The Talisman / Black House - Double Book Review - NO SPOILERS!

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My thoughts on two Stephen King & Peter Straub collaborative books -- "The Talisman" and "Black House" -- which collectively are known as the Jack Sawyer series. Part fantasy, part adventure, part suspense, and all-in-all a highly-rewarding experience.
My rating: "The Talisman" gets a 71 / 100, and "Black House" gets a 93 / 100.
TL;DR: "The Talisman" is a relatively straight-forward fantasy-adventure with substantial dragging in its first two acts leads to a propulsive conclusion, while "Black House" builds on the high-octane finale of its predecessor with awe-inspiring style, some unforgettable characters, and some major connections for fans of "The Dark Tower" series.
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Facebook: / theglassespush

Опубликовано:

7 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 62

@jarz2683 6 лет назад

Black house is one of my favorite books, I’ve read both of these several times and could talk there pros and cons for hours. This is by far one of the most honest and on point reviews I’ve seen. Well done sir.

@TheGlassesPush 6 лет назад

Jar z you are FAR too kind! Thank you so much! I don't imagine I'll ever revisit either of these (as I don't really revisit any book), but I'm sure I'd enjoy Talisman a little more the second time. I'll never shake the magic of the opening of Black House. King really outdid himself there.

@weedingaloud7891 6 лет назад

The talisman spoke to me way more than black house . I feel they had story untold and had a need to finish thier work.Black house felt drawn out and full of filler the Talisman has a much faster pace with a larger world at stake. It drives to the very end . The whole cross country journey and all the things that happen to traveling Jack are amazing the setting in the magic world . And jack was being held prisoner in that bar if you remember he was threatened if he ran the sherif would hunt him down .Wolf was amazing point blank !

@TheGlassesPush 6 лет назад

Weeding A Loud it's a strange thing with me and King books... The Stand is one of the most drawn out and meandering books, and I find it to be perfect. For me, I think the character development makes a huge difference, as does the writing style. Older King is (overall) a little more stilted and utilitarian, and newer King will prattle on about nothing forever, but I love the style and looseness that his later works possess. With King, there's always something to love, but as to what thing each person latches onto, it's always a little different.

@quinnwilder6990 6 лет назад

This is interesting. I've read lots of reviews that claim that The Talisman is actually much better than Black House but I love them both equally even though they are very different.

@TheGlassesPush 6 лет назад

CassandraTroy Wolf will always have a special place in my heart, and all the world-building in Talisman helped fuel the finale, but just the leap in writing quality and less "filler" gave Black House the edge. In Talisman, the parts at the bar and the school went on far too long considering their purposes in the story, at least for my tastes. I like your take because they are truly so, so different, beyond a couple shared characters and a shared world.

@weedingaloud7891 6 лет назад

CassandraTroy it is much better the talisman is a fast paced hero journey as a child crossing the continental United States . Black house is a good book but not a page turner by no means it was one those books that ya don’t get into till about a 1/3 way thru it stumbles the whole way it’s clear they were trying to close the story of this young character Traveling Jack . Sadly it didn’t live up to the original and this guy don’t have a clue I read talisman or listen to it several times I prob won’t read black omhouse again might listen to audiobook but it wasn’t a edge of your seat page turner at all trust me . Check out the Ka-Tet cast on I tunes if your into in-depth Reviews of the dark tower cannon.

@Joeykm1972 4 года назад

@@TheGlassesPush The Death of Wolf is one of the saddest moments in the books. It's like watching Eddie, Oy and Jake die all in one character at the same time in the DT series. It's really impacting.

@TheGlassesPush 4 года назад

Joeykm1972 agree. We didn't get as much time to grieve with Oy, if I recall correctly.

@greenmonkey2995 2 года назад

I love both on audible! I think the narrator Frank Muller sells both for me. I've listened to each about 5 times maybe more for the talisman.

@dionoraferrantino8172 4 года назад

I have been a VORACIOUS reader for 50 years. My favorite (fiction) book (which I have read once a year for the last 20 yrs) is The Talisman (by Stephen King & Peter Straub). I have yet to read Black House but have just ordered the set & will begin again on Monday 06/08/2020 with re-reading The Talisman; then (binge) reading Black House (which I have yet to read). I have always felt that The Talisman is like Stephen King & Peter Straub meet & meld with Mark Twain. (Jack & Wolf melded with Tom & Huck). What an adventure! I can hardly wait!

@TheGlassesPush 4 года назад

Totally agree with the Mark Twain parallels! You'll have to let me know your thoughts on Black House, as it's VERY different.

@Joeykm1972 4 года назад

I've read both The Talisman and The Black House. I've found the Talisman to be far superior to Black House. Many parallels in the storyline of The Talisman mimics The Dark Tower series in many ways. The Blasted Lands and the Train Ride is one of the more obvious similarities. Then there's the Hotel Agincourt and its remarkable similarities to The Dark Tower. You even get to see the Can-Toi, before they were called that in The Talisman. All Things soive the Lord, says the blind man in The Talisman. You'll even see the Good Book of Farming in the Dark Tower series. It makes you wonder if Jack Sawyer came from the Line of Eld.

@TheGlassesPush 4 года назад

Joeykm1972 well said. The parallels are fascinating, and now having been through the entire DT series, it would be interesting to revisit Talisman with the new context.

@jobelle5470 4 года назад

The talisman was for me a masterpiece. It is one of my favorite books if not my fav. The story, characters, journey had such an impact on me that I feel like I lived through it in my past lol. I remember when I finished the book about 7 years ago now. I closed it, laid my head down and was just like...woww😊💖 Bittersweet memories. Through it I laughed, cried, and felt my heart racing from suspense. I'll always cherish it

@cs5842 4 месяца назад

Same. Probably the best journey written down. Oakley Tap.

@jobelle5470 4 месяца назад

@@cs5842 ✨️

@JustinWoodwardComedy 5 лет назад

Whoa dude I came for the review and wasn't expecting a PFI shirt!! I've seen Coheed like 13 times, have a few tattoos, love them!

@TheGlassesPush 5 лет назад

Justin M. Woodward that's awesome! A fellow COTF! No tats, but I've seen them 20 times and I was at the 4-day LA Neverender back in 2008! :) Have you read either Talisman or Black House? I'm always curious whether people are checking the reviews prior to reading or afterwards!

@JustinWoodwardComedy 5 лет назад

The Glasses Push I started the Talisman audiobook this morning

@TheGlassesPush 5 лет назад

Justin M. Woodward - the voice for Wolf is fantastic. Frank Muller was a tremendous narrator.

@brantbiggs 3 года назад

Ive never posted on a book review, never thought they even existed, but since im buzzing Ill just say I loved them both! I never even thought to try to discern whos writing was whos, I just LOVED both. Kinda like the Hobbit in some ways! My main beef with Black House was that Im sorry, if the Talisman, the center of all worlds, the Nexus, touched Lily Sawyer, and instantly cures her cancer, come on...how could she then later die of the same cancer? Surely breathing in the center of existance would make her immune?

@TheGlassesPush 3 года назад

Thanks for watching and commenting! Glad you enjoyed it! :) Sometimes I feel like you gotta turn your brain off with King, as his stories don't always stay internally consistent with their logic. Still, fun rides. :) I totally see what you're getting at with The Hobbit connection -- I would have never thought of that on my own. Thanks for that!

@GDaws 3 года назад

How long does it take to get going? I just read abt burny and the bird/gorg

@TheGlassesPush 3 года назад

For me, Black House was going from page 1. I do think I'm in the minority on this. Your experience may vary. :)

@nathanbeer3338 3 года назад

Haven't read Black House yet. I actually liked the Talisman, Richard Sloat was unsepperable and annoying but I liked the other characters and the friendship and the unsettling moments in the book (Sunlight Home especially) and especially the grand connection to the Dark Tower series. Don't understand why the Talisman is such an underrated book.

@TheGlassesPush 3 года назад

With so many books, it's easy for some of King's works to get overlooked... Even though I have my issues with it, I do love the characters and worldbuilding of The Talisman. Thanks for watching! :)

@somelucifrostguy9208 5 лет назад

I've finished The Talisman (and really liked it) and I've started reading Black House but I'm not really enjoying it. I just wish it started out with Jack Sawyer but these other characters aren't really interesting. Hopefully, it gets better.

@TheGlassesPush 5 лет назад

I found the other characters very interesting, but mainly, his writing style was so addictive and captivating to me. At the end of the day, though, King's got so many different styles that not everyone will be pleased with all of his works. No accounting for personal taste, that's for sure.

@paulflint6254 7 лет назад

great review, these two are going to be read after i finish Duma Key. i love horror too

@TheGlassesPush 7 лет назад

DOCTORWHO ISGR8 thanks! :) How's Duma Key? Haven't touched that one yet. And to be honest, I never thought I liked horror, and yet, I love King. I usually view him as supernatural drama or fantasy or sci-fi, but at the end of the day, labels and genres don't really matter. If it's good, who cares?

@paulflint6254 7 лет назад

Still reading it, its good. thanks for reply, im on page 213, not halfway yet hehe

@TheGlassesPush 7 лет назад

DOCTORWHO ISGR8 King sure doesn't like to write short books!

@paulflint6254 7 лет назад

yeah true ive read IT that ones even longer, loved that book too

@TheGlassesPush 7 лет назад

DOCTORWHO ISGR8 such a good book!

@michaelp772 Год назад

I consider The Talisman and Black House to have occurred on different levels of the Tower. In The Talisman, the Talisman itself is an alternative manifestation of the Tower.

@cs5842 4 месяца назад

Sunlight Gardener, phew!

@geminisundone 4 года назад

I'm about to start Black house but I don't understand why you failed to mention Peter Straub co-wrote it...all Stephen king talk. I've read quite a few Straub novels and he is a more literary writer. They balance each other. The Talisman was good. I gave it a similar rating. Not great but good IMO.

@TheGlassesPush 4 года назад

Thanks for the thoughtful response, and thank you for watching! Omitting Straub was certainly an oversight on my part! I admittedly haven't gotten into any of Straub's work. Do you have a favorite? Let me know what you think of Black House; if we have similar opinions on The Talisman, I think you'll have a great time with Black House.

@GhostVolta19 3 года назад

Prize Fighter Inferno! Big fan of Coheed as well!

@TheGlassesPush 3 года назад

Ghost Volta you have exquisite taste!

@GhostVolta19 3 года назад

The Glasses Push Saw your video, had already read The Talisman and have just started Black House! Mind blown when I saw the shirt. You obviously have excellent taste in music and literature as well.

@TheGlassesPush 3 года назад

@@GhostVolta19 much obliged :) Hope you enjoy Black House!

@WilAdams 4 года назад

WOW, you and I could not be further apart. Talisman, for me was astonishing. Blackhouse was a super bore, and the half-azzed link to the Dark Tower series was crap. Of course, for me, the Dark Tower ending book (don't get me started) was crap. A series that took 30 years to finsih and then it ended up being a 'find your own fate' book was an outrage. Talisman was filled with great scares (you're the herd now, Jacky') and wonder 'Dips abound in the market grounds) and creepiness (every scene with Sunlight Gardener) and even some humor (Wolf, I want the oe with yellow pee on it, wolf), and emotions (again wolf). As for his time at the bar. WOW, how futile that is as Jacky realizes that he can never get away. Until Elroy shows up, and Jacky realizes he must risk all to escape. WOW. That book was great. I actually read it back to back 4 times. Looked forward to the Steven Speilburg film, that never materialized.

@TheGlassesPush 4 года назад

I appreciate your views, and I'm well aware it's a hot take. Wolf was fantastic, but Sunlight Gardener felt meandering and boring to me. Of course, the world building was top-notch. Different strokes! That's what's cool about King: He's got so many books with so many different approaches, and everyone will react to the differences in their own unique ways. Spielberg doing King would have been something.... Oh, the things that could have been... Thanks so much for commenting and watching!

@broderickbessette5604 6 лет назад

Bro. This review was helpful but it was hard to watch. I think you should script your content. :)

@TheGlassesPush 6 лет назад

Broderick Bessette thanks for watching all the same.

@TheGlassesPush 6 лет назад

Daniel Johnson to each their own. Glad you enjoyed it, Broderick.

@danlewis7707 6 лет назад

Your frequent cuts and plodding commentary were irritating enough that I had difficulty keeping with you. Throw in a joke man. That said I agree with some stuff, except your nitpicking about the talisman. The places where detors occur are meant as traps for Jack. They are the traps that make sense for the plot and tone of the story they are realistic in their origin and feel like trials of character that Jack must go through in order to find the strength necessary to face the Blasted Lands and the Black Hotel. Read deeper.

@stacystories 4 года назад

Agree. The detours assist in Jack’s character development. They’re meant to strengthen and harden him for what lies ahead. The boy Jack is at the beginning of the book would never have been able to do what Jack does at the end to first retrieve the Talisman and then defeat his enemies.

@adamfitch420 7 лет назад

good job mate but talk faster ok

@TheGlassesPush 7 лет назад

Adam Fitch maybe RU-vid can play my videos faster? Haha, that's probably more likely than my pace changing. Thank you for watching all the same!

@JN-el7qf 3 года назад

Talisman is a totally fucked up book

@TheGlassesPush 3 года назад

haha, how so?

@organic723 Месяц назад

3 mins of NOTHING...... SKIP

@NaveenKumarErroju 6 лет назад

Argh! Irritating review... Is this a discussion? Or is this your personal experiences with King? This is a review dude... Stick with those books. We don't need how he wrote. We need how is it.

@TheGlassesPush 6 лет назад

There are many different ways to review. I personally dislike how most reviews end up discussing the entire plot of a book. Especially when it comes to King, there are a lot of different aspects to cover, and for me being a King novice (relatively) at the time of this review, I felt it was important to know where I'm coming from. All the same, I respect your opinion, and I appreciate you watching.