Doctor Sleep By: Stephen King

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Doctor Sleep: A Novel By: Stephen King Published by: Scribner Released On: 2013-09-24 ISBN: 1476727651 Pages: 544 Genre:  horror Author’s Website: www.stephenking.com Author’s Social:   Twitter  |  Facebook Format of Review Copy: Hardback Source: Gift Recommendable for people who enjoy: Horror, sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, mysteries

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Synopsis (from Amazon):
Stephen King returns to the character and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance and the very special twelve-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals. On highways across America, a tribe of people called the True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless—mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky twelve-year-old Abra Stone learns, the True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the steam that children with the shining produce when they are slowly tortured to death. Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel, where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant shining power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.” Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of devoted readers of The Shining and satisfy anyone new to this icon in the King canon.

My Thoughts:

You guys, I was so excited to read Dr Sleep by Stephen King .  I was sent this for my birthday, from my friend KC Hilton.  If you are new to my blog, you probably don’t know that I am a HUGE Stephen King fan, and have all of his books (except Joyland in hardcover).  I was so happy to get Dr Sleep for my birthday! One more book off my wishlist, check!

DR SLEEP by Stephen King is the long awaited sequel to THE SHINING by Stephen King.  The book follows Danny (now, Dan) the kid who survived his experience at the Overlook Hotel (the setting of the first book). Now he is an adult, both haunted and saved by “his gift”.   In this story, Dan is connected to a young girl by their gift and the two must join forces to battle a traveling band of paranormal baddies.

Character wise: I was completely satisfied. I loved getting to see Dan as a grown up, meeting Abra.  The members of the True Knot (the bad guys) did manage to creep me out.  I definitely don’t look at RV’s on the highway the same anymore. lol

Story wise:  I started reading it on October 19th and it took me literally TWO MONTHS to get through it.  Don’t think this is a bad book, it ISNT!  Just for me, for some reason, the pace was so spurty. I don’t know if it was because I had hyped myself up so much for this book, or because my tastes in books are changing, or… I just can’t say for sure.  I just feel like a lot of it could have been chopped out, and it would have made the pacing more steady, drawn me into the story and kept me there instead of pull me in a little, and let me stand stagnant.

In Conclusion:

Even though it took me a LONG TIME to finish this book, I enjoyed it.  I wish I could scream about how amazing it was, and tell you that you HAVE to read it. I can’t though.  For me it was just a “good” read not an “OMG, that was AMAZING” read. I would recommend it to Stephen King fans & to people who enjoy a good paranormal thriller. Just know going in, that this long time Stephen King fan – thought it was spurty. I would also have to caution you that even though it is listed as HORROR, to me, it was more Paranormal Suspense.  It teetered on that thin lined edge of horror, but for me, it never toppled on over into “scary”.  Thrilling, yes.  Suspenseful, yes.   Scary?  Nope.

Mom Notes:

This book contains a few sexual situations, alcohol use, and ‘graphic’ violence (blood licking, etc).  I’d say 13 (mature!) readers or older.

For Students & Teachers: