Scan barcode
A review by sarahetc
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
1.0
Sometimes we are in a season of life where we can't appreciate things for what they are. I am in one now that does not let me appreciate this book for what it is-- the story of little Danny Torrance and how he grew up to become Doctor Sleep and also how he helped to expiate the sins and horrors of his past by playing the role of teacher and mentor in the Shine the way Dick Hallorann taught and mentored him.
That's the premise and it's great. It's probably pretty good in the execution as well, but I listened to the book, rather than read it, and the actor is stonkingly awful. Like, mind-blowingly awful. I have done enough voice over work to make upwards of $200 and I'm pretty sure I could have done a better job, and a better Irish accent. So I take full responsibility for my consumption, but I still listened to actual words and when it comes to the words, there were just too many of them.
I think for a long time now, maybe since the accident, maybe since he jumped the shark, then turned around, lassoed it and used it to jump yet more sharks in Song of Susannah, that King is out of big, scary, heart-rending, mind-blowing novels. It's nothing to be ashamed of and really, it's to be expected. So few intensely creative people can keep giving 100% gold their whole lives. King's tenure was longer than most. But this read, like so many things lately, like a short story that just kept getting crap tacked on to beef it up to Standard King. God forbid he just put any ol' 350 pager out there for the sake of telling a story.
Those technicalities aside, I think the real story is the story of Dan's recovery. And in many ways, that's some of King's best writing, and where Dan really comes alive. Abra, Rose and the The True Knot all seem like distractions from the real nugget of truth King is getting at, in life and in character. The True Knot itself seems to be cobbled together, all higgeldy-piggeldy, from other baddies he might have had running around in his head, with some spooky gibberish thrown in, because it's Stephen King and there must be spooky gibberish.
Which brings us to seasons in life. I am in a season of recovery. Meaning that I am just like Dan and go to meetings and share and repeat all the little aphorisms all the time because I can't deal with life on life's terms. So perhaps my opinion is skewed because I saw a little of myself in Dan Torrance (and his father, and his grandfather) and instead of accepting those characters for whom they really were, I just kept trying to see more of myself.
That's the premise and it's great. It's probably pretty good in the execution as well, but I listened to the book, rather than read it, and the actor is stonkingly awful. Like, mind-blowingly awful. I have done enough voice over work to make upwards of $200 and I'm pretty sure I could have done a better job, and a better Irish accent. So I take full responsibility for my consumption, but I still listened to actual words and when it comes to the words, there were just too many of them.
I think for a long time now, maybe since the accident, maybe since he jumped the shark, then turned around, lassoed it and used it to jump yet more sharks in Song of Susannah, that King is out of big, scary, heart-rending, mind-blowing novels. It's nothing to be ashamed of and really, it's to be expected. So few intensely creative people can keep giving 100% gold their whole lives. King's tenure was longer than most. But this read, like so many things lately, like a short story that just kept getting crap tacked on to beef it up to Standard King. God forbid he just put any ol' 350 pager out there for the sake of telling a story.
Those technicalities aside, I think the real story is the story of Dan's recovery. And in many ways, that's some of King's best writing, and where Dan really comes alive. Abra, Rose and the The True Knot all seem like distractions from the real nugget of truth King is getting at, in life and in character. The True Knot itself seems to be cobbled together, all higgeldy-piggeldy, from other baddies he might have had running around in his head, with some spooky gibberish thrown in, because it's Stephen King and there must be spooky gibberish.
Which brings us to seasons in life. I am in a season of recovery. Meaning that I am just like Dan and go to meetings and share and repeat all the little aphorisms all the time because I can't deal with life on life's terms. So perhaps my opinion is skewed because I saw a little of myself in Dan Torrance (and his father, and his grandfather) and instead of accepting those characters for whom they really were, I just kept trying to see more of myself.