Having said that, it’s also gorgeously written, deeply romantic, finally detailed and unbelievably immersive. King’s writing has never been more lyrical or compassionate, but there’s also this deep, melancholic sadness that just sinks into my bones reading about Roland and Susan, this being my second journey to the Tower, and now knowing ahead of time how it will happen. The unshakeable tragedy of their arc together sort of metaphorically mirrors events that happened in my own love life years ago (nothing as extreme as this outcome, mind you) and it stirs up old feelings that haunt me again. I love this book, it’s unique in the fact that we get to see Roland and his world in a time before both had moved on, and the despair had really set into Mid World. But my god, the events of this book hit hard for me these days and I’m dreading having to read that part soon, and have to sit through Susan’s horrible ordeal again.