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sarah_tellesbo's review against another edition
5.0
When asked which of his many works is his favorite, Stephen King has consistently identified Lisey’s Story as his best, which is why I was particularly interested in reading it. And maybe I’m biased (I’m for sure biased), but I think it’s pretty damn good.
One of the most remarkable of Stephen King’s qualities is his ability to capture the human condition— the good, the bad, the joyous, the ugly… Nothing is left out, nothing is censored. Sure, he adds a magical flare to spice things up (all those unimaginable monster things that go bump in the night), but it’s arguable that King’s best work is that in which he reflects upon our most basic experiences as humans.
King’s characters are complex; simultaneously broken and beautiful. In Lisey’s Story, for example, he develops an abusive, ill father who has committed heinous acts of brutality toward his children… AND is also capable of great love and compassion. Sounds wacky and fucked up, but that’s real life for you. As much as we crave clear-cut boxes and categories, it never fits neatly. And, if you ask me, there ain’t no monster or bump-in-the-night that’s scarier than my own, messed up human family.
This book also had a lot of mental health undertones which is always interesting for those of us who work in social services. “Gomers” and ” bad-gunky,” for instance, essentially describe the differences between internal (catatonia) and external (violence) manifestation of what I can only assume, in this case, is paranoid schizophrenia, or something along those lines.
King has mentioned that he likes this book for its insights into marriage and the intricate, private language that develops between two people over time. In addition, of course, to all the things that are inevitably left unsaid and unknown. What we leave for our other when we’re gone.
Fascinating, wonderful work. Slowly but surely we’re working ourselves out of the pit of despair that was Cell.
One of the most remarkable of Stephen King’s qualities is his ability to capture the human condition— the good, the bad, the joyous, the ugly… Nothing is left out, nothing is censored. Sure, he adds a magical flare to spice things up (all those unimaginable monster things that go bump in the night), but it’s arguable that King’s best work is that in which he reflects upon our most basic experiences as humans.
King’s characters are complex; simultaneously broken and beautiful. In Lisey’s Story, for example, he develops an abusive, ill father who has committed heinous acts of brutality toward his children… AND is also capable of great love and compassion. Sounds wacky and fucked up, but that’s real life for you. As much as we crave clear-cut boxes and categories, it never fits neatly. And, if you ask me, there ain’t no monster or bump-in-the-night that’s scarier than my own, messed up human family.
This book also had a lot of mental health undertones which is always interesting for those of us who work in social services. “Gomers” and ” bad-gunky,” for instance, essentially describe the differences between internal (catatonia) and external (violence) manifestation of what I can only assume, in this case, is paranoid schizophrenia, or something along those lines.
King has mentioned that he likes this book for its insights into marriage and the intricate, private language that develops between two people over time. In addition, of course, to all the things that are inevitably left unsaid and unknown. What we leave for our other when we’re gone.
Fascinating, wonderful work. Slowly but surely we’re working ourselves out of the pit of despair that was Cell.
sllagnire's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
xxperksxx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This might be my new favorite SK book. Perfect character and story build with just the right amount of “wtf horror”. Happy that I finished my horror book section with this one
One note though, babyluv- end the damn story.
One note though, babyluv- end the damn story.
artormey23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
macyashby's review
4.0
This is one of Stephen King's best books in a long time. It was scarier than I expected but true to King it was still amazingly touching and emotional.
veelaughtland's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Violence
bassmanvoh's review against another edition
2.0
As a fan of Stephen King and his, more often than not, captivating storytelling, I eagerly delved into "Lisey's Story" with high expectations. Especially after hearing that the Apple TV show was decent, by a co-worker. The initial stages of the book held promise. Great character development, intriguing plot threads, and a compelling mystery were all laid out on the table for me. However, as the story progressed, my excitement fell, and I found myself thoroughly disappointed with the overall story.
The book loses its grip, leaving me feeling a bit lost and confused. While I appreciate stories that jump between different time periods, the execution here proved to be a bit cumbersome. The transitions between past and present lacked clarity, making it difficult to anticipate when and where the narrative would shift. Although this confusion eventually dissipates with continued reading, the initial encounters were disconcerting and hindered my engagement with the story.
Shockingly to me the book's length became a burden, as the monotony (big word, go me) and the absence of a gratifying ending overshadowed everything. Even the big moment, where the book was suppose to show the characters getting some justice, fell flat on it's face. Not a single second of amped up suspense. OOF.
While "Lisey's Story" may not be the most disappointing addition to King's extensive collection of writing, it certainly comes close. The initial intrigue and strong character development held promise, only to be squandered by a convoluted plot structure and a lack of purpose. I cannot deny King's exceptional way with words, but when the story itself fails to support his literary prowess, it leaves readers yearning for a more fulfilling and satisfying experience, it's like reading the dictionary without any definitions. Big words with no defined meaning.
The book loses its grip, leaving me feeling a bit lost and confused. While I appreciate stories that jump between different time periods, the execution here proved to be a bit cumbersome. The transitions between past and present lacked clarity, making it difficult to anticipate when and where the narrative would shift. Although this confusion eventually dissipates with continued reading, the initial encounters were disconcerting and hindered my engagement with the story.
Shockingly to me the book's length became a burden, as the monotony (big word, go me) and the absence of a gratifying ending overshadowed everything. Even the big moment, where the book was suppose to show the characters getting some justice, fell flat on it's face. Not a single second of amped up suspense. OOF.
While "Lisey's Story" may not be the most disappointing addition to King's extensive collection of writing, it certainly comes close. The initial intrigue and strong character development held promise, only to be squandered by a convoluted plot structure and a lack of purpose. I cannot deny King's exceptional way with words, but when the story itself fails to support his literary prowess, it leaves readers yearning for a more fulfilling and satisfying experience, it's like reading the dictionary without any definitions. Big words with no defined meaning.
thypos's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
mayormccheese's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ramskick's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.25
Stephen King is an author I’ve wanted to read for a while. He is an absolute legend for how strong and prolific his bibliography is, and many people I trust list him as one of their top writers. At the same time I’ve always been intimidated by him due to the sheer volume of his work. Luckily I was given this for free and thus I can now say that I’ve read a Stephen King novel.
I’m glad to have done it too! Lisey’s Story is just a really cool read. It goes from heart-warming to terrifying to tear jerking very seamlessly. One of the things I’ve always heard in terms of King’s writing is how good he is at writing characters. After reading this I can certainly see why. He has a really firm grasp on every main character here to the point that it feels like they actually exist. The strength of his characters allows the bizarre plot to progress in a compelling way. King’s use of imagery is also fantastic, particularly when describing the surreal world known as Boo’Ya Moon. It feels like something straight out of the Twilight Zone and I’m sure I’ll see it in my dreams (and nightmares) for weeks to come.
There are weaknesses to this book. The main thing is that King really exaggerates accents to the point that I’m not even sure what I’m reading. I don’t think this book needs all the accents. There are also points where King lingers a bit too long on certain scenes. This book is over 500 pages but it could have been 450 with minimal issues. I don’t think the book is poorly edited, I just think some plot points didn’t need to drag on as long as they did.
I don’t know if I’ll be making another trip to Castle Rock, but my first time there was a very good one.