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Stephanie *Eff your feelings*'s Reviews > Joyland
Joyland
by
by
Stephanie *Eff your feelings*'s review
bookshelves: 2013, wrong, mentions-my-hometown-those-nearby
Sep 21, 2012
bookshelves: 2013, wrong, mentions-my-hometown-those-nearby
Now I know how Neil DeGrasse Tyson felt while he watched the movie Gravity.
I give Joyland three stars as far as story goes, and a one star when I take into consideration that Stephen got everything wrong about how amusement parks are run. He obviously did zero research. The most believable thing in this book is the ghost part, but I know the vast majority of you out there did not spend twenty odd years hopping around the United States working in amusement parks like I did, and therefore would not be bothered by the stuff that bugged me, but damn it, he couldn’t have asked a question or two??
College student Devin Jones finds himself at loose ends at the close of the school year in 1973. He finds a job at a small amusement park in an equally small town in North Carolina in which he does every job in the park (insane). While running around like a mad man doing all the jobs, he finds that he also has to add ‘ghost hunter’ to the list while he was doing ‘something’ in the haunted house ride.
He meets a MILF that has a disabled son and a very cute Jack Russell and mom is a sharp shooter that won the big shooting competition at Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio. I find this interesting because Camp Perry is 15 minutes from my house, it really does exist, so he got that right, and there really is a big shooting completion held there.
Now I’m going to rant about stuff you probably don’t care about. But I have to do it. I’m sorry.
If Stephen had set this in a carnival all would have been fine, but amusement parks are not carnivals.
College students DO work at amusement parks, old carnies do not.
People who work in A.P. do not have a special lingo.
A.P. s have departments. Merchandise, ride operators, food, maintenance, finance, concessionaires, ride maintenance….ect. When a person is hired for the season, they are put into a department and they remain within it. I know Stephen went on the same assumption that most people do, and that is when a person is hired into an amusement park that person jumps around to all the jobs in the park from day to day. One day you’re drawing caricatures, the next you are running a roller coaster, followed by making corn dogs the next…..what? I know most people think this is the case because I would get asked the question “So, is this the only place you work? or do you move around the park and run the rides and stuff?” Several times a day, every day. I don’t get it, but I can forgive the masses for thinking this, but not Stephen King. Research.
Costume characters do not go out without a guide person. Vision is quite limited in those giant heads. Without someone to lead them, those creepy characters could take out a kid or ten. Also, getting hit in the nether regions is a common occurrence; they need someone to watch out for possible injuries.
A front gate photo person (Hollywood girls) would quit their job within an hour if forced to wear high heels whilst standing on concrete in the boiling hell of North Carolina in the summer time. Then she would put said heel in her managers’ eye on the way out of park. Besides, the photographic technology did not exist for such an operation in 1973.
A non smoking park in North Carolina (especially) wouldn't have existed in 1973. If it did, it would die.
Seasonal amusement parks did not remain open on weekends past Labor Day (especially the small ones) in 1973. Not being a Disney or a Cedar Point, they were not destination parks, so there was no point. Only when the Halloween Weekends (spooky themed weekends) became all the rage did staying open until the end of October became the norm. That started in the early 2000’s.
(view spoiler)
I'm very disappointed. *Sigh*….I’m sure there was more, but rant over. Stephanie out.
I give Joyland three stars as far as story goes, and a one star when I take into consideration that Stephen got everything wrong about how amusement parks are run. He obviously did zero research. The most believable thing in this book is the ghost part, but I know the vast majority of you out there did not spend twenty odd years hopping around the United States working in amusement parks like I did, and therefore would not be bothered by the stuff that bugged me, but damn it, he couldn’t have asked a question or two??
College student Devin Jones finds himself at loose ends at the close of the school year in 1973. He finds a job at a small amusement park in an equally small town in North Carolina in which he does every job in the park (insane). While running around like a mad man doing all the jobs, he finds that he also has to add ‘ghost hunter’ to the list while he was doing ‘something’ in the haunted house ride.
He meets a MILF that has a disabled son and a very cute Jack Russell and mom is a sharp shooter that won the big shooting competition at Camp Perry in Port Clinton, Ohio. I find this interesting because Camp Perry is 15 minutes from my house, it really does exist, so he got that right, and there really is a big shooting completion held there.
Now I’m going to rant about stuff you probably don’t care about. But I have to do it. I’m sorry.
If Stephen had set this in a carnival all would have been fine, but amusement parks are not carnivals.
College students DO work at amusement parks, old carnies do not.
People who work in A.P. do not have a special lingo.
A.P. s have departments. Merchandise, ride operators, food, maintenance, finance, concessionaires, ride maintenance….ect. When a person is hired for the season, they are put into a department and they remain within it. I know Stephen went on the same assumption that most people do, and that is when a person is hired into an amusement park that person jumps around to all the jobs in the park from day to day. One day you’re drawing caricatures, the next you are running a roller coaster, followed by making corn dogs the next…..what? I know most people think this is the case because I would get asked the question “So, is this the only place you work? or do you move around the park and run the rides and stuff?” Several times a day, every day. I don’t get it, but I can forgive the masses for thinking this, but not Stephen King. Research.
Costume characters do not go out without a guide person. Vision is quite limited in those giant heads. Without someone to lead them, those creepy characters could take out a kid or ten. Also, getting hit in the nether regions is a common occurrence; they need someone to watch out for possible injuries.
A front gate photo person (Hollywood girls) would quit their job within an hour if forced to wear high heels whilst standing on concrete in the boiling hell of North Carolina in the summer time. Then she would put said heel in her managers’ eye on the way out of park. Besides, the photographic technology did not exist for such an operation in 1973.
A non smoking park in North Carolina (especially) wouldn't have existed in 1973. If it did, it would die.
Seasonal amusement parks did not remain open on weekends past Labor Day (especially the small ones) in 1973. Not being a Disney or a Cedar Point, they were not destination parks, so there was no point. Only when the Halloween Weekends (spooky themed weekends) became all the rage did staying open until the end of October became the norm. That started in the early 2000’s.
(view spoiler)
I'm very disappointed. *Sigh*….I’m sure there was more, but rant over. Stephanie out.
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Reading Progress
September 21, 2012
– Shelved
December 28, 2013
–
Started Reading
December 30, 2013
– Shelved as:
2013
December 30, 2013
– Shelved as:
wrong
December 30, 2013
–
Finished Reading
May 7, 2014
– Shelved as:
mentions-my-hometown-those-nearby
Comments Showing 1-50 of 94 (94 new)
This has my vote for best opening sentence for a review in 2013.
I always miss the point Kemper! Thanks Brian :)
The first sentence is the most apt analogy that I have seen in a long, long time. 5-stars for Stephanie!Kudos on the rest of the review, too. Proving once again that you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
Mike wrote: "The first sentence is the most apt analogy that I have seen in a long, long time. 5-stars for Stephanie!Kudos on the rest of the review, too. Proving once again that you can fool some of the pe..."
Thanks Mike. I'm sure I'm not the only one out here wondering 'what the hell?'. Just a moment ago I was talking to one of the activities people here in the resort I work in and he had a gash across his nose from a hugging mishap while dressed in character.
I told him about how, in this book, they threw an untrained kid in a costume and not only let him wonder sans guide but also had him rolling around on the ground with children, and no one turned up injured.
He laughed.....a lot.
I was on the fence about this book, but you've got me laughing so hard that I now have to go out and get it just so I can appreciate your review even more. (I take it that, as the resident expert on this subject, you must have read Richard Stark's Slayground. Did I miss your review?)
James wrote: "I was on the fence about this book, but you've got me laughing so hard that I now have to go out and get it just so I can appreciate your review even more. (I take it that, as the resident expert o..."Thanks James! I have not read it, but now I will and see if Mr. Stark does any better.
Fantastic nit-picking, Stephanie. Some of that does seem like common sense to me, though I've never worked in a park. Then I remember that I'm an amusement park nerd and shut up.
Sesana wrote: "Fantastic nit-picking, Stephanie. Some of that does seem like common sense to me, though I've never worked in a park. Then I remember that I'm an amusement park nerd and shut up."Thanks Sesana....he got everything wrong. Right? A lot of it is common sense. Amusement Park nerd?? Do tell me more.
I love amusement parks, go to every one I can, and read everything about them. Especially the Disney parks, which I'm mildly obsessed with.
How dare you say anything bad about Uncle Stevie! He's going to send a haunted car after you.
Brandon wrote: "How dare you say anything bad about Uncle Stevie! He's going to send a haunted car after you."Ha! He does tend to do that, doesn't he!
Richard Stark (pseudonym of Donald Westlake) wrote the "Parker" series of novels. Parker is a hard, hard criminal who lives by his wits and abilities.It's a pretty great crime series. Regrettably, I haven't read this one :-(
Good review Stephanie. I liked the book, but I probably would have been right there bitching with you if I knew as much of the background stuff as you.
Becky wrote: "Good review Stephanie. I liked the book, but I probably would have been right there bitching with you if I knew as much of the background stuff as you."Thanks. I would have liked the book a lot more if hadn't been screaming at it.
You become more interesting by the post. 20 years working in amusement parks? Neat. :)
Manifest wrote: "You become more interesting by the post. 20 years working in amusement parks? Neat. :)"Hey thanks! It was interesting, that's for sure.
I liked this book. No matter if, in AP, things work differently: it's only fiction and the story must run in the story, not out. On the contrary, we would erase the most part of every book, starting from ghosts, for example. Five stars to the King, but I liked your review, too. And sorry for my italian-english.
Francesco wrote: "I liked this book. No matter if, in AP, things work differently: it's only fiction and the story must run in the story, not out. On the contrary, we would erase the most part of every book, startin..."No apologies needed for the 'Italian English', your English is way better than my Italian would ever hope to be.
I know that it's a work of fiction, that's why I apologized prior to my rant....I said no one else but me (and anyone else who has worked in APs) would be bothered by the stuff I was, I just had to say it. That being said, some of it was common sense, plus just a wee bit of research was all that was needed to get some basic facts right. That's all.
I can't help pointing out that this book was nominated for an Edgar in the Best Original Paperback category this morning. Obviously, the MWA did not consult with you before hand!
James wrote: "I can't help pointing out that this book was nominated for an Edgar in the Best Original Paperback category this morning. Obviously, the MWA did not consult with you before hand!"They should know better too!!
Stephanie wrote: "They should know better too!! ..."
That goes without saying!
Stephanie wrote: "Francesco wrote: "I liked this book. No matter if, in AP, things work differently: it's only fiction and the story must run in the story, not out. On the contrary, we would erase the most part of e..."Ciao, Stephanie. As an indie writer I often face this problem: how much research and how much reality. I think this is not a real problem for two main reasons: the first one is what I said in this thread, and the second one is that, writing about crimes, I know that there isn't limit about villains behavior. I see everyday that they do a lot of really bad things in a lot of ways. Point from the final real result (because they really do it) I can think a lot of ways to do this. It's enough they're theoretically good. I could say a lot of examples, like public scandals in banking or concerning famous politicians.
I read again three times, excuse me if I don't use the exact words, I hope you can understand anytime.
message 24:
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Stephanie *Eff your feelings*
(last edited Jan 17, 2014 04:14PM)
(new)
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rated it 2 stars
Francesco wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Francesco wrote: "I liked this book. No matter if, in AP, things work differently: it's only fiction and the story must run in the story, not out. On the contrary, we would erase ..."Ciao Francesco,
I understand your point and I don't disagree, my review was on the humorous side so as not to be taken too seriously.
"I read again three times, excuse me if I don't use the exact words, I hope you can understand anytime."
I found this sentence to be utterly charming .....grazie
See you in Italy, or in Ohio! ;)
Francesco wrote: "See you in Italy, or in Ohio! ;)"I'm sure Italy is more fun than Ohio by far, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
Yes, it isn't easy, it's only a wish.It's interesting that a character in my first book is called Mary Jane Miller, from NYC.
I wish to translate it but now it's easier to see Ohio, I think!
Have nice reading and thank you for your friendship.
Francesco wrote: "Yes, it isn't easy, it's only a wish.It's interesting that a character in my first book is called Mary Jane Miller, from NYC.
I wish to translate it but now it's easier to see Ohio, I think!
Have ..."
Likewise Francesco!
Great review! which I missed when you posted somehow. All the glaring errors that bugged you Stephanie can be explained away by it being an alternate DT universe -- in this 'version' all these things are actually historically accurate and the details correct, right Kemper? ;)
I love that this book inspired you to create a 'wrong' shelf ... now we have somewhere to store Kemper when we get tired of him!
Trudi wrote: "All the glaring errors that bugged you Stephanie can be explained away by it being an alternate DT universe -- in this 'version' all these things are actually historically accurate and the details correct, right Kemper? ;) ."Wrong!
Trudi wrote: "Great review! which I missed when you posted somehow. All the glaring errors that bugged you Stephanie can be explained away by it being an alternate DT universe -- in this 'version' all these th..."
Sometimes I think he wrote those DT books as an excuse not to do research.
Kemper will placed on that shelf whenever he's a bad boy.
Stephanie wrote: "Kemper will placed on that shelf whenever he's a bad boy..."Why do I imagine that he'll be in nearly permanent residence?
James wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Kemper will placed on that shelf whenever he's a bad boy..."Why do I imagine that he'll be in nearly permanent residence?"
Ha! True!!
Just as nobody puts Baby in the corner, nobody puts Kemper on the shelf!
Kemper wrote: "Just as nobody puts Baby in the corner, nobody puts Kemper on the shelf!"You better get busy dirty dancing then! C'mon, chop chop. Let's see what you got.
Trudi wrote: "You better get busy dirty dancing then! C'mon, chop chop. Let's see what you got."When I do, you'll have the time of your life, missy!
Ha! Now I'm just picturing you trying to do this in a thong. I'm never going to recover.
Oh my god....the visuals.
Please, at least give my lunch a chance to digest before you recklessly conjure up images like that!
I had to sign a non-compete agreement with Chippendale's when I retired so you'll just have to imagine the glory of it.
Kemper wrote: "I had to sign a non-compete agreement with Chippendale's when I retired so you'll just have to imagine the glory of it."I don't have to do anything of the sort!!
fantastic review. thank you for all the insider info - i love it when people who know what they are talking about bellow about an author's lack of research. especially someone who's been doing it long enough that he should know better. (although i am very sad to learn there is no lingo)
karen wrote: "fantastic review. thank you for all the insider info - i love it when people who know what they are talking about bellow about an author's lack of research. especially someone who's been doing it l..."Thanks karen! Sorry, sadly there is no lingo at the amusement parks. If there were, I would have enjoyed working in them so much more! I tried a few words out, but none of them stuck.
I worked at an amusement park in Massachusetts in mid the 80's, just for the summer, and I found this book ridiculous.
Hades-uftg wrote: "I worked at an amusement park in Massachusetts in mid the 80's, just for the summer, and I found this book ridiculous."We are in agreement.
Stephanie - I very much enjoyed reading your comments. My hope, of course, is that Mr. King will read said comments and do better research in future works. Nonetheless, I must admit I enjoyed the book on its own merits, mostlycoming-of-age story.
Tim wrote: "Stephanie - I very much enjoyed reading your comments. My hope, of course, is that Mr. King will read said comments and do better research in future works. Nonetheless, I must admit I enjoyed the b..."Thank you. It wasn't terrible....it was wrong is all.
how are you supposed to enjoy anything if you mercilessly pick it apart like that? especially when its trivial nitpicking which detracts nothing from the story , does it matter if girls would have complained about their footwear or not? do you think the reader cares if costumed employees needed someone to guide them around the park? and instant cameras have been around since the 1940s
Also, you missed the point.