March 2013’s SK Flavor of the Month – Wolves of the Calla

The fifth Dark Tower book and the March book-of-the-month for whoever wants to comment.

Wolves of the Calla was a bit of a let down for me. I enjoyed Wizard and Glass more than The Waste Lands, which I enjoyed more than The Drawing of the Three, which I enjoyed more than The Gunslinger. So far Wizard and Glass has been my favorite Dark Tower book.

King described my feelings about Wolves of the Calla very well on page 476 of this 709 page book: "All the rest had been ritual and preparation, necessary but not terribly helpful." Four hundred seventy six pages of not terribly helpful, not terribly exciting, not terribly page turning, but not terribly terrible material was painful to get through. However, the rest of the book, page 476 to 709, was helpful, exciting, and page turning.

I read this book a couple of years ago. I am getting a head start on next months book-of-the month, as I am currently reading and enjoying Song Of Susannah.

I re-read Wolves of the Calla a few months ago as I went through the whole DT series when Wind Through The Keyhole came out, and I must say I enjoyed WOTC quite a bit more this time than I did the first two times I read it. I think it's one of those series where whilst a lot of the main story is (relatively) straightforward, there are many more subtle parts that only really are understood when the whole story is already known to the reader, that is a lot more the case in WOTC than in Wizard and Glass for example.

That said, I do agree that the first part of the book, before things really start getting going, is a bit too extended and could really have been condensed somewhat. I'd also agree that WAG is my favourite DT book.

One thing I must say I always enjoy in WOTC is the tip of the hat to the Harry Potter series!

Yes, I got a kick out of the Harry Potter reference. After reading WOTC, I re-read Salem's Lot due to the clever appearance of a Salem Lot character in WOTC. After Waste Lands, I read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I ejnoyed Salem's Lot, but wish I had just watched the Oz movie, and skipped the book.

#2 You nailed my feelings exactly. I think Wizard and Glass was the highpoint of the series. I have always wondered if King got a glimpse of his own mortality after almost being killed by the van and rushed the rest of the series to make sure he finished before dying.

Missed this one. Just could not do it during lent & holy week. Crazy times.

>2 mainrun:, >5 tjm568: It's funny, I had the opposite reaction to this one - I thought Wizard And Glass was more of a slog and this one I flew through. I particularly liked how all of the different threads need(ed) wrapped up: the rose, the wolves, Susannah (which now I know what the next book is going to be about), Roland's arthritis, etc. I really liked this one overall.

Time has made me recall this book with fonder memories. >3 BuffaloPhil:'s comment about enjoying this book as a re-read after finishing the series makes sense.