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timwstrmnn's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
abhijna_yashwanth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
calamity_114's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely. Lovely, lovely lovely. What a delightful bool.
It's often horror and comedy that go hand in hand, when a scream turns to a laugh and an extra gallon of fake blood turns a situation from sickening to ridiculous. In Stephen King's case, it's horror and love. See Cujo, The Shining and Firestarter for prime examples of how our familial ties keep us safe, put us in danger, and terrify us. I personally believe that the reason his books became and remain so darned successful is because we love his characters and the ways they love each other. They are the light in the darkness.
Lisey's Story is a nice little tribute to the Kings; it doesn't take much suspension of disbelief to see Scott Landon = Stephen King and Lisey Landon = Tabitha King. It's common knowledge that Tabitha is the one who set the ball rolling for Stephen King (at least, set it rolling early), and they are, let's face it, #couplegoals. As are Scott and Lisey Landon.
In some ways, this is the Stephen King answer to PS, I Love You; Scott Landon, Lisey's deceased husband, has been dead for two years when Lisey finds herself on a treasure hunt of sorts, following clues left by her dear departed one. This hunt is interspersed with flashbacks to Lisey and Scott's marriage, as well as the present danger of those looking to capitalise on Scott's death.
The horror takes a bit of a back seat on this one, though it is there; there is nightmarish imagery and terrible, terrible things happen to both Scott and Lisey. The thing that will stay with you, though, is the love not only between husband and wife but between family members. Between Lisey and Amanda, and Scott and Paul.
This is a good toe-dipper book, for new fans of King, and a great reminder to his fans that even though there are no scary clowns or vampires, King is always the king.
It's often horror and comedy that go hand in hand, when a scream turns to a laugh and an extra gallon of fake blood turns a situation from sickening to ridiculous. In Stephen King's case, it's horror and love. See Cujo, The Shining and Firestarter for prime examples of how our familial ties keep us safe, put us in danger, and terrify us. I personally believe that the reason his books became and remain so darned successful is because we love his characters and the ways they love each other. They are the light in the darkness.
Lisey's Story is a nice little tribute to the Kings; it doesn't take much suspension of disbelief to see Scott Landon = Stephen King and Lisey Landon = Tabitha King. It's common knowledge that Tabitha is the one who set the ball rolling for Stephen King (at least, set it rolling early), and they are, let's face it, #couplegoals. As are Scott and Lisey Landon.
In some ways, this is the Stephen King answer to PS, I Love You; Scott Landon, Lisey's deceased husband, has been dead for two years when Lisey finds herself on a treasure hunt of sorts, following clues left by her dear departed one. This hunt is interspersed with flashbacks to Lisey and Scott's marriage, as well as the present danger of those looking to capitalise on Scott's death.
The horror takes a bit of a back seat on this one, though it is there; there is nightmarish imagery and terrible, terrible things happen to both Scott and Lisey. The thing that will stay with you, though, is the love not only between husband and wife but between family members. Between Lisey and Amanda, and Scott and Paul.
This is a good toe-dipper book, for new fans of King, and a great reminder to his fans that even though there are no scary clowns or vampires, King is always the king.
jenmat1197's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is the story of Lisey (Lee-see). Her husband has been gone for two years and she is still grieving. Scott - her husband - was an award winning author, and now someone wants his left over papers. As Lisey sorts through them, she recalls her life with Scott and the time he got shot and almost died. Also she and her sisters have to try and help their eldest sister, Amanda who has had a mental breakdown and is locked in her own mind. Amanda and Scott were close and Lisey is going to do everything she can to bring Amanda around so they can fight the person who is trying to hurt Lisey and get Scott's legacy.
This was a pretty good book. I listened to this one and it was entertaining. It is an interesting mix of love story, lost love, family tragedy, and ghost story. I didn't find it overly haunting, but it has a lot of twists and turns due to the back and forth between past and present. Lisa was a well developed character - you could feel the love she had for her huband through her memories. I did find that I had to really follow this one - if you are an audiobook listener who tends to wander while listening, then don't listen to this one. One negative - the strange "pretend swearing" that Lisey does throughout this story was a little off putting. She had a lot of made up words for swear words and I just found it odd. Not good or bad - just odd.
Overall good story. I watched the miniseries on Apple TV and it stuck pretty close to the book.
elizabethscott's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emleemay's review against another edition
3.0
I read that this is King's favourite thing he has ever written, so I went in with high expectations. Perhaps too high. I dunno... it's alright
gordonk's review against another edition
3.0
I started reading this book back in February, and I struggled. It’s an interesting story, but over complicated in my opinion. I was finding it hard to take in and so I stopped reading it and moved on to other things. I wasn’t happy with that though, I’m a massive Stephen King fan, I had to give it another try.
Scott Landon himself said “Strap on whenever it seems appropriate”. (SOWISA)
Take two: I still think it’s over complicated and at times it was a struggle to get through, but I Was determined this time and so I soldiered on. (SOWISA)
There are some great elements here. Some of the biggest strengths of the story are the relationships. Not just that of Scott and Lisey, but that of Lisey and her sisters, and even that of Scott and his brother, Paul and their complicated relationship with their father.
Having said that, my opinion is that there is too much realism in the story, which is great on its own as a plot device, but that realism is not just in contrast to, but is also overpowering to the fantastical elements which are at play in the mind of Scott Landon. It felt to me like two separate stories which didn’t quite fit, like a jigsaw with wet pieces.
To summarise though I am still a massive Stephen King fan. Will I read this particular story again? I honestly don’t know. There are books out there which I know I definitely won’t revisit, but this isn’t the worst book in the world by a long shot, nor is it the least interesting story in King’s back catalog. It’s not in my top ten of his works, but maybe that will change in the future. I’ll give it another try if you will!
Scott Landon himself said “Strap on whenever it seems appropriate”. (SOWISA)
Take two: I still think it’s over complicated and at times it was a struggle to get through, but I Was determined this time and so I soldiered on. (SOWISA)
There are some great elements here. Some of the biggest strengths of the story are the relationships. Not just that of Scott and Lisey, but that of Lisey and her sisters, and even that of Scott and his brother, Paul and their complicated relationship with their father.
Having said that, my opinion is that there is too much realism in the story, which is great on its own as a plot device, but that realism is not just in contrast to, but is also overpowering to the fantastical elements which are at play in the mind of Scott Landon. It felt to me like two separate stories which didn’t quite fit, like a jigsaw with wet pieces.
To summarise though I am still a massive Stephen King fan. Will I read this particular story again? I honestly don’t know. There are books out there which I know I definitely won’t revisit, but this isn’t the worst book in the world by a long shot, nor is it the least interesting story in King’s back catalog. It’s not in my top ten of his works, but maybe that will change in the future. I’ll give it another try if you will!
schelibelli's review against another edition
3.0
I appreciated parts of this one, but he definitely lost me in parts.
xxfullmetalgirl22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It took me so long to read this book, I don't know why. This time I told myself I would get through it and I'm so glad I did. Lisey's journey was one of sorrow and horrifying intensity. It really is a love story one journey you won't regret embarking on. Great job on yet another one Stephen King.