A review by the_book_tale
The Talisman by Peter Straub, Stephen King

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 Spoilers!

I spent most of The Talisman in a state of confusion – this is not to say I was not entertained, because I was. Jack is honestly one of the most likable protagonists in any book I’ve ever read. He has no shades of gray; he is simply a good person doing something good. 

Starting from early on I did not love the characters I was meant to (I assume based on how they were written). Speedy/ Parker/ Parkus was not a person I liked. He is meant to be an adult figure helping Jack on his journey, but, to me, it felt that Speedy was using Jack to accomplish something without actually helping Jack in any definitive way. Yes, he points Jack in the right direction, but that is all he does. He doesn’t explain to Jack anything that he should know or give him any actually useful tips about The Territories. Another character I didn’t like was Wolf. I understand that Wolf was meant to be a fun, helpless sidekick to Jack, but I couldn’t help, but feel as if Jack’s journey would have been much easier and quicker if Wolf had never gotten involved. BUT, I loved Richard. Sure Richard started as an annoying character, but it is so easy to see where he is coming from. If a friend randomly showed up at your boarding school talking about how he can travel to another world wouldn't you think he was going insane? If you started seeing things you rationally know can’t be happening wouldn’t you think you were going insane? I would! When Richard does finally come around he is wonderful. He is basically dying of radiation poising, but he is doing everything he can to help Jack along his journey. The friendship between Jack and Richard is so wholesome. 

I really liked the beginning of the book. I felt so-so about the middle section, especially the parts with Wolf. I loved the last 100 pages. The tension ramps up to a breaking point and – oh boy – is it worth it. I can’t even describe what happens in the last 100 pages, but it was wonderful. It was so chaotic and yet so perfect. 

It hurts my heart that after everything Jack went through to save his mom she ends up dying anyway (in the Tommyknockers it is revealed that she dies in a car accident). 

I am undecided if I will read Black House any time soon.