The reviewer found 'The Gunslinger' disappointing, struggling with its western themes, heavy religious undertones, and lack of world-building. While they appreciated King's writing style, they felt the characters, especially the women, were poorly developed and the plot confusing.
The reviewer's first encounter with Stephen King's work left them feeling frustrated. They found the western setting and religious themes unappealing, which they acknowledge is a personal preference. The lack of world-building and confusing plot made it difficult to enjoy. The characters, particularly the women, were seen as poorly developed and one-dimensional, serving little purpose beyond their relationships with the male protagonist. Despite these issues, the reviewer appreciated King's writing style and saw potential in some of the ideas presented. However, the constant confusion and lack of clarity detracted from what could have been an engaging story.
Quick quotes
The gunslinger had been struck by a momentary dizziness, a kind of yawing sensation that made the entire world seem ephemeral, almost a thing that could be looked through. It passed and, like the world upon whose hide he walked, he moved on.
There was murder, there was rape, there were unspeakable practices, and all of them were for the good.
I didn’t like this book. I thought the writing style was great, and apart from the main character it had great potential. Some of the ideas were really good, in theory, but could have worked so much better if we as reader have some sort of idea of what is going on.