Black House: A Novel Paperback – April 17, 2018

For many, they read the Talisman years ago when they were younger and feel in love, having been a similar or close to age of "Jack" at the time. Me I just finished reading it for the first time a month ago on a recommendation and then moved to Black House being told it was a sequel (so seemed to make sense to read them in order together) Looking at the reviews here I was really hesitant at first to read it. It seemed a fair few were not fond of this book. Well, having bit the bullet and read it, I can honestly say I don't understand why so many negative reviews. I loved it even more then The Talisman honestly. Thinking on it, I've decided what made some so unhappy comes down to a few things (For those like me who may be hesitant based on other reviews):1) They didn't like the odd narrative: The "We now move over the house looking at it curiously. We know we shouldn't look but we must to truly appreciate what is about to happen" type narrative. At first, I will admit I had some trouble with that as well. It was somewhat distracting and instead of pulling me in it kinda threw me out of the story. For me what helped was thinking about some movies (and some movie adaptations of Stephen Kings Novels) and tried picturing myself doing what he was saying. Looking in on what was going on from above. I pictured it kinda like the long sweeping camera strokes that directors sometimes use when they do films with similar Narratives throughout (The series Kingdom Hospital written by King had this narrative voice throughout so I found myself picturing the sweeping camera movements from that honestly) I found looking at it like that made it far easier to get into and less distracting and by the end I did feel as if I was peering in right there as everything happened. It took a bit of getting used to though so for those struggling with that or about to read this...hang in there as your mind will adjust to it at around 50 pages in or so. For some it may be hard to overcome...for me it was a slight obstacle that amounted to a tiny pebble in my journey through Black House's Pages and in the end for me it actually added to making me feel a part of the story rather then taking it away as some other reviewers had mentioned.2) Subject Matter: This is not the fantastical world of the Territories nor is it a story of a child on a fantastical journey. This is the story of a boy who has become a man and like so many other adults has all but forgotten that world of magic until he is cruelly reintroduced to it. This is a story of our world and the horrors that lie here waiting. It is also a sort of Detective or Mystery Novel as well. The story had a very "Rose Red" feel to it and if you are a fan of that made for TV series you should in general like this. Raw and gritty, one foot in a magical yet dark existence and one foot on solid real ground. That said, some things are tough to read (especially if you're a parent, which I am) as much of the story has to do with a serial killer and children. The Territories are there though sprinkled throughout the book with many throw backs to The Talisman. Those that said the Territories were almost thrown in as an after thought, I disagree with. The Territories are very much a part of this book, though most of it does not take place there. The magic, monsters, evil, beauty, and horror of the Territories are all there just they have bubbled somewhat spilling into our existence rather then Jack needing to go to the Territories to find them.For me, I found the story engaging and downright hard to put down. Some parts made me wince or gasp, but well it's Stephen King so I expect that. This book is far harsher then the Talisman and if you are more a fan of the Talisman but not so much of King's other work then this book (while a follow up) may not be for you. I loved the Talisman but this book is far darker then that and also less fantasy and more reality horror/fantasy with a base more in reality like The Stand and not necessarily Horror as in EEEK Monster also like The Stand. I think if you go in with those expectations, you should find the book an intriguing read.Who should like it:Those who enjoyed Kingdom Hospital, Storm of the Century, The Stand, or Rose Red (the made for TV Series')Those who liked books like Salem's Lot, The Shining, and similar fantasy/horror/mixed with reality storiesThose who like Serial Killer, murder mystery, detective storiesDark Tower Fans (Though I have not read them yet, there are definite tie ins to that series here-enough that I decided now I need to read those LOL)Those who may not like it:Those expecting something more akin to the Talisman (The Talisman and the magic is there but that is not this story so to speak)Those sensitive to reading about harm coming to children (this aspect was tough for me and I found myself wanting to hug my kids a bunch LOL)

Once again, Stephen King and Peter Straub collaborate to make an excellent sequel to their first creation, The Talisman. A real page turner that will keep you up late into the night. Great read!

First of all I’m so glad I read the Dark Tower books before I read this. So much would not have made sense without it. Plus it was like reminiscing on people and places from the series.Secondly, this felt overly long in the first half, but the second half really picked up speed. My wife reminds me that I say that with nearly every SK book, tho.Overall, a great story about good overcoming evil with great tie in to the DT series.I only have one SK novel left and then I will have read his entire catalog. Unfortunately, it’s Sleeping Beauties and I’ve read in the reviews on this forum that it’s a very long slow book.

This book is a treat to read for the many Stephen King fans. I liked Peter Straub's contribution too, he has a pleasing writing style.

Good book.

Stephen King and Peter Straub are back with The Black House which is the sequel to their earlier The Talisman. You don't have to have read the earlier novel to enjoy this one. Indeed in some ways it is perhaps better if you haven't read the earlier book for it was a routine fantasy quest and its very ordinariness may predispose you to think badly of The Black House, and that would be a shame for this new novel is a tour de force.The title is a pun, bringing to mind Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House. This is quite intentional. Stylistically the book owes a lot to the Dickens novel and even the convoluted plot has resonances with Dickens. The authors don't seek to disguise this relationship; the book is full of overt references to Bleak House and at one point one of the characters even spends some time reading that novel out loud to one of the other characters (who is blind). I love these little touches - it's only a game, but the game adds a depth and a freshness that I really enjoy.The story itself is set some twenty years after the events of The Talisman. Jack Sawyer is a retired Los Angeles detective living in the small town of Tamarack, Wisconsin. He has largely forgotten the adventures of his childhood.Tamarack is plagued by an odd series of gruesome murders of little children. They seem to parallel a similar series of killings that were committed several decades ago by a man called Albert Fish. Because of the resemblances, the new murderer is dubbed the Fisherman. The local chief of police begs Jack for help in solving the killings, but Jack is reluctant to be drawn in to the gruesome business. However the pressure becomes too much for him, particularly because he is getting flashbacks to his childhood adventures in the Territories. There may a relationship between the Fisherman killings and the Territories and Jack is the only link between them, the only man who perhaps can solve the problems that run in parallel on both sides of the veil that divides the two worlds.Much of the success of the novel can be traced to the superb characterisation. Jack in particular jumps alive from the page. At times the people almost degenerate into "caricaturisation", if I may coin a word; but though the book hovers on the brink, it never (quite) succumbs. I particularly liked the gang of motor cycle thugs who are all college graduates and who are the brains behind the success of the beer brewed in the local brewery. In between picking fights and doing drugs they are likely to be found talking about existentialism in the bar. At one point one of them discovers that the man he is about to hit in the face is a preacher, so he stops the fight in order to discuss a knotty problem of early Christian philosophy that has been worrying him for quite some time...Stephen King has a unifying plot thread that runs like a sub-text through many of his books. The image of the Dark Tower and the doings of Roland the Gunslinger are ideas that he picks at again and again; sometimes overtly as in the Dark Tower novels, sometimes less so as here in The Black House. The climax of this novel depends in part on the mythology of the Tower and certainly adds another thread of mystery to the theme (and illuminates others).

I loved the Talisman and was so happy to return to Jack Sawyer’s world. Can’t wait for book three to come out!

At first, I thought I was going to give up on this. The first pages were a struggle for me to push through, but I have never met a Steven King book I didn't like. The writing changed, the story was amazing, and I am glad I pushed through the beginning. Well worth the read!