Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Doctor Sleep; Stephen King


Title:  Doctor Sleep 
Author: Stephen King 
Publication Year:  2013
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster
Edition: audio 
Reader: Will Patton (excellent)
Source: publisher
Date Completed: Sept - 2013
Rating: 5/5

Stephen King fans are in for a treat with Doctor Sleep; it's much better than I could have imagined. I anticipated for months how this sequel to The Shining might possibly play out, and my imaginings never came close to predicting how this one might shake out. Plan to read this one when you are sure to have a uninterrupted time, as you will not want to put this one down until you've finished the entire novel.

So yes, Danny Torrance, the little boy with the "the shining", is back in the sequel. He's all grown up now. He's battled alcoholism, and is winning the fight. He works at a facility for hospice patients called, the Rivington House in a small NH town. To his coworkers, he's referred to as, Doctor Sleep, as he, along with Azee the cat, have a way of helping guests there leave this world behind when the their time has come.

As Danny has aged, and since he has stopped drinking, his "shining" abilities are not as powerful as they once were. There is, however, someone who has been communicating with Danny in unusual ways, whose "shining" abilities far exceed anything Danny was ever capable of. Her name is Abra (Abby) Stone. Abra, even before she could walk and talk was trying to warn others about bad things that would and did happen. At just 11 years old, her powers are stronger than ever, and her parents and Danny fear for her safety.

Rattlesnake, Rosie the Hat, Snakebite Andi, Crow Daddy, Walnut, Mr. Business Man, Mr. Dealer Man and more, are a motley crew, part of a group called: The True Knot, the Steam Heads. The group travels cross country in RV clusters, and to the average person, their attire of cheap sun glasses, fishing hats, stretch pants and attention getting bumper stickers makes them appear like many other retirees traveling in RVs. Believing that they are regular folks would be dangerous, because they really are not interested in seeing the sites in their RV. They have a special agenda, and a special interest in talented young "shining" ones like Abra.

Although Doctor Sleep is a sequel to The Shining, it can be read as a stand-alone novel. I was happy that there were references to the Overlook Hotel, and also to other characters from The Shining. Most were referred to briefly like: Jack and Wendy (Danny's parents), Richard (Dick) Hallorann, who saved the lives of the Torrance family when the Overlook was destroyed by fire. Also mentioned was Mrs Massey, Room 217, Horace Dorman, as well as Tony, Danny's imaginary friend. It was good to have their names reappear, even briefly in Doctor Sleep.

For me, this one is "classic Stephen King". When I read phrases like "eyes dripping and bloated", I smiled. This is the Stephen King, I love the best. READ IT!

(audio book provided to me by Simon & Schuster)

28 comments:

  1. Aw my copy is arriving next week! I don't want even the tiniest of spoilers so all I've read of your review is the five-star rating and the last few lines. But they were enough to get me totally excited. Can't wait to read this!!

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  2. The Shining scared the daylights out of me. I had to read it back in the late 70s during the day on the beach. Couldn't even read it in my house. So, how scary is this one??

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    1. I was not disturbed The Shining, so I probably would not be the best person to ask...LOL

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  3. Nice review, Diane. I haven't read a Stephen King novel in a very long time because they started getting too creepy for me. I did buy a copy of 11/22/63 when it came out, but haven't read it yet. I may give this new one a try.

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  4. I like to read about Stephen King; I just don't like to read him. My imagination won't let me enjoy his books without nightmares :)(

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  5. Okay, I am totally not reading your full review because I don't want to ruin a thing!! I am so excited to read this one. I am trying to hold off starting it until Monday when the read-along starts. We will see if temptation wins out though!!

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  6. So glad you posted this review. I'm signed up for Tif's read-along and a little leary of it. Now I'm just excited and hoping my book's in the mail today. Thanks!

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  7. I didn't read your review because as you already know I'll be listening to it after the one I've got on the go now. I'm just excited that you rated it with a 5. I can't wait!

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  8. I am so glad you enjoyed this, Diane, as it's on my TBR list. I loved The Shining (movie) and this sequel sounds superb.

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    1. The reviews are all over the place, but for me --I thought it was terrific.

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  9. It seems like everything King writes these days turns to gold. He went through such an awful period in the late 80s and 90s but literally everything he has written since the turn of the millennium has been stellar. I haven't read Doctor Sleep yet but given his recent track record, I'm not going to hesitate when the opportunity arises.

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  10. I've not read the Shining but of course saw the movie so I'd be very curious to read this one. Glad to hear it lived up to your expectations! I love it when sequels are great.

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  11. Even though I liked The Shining and just reacquainted myself with King with much success, for some reason, this one hasn't appealed to me. But 5/5 stars does appeal to me. I can see that I'm going to come around about this one!

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  12. One of these days I really should get back to Stephen King. I haven't read him in years!

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  13. I'll have to check this one out at some point. Glad you loved it.

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  14. I'm getting my copy tomorrow so I'm waiting to read your review. I was thrilled to see how much you liked the book...I know what I'll be reading this weekend and well into the night!
    I'm so glad you enjoyed this book, Diane!

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  15. I just read The Shining for the first time this year and I'm so excited to hear the sequel is good! Can't wait to check it out.

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  16. The Shining isn't a favorite of mine, but it would be nice to catch up with Danny!

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  17. I'm listening to this one now and am about a quarter of the way through. Classic Stephen King for sure and you're right about not wanting to stop... I just started it yesterday.

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  18. I'm so happy you loved it this much! Hurray! I've been avoiding most reviews, mostly so I can come to it free of expectation. Your review was just the thing though - good Stephen King to look forward to. As I just finished re-reading The Shining, everything is fresh in my mind. I am going to wait for a stretch of time, hoping next weekend I can take time away to lose myself in it. Lovely review, Diane. I am really delighted you enjoyed it so much.

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  19. Stephen King did a launch talk in Boulder and I wasn't quick enough to get a ticket, but this is high on the list of books I want to read soon. Sounds absolutely terrific.

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  20. I certainly will read this. Have just read The Shining in preparation.
    Lynn :D

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  21. HI Diane - I just did my review for Doctor Sleep, at last! I really enjoyed it. I'm going to link to yours, I was looking for it but google search didn't come up with it.

    I ended up liking it as much as I do The Shining, though for different reasons! I'm so thrilled that I do like the sequel as much. Dan grown up is interesting, and so is his story.

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  22. I have just finished reading this and I wasn't disappointed. You're right this can be read as a stand alone novel, but fans of 'The Shining' will be happy too I think. I am planning to do a review of this on my blog soon.

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