‘Joyland’ by Stephen King

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is my first Stephen King. I never thought I would be reading a book by the ‘king of horror’ but I always wished I could read at least one of his books because he is known to be an excellent writer. He’s written whole books on how to write (On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft)! Horror just wasn’t my genre, but then someone suggested Joyland as a King book for those who want something less challenging in that regard. So I tried it and was immediately hooked.

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 way both will change his life forever.

This is a riveting story about love and loss, growing up and growing old–and about those who don’t get to do either because death comes for them before their time. Joyland is so well written and even though I do admit to a few goosebumps once, I wouldn’t call it horror. I was rooting for Devin all the way and loved the nostalgic carnival setting with a touch of humour. The unusual mix of emotional impact with suspense was addictive; I couldn’t put it down. It’s still a crime novel, so it’s not without some brutality and language, but also has a moving gentle core. I loved it! King’s writing style is exceptional and I hope to read more–if I dare.