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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I thought the story was well written and that the narrative unwound in a way that made sense, even though it wasn’t linear. The general subject matter of the book (primarily focusing on domestic relationships/responsibilities of the MC) isn’t my cup of tea though. So while. I didn’t hate the book, it also didn’t do much for me.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
King's characters are so relatable and real. I felt like I knew her. 👑
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
4,5☆
"De ma fraieresti o data, rusine sa-ti fie; de ma fraieresti a doua oara, rusine sa-mi fie."
"De ma fraieresti o data, rusine sa-ti fie; de ma fraieresti a doua oara, rusine sa-mi fie."
Exceeded my expectations completely. I didn’t know what to really expect, but being my favorite author, I knew it would at least be good. This was a rollercoaster of emotion. A lot of tough subject matter, as to be expected from King. The whole story really comes together and is so hard to put down. About as close to five stars as you can come. 9/10
Edit: Updating this to five stars. It truly deserves it.
Edit: Updating this to five stars. It truly deserves it.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Critical Score: A-
Personal Score: A
I first read this book when I was a junior or senior in high school and loved it. I soon after watched the movie and loved it as much as, if not slightly more than, the book. For a long time, I had considered this title to be one of my absolute favorites of King’s. I am so relieved to say that, after reading it now for a second time, I still feel that way.
This book gives us a masterclass in character writing and voice. Dolores is raw, rich, and rowdy. I adore her.
The plot goes by fast and held me in its grip me the whole way through. The motifs and symbolism are thoughtful (the eye, the eclipse, the well). The character relationships are complex.
The form of the novel, as a transcript of a confession to the cops, is surprisingly successful, making the narrative more visceral and full-speed ahead. King pulls off a tough concept. He has no chapter breaks, or even scene breaks, and that never felt like a burden to me. It does inevitably lead to some holes and missed opportunities in the narrative, however, and I’ll address those later in my discussion of the film adaptation.
Best of all is the feminism. It may be one of the very few types of feminism that King can write well—that of working class motherhood and domestic abuse—but, boy, does he write it well here. The book plunges into misogyny without feeling preachy or try-hard. Dolores is a phenomenally strong and realistic female lead, one of my favorite characters across all of his stories, if not my very favorite.
The class commentary feeds into the story quite well, too.
I’m sad that I can’t give this book 5 stars, though, and that’s because it doesn’t quite stick the landing. Why is Dolores not charged with the murder of her husband? I can think of reasons why the cops don’t feel motivated to bring it to trial, but that does feel like a bit of stretch, especially when nothing in the book even indicates that this is a question that needs to be addressed.
Also, I’m not quite convinced of the necessity in having the plot twist about Vera’s kids being dead all along, unless it’s to justify why Dolores gets the inheritance, but she goes and gives it away (anonymously, too, of course), so what was the point of all that? I think it’s a little goofy to have the dead kids, whereas having Vera truly estranged from living kids, because she’s a terribly mean person who killed their dad, feels more poignant and aligned with the novel’s themes. But hey, it’s not my book.
The movie shows how much *even better* this story could be. The novel’s form limits it from having the scenes the movie gives us: the tension between Dolores and the investigator (who’s not even in the book’s present) over the span of days, the development in Dolores’s relationship with Selena upon her visit to the island, and an alternate ending wherein she confesses to Joe’s murder to Selena, not the cops, resolving the question about her being charged for the crime and giving Selena a role to play in getting her mom off the investigator’s hook. The movie really is a thriller with a lot happening in the present beyond a recorded confession, whereas the novel is simply Dolores’s thrilling life story. Note: I still need to rewatch the movie.
All of this isn’t to say the book isn’t excellent as it stands. I still love it after all this time, and I wish it got more attention from fans. It’s a little gem that proves King can write women well when he sets his mind to it.
Critical Score: A-
Personal Score: A
I first read this book when I was a junior or senior in high school and loved it. I soon after watched the movie and loved it as much as, if not slightly more than, the book. For a long time, I had considered this title to be one of my absolute favorites of King’s. I am so relieved to say that, after reading it now for a second time, I still feel that way.
This book gives us a masterclass in character writing and voice. Dolores is raw, rich, and rowdy. I adore her.
The plot goes by fast and held me in its grip me the whole way through. The motifs and symbolism are thoughtful (the eye, the eclipse, the well). The character relationships are complex.
The form of the novel, as a transcript of a confession to the cops, is surprisingly successful, making the narrative more visceral and full-speed ahead. King pulls off a tough concept. He has no chapter breaks, or even scene breaks, and that never felt like a burden to me. It does inevitably lead to some holes and missed opportunities in the narrative, however, and I’ll address those later in my discussion of the film adaptation.
Best of all is the feminism. It may be one of the very few types of feminism that King can write well—that of working class motherhood and domestic abuse—but, boy, does he write it well here. The book plunges into misogyny without feeling preachy or try-hard. Dolores is a phenomenally strong and realistic female lead, one of my favorite characters across all of his stories, if not my very favorite.
The class commentary feeds into the story quite well, too.
I’m sad that I can’t give this book 5 stars, though, and that’s because it doesn’t quite stick the landing. Why is Dolores not charged with the murder of her husband? I can think of reasons why the cops don’t feel motivated to bring it to trial, but that does feel like a bit of stretch, especially when nothing in the book even indicates that this is a question that needs to be addressed.
Also, I’m not quite convinced of the necessity in having the plot twist about Vera’s kids being dead all along, unless it’s to justify why Dolores gets the inheritance, but she goes and gives it away (anonymously, too, of course), so what was the point of all that? I think it’s a little goofy to have the dead kids, whereas having Vera truly estranged from living kids, because she’s a terribly mean person who killed their dad, feels more poignant and aligned with the novel’s themes. But hey, it’s not my book.
The movie shows how much *even better* this story could be. The novel’s form limits it from having the scenes the movie gives us: the tension between Dolores and the investigator (who’s not even in the book’s present) over the span of days, the development in Dolores’s relationship with Selena upon her visit to the island, and an alternate ending wherein she confesses to Joe’s murder to Selena, not the cops, resolving the question about her being charged for the crime and giving Selena a role to play in getting her mom off the investigator’s hook. The movie really is a thriller with a lot happening in the present beyond a recorded confession, whereas the novel is simply Dolores’s thrilling life story. Note: I still need to rewatch the movie.
All of this isn’t to say the book isn’t excellent as it stands. I still love it after all this time, and I wish it got more attention from fans. It’s a little gem that proves King can write women well when he sets his mind to it.