May 2025 Wrap-Up

Writing

Word Count: The word count for my work in progress is… 5,124.

I’ve started my novel, folks!

Chapter 1 is written, and I’m well into Chapter 2. The first part of the novel follows thirteen-year-old twins as their relationship is established and then tested. It’s about sibling rivalry and coming of age in the early stages. As they get older, I’ll be exploring the consequences of their earlier decisions.

In Plain Sight, Unseen

The cover and the formatting are done! A cover reveal will be coming soon, and information about the preorder and release date.

Reading

The extended Reading for The Dark Tower series, and the order I am reading in, is as follows:

• The Little Sisters of Eluria (collected in Everything’s Eventual)

• The Gunslinger (Dark Tower book 1)

• The Drawing of the Three (Dark Tower book 2)

• The Eyes of the Dragon

• The Talisman

• Night Surf (collected in Night Shift)

• The Stand

• Wastelands (Dark Tower book 3)

• Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower book 4)

• Jerusalem’s Lot (collected in Night Shift)

• Salem’s Lot

• One For the Road (collected in Night Shift)

• It

• Insomnia

• Everything’s Eventual (collected in Everything’s Eventual)

• Low Men in Yellow Coats (collected in Hearts In Atlantis)

• Black House

• Wolves of the Calla (Dark Tower book 5)

• Song of Susannah (Dark Tower book 6)

• The Dark Tower (Dark Tower book 7)

• At this point, I will read Wind Through the Keyhole if I can be bothered.

Parapsychology

I didn’t finish this book.

It had some good bits in there, and I’ve made a few notes to revisit when I’ve written my novel, so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.

The Waste Lands

It feels like a lifetime since I was reading a Dark Tower (proper) book. As you know, the reason for my getting into Stephen King is that I want to study his character-driven style.

The Waste Lands builds on the characters we’ve been following up to now, so in that sense it is a success.

However, 293 pages for The Gunslinger, Eddie & Susannah to have a fight and cross some land, and for Jake to go through a door is far too long. And I’ve had enough of random doors connecting one dimension to another. Those doors on the beach in The Drawing of the Three were the worst part of that book, and King’s at it again in this book. I don’t think it’s very good writing, it’s a bit lazy.

Who knows how these things work beyond the explanation of ka? I don’t, the characters don’t, I don’t think Stephen King knew at this point. I hope the explanation isn’t, ‘It happens because they’re wizards.’

This book was the weakest of the series so far. The ending wasn’t an ending.

The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

I couldn’t be bothered to jump straight into Wizard & Glass, so I picked this little palate cleanser up.

I’ve read about half, and it goes on a bit for such a short book.

Watching

Bag of Bones

I didn’t realise this was a mini miniseries – TWO EPISODES.

I know a lot of the miniseries based on King's books are short, but I didn’t realise it was only two episodes until I had about 20 minutes of episode two left!

It was OK.

Mobland

I finished Mobland. It’s great.

Dark

I felt like rewatching this series. It was great to blitz through during lockdown, but I can’t remember a lot of it.

I’ve just started series 2 anyway, and it’s as strong as I remember it being. That recurring ominous music is perfect.

Sinners

The trailer was better.

I did not enjoy this film. I was bored, and it went on too long.

Game of Thrones

Another one I felt like rewatching. Series one done.