Duma Key: A Novel by Stephen King Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Duma Key: A Novel
Book Review: Remarkable, vivid novel -- almost unflawed
Summary: 4 Stars
This novel fully showcases Stephen King's talents -- his sense of character, his incredible ability at narrative pacing, and most of all his skills in vividly creating that which creeps us out.
It's especially so in the book's first half, where the source of menace is still cloaked and lurking in strange coincidences, unexpected shadows, misunderstandings and strangeness. King's most eloquent, heartbreakingly beautiful writing actually occurs at the book's beginning, in describing the protagonist Edgar Freemantle's recovery from a construction accident. Poignantly autobiographical no doubt. It's a strange testament to King's ability that the best "writing" in a conventional sense is at the beginning of the book but the cumulative force of the story builds up to the end (I hope this makes sense).
Small complaints could be levelled here and there, and it disappoints me a bit that King seems to choose little girls as his novel's primary victims, but these are minor offsets to a great novel. And yes, you may sleep with the lights on for a few days after reading this...
Book Review: 3 1/2 Stars
Summary: 3 Stars
See storyline above.
Okay, this was a fairly good Stephen King novel, but it's still not his best. I think his earlier novels still exceed anything he's had out recently. This novel seems to be more literary. It seems you have to read a lot to get a little. While the writing is excellent, I seemed to have to struggle for it to keep my interest. I guess I probably read too many thrillers, and expect my novels to hook me a little quicker. Still a good effort by the King with an originality one comes to expect.
Book Review: The Change Continues...
Summary: 5 Stars
The very first "adult" book I read was Misery by Stephen King. Since then, I've not only read everything he's written, I have recently revisited many of his works (some I've not read in almost twenty years) and found that they still captivate and enthrall me. However, I have come to enjoy the lasting impressions of some of his most recent work: Hearts in Atlantis, Bag of Bones, Lisey's Story, and now, Duma Key. In these novels, King strikes home with the horrors of loss, failure, and insecurity that are more likely to effect us than confrontations with the supernatural. Certainly, the supernatural aspects of these novels are fun and gripping, but it is the humanity in his recent novels that will cause me to read again in the coming years.
Duma Key will leave a lasting impression based on the friendship between Freemantle and Wireman. Its gracious, loving and ultimately a realistic depiction of love and caring, things that are not at first associated with Stephen King's writing. I cannot wait to see what he'll give us constant readers next.
Book Review: the king is back
Summary: 5 Stars
like all the reviews said stephen king is back on top of his game after some of his previous books. there is everthing to expect here in a stephen king book great character developing and scary moments. be happy the king is back.Book Review: image from nowhere?
Summary: 5 Stars
In the supplied video (above), King says that he often starts with an image and lets the story grow from there. Here he says that this image of "little dead girls standing on that road--twin dead girls with their hands linked" just "came from nowhere." Correct me if I'm wrong, but this image came from Kubrick's film adaptation of King's story "The Shining." So not exactly from nowhere. But no harm in recycling. I'm sure it's a great book.