I enjoyed the unusual Lisey's Story by Stephen King a while back, and thought I'd take a moment to tell you about it.
You know how Stephen King will sometimes give us a big, epic, plot-driven story (The Stand, for instance), but then conclude such a story with a fifteen or twenty page epilogue that's mostly about introspection, melancholy, poetic musings, and revealing flashbacks (as if the author feels the need to give us a more subtle landing after several hundred pages of bombast)? Well, Lisey's Story is like one of those epilogues stretched to an entire book length. It's actually not bad, and there's even a little "plot" in the form of a psycho stalking the title character, but- make no mistake- you're mainly getting the author in that introspective "epilogue" mode, and for the entire ride.
I actually listened to this book on unabridged audio, read beautifully by the actress Mare Winningham, so maybe that's why I'm being kind. But, honestly, as long as you know you're not getting a visceral, plot-driven story like Cell, the Dark Tower books, or even the author's current Under the Dome, you'll likely enjoy this tale of a writer and his demons, and the wife who is subjected to it all.
Lisey's Story is available on Kindle for $7.99.
I read this book right after it was released. (I collect King in hard cover-the only author I buy EVERYTHING he writes.) I liked it, but did not feel it was his best work. Have you read Duma Key? It's a pretty good mix. BTW, I found your blog on KB forum. I'll bookmark you and check back often.
ReplyDelete"Duma Key" is on my list... I read everything King puts out, too, though sometimes it takes me a while to get to everything. I'm really enjoying "Under the Dome" right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for jumping over from Kindleboards to take a look here, Carol! I hope you'll indeed stop in from time to time.