Duma Key: A Novel
by Stephen King
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Book Reviews of Duma Key: A Novel
Book Review: Not King's best, nor his worst
Summary: 3 Stars
I've been reading King's newest stuff--for a while there was on a Stephen King diet, but then watching bits of The Stand on television made me want to go back and read what he's been writing since his accident.
This wasn't the best King novel I've ever read, but it wasn't the worst. What I liked: I liked the circumstances King surrounded his protaganist with. I liked the descriptions of life on Duma Key. I liked the initial plot line: Man survives horrible accident, deals with the aftermath (there will always be an aftermath), finds a hidden talent. I liked the character of Wireman, I liked how well the characters in general were developed.
It seems lately, though, King has been faltering when it comes to the final battle between the protagonist and the monster. It feels flat somehow, and as other reviews have pointed out, there's a sameness in the motifs: spooky twins from the dead (Shining), silver to defeat the undead ('Salem's Lot), some sort of ritual to defeat the monster (It), the good guys wanting to meet up in Mexico (Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption). It's as if King has taken his previous novels, tossed them in a blender and hit frappe, then plopped the result down in Florida. I do like that he stretched his geographical boundaries; I don't think he's ever set a novel in Florida before. It's certainly a change from Maine.
King is, as always, a master of the visceral descriptions, and it's clear that his recent rehab from his own horrific accident was reflected in his ability to make the reader feel what Edgar deals with while recovering from his accident and amputation. He makes the reader feel as though he's there, and the dialogue is nearly always spot-on. But this isn't his best, because it doesn't feel original or groundbreaking. It's readable, and I don't regret reading it, but it's not a King novel I'm going to want to go back and read again later, as with Eyes of the Dragon or Misery.
Book Review: Welcome Back Stephen!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been reading Stephen King books since 1979. I was always on watch at stores anxiously awaiting the next new one to be released (in those days there was no Amazon.com to tell me in advance I could order and exactly when it would arrive).
I devoured King's book all these years and mostly walked away fulfilled and content. There certainly were times that I would get ANGRY with him (why oh why is it taking you so long to finish The Gunslinger series...???), but mostly I was thrilled when the new book arrived and spellbound when I finished it. I certainly was one of the "constant readers" King always talked about.
At some point it seemed to me that King began taking shortcuts. His books would begin with interest, but it seemed to me that an interesting concept would take very bland turns in the story, and the ending would be something that "would work" as opposed to being really King-worthy. The intense characterization that King is known for became weak.
I recall reading The Stand, or Salem's Lot, or Christine. The characters' thoughts and histories were explained so well and in such detail that not only did you find those completely alien acts they did and situations they were in to be NORMAL, you also UNDERSTOOD and further EXPECTED those actions from them. You knew those characters so well, the same actions in another author's book that would be laughable became very, very real in King's. This, to me, was the popularity of King -- that ability he had to make you BE the character, not just read about him/her.
I have no doubt that King's "constant readers" know exactly what I'm talking about. And that they recognized the lack of that depth in his last several books.
I am most happy to announce to them, that Dumas Key has brought back the old ability to BE the character, and that the story was as gripping and intensely interesting as anything he has ever written.
Welcome back, Stephen.
Debi Drick
Book Review: ... and that's why King is King
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no way to tell you about the story without ruining it, something I wouldn't dare do even if they came to my doorstep with a tray loaded with cheese fries smothered in bacon. Mr. King's latest, Duma Key, is something that I think needs to be experienced with as little knowledge going into it as possible. The book runs about 600 pages give or take and for about the first 300, I read it very slowly. Why, you ask? Think about how you savor a dish that you don't want to end. That's exactly what I was feeling as I read this book. The combination of anticipation and dread as I read on was a feeling I haven't experienced too many times before. The book is frightening indeed and clearly serves to show that the man has not lost his touch, especially when it comes to giving you a clear idea of exactly what it is that lurks in the shadows of your worst nightmares. I didn't want the book to end but at the same time, I absolutely could not wait to see how things would turn out. I love the slow build up and how King just feeds you tiny bits of info here and there, akin to a hand that appears from time to time to lead you out of a dark cave, only to suddenly disappear and leave you fumbling again for awhile before leading you again. I'm sure anyone familiar with King and the accident that nearly claimed his life years ago will sense how personal this story is. There are a lot of things going on underneath the story itself and I'm sure that for King to successfully paint the picture of Edgar Freemantle, the story's protagonist, he didn't have to dig too deep. That's another thing worth mentioning, the characters in this story are wonderfully realized, enough so that I was almost brought to tears on several occasions.
I'll leave off here but not before saying that this is one of King's best books and an absolute must read, especially if you appreciate the man like I do. And read it cold before someone ruins it for you.
Book Review: A Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephen King's newest novel, "Duma Key" is, to put it simply, great. I admit to being a pretty hard-core SK fan, having read everything that he has written - usually within a week or so of its release. I think King is a great writer, regardless of subject matter or genre. Like every writer, the great and the not-so-great, some of his works are better than others. "Duma Key" is right up there with his best. I won't bother describing the plot (which is great) since you have already seen that from the publisher's description and the other reviews. And for me, as good as the plot is, the writing is even better.
King has clearly matured over the years. He can still describe horrific scenes graphically with tremendous clarity and emotional impact. And he still does. But he has also mellowed. Somehow now he is able to evoke the same memorable visceral responses as in scenes from Cujo or The Stand, but in a more refined and distilled way. He can still write long novels (Duma is about 600 pages long) but one gets the feeling that compared to 20 years ago he says more with less. His prose is crisp and clean and sometimes really memorable. There is some great dialogue in the book and some of the best is spoken not by the main character, Edgar, but by his close friend Wireman.
King's recent work seems to express more emotion and express it better than ever before, and this is in evidence in Duma Key. There are a lot of relationships in this novel. The relationships between Edgar Freemantle and his daughters and his wife, Edgar and Wireman, and Wireman and Elizabeth Eastlake are slowly unfurled and become richer and more complex as the story moves along. Good things turn bad and things heat up rapidly during the last quarter of the book, and it was tough to put down. I think just about all SK fans will thoroughly enjoy this book. I think it also may turn a bunch of new readers into converts too.
Book Review: Florida Ghost Story Builds Slowly to Thrilling Climax
Summary: 4 Stars
One of Stephen King's most enjoyable types of stories features an ordinary person faced with an extraordinary circumstance, whether it be aliens, vampires or ghosts. Duma Key falls within this type. However, this story dwells deep into the humanity of its main character before developing its supernatural conflict. In many respects, this is two books in one, both of which are quite enjoyable.
In part one, construction company owner Edgar Freemantle must put his life back together after he is maimed in an accident with a crane. The accident shatters his life on many levels, causing the loss of an arm, scrambling his brain and resulting in the end of his marriage. He turns to Florida for a change of scenery and for rehabilitatation. He gradually learns to walk again and discovers a latent talent for painting. He also connects with his eccentric neighbors, Elizabeth Eastlake and Jerome Wireman. This half of the book provides a diverting human interest story, but is prologue for the real action of the story.
As the story develops, Freemantle's artistic talents start to take on a life of their own as he paints surreal scenes that do not come from inside of him. As he gets to know his eccentric neighbors, he learns that he is not the first to have unusual artistic visions on the island. He also learns that there is a dark mystery dating back 80 years. By the time the reader gets to this point, the languid pace of the first half has given way to a gallop. The last 250 pages are hard to put down as the one-armed artist and his companions must face the evil which is stirring again.
This book takes a while to digest. The slow-going pace of the early pages requires the reader to take a patient attitude. However, the slow beginning gives the author time to explore the characters and locale before the action takes over and drives the story home.