Thoughts after reading...

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sarahg123

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2015
57
188
Ok, so. Just finished reading & my first thought was "Stephen King Lite". I've read a lot of reviews & know a lot of people loved this novel, and I did, too, but I have to say (even though I've only read a couple of his books, what I imagine his most "scary") I thought this book was
almost beneath SK's typically incredible story lines. This book almost felt Young Adult to me, and not just because one of the main characters was a teenager. The parts that could have been really creepy, the parts that harkened back to Danny's past at the overlook, seemed stunted. Now, to be fair, this novel did include SK's seemingly trademark characterization of humans, touching on Dan's humanity and whatnot, but again, that felt stunted. Dan had a huge character arc, but it seemed superficial, only the surface scratched. Almost like SK had a point to make (Dan became his father, then changed like *gasp* Jack didn't)and once made, that was it. Another thing that bothered me for whatever reason, the supermarket line novel twist that *gasp!* Jack had an affair and Dan had a half sister! The mother of the girl who had contacted Dan, Abra. Again, I get it, connection not coincidence BUT come on. I feel like, even though SK wrote this years after the Shining, that somewhere in the Shining, Wendy would have felt that Jack could potentially be unfaithful but that wasn't even a concern. Jack didn't come across as the "party boy" as Dan said, he was a violent, explosive drunk. Like I said, I doubt SK had the sexual in mind as he wrote the shining, but infedelity wasn't an issue, so to make Jack out as a "party boy" seemed like a far stretch, or like a lot of plot had been omitted. Some of the characters felt just..there. Like Doctor John. I didn't get anything from him, except support, which I guess any major character needs. I thought the dialogue to be superficial, and I couldn't really imagine Abra saying most of hers either. I thought Rose was mostly blowing smoke, I wasn't scared of her and never thought she would get what she wanted in the end. I was never afraid that something would happen to Abra or Dan, not like in the shining when I was sick thinking Dick would meet his end at the Overlook, or that Wendy would actually die from Jack's attacks. I guess the Hotel was like a sleeping, creeping murderer, whereas Rose and the True were so overconfident and well, stupid.

All in all, I liked this book, but I also didn't. I love Dan. I really do. And Billy Freeman was an excellent "sidekick" I guess I'd call him. But, and I'm sorry if some of you are screaming at me through your monitor, but I just felt this book rushed and superficial and not anywhere near the quality of the other two novels of SK I have read. I'm not writer or critic, but I just wasn't left emotionally touched by this book at all. :a24:
 

sarahg123

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2015
57
188
Also, one last thing that just struck me as just "stuck in there"...

Abra rubbing her lips, remenicient of Jack has his alcoholic "tick". I picked up on that right away, before Dan even made note of the familiarity of it. But, I thought again, a far stretch. Why would Abra's nervous habit be like that of an alcoholic half-grandfather (?) she never knew existed? That "connection" seemed forced. I don't remember if Danny had a nervous habit, but why not make it similar to his? That would have made more sense to me, although even more forced probably.
 

Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
May 9, 2010
2,906
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I'll say this:

It was "cleaner" than most of my favorite King stories, meaning that the good guys didn't really take very muck flak in this one (comparatively) if I'm remembering correctly.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, and while I might not agree with the descriptive, I can see where the phrase "King-Lite" comes from.
 

sarahg123

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2015
57
188
...I had to let my brain chew on it for a while...the initial flavor was mixed, but the aftertaste was good....

I really liked Dan. I thought he was funny & genuinely a good person.
I liked the part where Jack's ghost helped them kill Rose at the end, but I think there could have been more conflicting emotions about Jack throughout the book
for every pro, I seem to find a con. I don't want to hate on this book, it just wasn't what I expected I guess
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
I enjoyed Dr. Sleep. It was definitely not what I expected, but I think that's why I liked it....it wasn't how I would have pictured Danny to have grown up, but Danny is Stephen King's character....he knows him better than any of us, so it was just right.

Not everyone likes the same things.....I think I'm the only person on the planet who didn't like 11/22/63....just wasn't my thing.
I was still able to find things in the story that I liked, though.
 

Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
May 9, 2010
2,906
6,242
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I enjoyed Dr. Sleep. It was definitely not what I expected, but I think that's why I liked it....it wasn't how I would have pictured Danny to have grown up, but Danny is Stephen King's character....he knows him better than any of us, so it was just right.

Not everyone likes the same things.....I think I'm the only person on the planet who didn't like 11/22/63....just wasn't my thing.
I was still able to find things in the story that I liked, though.

This^ right here is the key for me. In a catalog as prolific as King's, it's not reasonable to expect to love (or even like) everything with equal fervor. Not liking a particular story is not the same thing as thinking it's a "bad" story. Not everything appeals to everybody, even among those who generally admire the same things. There are King stories that do not appeal to me, but I can't think of one (unless maybe it's The Gunslinger . . . maybe) that didn't have at least some redeeming quality.
 

Sundrop

Sunny the Great & Wonderful
Jun 12, 2008
28,520
156,619
This^ right here is the key for me. In a catalog as prolific as King's, it's not reasonable to expect to love (or even like) everything with equal fervor. Not liking a particular story is not the same thing as thinking it's a "bad" story. Not everything appeals to everybody, even among those who generally admire the same things. There are King stories that do not appeal to me, but I can't think of one (unless maybe it's The Gunslinger . . . maybe) that didn't have at least some redeeming quality.
The Gunslinger had that most awesome opening line...... It set the stage for the entire journey.
 

sarahg123

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2015
57
188
This^ right here is the key for me. In a catalog as prolific as King's, it's not reasonable to expect to love (or even like) everything with equal fervor. Not liking a particular story is not the same thing as thinking it's a "bad" story. Not everything appeals to everybody, even among those who generally admire the same things. There are King stories that do not appeal to me, but I can't think of one (unless maybe it's The Gunslinger . . . maybe) that didn't have at least some redeeming quality.
Good points. I think I was coming off the high of reading two really incredible books and was beginning to think I'd like them all almost as equally. Ah well, I don't regret reading it or anything and wouldn't say it was "bad", just not a favorite.
 

AudioArtist

Well-Known Member
Sep 25, 2015
73
379
43
I have to agree that the knot did come across over confident, but they aren't used to being balked.
Overall I liked the book and I think that most did just to catch up with Danny all grown up is cool. "Let's drop in and see how this kid came out, he did get put through it you know."
I think that the other young kid...
Jack sawyer from The Talisman's return appearance in Black House was better put together and a more interesting story. And of course the obvious DT tie ins make it an outlying piece of the masterpiece.
 

sarahg123

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2015
57
188
I have to agree that the knot did come across over confident, but they aren't used to being balked.
Overall I liked the book and I think that most did just to catch up with Danny all grown up is cool. "Let's drop in and see how this kid came out, he did get put through it you know."
I think that the other young kid...
Jack sawyer from The Talisman's return appearance in Black House was better put together and a more interesting story. And of course the obvious DT tie ins make it an outlying piece of the masterpiece.
Well now I have to read The Talisman! I love when books are tied together. Your point about Danny...
i don't know what I expected. Probably in my idealist mind, Danny grew up the total antithesis of his dad, never drank a drop of alcohol yada yada. But what fun would that be I guess.
 

AudioArtist

Well-Known Member
Sep 25, 2015
73
379
43
Well now I have to read The Talisman! I love when books are tied together. Your point about Danny...
i don't know what I expected. Probably in my idealist mind, Danny grew up the total antithesis of his dad, never drank a drop of alcohol yada yada. But what fun would that be I guess.

The Talisman is great! I can 99% guarantee that you'll like that book. Have you read Black house already? If not the read that one second, of course. :)

King has quite a lot of characters floating around that are alcoholics and I get the feeling that he has a good knowledge of the genetic and environment factors that are stacked up against people who come from families with a history.
I think that Danny's own struggle throughout Dr. Sleep with his problem is definitely one of the defining elements of his character. From the super low points to his constant struggle over it, it adds a well informed and believable depth to him.