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A review by idratherbereading542
Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
2.0
2.5 stars
- MC's: Dan Torrance, Abra Stone
- POVs Inclided: Multiple POVs (Dan, Abra, Several of the True Knot members)
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SUMMARY: (SPOILER WARNING)
Dan Torrance's Shining abilities have lessened in intensity over the years. Not completely gone, but not as intense. Until he unwittingly makes mental contact with a girl who also has the Shining and is incredibly powerful.
The girl has found out about a cult group known as The True Knot who siphon energy and life (known as steam) from people who have the Shining. And she reaches out to Dan for help.
As they work to take out the members of The True Knot, they form a bond over the Shining. And they discover that they are related (Dan is her Uncle -- Jack was Abra's mother, Lucy's, father).
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REVIEW:
This is the second Stephen King novel I've read (the first being The Shining) and I am convinced that we are just not compatible. I have many issues with his writing style and narrative that make getting through his super long and slow books difficult.
The first issue is that they just aren't scary. I don't understand how his books are labeled as horror. Maybe thrillers, but not that gripping except for brief moments here and there.
The other (and biggest) issue I have is that his writing style is very long winded and scattered. It just feels unedited to me. There are so many internal thoughts and offshoot-tangents that it really takes you out of the story.
Now, I think I enjoyed The Shining marginally better than this one. Because at least The Shining had some horror-like moments near the end there. This one was kind of a mess.
The True Knot "eats" kids who have the Shining. I don't get how exactly, but they do. Something about extracting their "steam" as they die slowly. It's rather confusing. But when they drink this steam, it enables them to live longer. It's a very weird and strange plot line, but I suppose the basis of it sounds interesting enough and provides a platform to understanding the Shining more.
Unfortunately we don't get into understanding the Shining any more than we already do. It just is what it is.
We do meet a young girl (thirteen) who has the Shining even stronger than Dan believes he ever did. Abra is powerful and the two of them bond over their Shining powers. I did find their relationship a little weird and uncomfortable. Abra has some swoony internal thoughts about Dan and Dan mentions on several occasions how beautiful she is. But she is thirteen, and ends up being his niece. There aren't any outright romantic feelings between them, but the whole situation and their interactions were rather skeevy-sounding to me.
The story itself had its moments of being interesting. I think once it got to Part 2 where they are working to take down The True Knot together, the story moves along a little better. But Part 1, where the story is being setup, felt disjointed and rather boring.
At this point I don't have much hope for other Stephen King novels. I don't really get why they are so popular. They aren't even scary. I might try some of them just for the sake of curiosity. But I don't know...one day maybe.
Overall the book was meh. It is kind of weird and a little boring. A tad bit interesting here and there, but not enough that I'd recommend it.
- MC's: Dan Torrance, Abra Stone
- POVs Inclided: Multiple POVs (Dan, Abra, Several of the True Knot members)
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
SUMMARY: (SPOILER WARNING)
Dan Torrance's Shining abilities have lessened in intensity over the years. Not completely gone, but not as intense. Until he unwittingly makes mental contact with a girl who also has the Shining and is incredibly powerful.
The girl has found out about a cult group known as The True Knot who siphon energy and life (known as steam) from people who have the Shining. And she reaches out to Dan for help.
As they work to take out the members of The True Knot, they form a bond over the Shining. And they discover that they are related (Dan is her Uncle -- Jack was Abra's mother, Lucy's, father).
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
REVIEW:
This is the second Stephen King novel I've read (the first being The Shining) and I am convinced that we are just not compatible. I have many issues with his writing style and narrative that make getting through his super long and slow books difficult.
The first issue is that they just aren't scary. I don't understand how his books are labeled as horror. Maybe thrillers, but not that gripping except for brief moments here and there.
The other (and biggest) issue I have is that his writing style is very long winded and scattered. It just feels unedited to me. There are so many internal thoughts and offshoot-tangents that it really takes you out of the story.
Now, I think I enjoyed The Shining marginally better than this one. Because at least The Shining had some horror-like moments near the end there. This one was kind of a mess.
The True Knot "eats" kids who have the Shining. I don't get how exactly, but they do. Something about extracting their "steam" as they die slowly. It's rather confusing. But when they drink this steam, it enables them to live longer. It's a very weird and strange plot line, but I suppose the basis of it sounds interesting enough and provides a platform to understanding the Shining more.
Unfortunately we don't get into understanding the Shining any more than we already do. It just is what it is.
We do meet a young girl (thirteen) who has the Shining even stronger than Dan believes he ever did. Abra is powerful and the two of them bond over their Shining powers. I did find their relationship a little weird and uncomfortable. Abra has some swoony internal thoughts about Dan and Dan mentions on several occasions how beautiful she is. But she is thirteen, and ends up being his niece. There aren't any outright romantic feelings between them, but the whole situation and their interactions were rather skeevy-sounding to me.
The story itself had its moments of being interesting. I think once it got to Part 2 where they are working to take down The True Knot together, the story moves along a little better. But Part 1, where the story is being setup, felt disjointed and rather boring.
At this point I don't have much hope for other Stephen King novels. I don't really get why they are so popular. They aren't even scary. I might try some of them just for the sake of curiosity. But I don't know...one day maybe.
Overall the book was meh. It is kind of weird and a little boring. A tad bit interesting here and there, but not enough that I'd recommend it.