Joyland
Stephen King, read by Michael Kelly. Simon & Schuster Audio, unabridged, seven CDs, 7.5 hrs., $29.99 ISBN 978-1-4423-5991-8
Michael Kelly begins his rendition of King’s engaging short novel sounding pleasantly satisfied, if wistful, with just a twinge of regret—precisely the mood of Devin Jones, the book’s protagonist. Now in his 60s, Devin recalls the details of how he spent 1973, working as a “Happy Helper” at Joyland, a slightly seedy North Carolina amusement park where, several years before his arrival, a young girl was murdered on a ride called Horror House. Kelly follows King’s lead in fashioning a proper voice for each and every character, creating a delightfully unpretentious and winning listening experience. With this performance, it seems as if Kelly is himself responding to the advice given to new carnival employees by the sweetly paternal Joyland director, Bradley Easterbrook: “Remember,” the old man tells them, “you’re here to sell fun.” A Hard Case paperback. (June)
Details
Reviewed on: 07/29/2013
Genre: Audio
Compact Disc - 978-1-5082-1857-9
Downloadable Audio - 978-1-4423-5992-5
Mass Market Paperbound - 320 pages - 978-1-78116-769-4
Other - 354 pages - 978-1-78116-849-3
Paperback - 288 pages - 978-1-78116-264-4
Paperback - 419 pages - 978-89-6017-833-5
Paperback - 978-957-33-3153-7
