck]

it's great reading everyone's dt7 stories.

hey Crimson? eat your black heart out.

[Wuducynn]

hey Crimson? eat your black heart out.

Please click on My Location link and look at the Image for how I feel. Sharing is caring.

[Storyslinger]

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?
The books are still as close to my heart as when I picked them up for the first time. THe charecters inside those pages are as much my friends as anyone in the so called real world. I can't believe it has already been three years. . . I think I have to carry a copy of DT with me to graduation this year because it's honestly what got me through the first part of high school. I've said it before and I say it again, those books truley changed my life.

I totally agree with you, they help most people through hard times

[MonteGss]

How did you get your book?
I bought it at Target the day it came out. Wait, it came out on a Tuesday? I read it on a weekend so I must have bought it Friday night.

How long did it take you to read it?
I was finished by Sunday.

What was your first emotion after reading?
I was still very sad from all the death. I was really mad at Susannah for throwing the gun away (lame!*). I knew the ending was coming but I kept trying to convince myself while reading that it wasn't going to be so sad. It was.

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?
Great fucking book.
A real tear-jerker, a hellava novel. Great ending to a great series.




* Yes, yes....it "wasn't a gun" anymore but it was Roland's revolver....it does not belong in the trash.

[Mike Beck]

Crimson, you bastard. that's a pretty awesome picture, though.

[Storyslinger]

Crimson, that pictures awesome

[Mattrick]

It's a road map......what is so awesome about it?

[Darkthoughts]

You hover your mouse over the pin then click the image tab.

[ZoNeSeeK]

How did you get your book?

I read the gunslinger in 1994 and didn't like it enough to get the sequel. After a stephen king reading frenzy around 2002-2003 or so, my gf asked (who is a King / DT fan also) if I had read the series. Explained that I had started but didnt continue. So she grabbed the first 4 books in paperback in a 4-book pack on sale, and I reread the first and went from there. I got to book 7 just as it was released over here (grabbed it from a bookstore next to the trainstation on the way home from work, I think). It tingled when i touched it.

How long did it take you to read it?
About a 5-7 days, I think? Mainly on public transport and a bit at home.

What was your first emotion after reading?
I felt extremely strange and adrenaline was pumping for the last part of DT7, I actually put it down because there was a phonecall but picked it up again and told diem I would call them back. Its the only book that I have literally been glued to for the final chapters without much control over it. The ending was perfect. I felt euphoric, blown away, a little disappointed that the journey was over but felt quite at peace with it.

Now, three years later, what do you have to say about it?
I've been passionate about series before, but never like this. Dark Tower is another Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings or Dune. Its one of those universes(multiverses) so well crafted by its creator that it lives and breathes on its own. 3 years later, its still the prominant feature in terms of what I've read thats affected me. And its great having something in common with King himself - we're all DT Junkies

[MonteGss]

Cool Zone, I enjoyed reading that. We are all DT junkies!

[Mike Beck]

that is cool Zone.

and you just named all the series that have taken over my life at some point and still stay with me. I love the Dune books.

[Storyslinger]

Thats awesome Zone