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The now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) must save a very special twelve-year-old girl from a tribe of murderous paranormals.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
In the author’s note, King says that people sometimes asked him what became of Danny Torrance and after percolating in his head for years, he decided to take that idea and create a follow-up book. Like many, I’m sure, I re-read The Shining before Doctor Sleep and so the comparisons were even
Anyway...the tale starts out in a pretty disgusting way. Literally gross. Dan’s hangover(s) and the intensely visceral detail made me think of how much King can’t resist going for the gross-out if that’s what he has to do. He made Dan into such a loser. Sure, I expected him to be a screw up, his childhood primed him for that, but jeez Dan really was a low-life scum. Later he uses his lowest point to effect when Dan in his turn becomes the self-sacrificing hero. Not precisely the same level as dad, but neither was he as perfectly horrendous either. I think he knew that drawing innocents into his cesspool was off limits so he made a life for himself so outside of normal human relationships that it would be de facto impossible.
Like in The Shining, Firestarter and other books, we’ve got a little kid with supernatural abilities. Abra is 13 and shines even brighter than Dan even at his brightest (Hi Dick!!!). Hallorann’s prediction of a pupil turning up when Dan became ready as teacher came true and, even though the towns are fictional, I liked that they were together in tiny northern New Hampshire. The effortless connection, friendship and bond are rendered by King in the way only he does. I felt instantly better for both their sakes when they found each other. The feeling of impending doom wasn’t as strong as in Duma Key, but I still wondered what the body-count would be before it was done. Luckily the bodies were all on the bad guys’ pile and we get a happily-ever-after ending, which isn’t typical and leaves things open for further Adventures of Abra. Maybe a father-son-collaboration? It feels like that could happen.
The overall menace just didn’t feel as total as it did in The Shining. Sure, the True Knot creatures are scary and threatening, but it was limited and with hope. No one was trapped in a hotel with no way out. No one was alone with a madman. No one was alone with monsters. They didn’t hold absolute sway over anyone’s destiny. And so as a block of horror staring you in the face, Doctor Sleep isn’t as massive. It is creepy though and Dan, Abra and the team have to work to defeat them and it takes a lot of sleight of hand and sneaky tactics, which were a lot of fun to read.
In The Shining we got a big, ugly close-up of the Overlook and the evil within it, but like in The Haunting of Hill House, it had to be interpreted by the characters. Jack, Wendy and especially Danny acted as interpreters of the hotel’s intentions and method. In D.S. we hear from the True directly. Rose is their interpreter and I was really impressed by King’s imagination. Their society, shadowy origins, current rituals and practices; all thoroughly corrupt and violent. The scene with Brad’s torture went just far enough.
The acceptance of weird shit is a big part of how Dan and Abra can succeed. Even though the monsters aren’t physically confronting them, like in many other King books, regular folks set aside their doubts and believe. With Dan and Abra it’s because their friends and family have seen what they can do (find lost things, ease people into death, pin spoons to the ceiling or see death coming and get friends to doctors for a just-in-time fix). The core of the reason for success is the psychic connection and trust between Abra and Dan and even though it seems unbalanced at first (she’s a kid and he’s a jaded old dry drunk), they do balance under the surface and they pull it off. I do think that Abra is a touch too crafty and worldly-wise, however.
It is said that there are many Easter Eggs in the book that go beyond the usual self-referential stuff. Yeah, there is Sidewinder and things from the earlier book, but also non-King books and I admit I didn’t catch all of them. One I did was Fredericka Bimmell who is the first victim of Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs. It stopped me in my tracks because the name is so distinctive. A nod to Thomas Harris? Must be. Also there is a reference to his son’s recent book NOS4A2 which I didn’t catch because I haven’t read it. Ditto a reputed George R.R. Martin reference. I wish I had caught more because they’re kind of fun.
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more stark. Recently I read a review from someone who said she knew the first story well enough because she saw the movie. In the broad strokes, it won’t really matter, but in the small ones it will. At least that’s how it feels to me. I’m sure she wondered why Dan’s attitude towards Jack is so benign. Or what the heck he was talking about topiaries for. And what do you mean Hallorann's alive? No mystery if you read the book. Anyway...the tale starts out in a pretty disgusting way. Literally gross. Dan’s hangover(s) and the intensely visceral detail made me think of how much King can’t resist going for the gross-out if that’s what he has to do. He made Dan into such a loser. Sure, I expected him to be a screw up, his childhood primed him for that, but jeez Dan really was a low-life scum. Later he uses his lowest point to effect when Dan in his turn becomes the self-sacrificing hero. Not precisely the same level as dad, but neither was he as perfectly horrendous either. I think he knew that drawing innocents into his cesspool was off limits so he made a life for himself so outside of normal human relationships that it would be de facto impossible.
Like in The Shining, Firestarter and other books, we’ve got a little kid with supernatural abilities. Abra is 13 and shines even brighter than Dan even at his brightest (Hi Dick!!!). Hallorann’s prediction of a pupil turning up when Dan became ready as teacher came true and, even though the towns are fictional, I liked that they were together in tiny northern New Hampshire. The effortless connection, friendship and bond are rendered by King in the way only he does. I felt instantly better for both their sakes when they found each other. The feeling of impending doom wasn’t as strong as in Duma Key, but I still wondered what the body-count would be before it was done. Luckily the bodies were all on the bad guys’ pile and we get a happily-ever-after ending, which isn’t typical and leaves things open for further Adventures of Abra. Maybe a father-son-collaboration? It feels like that could happen.
The overall menace just didn’t feel as total as it did in The Shining. Sure, the True Knot creatures are scary and threatening, but it was limited and with hope. No one was trapped in a hotel with no way out. No one was alone with a madman. No one was alone with monsters. They didn’t hold absolute sway over anyone’s destiny. And so as a block of horror staring you in the face, Doctor Sleep isn’t as massive. It is creepy though and Dan, Abra and the team have to work to defeat them and it takes a lot of sleight of hand and sneaky tactics, which were a lot of fun to read.
In The Shining we got a big, ugly close-up of the Overlook and the evil within it, but like in The Haunting of Hill House, it had to be interpreted by the characters. Jack, Wendy and especially Danny acted as interpreters of the hotel’s intentions and method. In D.S. we hear from the True directly. Rose is their interpreter and I was really impressed by King’s imagination. Their society, shadowy origins, current rituals and practices; all thoroughly corrupt and violent. The scene with Brad’s torture went just far enough.
The acceptance of weird shit is a big part of how Dan and Abra can succeed. Even though the monsters aren’t physically confronting them, like in many other King books, regular folks set aside their doubts and believe. With Dan and Abra it’s because their friends and family have seen what they can do (find lost things, ease people into death, pin spoons to the ceiling or see death coming and get friends to doctors for a just-in-time fix). The core of the reason for success is the psychic connection and trust between Abra and Dan and even though it seems unbalanced at first (she’s a kid and he’s a jaded old dry drunk), they do balance under the surface and they pull it off. I do think that Abra is a touch too crafty and worldly-wise, however.
It is said that there are many Easter Eggs in the book that go beyond the usual self-referential stuff. Yeah, there is Sidewinder and things from the earlier book, but also non-King books and I admit I didn’t catch all of them. One I did was Fredericka Bimmell who is the first victim of Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs. It stopped me in my tracks because the name is so distinctive. A nod to Thomas Harris? Must be. Also there is a reference to his son’s recent book NOS4A2 which I didn’t catch because I haven’t read it. Ditto a reputed George R.R. Martin reference. I wish I had caught more because they’re kind of fun.
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LibraryThing member Kikoa
I have slowly pulled away from reading Stephen King's novels. It seemed that after his accident, his writing became angry and it was hard for me to be pulled into the stories. I used to wait for a book to come out and be first in line. Digital books have changed that. Still love the feel of a book.
Dr Sleep was like that, as was JoyLand. Welcome back Stephen King, I have missed you.
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My concept of a good story is that when you put your bookmark in and go to do something you are drawn back because you are afraid that the characters will do something while you are gone...Dr Sleep was like that, as was JoyLand. Welcome back Stephen King, I have missed you.
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LibraryThing member sturlington
In the sequel to one of Stephen King's best known books, The Shining, Danny Torrance--now grown up--must protect a 13-year-old girl who has the shine from a band of psychic vampires.
When I first heard that this book was coming out, I remember thinking that there was no way a sequel could do justice
The book is about a band of psychic vampires, called the True Knot, who are led by an evil ancient woman named Rose the Hat, and who feed off the life essence of children with the shining, psychic and telekinetic powers. Dan Torrance, all grown up and a recovering alcoholic trying to start over, forms a connection with a young girl named Abra Stone through his psychic abilities, so when she is targeted by the True Knot, she calls on him for help. He gathers together a small band of good men to go to her rescue, although since her powers are so strong, she does a lot of the fighting herself. It's always nice to have a young heroine who can stand up for herself against the things that threaten her.
Doctor Sleep takes it easy on the reader, for the most part, which I think diminishes its impact. I'm not saying that this is an altogether gentle book; there is some suspense, and a couple of tense moments, but there are no real scares. The True Knot, in particular, are not as scary as they could be, coming off largely as white-trash RV'ers. In the scares department, Doctor Sleep comes off particularly lacking when compared to The Shining, which (in my opinion) is King's scariest book. (The only one that comes close is It, but the images King created in The Shining just linger in the imagination.) In fact, the biggest scare in Doctor Sleep comes right at the beginning, and that is just an echo of The Shining's horrors.
The characters are all very likable, and we're rooting for them, but let's face it--they are all familiar King hero-types from way back. In Abra Stone, for instance, don't we also see Charlie McGee and even Carrie White? Of course we do. So it's a good story, a quick read, but smacks a little of 'been there, done that.'
What does King do particularly well in Doctor Sleep? I think it's the under-story, depicting the fall and slow recovery of an alcoholic. Dan Torrance battles his internal ghosts: his memories of his drunk, abusive, and eventually murderous father; the horrors of the Overlook Hotel, which still haunt him; the worst thing he ever did when he hit bottom. He comes through it all to find a sense of peace with his own powers, a purpose to his life, and even a family. Two scenes that come at the end, which I won't spoil, were particularly moving to me. We see in Dan Torrance a counter-argument to what Jack Torrance's life was, a statement that it is possible to face the worst things inside ourselves and conquer them, and then go on.
The most frightening monsters are the ones that we create inside ourselves. Stephen King knows this. I sometimes wish he would write about them more often.
Read because I'm a fan of the author in 2013.
When I first heard that this book was coming out, I remember thinking that there was no way a sequel could do justice
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to The Shining, which is one of my top-5 favorite Stephen King books. Like Black House, the sequel to The Talisman, Doctor Sleep follows a young King hero into adulthood. But while Black House had only a superficial connection to its predecessor, Doctor Sleep really does logically continue the events of The Shining into the present day, and it does so better than I could have expected. I think you could enjoy Doctor Sleep without having read The Shining first, but I think something would be lost.The book is about a band of psychic vampires, called the True Knot, who are led by an evil ancient woman named Rose the Hat, and who feed off the life essence of children with the shining, psychic and telekinetic powers. Dan Torrance, all grown up and a recovering alcoholic trying to start over, forms a connection with a young girl named Abra Stone through his psychic abilities, so when she is targeted by the True Knot, she calls on him for help. He gathers together a small band of good men to go to her rescue, although since her powers are so strong, she does a lot of the fighting herself. It's always nice to have a young heroine who can stand up for herself against the things that threaten her.
Doctor Sleep takes it easy on the reader, for the most part, which I think diminishes its impact. I'm not saying that this is an altogether gentle book; there is some suspense, and a couple of tense moments, but there are no real scares. The True Knot, in particular, are not as scary as they could be, coming off largely as white-trash RV'ers. In the scares department, Doctor Sleep comes off particularly lacking when compared to The Shining, which (in my opinion) is King's scariest book. (The only one that comes close is It, but the images King created in The Shining just linger in the imagination.) In fact, the biggest scare in Doctor Sleep comes right at the beginning, and that is just an echo of The Shining's horrors.
The characters are all very likable, and we're rooting for them, but let's face it--they are all familiar King hero-types from way back. In Abra Stone, for instance, don't we also see Charlie McGee and even Carrie White? Of course we do. So it's a good story, a quick read, but smacks a little of 'been there, done that.'
What does King do particularly well in Doctor Sleep? I think it's the under-story, depicting the fall and slow recovery of an alcoholic. Dan Torrance battles his internal ghosts: his memories of his drunk, abusive, and eventually murderous father; the horrors of the Overlook Hotel, which still haunt him; the worst thing he ever did when he hit bottom. He comes through it all to find a sense of peace with his own powers, a purpose to his life, and even a family. Two scenes that come at the end, which I won't spoil, were particularly moving to me. We see in Dan Torrance a counter-argument to what Jack Torrance's life was, a statement that it is possible to face the worst things inside ourselves and conquer them, and then go on.
The most frightening monsters are the ones that we create inside ourselves. Stephen King knows this. I sometimes wish he would write about them more often.
Read because I'm a fan of the author in 2013.
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LibraryThing member Edward.Lorn
Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit. Pardon my vulgarity, but I can't help it after finishing this book.
Stephen King has said on several occasions that his books are always more about the journey than the destination. He proves this, once again, with the ending of Doctor Sleep. I loved this book, that
The book peaks with the death of Crow Daddy. After that, it's all downhill. I still have no idea why Concetta's steam killed the True Knot in the lodge. Yeah, I get that she had cancer, and that cancer was transferred over to them through the steam, but why did the cancer kill them so quickly? I think King took the easy way out. Not for the first time, he created too many characters and didn't know what to do with them.
I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this book, and I did, for over half of it. Then, King did as King does, and phoned in the ending.
*sigh*
Could I have done better? Probably not. But that doesn't lessen my disappointment. Does it stand up to The Shining? Get off that horse. You knew it wouldn't. Is the first 70% of the book some of the scariest stuff King has written in almost thirty years? Yes. Canny, enough said.
I have friends who've given this book five stars, but I can't bring myself to give it higher that a three. And it gets that three because I love the first three-quarters of the book. Read it for yourself.
Stephen King has said on several occasions that his books are always more about the journey than the destination. He proves this, once again, with the ending of Doctor Sleep. I loved this book, that
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is, until the last thirty percent. I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this book, and I did, for over half of it. Then, King did as King does, and phoned in the ending.
*sigh*
Could I have done better? Probably not. But that doesn't lessen my disappointment. Does it stand up to The Shining? Get off that horse. You knew it wouldn't. Is the first 70% of the book some of the scariest stuff King has written in almost thirty years? Yes. Canny, enough said.
I have friends who've given this book five stars, but I can't bring myself to give it higher that a three. And it gets that three because I love the first three-quarters of the book. Read it for yourself.
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LibraryThing member drebbles
Danny Torrance battled the demons of the Overlook Hotel as a child and the demons of alcoholism as an adult. He is trying to turn his life around and has pretty much tampered down his gift of the Shining when young Abra Stone gets in touch with him. Abra also has the gift of the Shining - much more
In his long career Stephen King has created characters that linger in readers minds long after they've finished reading the book and young Danny Torrance from “The Shining” is certainly one of them. At the end of “The Shining” there was a faint bit of hope that Danny would turn out okay; at the beginning of “Doctor Sleep” it is unfortunately clear that Dan has followed in dear old dad's footsteps. Unlike Jack Torrance, whom I root for every time I reread The Shining (hoping that somehow this time he'll find a way past the demons that haunt him), Danny is not a particularly likable character at the beginning of “Doctor Sleep”. King took a big chance with Danny's character but slowly redeemed him throughout the course of the book until I was finally rooting for him as much as I did his father. Abra is a nicely done character and shows King at his best - her Shining is powerfully strong and, while unbelievable in real-life, King manages to make readers believe there really could be someone out there with her abilities. Her connection with Dan is wonderfully done with a twist I really should have seen coming but didn't. As for the True Knot, while they did have some creepy and horrifying moments, they weren't as creepy as some of King's earlier villains. King does have some nifty tricks up his sleeve regarding them but he has mellowed in his old age and I can't help but think there would have been more bloodshed among the good guys if he had written “Doctor Sleep” when he was younger.
If I had to compare the two books, I'd have to say “The Shining” is the better of the two simply because it is scarier even after repeated readings (hedge animals anyone?). However, “Doctor Sleep” is a worthy sequel and Dan and Abra still linger in my mind even though I finished reading the book.
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so than Dan ever did. Unfortunately, she's attracted the attention of the True Knot a group of vampire-like beings who need her for her “steam”. Soon Abra and Dan unite to fight the True Knot and Dan will finally face all of his demons.In his long career Stephen King has created characters that linger in readers minds long after they've finished reading the book and young Danny Torrance from “The Shining” is certainly one of them. At the end of “The Shining” there was a faint bit of hope that Danny would turn out okay; at the beginning of “Doctor Sleep” it is unfortunately clear that Dan has followed in dear old dad's footsteps. Unlike Jack Torrance, whom I root for every time I reread The Shining (hoping that somehow this time he'll find a way past the demons that haunt him), Danny is not a particularly likable character at the beginning of “Doctor Sleep”. King took a big chance with Danny's character but slowly redeemed him throughout the course of the book until I was finally rooting for him as much as I did his father. Abra is a nicely done character and shows King at his best - her Shining is powerfully strong and, while unbelievable in real-life, King manages to make readers believe there really could be someone out there with her abilities. Her connection with Dan is wonderfully done with a twist I really should have seen coming but didn't. As for the True Knot, while they did have some creepy and horrifying moments, they weren't as creepy as some of King's earlier villains. King does have some nifty tricks up his sleeve regarding them but he has mellowed in his old age and I can't help but think there would have been more bloodshed among the good guys if he had written “Doctor Sleep” when he was younger.
If I had to compare the two books, I'd have to say “The Shining” is the better of the two simply because it is scarier even after repeated readings (hedge animals anyone?). However, “Doctor Sleep” is a worthy sequel and Dan and Abra still linger in my mind even though I finished reading the book.
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LibraryThing member Bridgey
Unlike most people I was probably a little later reading 'The Shining' (blame my parents as I wasn't even born when it was written). I first picked up it up around 2 years ago having watched the film and became gripped from the first page. So when King announced that he was writing a sequel I
As we all know The Shining is very often awarded the accolade of being the creepiest book written. In attempting to further the tale of Danny Torrance, King has very cleverly written a novel that is very different to the shining, bringing a far more human element to the narrative. Whereas the majority of it's predecessor was confined to the haunted Overlook and its supernatural inhabitants, Doctor Sleep in set right across the USA and in typical everyday towns. Not being just a horror story, most of the the books characters also have to deal with a very real death that many of us will have experienced through family members or may experience in later life. Old age and it's various ailments are explored so vividly that King frightens us in a very perceptible way.
The plot features an older Danny, a Danny that is plagued by personal problems that are rooted in his experiences during that winter in the Overlook. Soon he hits rock bottom but luckily he stumbles across a town where he is able to find help and a steady job. Throughout his life he has still felt his 'gift' and also encountered others with varying degrees of the shining. However, hundreds of miles away there is a young girl that the young Danny Torrance would have been easily able to relate to, the only difference is that her powers are even stronger that his. With this uniqueness shining like a beacon it was only going to be a matter of time before it became noticed by The Knot, a group of seemingly immortal individuals that need to 'feed' from children with the shining in order to survive.
A really brilliant book. I have been a King fan for many years and recently always felt a little let down by his endings (Under the Dome???) but this offering sees the master of horror at the top of his game. My only negative would be that I think you really need to have read The Shining first as there are lots of references to the previous storyline.
I hope there will be a third instalment and we won't have to wait another 30 years for it.
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naturally became both excited and sceptical. How would Doctor Sleep live up the creepiness of The Shining? As we all know The Shining is very often awarded the accolade of being the creepiest book written. In attempting to further the tale of Danny Torrance, King has very cleverly written a novel that is very different to the shining, bringing a far more human element to the narrative. Whereas the majority of it's predecessor was confined to the haunted Overlook and its supernatural inhabitants, Doctor Sleep in set right across the USA and in typical everyday towns. Not being just a horror story, most of the the books characters also have to deal with a very real death that many of us will have experienced through family members or may experience in later life. Old age and it's various ailments are explored so vividly that King frightens us in a very perceptible way.
The plot features an older Danny, a Danny that is plagued by personal problems that are rooted in his experiences during that winter in the Overlook. Soon he hits rock bottom but luckily he stumbles across a town where he is able to find help and a steady job. Throughout his life he has still felt his 'gift' and also encountered others with varying degrees of the shining. However, hundreds of miles away there is a young girl that the young Danny Torrance would have been easily able to relate to, the only difference is that her powers are even stronger that his. With this uniqueness shining like a beacon it was only going to be a matter of time before it became noticed by The Knot, a group of seemingly immortal individuals that need to 'feed' from children with the shining in order to survive.
A really brilliant book. I have been a King fan for many years and recently always felt a little let down by his endings (Under the Dome???) but this offering sees the master of horror at the top of his game. My only negative would be that I think you really need to have read The Shining first as there are lots of references to the previous storyline.
I hope there will be a third instalment and we won't have to wait another 30 years for it.
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LibraryThing member Novak
Doctor Sleep, sequel to The Shining. You and me, we are not easily fooled, are we? This Stephen King, this paperback writer, he is not going to take us in.. .. .. is he? You and me, we're too smart for that.
We start to read the first few pages, no problem. Something in the story is slightly out of
You and me, we are not going to accept the outlandish plots he expects us to swallow.. .. ..are we? Yet, in small, very small, doses he has us following his every word, turning the pages as he knew we would. This master-craftsman has us spellbound.. .. .. Hooked. He will now lead us, step by careful step, into his domain. Once inside, you and me will follow him and believe anything he tells us, almost.
Such is the skill this paperback writer has perfected. Do, please, be very careful.
We start to read the first few pages, no problem. Something in the story is slightly out of
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focus but we'll let that go because we want to know what happens next. What happens next is it gets very, very slightly strange but not strange enough for us not to believe it. Page by page, little by little, millimetre by millimetre King leads us on. Each increment takes us a little further into his believable/unbelievable story.You and me, we are not going to accept the outlandish plots he expects us to swallow.. .. ..are we? Yet, in small, very small, doses he has us following his every word, turning the pages as he knew we would. This master-craftsman has us spellbound.. .. .. Hooked. He will now lead us, step by careful step, into his domain. Once inside, you and me will follow him and believe anything he tells us, almost.
Such is the skill this paperback writer has perfected. Do, please, be very careful.
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LibraryThing member ColinF.Barnes
Unfortunately, I was never gripped by the story. I found it to be a slow-burn that never really reached the heights that I had hoped for. I didn't feel the ideas were especially strong or different, and for large sections of the story, I didn't feel there was enough tension of conflict to keep me
I'm sure lots of King fans will love it, but it just wasn't the book for me this time around.
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turning the pages. It's written perfectly well, and King gives us lots of excellent description throughout, but I struggled to sympathise with the characters and failed to get invested in the story. I ended up skimming through vast sections to find a thread that would really grab my attention. I'm sure lots of King fans will love it, but it just wasn't the book for me this time around.
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LibraryThing member Meredy
Six-word review: Engrossing, intermittently gruesome creepy-horror story.
Extended review:
Stephen King once said of himself, "I'm the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries." Sure enough. Even though his work began to take on some deeper themes around the time he produced Pet Sematary (1983),
And all this is perfectly fine. It's what we pay him for. It's what we love him for.
Doctor Sleep gives us an adult Danny Torrance, last seen as a little boy in 1977's The Shining, who has grown up with the horrendous memory of what happened at the Overlook Hotel and also with a profoundly disturbing ability to see things that are not materially present to normal sensory awareness. It turns out that there are many among us, so the story goes, who possess special powers like his, some in greater bounty than others--and also that there is a race of once-human predators who derive their sustenance from torturing children gifted with those powers. What the grown-up Danny has done with his abilities and memory is drown them in alcohol; but his bond with a young girl who has prodigious talents like his own sets him on a heroic quest to defeat the nomadic band of vampirish murderers and in the process achieve his own salvation.
This breakwrist volume is thoroughly entertaining King, with a bonus helping of an insider's grateful but not reverential insights into the workings of a twelve-step program.
I can't rank it with literature, but as a fun read for those who have a stomach for the nasty parts, it delivers what it promises. And that's a big part of what I want out of a novel: to promise and then deliver. Not all of King's work has done that, but this is one that does.
Extended review:
Stephen King once said of himself, "I'm the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries." Sure enough. Even though his work began to take on some deeper themes around the time he produced Pet Sematary (1983),
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and his style and scope have certainly matured over the years, there is still a certain Kinginess that pervades his work. And it's not the sort of quality that English majors typically have to write about in term papers. Rather, it's the sort that turns a fast read into a best-seller, with the illusion of depth that you get from a pair of facing mirrors and not from peering over the edge of a fathomless abyss.And all this is perfectly fine. It's what we pay him for. It's what we love him for.
Doctor Sleep gives us an adult Danny Torrance, last seen as a little boy in 1977's The Shining, who has grown up with the horrendous memory of what happened at the Overlook Hotel and also with a profoundly disturbing ability to see things that are not materially present to normal sensory awareness. It turns out that there are many among us, so the story goes, who possess special powers like his, some in greater bounty than others--and also that there is a race of once-human predators who derive their sustenance from torturing children gifted with those powers. What the grown-up Danny has done with his abilities and memory is drown them in alcohol; but his bond with a young girl who has prodigious talents like his own sets him on a heroic quest to defeat the nomadic band of vampirish murderers and in the process achieve his own salvation.
This breakwrist volume is thoroughly entertaining King, with a bonus helping of an insider's grateful but not reverential insights into the workings of a twelve-step program.
I can't rank it with literature, but as a fun read for those who have a stomach for the nasty parts, it delivers what it promises. And that's a big part of what I want out of a novel: to promise and then deliver. Not all of King's work has done that, but this is one that does.
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LibraryThing member queencersei
This book is better than it has a right to be. A follow up to The Shining, it's about 30 years later and Dan Torrance is an alcoholic, trying to pull himself out of his addiction. He ends up in a small New Hampshire town, where he comes into contact with Abra a young girl with a Shine that is even
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more powerful then his. Danny isn't the only one who discovers Abra and her talent however. A group of quasi-immortal vampires called the True Knot discover Abra as well. They feed off of the essence, or Steam, of human children who have the Shine. Craving the feast that Abra would be they set their sights on acquiring her. It's up to Dan and two friends to save Abra and put a stop to the True Knot, once and for all. Show Less
LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
Stop the presses! I just finished a good Stephen King novel, with only a bearable amount of cheesy dialogue and a fraction of the usual editing required! Also, this is the first 'new' King story I've read since giving up on him after From A Buick 8, so I'm doubly impressed. I also notice there's a
Bringing to mind both The Stand and a Dean Koontz novel - sorry, Mr King! - called The Servants of Twilight, Doctor Sleep isn't exactly original, but it is a very good sequel to The Shining, with Danny Torrance (and the author himself) admitting that alcoholism is no excuse. Jack Torrance was a weak man and a crappy father, but Danny at least has the strength to get help with his drinking. There is quite a lot of pontificating on the evils of drink and the great saviour that is Alcoholics Anonymous, but I figure King has earned those few extra pages.
Dan Torrance, now approaching 30, is 'Doctor Sleep', using the last glimmer of his 'shining' to help the terminally ill let go of their pain and move on, while also trying to make up for some of the pain he has inflicted on others while drinking. He's working at a hospice in New Hampshire when he receives a message from someone called Abra, a girl whose shining is like a lighthouse compared to his weakening torchlight - but she's only a few months old when she first reaches out to him. The two stay in touch as Abra grows, with Dan taking on Dick Hallorann's role as mentor for the young girl. But Dan isn't the only person who knows about this special little girl. A vampire-like cult called the True Knot thrives on children like Abra, and when their leader Rose the Hat takes a personal interest in tracking her down, Abra and Dan need all the help they can get.
Ah, I loved the whole story, what can I say? The flashbacks to The Shining, with the True taking over the site of the former Overlook - no passing mention of Stuart Ullman, sadly - and the showdown between thirteen year old Abra and the (almost) immortal Rose the Hat are well-paced, and the psychic world-building is intriguing but not overdone. The villains are all a bit extra - there's no chance of feeling sympathy for them, or wondering who the real enemy is - but Rose is a striking character. And yes, King does struggle with writing teenagers, especially female teenagers, but he struggled with Carrie and he's in his seventies now, so Constant Readers will just have to let that one go, I think. Now I just have to concentrate really hard and get Stephen King to write a sequel for Ellie Creed of Pet Sematary!
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film adaptation in the works - of course there is - but I'm not too taken with the casting. Ewan McGregor?Bringing to mind both The Stand and a Dean Koontz novel - sorry, Mr King! - called The Servants of Twilight, Doctor Sleep isn't exactly original, but it is a very good sequel to The Shining, with Danny Torrance (and the author himself) admitting that alcoholism is no excuse. Jack Torrance was a weak man and a crappy father, but Danny at least has the strength to get help with his drinking. There is quite a lot of pontificating on the evils of drink and the great saviour that is Alcoholics Anonymous, but I figure King has earned those few extra pages.
Dan Torrance, now approaching 30, is 'Doctor Sleep', using the last glimmer of his 'shining' to help the terminally ill let go of their pain and move on, while also trying to make up for some of the pain he has inflicted on others while drinking. He's working at a hospice in New Hampshire when he receives a message from someone called Abra, a girl whose shining is like a lighthouse compared to his weakening torchlight - but she's only a few months old when she first reaches out to him. The two stay in touch as Abra grows, with Dan taking on Dick Hallorann's role as mentor for the young girl. But Dan isn't the only person who knows about this special little girl. A vampire-like cult called the True Knot thrives on children like Abra, and when their leader Rose the Hat takes a personal interest in tracking her down, Abra and Dan need all the help they can get.
Ah, I loved the whole story, what can I say? The flashbacks to The Shining, with the True taking over the site of the former Overlook - no passing mention of Stuart Ullman, sadly - and the showdown between thirteen year old Abra and the (almost) immortal Rose the Hat are well-paced, and the psychic world-building is intriguing but not overdone. The villains are all a bit extra - there's no chance of feeling sympathy for them, or wondering who the real enemy is - but Rose is a striking character. And yes, King does struggle with writing teenagers, especially female teenagers, but he struggled with Carrie and he's in his seventies now, so Constant Readers will just have to let that one go, I think. Now I just have to concentrate really hard and get Stephen King to write a sequel for Ellie Creed of Pet Sematary!
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LibraryThing member cinnamonowl
I tiptoed up to this book cautiously, for two reasons. The first is, The Shining is so spectacularly amazing, how can there possibly be a sequel that compares to it, and the second more obvious reason, is that it will probably scare my socks off. I don't know how I ever doubted the master of
While reading this book, I was reminded almost immediately of the thing that terrified me the most in The Shining - the woman in room 217, Mrs. Massey. When I read The Shining, she made me afraid to go into the bathroom, or pull back the shower curtain; in Doctor Sleep, we are reminded of her by a young Danny Torrance, and again, she made me a little afraid of bathrooms, especially if you have to get up in the middle of the night. I know this for a fact. Everyone I talked to had a different "scariest part" - my brother and his best friend were both freaked out by the "redrum" parts - and I feel badly about this, since I am positive I used to say it all the time to both of them, while moving my finger like in the movie. (Sorry guys) Others cited the moving topiaries, others the bartender. Whatever the flavor, we all agreed that The Shining was splendidly horrific. Doctor Sleep is a little different. It's not as in your face, except for a few places. It has its moments, but mostly you are just genuinely horrified by what could happen. At least this was the case for me.
We are reunited with Danny Torrance as an adult. Has he survived the terrors of that winter at the Overlook Hotel unscathed? Mmm not so much. And he is creating his own moments as an adult - one especially becomes the defining moment of his adulthood, the one thing he is trying to get past but can't get out of his head. He has some new ghosts now, blowing around in his mind.
The villains this time are not confined to a hotel and its grounds - they instead roam free over the country, in RV's, motor homes, Winnebago's, and campers. Honestly, I won't look at someone driving one the same way again. Or at least, I might think twice. They call themselves the True Knot, and they are some crazy scary freaks. Their leader, Rose the Hat, is smart and wily, and psychotic and selfish. Interesting note here - Rose the Hat and her crew have dumped their actual legal names, which they call their rube names, and go by nicknames. Like pirates or vikings. And Danny has an alter ego as well, just in a different way. I just thought it was interesting too since in Joyland, King also refers to people not in the game as rubes.
We also meet Abra Stone, a magical young girl who has the shining, like Danny - or Dan as he is called in this book. Her powers are huge, and are attractive to the True Knot, for their own awful reasons. I don't want to give much of anything away, there is just so much story in this book, all the characters have their own thread, until the moment they start to intertwine, and the plot picks up its pace, running through the pages, with reader following like a rabbit after a carrot. There are surprises, revelations, and an ending that will blow your mind.
I absolutely loved this book, and King remains one of my favorite authors of all time.
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horror's abilities, but he definitely delivered in this book - there is no reason to fear this sequel. And I was right - this book certainly instilled fear and inspired nightmares. But of course, isn't that the reason you would reason a King book? For me, yes, yes it is, but it is still smart to proceed with caution, right? When you get a tattoo you know it is going to hurt, but you still want it.While reading this book, I was reminded almost immediately of the thing that terrified me the most in The Shining - the woman in room 217, Mrs. Massey. When I read The Shining, she made me afraid to go into the bathroom, or pull back the shower curtain; in Doctor Sleep, we are reminded of her by a young Danny Torrance, and again, she made me a little afraid of bathrooms, especially if you have to get up in the middle of the night. I know this for a fact. Everyone I talked to had a different "scariest part" - my brother and his best friend were both freaked out by the "redrum" parts - and I feel badly about this, since I am positive I used to say it all the time to both of them, while moving my finger like in the movie. (Sorry guys) Others cited the moving topiaries, others the bartender. Whatever the flavor, we all agreed that The Shining was splendidly horrific. Doctor Sleep is a little different. It's not as in your face, except for a few places. It has its moments, but mostly you are just genuinely horrified by what could happen. At least this was the case for me.
We are reunited with Danny Torrance as an adult. Has he survived the terrors of that winter at the Overlook Hotel unscathed? Mmm not so much. And he is creating his own moments as an adult - one especially becomes the defining moment of his adulthood, the one thing he is trying to get past but can't get out of his head. He has some new ghosts now, blowing around in his mind.
The villains this time are not confined to a hotel and its grounds - they instead roam free over the country, in RV's, motor homes, Winnebago's, and campers. Honestly, I won't look at someone driving one the same way again. Or at least, I might think twice. They call themselves the True Knot, and they are some crazy scary freaks. Their leader, Rose the Hat, is smart and wily, and psychotic and selfish. Interesting note here - Rose the Hat and her crew have dumped their actual legal names, which they call their rube names, and go by nicknames. Like pirates or vikings. And Danny has an alter ego as well, just in a different way. I just thought it was interesting too since in Joyland, King also refers to people not in the game as rubes.
We also meet Abra Stone, a magical young girl who has the shining, like Danny - or Dan as he is called in this book. Her powers are huge, and are attractive to the True Knot, for their own awful reasons. I don't want to give much of anything away, there is just so much story in this book, all the characters have their own thread, until the moment they start to intertwine, and the plot picks up its pace, running through the pages, with reader following like a rabbit after a carrot. There are surprises, revelations, and an ending that will blow your mind.
I absolutely loved this book, and King remains one of my favorite authors of all time.
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LibraryThing member Daniel_Powell
Doctor Sleep is further proof that Stephen King is one of this generation's (or any generation's, for that matter) most cherished storytellers.
The novel is filled with touching insights into the frailty of the flawed--a population of humans that, thankfully, encapsulates all of us. It tells the
King's observational gifts are highly tuned here, and he masters the greatest trick of the seasoned surrealist--to render the familiar distant, strange, or menacing. The short passage in which he describes the Knot--they're denizens, characteristics, behaviors, and appearance--is chilling. The idea of ancient evil masked in such benign clothing is well done, and Rose the Hat is one of my all-time favorite villains.
King knows what it's like to have been, if not derailed by addiction, at least a little bit waylaid by it. His coverage of Danny's recovery, his constant struggles with his illness, and his final redemption are authentic without ever becoming patronizing. There's a lot of realism here, and it just shows how large the author's heart is.
All writing is deeply personal, but much of it never leans toward revelatory. Doctor Sleep does, even if it's not King's rock-bottom moment that's on display here. This is a book for anyone that's been kicked around a bit (and not necessarily by addiction, but by any number of life's conundrums), but found the strength to stand and do something important.
As Casey K. will no doubt attest, sometimes that "something important" is just getting through another day.
Another fantastic story. Can't wait to see what's coming up next...
The novel is filled with touching insights into the frailty of the flawed--a population of humans that, thankfully, encapsulates all of us. It tells the
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story of Abra Stone and Danny Torrance, and I'm not writing those names out of order. If it weren't for Abra's tremendous gifts, the True Knot would still be out there on I-4, clogging the left lane and stopping at every rest stop to sniff out some steam snacks.King's observational gifts are highly tuned here, and he masters the greatest trick of the seasoned surrealist--to render the familiar distant, strange, or menacing. The short passage in which he describes the Knot--they're denizens, characteristics, behaviors, and appearance--is chilling. The idea of ancient evil masked in such benign clothing is well done, and Rose the Hat is one of my all-time favorite villains.
King knows what it's like to have been, if not derailed by addiction, at least a little bit waylaid by it. His coverage of Danny's recovery, his constant struggles with his illness, and his final redemption are authentic without ever becoming patronizing. There's a lot of realism here, and it just shows how large the author's heart is.
All writing is deeply personal, but much of it never leans toward revelatory. Doctor Sleep does, even if it's not King's rock-bottom moment that's on display here. This is a book for anyone that's been kicked around a bit (and not necessarily by addiction, but by any number of life's conundrums), but found the strength to stand and do something important.
As Casey K. will no doubt attest, sometimes that "something important" is just getting through another day.
Another fantastic story. Can't wait to see what's coming up next...
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LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
A good sequel to The Shinning! Danny, now Dan, is all grown up and dealing with demons of his own! He's in AA, basically homeless, and just as angry as his old man was. And even though he is done with his past, his past isn't done with him! The Overlook seems to be constantly looking over him! I
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really enjoyed reading this book, especially as I am a friend of Bill's myself, and all of those parts of the book were totally accurate! I also enjoyed the cultural references, especially to my favorite film Raiders of the Lost Ark, and to the shout out to speaking like Rickey Henderson! I also really enjoyed the addition of Abra and the strength and emotion of her character. Sort of a combination of Dan (Danny) Torrance and Charlie from Firestarter. I hate to say it, but I am silently rooting for a Shinning #3! :-) Show Less
LibraryThing member PhonyGal
I just couldn't put this book down, loved it right through to the end.
LibraryThing member vampiregirl76
Sadly, I have never read The Shining. But I'm familiar with the story from having seen both movie versions and was eager to see what happened to little Danny Torrence.
I loved this one! Danny's story and struggle with alcoholism was heartbreaking and amazing. I loved the character Abra. Gifted just
Doctor Sleep is narrated by actor, Will Patton. He did a smashing job, so much so I forgot it was him talking. I loved all the character voices.
I loved this one! Danny's story and struggle with alcoholism was heartbreaking and amazing. I loved the character Abra. Gifted just
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like Danny. She was so fun to read about. Sweet but so very fierce. The True Knots, were interesting part of the story, but really creepy. I'll never look at folks in RV's the same way again. Doctor Sleep was an excellent read. Dark, creepy and exciting. Really everything you expect and hope for from Stephen King. Doctor Sleep is narrated by actor, Will Patton. He did a smashing job, so much so I forgot it was him talking. I loved all the character voices.
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LibraryThing member StephenBarkley
What ever happened to little Danny Torrance after he survived the Overlook Hotel?
Doctor Sleep, sequel to The Shining (The book, not the Kubrick film), answers the question in painful and glorious detail.
There's a depth—a maturity—to King's writing that wasn't there in his earlier works. The
Let me share three reasons why I loved this book:
1. This book is compelling. Despite its 500 page girth, I finished it in two days. King is the master of making every page gripping.
2. Doctor Sleep fits well with the meta-narrative King's developed and highlighted in his Dark Tower books. Discovering these themes made the story instantly recognizable.
3. This is more than a supernatural thriller—King addresses real generational issues like alcohol and anger. His portrayal of grown-up Danny Torrance wrestling with his father's demons is moving and even redemptive.
Now, don't get me wrong—this is a still a Stephen King horror novel. It's not for the squeamish. If you enjoy a good story, however, there's a shine below the grizzly surface.
Doctor Sleep, sequel to The Shining (The book, not the Kubrick film), answers the question in painful and glorious detail.
There's a depth—a maturity—to King's writing that wasn't there in his earlier works. The
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characters are more real—the villains function on many levels.Let me share three reasons why I loved this book:
1. This book is compelling. Despite its 500 page girth, I finished it in two days. King is the master of making every page gripping.
2. Doctor Sleep fits well with the meta-narrative King's developed and highlighted in his Dark Tower books. Discovering these themes made the story instantly recognizable.
3. This is more than a supernatural thriller—King addresses real generational issues like alcohol and anger. His portrayal of grown-up Danny Torrance wrestling with his father's demons is moving and even redemptive.
Now, don't get me wrong—this is a still a Stephen King horror novel. It's not for the squeamish. If you enjoy a good story, however, there's a shine below the grizzly surface.
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LibraryThing member busyreadin
I've waited a long time for this book to be released, and I wasn't disappointed! The Overbrook Hotel was an evil place, and even burned to the ground attracts evil people to it. The True Knot are truly evil. King creates very real characters in frightening and cruel situations.
The most frightening
The most frightening
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thing in The Shining, to me, were the topiary animals that silently moved. After all these years, when I'm around topiaries in a garden, I keep an eye on them! Thank you, Mr. King for including them in this story Show Less
LibraryThing member TheGrandWorldofBooks
Another home run by Mr. King! Not that I'm surprised, of course. I never expect anything he has written to be bad, so I knew I would enjoy this book. Although, I have to admit, I was dismayed when I found out it was about vampires. I mean, vampires? Been there, read that, right? Well, I'll admit
I think the best part of the book was Dan and Abra, though. Dan, because it was nice to catch up with him and see what he's been up to since everything at The Outlook. And to watch him struggle and grow as a person. It was all I could have asked for and more! And Abra was a perfect complement to Dan's Shine. Smart in the way that a child who knows too much too early would be smart. But she handles everything amazingly well, because what else can you do when that is your life, but get through it?
This book sucked me in and wouldn't let me go! Just like Tbe Shining did at the end. I don't know what it is with these books, but I get this feeling like the fate of the characters depends on my being there to read! I can't recall ever getting that feeling with any other book before.
I highly recommend this book to fans of The Shining. It is a fantastic follow-up!
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I've probably not read every vampire book out there, but I've never read about vampires like these. They were unique and evil and I loved it!I think the best part of the book was Dan and Abra, though. Dan, because it was nice to catch up with him and see what he's been up to since everything at The Outlook. And to watch him struggle and grow as a person. It was all I could have asked for and more! And Abra was a perfect complement to Dan's Shine. Smart in the way that a child who knows too much too early would be smart. But she handles everything amazingly well, because what else can you do when that is your life, but get through it?
This book sucked me in and wouldn't let me go! Just like Tbe Shining did at the end. I don't know what it is with these books, but I get this feeling like the fate of the characters depends on my being there to read! I can't recall ever getting that feeling with any other book before.
I highly recommend this book to fans of The Shining. It is a fantastic follow-up!
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LibraryThing member 68papyrus
I was hooked on Stephen King in high school after reading the Shining, which is still one of my favorite books of all time. It is not often that a sequel is as well written or as well liked as its predecessor but Doctor Sleep has managed to do just that. Reading Doctor Sleep felt like reconnecting
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with old friends. It was wonderful to find out what happened to that brave but haunted little boy, Dan Torrence. In this book, Dan is battling not only supernatural demons but personal ones as well. This book was excellent and kept me on the edge of my seat rooting for the good guys! Although, this is a horror novel, King tosses in humor and raw emotion which makes for one heck of a literary punch. I had strayed away from King in the late 90's after some disappointing reads from him but had drifted back over the past couple of years. Doctor Sleep proves he is back with a vengeance. As the book says "life is a wheel and things always come full circle". Highly recommend to fans of Stephen King or anyone who loves a great writing and a good scare. A new favorite, 5 stars! Show Less
LibraryThing member jules72653
Read this while on a cruise. I carried my Nook everywhere to finish this!
LibraryThing member jen.e.moore
A miracle I never thought I'd see again - a Stephen King novel with an ending that *didn't suck.* It wasn't particularly spectacular, but it didn't suck. I'll take it.
I really enjoyed revisiting Dan Torrance, but Abra was the highlight of the novel for me. I loved seeing a teenage girl acting like
I really enjoyed revisiting Dan Torrance, but Abra was the highlight of the novel for me. I loved seeing a teenage girl acting like
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a teenage girl - overly confident and self-doubting all at the same time, sweet and vicious and entirely her own person. Show Less
LibraryThing member arielfl
I love The Shining and I love the sequel. Maybe the sequel is not quite the masterpiece of it's fore bearer but I am so glad that King decided to revisit Danny and the Overlook. The Shining was a product of a hotel stay when King was a young man and it's obvious that Doctor Sleep is a product of a
Doctor Sleep finds Danny Torrence grown and trying to tamper down the Shining with alcohol. This leads Danny to do somethings that make him unlikable, especially to himself. Still Danny is determined to overcome his father's legacy and he finds his redemption in a little girl named Abra who shines on like a lighthouse. Her power comes to the attention of a group of shinning suckers called the True Knot who travel around in RV. Yes folks, the RV parked next to you at the rest stop on your next road trip is filled with child torturing, soul suckers. Oh to live in King's mind for a day, I couldn't begin to imagine it. Abra needs Danny's help and the showdown between good and evil is on.
This book had so many great pop culture references. First off there was the shout out to his son Joe Hill with a reference to Charlie Manx, the villain of his novel NOS4A2. After that there was nods to Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and Game of Thrones. Best of all Abra's favorite shirt said steam punk rules, steam punk!!!!! Love, love, love! Then there were all the nods to The Shining, the ghosties, the Overlook, and that last scene with Danny. King got me teary at the end of Joyland and he got me at the end of this novel too. All of the love I felt helped me overlook some of the forced parts of the book like that scene reminiscent of The Empire Strikes Back and the whole Luke I am your father thing. I saw it coming a mile away here and it was just awkward. Lucy's whole vibe on it seemed mean spirited too. Irregardless this book was worth the wait. Joyland was so wonderful and this novel was incredible too. I think King is on a roll. I would love to see Abra grow up in another novel, I hope her story is not finished.
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different time in King's life, endless drives on the highways between Maine and Florida in his twilight years. The gap of time between the two novels leads to some disjointedness but I really don't care. Both are excellent novels in their own right. Doctor Sleep finds Danny Torrence grown and trying to tamper down the Shining with alcohol. This leads Danny to do somethings that make him unlikable, especially to himself. Still Danny is determined to overcome his father's legacy and he finds his redemption in a little girl named Abra who shines on like a lighthouse. Her power comes to the attention of a group of shinning suckers called the True Knot who travel around in RV. Yes folks, the RV parked next to you at the rest stop on your next road trip is filled with child torturing, soul suckers. Oh to live in King's mind for a day, I couldn't begin to imagine it. Abra needs Danny's help and the showdown between good and evil is on.
This book had so many great pop culture references. First off there was the shout out to his son Joe Hill with a reference to Charlie Manx, the villain of his novel NOS4A2. After that there was nods to Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and Game of Thrones. Best of all Abra's favorite shirt said steam punk rules, steam punk!!!!! Love, love, love! Then there were all the nods to The Shining, the ghosties, the Overlook, and that last scene with Danny. King got me teary at the end of Joyland and he got me at the end of this novel too. All of the love I felt helped me overlook some of the forced parts of the book like that scene reminiscent of The Empire Strikes Back and the whole Luke I am your father thing. I saw it coming a mile away here and it was just awkward. Lucy's whole vibe on it seemed mean spirited too. Irregardless this book was worth the wait. Joyland was so wonderful and this novel was incredible too. I think King is on a roll. I would love to see Abra grow up in another novel, I hope her story is not finished.
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LibraryThing member bkwurm
Great follow-up to The Shining. Danny Torrance has matured... and so has Stephen King. King's storytelling in this book is just as eerie and suspenseful as it has always been—I can't count how many times he made the hair on the back of my neck stand up—but our lead character is now more
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thoughtful and reflective. The story is therefor richer, and feels much more personal. King has always had a talent for making the reader feel they're sitting down with him, listening to a story from his own lips during a dark and stormy evening at home; but in Doctor Sleep King takes this one step further. It doesn't just feel like he's telling A story, it feels almost as if he's telling you HIS OWN story. The ending felt as if perhaps it came along a bit abruptly, but that could very well just be my dismay at the book having to end at all. Show Less
LibraryThing member jldarden
I usually enjoy a new King story and this one was no exception. Revisiting Danny was interesting and the connection between him and his fathers' traits regarding alcoholism and anger rang true.
I particularly enjoyed the scenes between Danny and Halloran reviewed in flashback, showing some of
My problem with this story comes in with all the new tricks that can be done with the 'shine'. It brought to mind old Superman comics in the sense that when he got into trouble they would trot out a new ability that allows him to overcome.
The villainess in the book was easy to dislike and I found the idea and descriptions of her gypsy gang familiar. Who has not seen these types on the road?
All in all I liked this one, but felt it could have been 'meatier'.
I particularly enjoyed the scenes between Danny and Halloran reviewed in flashback, showing some of
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Danny's development in childhood.My problem with this story comes in with all the new tricks that can be done with the 'shine'. It brought to mind old Superman comics in the sense that when he got into trouble they would trot out a new ability that allows him to overcome.
The villainess in the book was easy to dislike and I found the idea and descriptions of her gypsy gang familiar. Who has not seen these types on the road?
All in all I liked this one, but felt it could have been 'meatier'.
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Awards
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2015)
Audie Award (Finalist — 2014)
Locus Award (Finalist — Fantasy Novel — 2014)
Bram Stoker Award (Nominee — Novel — 2013)
RUSA CODES Reading List (Shortlist — Horror — 2014)
International Thriller Writers Award (Nominee — 2014)
NPR: Books We Love (2013)
Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year (General Fiction — 2013)