#23 – Joyland

Plot

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 ways both will change his life forever. 

Review

I’ve spent most of the last six years in the food industry business.  Working with vendors, distributors, and restaurants to ensure supply and to help reduce costs (sadly, I’ve been little help there as of late).  The true nature of what I do isn’t in food, it’s in people.  I work in the people business.  Joyland isn’t a book about horror, about supernatural events, it’s a book about people.  And it’s absolutely fascinating.  

Of all the Stephen King books I’ve read, Joyland has the most deceiving cover, as it does nothing to explain the novel.  Yes, there is a murder of a young girl, but it honestly does not matter much to the main story at all.  For Joyland is about a young boy (Devin Jones) who spends a summer working at a North Carolina carnival and how he ventured into adulthood.

What I enjoyed most about Joyland was the incredible writing King showcases.  He takes a rather mundane plot but completely captures your attention due to his ability to beautifully capture the human spirit.  

Devin’s first job at Joyland is working as the carnival’s mascot – Howie the Happy Hound.  Despite battling intense heat inside the massive suit, Devin enjoys making little kids smile.  It reminded me of my first job after high school working for the local bank, where one day I had to don a squirrel costume and hand out nuts to customers.  There were plenty of kids screaming in terror because of me, but very little smiles. 

Details

Pages: 283

Dates Read: January – February 2015

Quote: “When it comes to the past, everyone writes fiction.”

Best Part: Mike’s first – and only – trip to Joyland.

Hint for #22: This was a mirror novel to another King book – one that appeared near the beginning of this journey.

 

Until next time, peace be the journey.