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Posts Tagged ‘Stephen King’

Book 1 from the 2014 Book list: Doctor Sleep: A Novel by Stephen King

Saturday, March 7th, 2015

Finished: January 8, 2014
Doctor Sleep: A Novel by Stephen King

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless – mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky 12-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the “steam” that children with the “shining” produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant “shining” power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.”

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival.

Wow, this book. I loved the Shining. I was over joyed when I found out there was another installment.

This was not what I was expecting, but I was not unpleasantly surprised. Little Danny is all grown up, and helping someone else with “The Shine”. 🙂

The True are really weird, and seriously creepy… but a good antagonist for this King book. I really think the Shining was probably better, but that’s because the eeriness and the ambience of the book was totally different, almost darker.

Dr. Sleep was a little less dark, but no means light hearted, I mean this is Stephen King after all.

I think if you can stomach The Shining, then Dr. Sleep is a logical next step, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

TaTa for Now,
Amanda Ellen

Book 36 in the 2013 Booklist: The Shining by Stephen King

Monday, December 23rd, 2013

Finished: December 22
The Shining by Stephen King

This is a good book, not my favorite, but good.
Naturally, this is a reread for me, since I wanted Taylor to read it so we could read Doctor Sleep together.
We just started Doctor Sleep this afternoon, and so far it seems alright. It looks to be a longer one, so hopefully it will occupy us during our holiday travels. This book is just flat out creepy… that’s all I can say about that. Gave me chills both times I read it.
Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote…and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.
The book in this case is much, much, much better than the movie. Mr. King, you have the most horrible luck when transcribing your books to TV shows and movies. The most glaring examples being The Shining and “Under the Dome”.
My friend RO wrote about her experience with reading The Shining. In fact, this could almost be a reversal on the book suggestion, as I read The Shining before she did! 🙂
Anyways, the book at hand, is good. Like I said above, it’s not what one would call “marriage material” but it’s a Stephen King book, it had good chances of being decent. I liked the narrator for this, and wish he were around to narrate Doctor Sleep. I believe my favorite character in this was/is the chef… Dick Hallaran.
I suggest anyone who watched the movie “The Shining” to read the book for a better experieince with the characters.
Guess that’s it for this one… creeping ever closer to 40!
TaTa,
Amanda Ellen

Book 2 in the 2013 Book List: The Stand

Monday, January 28th, 2013

2. The Stand by Stephen King
Finished: January 28,2013
Ok, so it took a lot of persuasion for me to sit down and read this book in its entirety, but I’m glad I did it. This book fits in nicely with King’s Dark Tower series and was quite enjoyable. I tried reading this book once before a few years back but, the beginning was just a bit too graphic for me. My suggestion is if you have a weak stomach, try and muscle it out through the first few hours (or chapters) of this book and you will be glad you did. I will say this was not my favorite King book, but it was definitely worth the read. The version I read was the unrated and uncut version and I believe that it was best that way. I could not imagine any of the book being left out and still liking this book as much as I did. So, thanks RO, Ricardo, and Taylor for highly suggesting I read it. I did come away from the book with some new favorite phrases.
“You don’t tell me, I’ll tell you.”
“M,O,O,N that spells Tom Cullin, everyone knows that.”
“laws yes”
“You believe that happy crappy?”
Just a few phrases that will stay deep in the memory banks for a while after the book is finished.

I did not write enough to do this book justice, but I’ve been deathly ill and wanted to get this post out as soon as I finished the book.
Go read this book all you King lovers, and even those who don’t like King!
TaTa,
Amanda Ellen