The Dark Tower VII: The Clearing

Note: I've been meaning to do this for quite sometime, just haven't had the time. I'll try to get to a 1,001 albums group this week also.

THE DARK TOWER

I thought for this last section I’d delve a little into endings. King spends a few minutes at the conclusion of the Dark Tower talking about endings. They are something every writer (and reader) must confront when they sit down in front of a blank screen or open a book fresh off the rack. It’s not surprising that King spends time talking about endings here, because he had stated when he began that he was not sure he’d ever finish this tale in his lifetime. Also, let’s face it, the Constant Reader or the Constant Movie-goer, puts a lot of stock in endings.

And this series built through seven books to one logical conclusion, no matter how much peril Roland confronted. His destiny was the Dark Tower and we, the reader, were fated to climb those steps with him.

The other logical conclusion is that no matter what happens, a certain percentage of readers, were going to be unhappy with what they found. King expects as much, but that is the tale. That is why he implores those who want to keep their ending to stop after he returns Susannah to Eddie and Jake in New York. I’ll say no more than that, as to not spoil anything for those who have not made this journey, yet.

So here are a few excerpts that make you think about endings, whether as a reader or a writer or a human living the life where they owe one death. I’ll wrap things up below with a couple last thoughts.

From the end of the chapter “Susannah in New York” the second to last chapter of the Dark Tower

And will I tell you that these three lived happily ever after? I will not, for no one ever does. But there was happiness.

And they did live.

From the introduction to the Coda (Found) the last chapter of the Dark Tower

…You are the grim, goal-oriented ones who will not believe that the joy is in the journey rather than the destination no matter how many times it has been proven to you. You are the unfortunate ones who still get the lovemaking all confused with the paltry squirt that comes to end the lovemaking (the orgasm is, after all, God’s way of telling us we’ve finished, at least for the time being, and should go to sleep). You are the cruel ones who deny the Grey Havens, where tired characters go to rest…

I hope you came to hear the tale, and not just munch your way through the pages to the ending. For an ending, you only have to turn to the last page and see what is there writ upon. But endings are heartless. An ending is a closed door no can open. I’ve written many, but most only for the same reason that I pull on my pants in the morning before leaving the bedroom – because it is the custom of the country…

Should you go on, you will surely be disappointed, perhaps even heartbroken. I have one key left on my belt, but all it opens is that final door, the one marked (symbols are here that I can’t reproduce). What’s behind it won’t improve your love-life, grow hair on you bald spot, or add five years to your natural span (not even five minutes). There is no such thing as a happy ending. I never met a single one to equal “Once upon a time.”

Endings are heartless.

Ending is just another word for goodbye.


The clearing at the end of the path.

What the stuff above also got me thinking about is the journey. The first time I step foot on this path, I was a teenager (possible not old enough to drive, I don’t really remember the year I started reading the Gunslinger). By the time I finished the series, I was out of college stumbling through the first few year or so of my post-education life. There was a lot of living there. Some joy. Some sorrow. Some love. Some heartbreak. There was happiness. And I did live.

I reread the series this second time in a span of a year and a half (would have been faster, but I waited a few time to get books as gifts). In that time, I built a house, I was promoted, I’ve been thwarted a time or two with getting some of my own tales published, and my body started to deliver a few subtle signs that it is not going to last forever. Since finishing this book before Christmas, that reality was confirmed.

But my days aren’t so numbered that I won’t sit down in a few years and start this path again. I anticipate that I shall walk the journey with Roland a time or two more. Maybe one day, I share it with a son or daughter. Maybe my wife, although she doesn’t seem real enthused by the prospect.

But, for now, I’ll take rest in the clearing. Do some writing myself, do some living. For another new journey is always only a page (or day) away.

1001 Albums 491-505: Life's Too Good - Locust Abortion Technician

Note: Well this swings us back in the opposite direction of the last group.

Life’s Too Good (1988) by the Sugarcubes
Life Thru A Lens (1997) by Robbie Williams
Like A Prayer (1989) by Madonna
Like Water For Chocolate (2000) by Common
Liquid Swords (1995) by Genius/GZA

First Five at a Glance: Outside of the title track and Express Yourself, I don’t know much off the Madonna album, but the book calls it the best pop album since Revolver. Some the description almost makes me want to check out some of the non-singles. Like a Prayer probably is the Madonna tune I like the most. I actually remember when Robbie Williams started getting play on MTV2. It’s not terrible music, just not sure its anything I really have to hear before I die. The Sugarcubes were that band that launched Icelandic queen Bjork. My thank you for that must have got lost in the mail. In a coincidence, Common’s lead singer Femi Kuti is the son of Feli Kuti, who appears in the next five songs. Like Water For Chocolate is more rap, hip hop, mixed with African beats and with cameos from Mos Def and others. Liquid Swords is an offshoot of the Wu Tang Clan. Supposed to be really good, but I don’t that much about rap.

An aside rant concerning Robbie Williams critic writer: Why is it every UK artist must come to terms with their success and their, “working class” roots. It’s every freaking one of them. You don’t hear that expression much with American artists. In fact, many embrace their roots (mostly country and rap musicians). But the damn British have to come to terms with it. I think it’s because John Lennon wrote “Working Class Hero,” now every damn one of them pay homage to him with bogus melodrama. In all seriousness, it’s lazy writing. Lazy.

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990) by George Michael
A Little Deeper (2002) by Ms. Dynamite
Little Earthquakes (1992) By Tori Amos
Live 1966 (1998) by Bob Dylan
Live! (1971) by Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Africa ’70 with Ginger Baker


Second Five at a Glance: George Michael came out in 1990, it just took the rest of the world a decade to figure it out. This album tanked as he moved away from the pop sound of Wham! and tried to become a “serious” artist. He did collaborate with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on the tune “Waiting For That Day.” Ms. Dynamite is a British female rapper. Ok. I’ve never really liked Tori Amos music. I decided to give it another listen and report that my opinion really hasn’t changed. The Bob Dylan album sounds like it would be an interesting listen as it documents the backlash he incurred from plugging in. Might have to check that out. Ginger Baker (of Cream fame) plays on “Live!” an African album. The album has four tracks and is a mix of funk and jazz.

Live and Dangerous (1978) by Thin Lizzy
Live At the Witch Trials (1979) by The Fall
Live/Dead (1969) by The Grateful Dead
Live Through This (1994) by Hole
Locust Abortion Technician (1987) by Butthole Surfers

Third Five at a Glance: The Thin Lizzy album is an interesting case because it boasts being live while admittedly it was almost entirely touched up and rerecorded in a studio. Still, I love Jailbreak, so I have a hard time dumping on this being on here. The Fall seem like a band that I should know, but can’t place. They have the sound of a precursor to Franz Ferdinand. Might be worth checking out. Live/Dead was the first time the Dead were able to translate their live energy into a recording. It set the blueprint for things to come both for them as a band and for other jam bands of the future. There’s some debate as to how much of the Hole album can be credited to Courtney Love and how much can be credited to Kurt Cobain. Either way, I don’t that much from this album although I’ve always tended to like stuff from Hole so long as it doesn’t get too screamy. The name Butthole Surfers always jumped out at album stores for obvious reasons, but I’ve never listened to them, until now. It’s a strange collection of punk music mingled with random sounds. Not sure what to make of it yet.

The Goods: Like a Prayer, Live 1966, Live/Dead

Something to check out: I think the live Dylan album would be cool. Maybe The Fall is worth a try.

Verdict: I am not real wild about this group. I know 9 of the 15 groups, but most those that I know I am not that big a fan of. This group had a tough task following last week and it came up way short.