The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub

The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub
Publisher: Random House
Publish Date:  1984
Pages: 672
ISBN#978-0375507779


Twelve year old Jack Sawyer's dad died in a supposed hunting accident and his mom is ill - she has cancer.  His dad's business partner and best friend is trying to get Lily (Jack's mom) to sign things over to him and she's refusing.  To escape him, she's taken Jack across the country to a hotel where they're the only guests.  Jack discovers a lot of things about himself, as he's left to his own devices.  He meets Speedy, the handyman and learns what some of his real talents are.

These two authors, together, are able to create a world that make sense and is highly detailed, filled with fabulous characters you never forget.  It's been almost thirty years since this book came out and I read it (Yikes!!), I've read it multiple times and I still have very emotional reactions to it.

Jack - sometimes mature, sometimes a kid, smart, dumb, loving, selfish, he comes off as a real kid

Wolf - all the goodness and loyalty you can imagine in one amazingly large, innocent and protective package

Sunshine Gardner - this is what I imagine to be at the very heart of evil. There isn't anything redeeming here at all

These are just a few of the characters and the ones that touched me the most.  But all the characters are well fleshed out as individuals, with their own motivations and desires.  When the characters didn't continue on to another book for almost twenty years, I was very upset.  But twenty years later, Black House came out and was everything I could have hoped for.

If you aren't a fan of King or Straub, give this book a shot.  It's different, more fairytale-ish with some horro mixed in.  It's not what you really expect out of King if you've read his other books.  Besides, it's my favorite and I'll love you forever if you just give it a shot.  Let me know what you think!