52 in 2009: Duma Key by Stephen King

[lavvyan]

I was pretty sure I wouldn't like this book. King's writing is always a hit-and-miss with me: loved Lisey's Story, despised Cell. Duma Key sounded very much like another miss.

Comments

[houseinrlyeh]

He often loses it towards the ending, doesn't he?
I blame it on King's editors not being allowed to actually edit.

[lavvyan]

Cell fell completely over towards the ending, when he introduced that second group of survivors who seemingly had the sole purpose of explaining the world before they died. And don't get me started on The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon - now that was a disappointment.

The ending of Lisey's story, on the other hand, worked beautifully. But then I love that whole book for making me cry several times. Tis a rare achievement. ;)

[houseinrlyeh]

that second group of survivors who seemingly had the sole purpose of explaining the world before they died.
I'm always saying that exposition is the work of the devil for a reason. *nods*

Well, books (and movies and music) make me cry all the time. *g*

[lavvyan]

The one with the worms made me cry, too, but for different reasons. *g*

[severedscythe]

Read dreamcatcher. It has butt aliens and magic!Psychic powers.<3 and bromance.

[lavvyan]

I read Dreamcatcher. He killed my favourite character first. *huffs*

Also, I didn't like the philosophy lesson that was the epilogue, but apart from that the book was quite enjoyable. :D

[taiteilija]

I have to confess that I immensely enjoyed the middle part (I think?), basically all the funny conversations Edgar has with... well, his neighbor whose name I somehow can't remember. I remember laughing for ten minutes over something they had said at one point. But yes, the ending was disappointing (I can tell because I hardly recall the ending, which is always a sign that it wasn't all too satisfying).

[lavvyan]

Wireman! Yeah, I liked him a lot. :D

[taiteilija]

Right, Wireman! *slaps self* He's awesome :D

[inthe_parlance]

I mostly love King's books, even ones I'm not crazy about I have to read to the end to see what happens. The only one I think I actually disliked was "Insomnia"; I really liked the old man who was the hero of the story, I just wished he had been put in a better story! I just really like the way King writes, but I have to agree that sometimes he just loses it in the end. I think he does better at the novelas and short stories. In the novels it's like he doesn't always know how to wrap it up in a satisfying way.

In "Duma Key", wasn't Edgar recovering from some kind of leg or hip injury, not his arm? It's been awhile since I read it, though.

[lavvyan]

I generally like his novels better, though. Half of his short stories, I don't see the point. But that might be just me.

His hip was shattered too, yeah. Plus he lost his right arm. It always itched when he was doing his magical painting, remember? :)

[inthe_parlance]

I completely forgot that! I guess the hip/leg thing stuck with me because it was so much like King's own injury.