Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I’m deeply disappointed... was that plot supposed to be good?
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
it sort of felt forced in a weird way? it felt dense but i also didn't think that much happened, it rushed some parts and then lingered on others too long. it just felt weird. i guess i enjoyed it, and im glad i read it. i don't think it compares at all to the shining but its not bad. meh.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In the Author's Note, King himself states that he doesn't expect anyone to like Doctor Sleep over The Shinning as sequels are never as good as their origins. Personally, I think of Doctor Sleep as more a continuation, and frankly I found it even more encapsulating. I think with The Shinning I could tell myself "well, I wouldn't stay in a haunted hotel, so I'm safe from that scenario." Whereas, the danger of strangers entering your real life was just more plausible and inevitably unavoidable to me.
I may have uncovered a new fear of camper vans and nomads to go along with my already irrational fear of cults and kidnapping.
I may have uncovered a new fear of camper vans and nomads to go along with my already irrational fear of cults and kidnapping.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's been a long time since I read Stephen King. The last work of his I recall buying was Cell, yet in his earlier career I voraciously devoured anything that came from his word processor. And though I liked The Shining, it didn't blow me away or strike me as anything overly special - even as an impressionable teenager. In fact, I recall it being rather plodding in pace.
All of which explains why it took me so long to getting round to Doctor Sleep. I wasn't that fussed and there were so many other books on my TBR pile that looked more exciting. But then I decided I may as well listen to an audio book while training for an upcoming marathon. I thought it would break me out of my "running to the beat" habit I was lapsing into on my longer runs. And Doctor Sleep seemed like it could fit the bill as something I could lose myself to while on the move.
After a fantastic opening that I found to be genuinely creepy - perhaps because I listened to most of the first part, PREFATORY MATTERS, while running alone at night - Doctor Sleep settled into the story of Dan Torrence and his battle with alcoholism, while slowly drawing in the characters of gifted Abra and her family, and the antagonists of the piece, the True Knot. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have found things so languid had I read at my pace, rather than listening to Will Patton slowly drawl his way through 531 pages, but this audio reading made The Shining seem like a Brent Weeks novel by comparison. Several times I had to have a few days break, just to allow my interest to build back toward moderate levels. Sure, Stephen King can write characters and breathe life into them, but where was the scary book he was promising that would do The Shining proud? After that opening part, nothing seemed overly frightening at all. Even his description of the abduction, torture and murder of "steamheads" lacked the visceral punch I was expecting.
I realise my opinion is in the minority, and that's absolutely fine. I'm delighted others enjoyed the continuation of Dan Torrence's story. I just wish it had have been more horrific rather than the dark fantasy it seemed to become. In fact, I hesitate to even shelve it under "Horror" here on Goodreads.
3 World Turnings for Doctor Sleep.
All of which explains why it took me so long to getting round to Doctor Sleep. I wasn't that fussed and there were so many other books on my TBR pile that looked more exciting. But then I decided I may as well listen to an audio book while training for an upcoming marathon. I thought it would break me out of my "running to the beat" habit I was lapsing into on my longer runs. And Doctor Sleep seemed like it could fit the bill as something I could lose myself to while on the move.
After a fantastic opening that I found to be genuinely creepy - perhaps because I listened to most of the first part, PREFATORY MATTERS, while running alone at night - Doctor Sleep settled into the story of Dan Torrence and his battle with alcoholism, while slowly drawing in the characters of gifted Abra and her family, and the antagonists of the piece, the True Knot. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have found things so languid had I read at my pace, rather than listening to Will Patton slowly drawl his way through 531 pages, but this audio reading made The Shining seem like a Brent Weeks novel by comparison. Several times I had to have a few days break, just to allow my interest to build back toward moderate levels. Sure, Stephen King can write characters and breathe life into them, but where was the scary book he was promising that would do The Shining proud? After that opening part, nothing seemed overly frightening at all. Even his description of the abduction, torture and murder of "steamheads" lacked the visceral punch I was expecting.
I realise my opinion is in the minority, and that's absolutely fine. I'm delighted others enjoyed the continuation of Dan Torrence's story. I just wish it had have been more horrific rather than the dark fantasy it seemed to become. In fact, I hesitate to even shelve it under "Horror" here on Goodreads.
3 World Turnings for Doctor Sleep.
dark
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes