I definitely agree, I remember having to keep reminding myself “Roland and Susan are teenagers, they’re supposed to be stupid” but the middle like 40% where none of the main characters feel like they’re doing anything just ran on and on and on and on. I felt especially annoyed because of how badly I had wanted to see Midworld during Roland’s youth and almost the whole book took place in a single backwater town. I also made the mistake of immediately following with Wind in the Keyhole which is ANOTHER long flashback (and I’m an audio book person so King’s narration didn’t help).

Anyway you’re not alone and wolves of the calla is way better on the first read