upgirlcd's review
4.0
a slow building, ever-increasing creep factor, novel by Mr. King. As I read it, it was akin to being in a bathtub of slow-to boil water. I got used to the feel of the book. By the time it got as strange and creepy as I could stand, it was too late. I had to keep reading. It was wierd as hell, but I liked the book. I felt I knew Wireman & Edgar and Jack. Wireman did steal the show from Edgar, the protagonist, I think. I may stay a little creeped out for a while. Good thing I own some silver jewelry. 4 stars
arrcristi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
raeee93's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
beccaalvey's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely brilliant book, the whole story was so interesting and so unexpected. I didn't want to put it down because I wanted to know what happened next. I think the characters in this book have to be some of my favourite Stephen King has written, I love how indepth King goes into each characters story, it really does make you connect with the book even more.
feliciar33ds's review
1.0
Listened to this one on audio book - narrated by John Slattery (seems like I didn't like him). I can't even remember if I listened to the whole thing. It was BORING.
bookishkathrine's review
2.0
A true disappointment. A cheap ending, a done-already story, blah main character, over-simplified writing.
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
I didn't think it was possible for me to hate a Stephen King book. Well, I spoke too soon.
Most of the time, I read Stephen King's books because I want to get the bitter taste of a book out of my mouth. His works have always been a palette cleanser of sorts, and they've always been at least a three-star book and above. Even the ones that really pissed me off (The Stand and The Talisman) have redeeming qualities (usually in the first two acts), earning them at least a passing grade here on Goodreads.
But not this time.
Duma Key is probably the worst Stephen King book that I've read—and I've read a hell lot of them. This book is so bad that I am giving up on it altogether, 240 pages before the end of the book. Now, you may think that this is premature, but consider this: I've already read 460 pages, and I can sum up all those pages with the following paragraph:
The protagonist, Edgar Freemantle, moves to Duma Key in Florida after being involved in an accident and losing his wife. There, he recuperates in a seaside house and learns to paint again — with a little help from the supernatural. He gradually gets back on his feet and faces his fear of 1) public speaking and 2) attending his very own art show.
Yes, the first 460 pages are devoid of supernatural elements whatsoever. Aside from an episode where the protagonist's daughter falls ill near the centre of the island, the appearance of two dead girls, the first 460 pages feature next to zero horror elements that we've come to love about King.
That is not to say that I only love King for his horror books. In fact, some of my favourites are his non-horror stuff, including The Green Mile and the more recent science fiction thriller, 11/22/63. The problem is that even though there are no horror elements to be found, there is no tension either. You literally read chapters after chapters of Edgar waking up, eating breakfast, popping some pills, taking some walks, drawing some pictures, going over to his neighbour's, feeling itches in his phantom arm, coming back home, and falling asleep. RINSE AND REPEAT. The worst part is that whenever Edgar feels that his newfound talent comes from a supernatural place, he brushes it off as if it is nothing. Even after he finds out that his neighbour can somehow read minds, both of them brush it off because, hey, who the fuck cares? It's a mysterious cove, and anything can happen around here.
But that part didn't irk me as much as the fact that this is a novella-type story at best, stretched out to a ridiculously long book. 460 pages is more than enough to test the patience of any reader out there, and it's not like King gives us a lot to work with. As much as we come to care for the characters and their relationship (Edgar's relationships with his former wife and daughters are especially endearing), you need to build those on something stronger that we can hold on to. Instead, we spend the majority of the time reading about Edgar drawing his pictures, bringing them to the art gallery, deciding which pictures to sell and which to keep, feeling nervous about giving a lecture to art collectors, figuring shit out with his wife over the phone, taking longer and longer walks, skipping medication altogether, trying to convince his friend not to commit suicide, dealing with frustrating and cryptic words from a neighbourhood old lady — WHERE THE FUCK IS THE STORY?
I fired up Wikipedia and decided to find out what happens in the next 240 pages, and if it is worth reading. After going through it in two minutes, I decided, fuck it, who cares? It doesn't look like the pay off is going to be worth my time whatsoever.
As mentioned, this is perhaps the worst Stephen King book that I've ever read, but it's bound to happen some day I guess. I am not particularly surprised at finding King's rock bottom, since it's always been there somewhere. It just sucks that I've finally come to it, and it's dull as fuck.
Most of the time, I read Stephen King's books because I want to get the bitter taste of a book out of my mouth. His works have always been a palette cleanser of sorts, and they've always been at least a three-star book and above. Even the ones that really pissed me off (The Stand and The Talisman) have redeeming qualities (usually in the first two acts), earning them at least a passing grade here on Goodreads.
But not this time.
Duma Key is probably the worst Stephen King book that I've read—and I've read a hell lot of them. This book is so bad that I am giving up on it altogether, 240 pages before the end of the book. Now, you may think that this is premature, but consider this: I've already read 460 pages, and I can sum up all those pages with the following paragraph:
The protagonist, Edgar Freemantle, moves to Duma Key in Florida after being involved in an accident and losing his wife. There, he recuperates in a seaside house and learns to paint again — with a little help from the supernatural. He gradually gets back on his feet and faces his fear of 1) public speaking and 2) attending his very own art show.
Yes, the first 460 pages are devoid of supernatural elements whatsoever. Aside from an episode where the protagonist's daughter falls ill near the centre of the island, the appearance of two dead girls, the first 460 pages feature next to zero horror elements that we've come to love about King.
That is not to say that I only love King for his horror books. In fact, some of my favourites are his non-horror stuff, including The Green Mile and the more recent science fiction thriller, 11/22/63. The problem is that even though there are no horror elements to be found, there is no tension either. You literally read chapters after chapters of Edgar waking up, eating breakfast, popping some pills, taking some walks, drawing some pictures, going over to his neighbour's, feeling itches in his phantom arm, coming back home, and falling asleep. RINSE AND REPEAT. The worst part is that whenever Edgar feels that his newfound talent comes from a supernatural place, he brushes it off as if it is nothing. Even after he finds out that his neighbour can somehow read minds, both of them brush it off because, hey, who the fuck cares? It's a mysterious cove, and anything can happen around here.
But that part didn't irk me as much as the fact that this is a novella-type story at best, stretched out to a ridiculously long book. 460 pages is more than enough to test the patience of any reader out there, and it's not like King gives us a lot to work with. As much as we come to care for the characters and their relationship (Edgar's relationships with his former wife and daughters are especially endearing), you need to build those on something stronger that we can hold on to. Instead, we spend the majority of the time reading about Edgar drawing his pictures, bringing them to the art gallery, deciding which pictures to sell and which to keep, feeling nervous about giving a lecture to art collectors, figuring shit out with his wife over the phone, taking longer and longer walks, skipping medication altogether, trying to convince his friend not to commit suicide, dealing with frustrating and cryptic words from a neighbourhood old lady — WHERE THE FUCK IS THE STORY?
I fired up Wikipedia and decided to find out what happens in the next 240 pages, and if it is worth reading. After going through it in two minutes, I decided, fuck it, who cares? It doesn't look like the pay off is going to be worth my time whatsoever.
As mentioned, this is perhaps the worst Stephen King book that I've ever read, but it's bound to happen some day I guess. I am not particularly surprised at finding King's rock bottom, since it's always been there somewhere. It just sucks that I've finally come to it, and it's dull as fuck.
zicarin's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0