Daniel Boucher's Blog

Mike Flannagan’s Doctor Sleep is quite possibly my favorite film of 2019. His take on Stephen King’s novel is outstanding. The prodigious effort Mike undertook to interweave King’s writing with Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is something that resides somewhere between holy crap and black magic.

It’s no secret that King is not a fan of Kubrick’s film The Shining, calling Kubrick’s ending “dorky” and the film itself “disappointing” in his 1981 nonfiction book, Danse Macabre. I don’t know how Mike did it, but I believe he managed to intertwine both Kubrick’s The Shining, and King’s Doctor Sleep in a way that even Uncle Stevie himself might appreciate.

Doctor Sleep opens some 30-plus years following the events of six-year-old Danny Torrance’s (Danny Lloyd) traumatizing winter at the Overlook Hotel. 

For those of you who don’t know, King burns the hotel to the ground in his novel, while Kubrick leaves it abandoned and frozen in the film (a big part of King’s contention). The Overlook, here faithfully recreated in meticulous detail from Kubrick’s film, almost didn’t make it into Doctor Sleep, as Mike Flanagan recounts in an interview with The Daily Beast:

“I needed his [King’s] blessing to do that before I would start the script. If he hadn’t given me his blessing, I wouldn’t have taken the job, or even written it, much less made the film,” Flanagan concedes. “My initial pitch to him was that I’d like to do as faithful an adaptation of Doctor Sleep as I can, but I’d like to bring back the Overlook—and specifically, I’d like to bring back the Overlook as Kubrick imagined it. And his initial reaction was, ‘No.’ He was not interested in that.”

You can read The Daily Beast‘s full interview with Mike Flanagan here.

Thankfully, King relented, and Flanagan gives us one of the most memorable and thrilling endings to a film that I’ve seen in a long time.

Danny (Ewan McGregor), now 40 and going by the name Dan, has taken up his father’s mantel, having become a full-on alcoholic and drug abuser. To escape himself and what he has become, he hops a bus and happens in the small town of Frazier, New Hampshire.

Ewan McGregor has always been pretty hit and miss for me. When I first learned of his casting, I was a bit taken aback–the pain of the Star Wars prequels still a little too fresh in my mind. It turns out Ewan is perfect as the older Danny Torrance, and I cannot picture the role with any other actor. On a personal note, I have officially removed Ewan from the Star Wars prequel prison I’d stuck him in (George remains locked up in solitary for Jar-Jar).

It’s also worth noting that Roger Dale Floyd does an outstanding job playing young Danny in the fastidious reshot scenes of The Shining. It was an absolute thrill to watch him ride through the halls of the Overlook on his Big Wheel, pausing by room 237 (217 in the novel) as its door slowly opens. 

It was great to see Dick Hallorann again, too, this time played by the “I want you as my friend,” Carl Lumbly (Alias, NCIS). I was especially thrilled by an early scene where Dick teaches Danny about creating “a box”–one of my favorite details in King’s novel. 

Ready regain control of his life, Dan, still haunted by the ghosts of the Overlook, quickly makes friends with Frazier local, Billy (Cliff Curtis). Billy gives Dan a job and helps him to line up a position at the local hospice. After years of trying to mute his life with alcohol, Dan finds peace in sobriety, in turn giving comfort to the hospice’s dying patients with his shining and earning himself the nickname “Doctor Sleep” in the process. 

Dan also strikes up a new friendship with Abra (Kyliegh Curran), at first through a serious of inconspicuous blackboard notes, before becoming something genuine as he strives to help her as the once Overlook chef, Dick Hallorann, had done for him.

Meanwhile, some fifteen hundred miles away, the True Knot, a collective group of soul-sucking vampires, make a meal of baseball hopeful, Bradley Trevor, played hauntingly by Jacob Tremblay (Good Boys), in one of Doctor Sleep‘s most disturbing scenes. 

Starving, with their supply of steam (bottled shining) running low, True Knot leader, “Rose the Hat,” convincingly played by the beautiful Rebecca Ferguson, is on the hunt for a big score. Rose realizes their little Bradley Trevor Happy Meal has caught the attention of a young girl, a girl whose shining ability makes Danny’s look like a fifteen-watt light bulb. Convinced this young girl is the solution to the True Knot’s problem; they begin a trek across the US in search of her. 

As stunning as she is talented, Rebecca Ferguson kills it at Rose the Hat. Rose is a truly terrifying character in King’s novel, and Ferguson’s casting proves just as terrifying in Flanagan’s film. From the moment you first meet her, befriending little Violet (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), to her cries of anguish as her True Knot brothers and sisters begin to perish, Rose is someone you’ll love to hate.

As the True Knot gets closer, Dan works with Abra and Billy to set a trap. While initially, this appears to be a victory for our band of heroes, it’s not long before things go south, as Rose has not survived this long by being naive.

Understanding they cannot stop Rose on their own, Dan takes Abra back to the horrors of his childhood (and the bane of King’s existence), the Overlook Hotel. It’s here that Dan believes the hotel’s “guests” will be just as dangerous for Rose as it is for them, and it is also here that Flanagan goes all out in an ode to Kubrick and gives one of the most chilling (and satisfying) conclusions ever filmed.

As I stated earlier, Doctor Sleep is quite possibly my favorite film of 2019. Yes, I’ve seen the headlines, spouting off that King’s movies have reached saturation point and are, therefore, no longer relevant. Don’t buy into their bull. These deliberately obtuse headlines are designed to be nothing more than click-bait with absolutely no merit whatsoever. Ignore them like the garbage they are.

What I can tell you is this, that the recent run of films based on King’s work is at an all-time high, leaning in with a level of unprecedented quality. Be it Andy Muschietti‘s IT, or Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep, to skip these films would be to deny yourself some of the most significant storytelling we’ve had in years.

DOCTOR SLEEP is in theaters now.

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Line Between, The House of Bathory Duology (The Progeny, Firstborn), Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker.

What is the first book you ever read from cover to cover?

Ever-ever? Green Eggs and Ham. I also colored the pictures in because I was disturbed that they weren’t in full color.

Okay, confession time, before now, I had never read a Tosca Lee novel. I recognized her name and even enjoyed the covers to her books, but for whatever reason, I had never read any. Having said that, after reading A Single Light, the fact that she is a New York Times Bestselling Author becomes rather apparent.

A Single Light is the sophomore novel in Tosca’s The Line Between series. I haven’t read the first novel, The Line Between, and while I’m sure that would have added to this experience (knowing a bit more about Noah would have added a nice, emotional hit), it in no way stopped me from enjoying this read.

The story opens with a group of people preparing to leave their underground home after spending considerable time secluded from the rest of the world to avoid the flu-like epidemic that has either killed or driven the majority of the population insane.

Okay, give me a minute to catch my breath after that…

The plan to remain hidden underground keeps them safe but fails to take into account the captivity factor. It seems people are still susceptible to cabin fever even underground, reverting to primitive paranoia, and fear. I couldn’t help but think of John Carpenter‘s The Thing and the unfortunate events that befall the crew of Outpost 31. Tosca does a great job of capturing the untrusting and suspicious state of being confined in a subterranean dwelling.

After a series of events threaten to divide the dwellers and it seems like all hell is going to break loose, the door that secures them from the outside world opens early. As a small crew makes its way outside, things begin to take an unexpected turn for the worse. The silo that protected the entrance to the secured habitat is gone, obliterated in a pile of ash and debris. And they’re not alone. Something is watching them.

Despite the mystery behind the unexpected and early exit, other, more immediate demands require addressing. Namely, Wynter’s friend, who will die if she doesn’t get the medication she needs. Wynter, an apparent cult-pariah from the first book, heads out into the unknown with ex-soldier/romantic interest Chase (also from the first book) in search of the meds that will help her dying friend.

At this point, I grew concerned the story was about to turn into some lurid romance that I wasn’t interested in reading. Instead, Tosca pulled the carpet out from under my expectations, leading me on a captivating and unforgettable journey about friendships (#JusticeForOtto), forgiveness, and ultimately, validation, that stuck with me long after the last page.

It’s not very often that I have a new (to me) author that grabs my attention the way Tosca did with A Single Light. I’m actually pretty thrilled with her writing. It’s as smooth as it is effortless. Several times I became aware of the fact that I was unaware of the fact that I was reading–which amused me. I love finding writers that captivate me in this way. They’re a rare and true gem.

Check out our fun Q&A with Tosca here.

What happens when heroes are as broken as the world they must reforge?

A mad king’s genocide destroyed Alea’s home and left her sanity in tatters. Caught in the crossfire between the gods and their creators, Alea realizes the darkness inside her is the only thing that can end the bloodshed. Across enemy lines, bastard lieutenant Brentemir Barrackborn is horrified by the blood on his hands. He must choose between the gods he worships and newfound family if he has any hope of redemption—or surviving the war…

Winner of New Apple Literary’s 2015 Excellence in Independent Publishing Award

“Holmes’s writing style is somehow both lyrical and direct, and I was impressed with her patient attention to detail. If you’re looking for a fantasy series to invest yourself in, this is it!”

– Page Morgan, author of The Dispossessed

“Holmes didn’t disappoint with dropping tidbits of emotion, character growth, and internal struggle among all the action and war-time maneuvers.”

– Kathrin Hutson, international bestselling author of Sleepwater Beat

Series:

• Smoke and Rain

• Lightning and Flames

• Madness and Gods

• Blood and Mercy (out 2020 from Amphibian Press)

• The Tempest (Anthology: Out of the Darkness)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

V. S. Holmes is an international Bestselling gender-queer science fiction and fantasy author. She has written the REFORGED series and the NEL BENTLY BOOKS. Smoke and Rain, the first book in her fantasy quartet, won New Apple Literary’s Excellence in Independent Publishing Award in 2015. In addition, she has published short fiction in several anthologies.

When not writing, she works as a contract archaeologist throughout the northeastern U.S. She lives in a Tiny House with her spouse, a fellow archaeologist, their not-so-tiny dog, and owns too many books for such a small space.

Set for release and sold through Amazon internationally on Sept 30, 2019 in Ebook and Print Format!

The last thing Jonah Sands expected on his thirtieth birthday was to have his life thrust into the hands of a dangerous, red-haired woman—or to be the only person in the world to survive an encounter with her.

As the death toll skyrockets, Jonah and his two best friends, the siblings Tristan and Ava Carter, find themselves at the epicentre of inexplicable phenomena—a stranded ferry transforms into a barge headed for the Underworld; young girls levitate to whisper ancient riddles; technology across the globe is controlled by some unseen hand. And it all seems to lead back to the woman with red hair. When a stranger finds them in the midst of a thunder storm and offers his otherworldly assistance, Jonah finally unravels the truth about who he really is. And what it means for the rest of humanity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liz Butcher resides in Australia, with her husband, daughter, and their two cats. She’s a self-confessed nerd with a BA in psychology and an insatiable fascination for learning. Liz was previously the former Executive Assistant at the Horror Tree, which is a mainstream resource for authors and has published a number of short stories in anthologies including her own collection, After Dark, in 2018. Fates Fury is her debut novel set for release, September, 2019.

More information can be found about Liz at her website: https://lizbutcherauthor.wixsite.com/lizbutcher

All the Beautiful Bodies by Danielle Porter

Infidelity. It’s a word that scares even the most secure of relationships. A word often avoided for fear of inviting the unwanted. But what if infidelity was built into a relationship? What if it were not only allowed, but expected? Is there a line that shouldn’t be crossed? What if it was?

Danielle Porter’s ALL THE BEAUTIFUL BODIES is what would happen if THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and FIFTY SHADES OF GRAY were to hook up and have a love child. And the question of fidelity is at the heart of the story.

Sex? Check.

Sketchy characters? Check.

Claustrophobic pacing? Check.

Eve Winters, a woman with a violent past, goes missing just before the release of her sexually charged, tell-all, a memoir of her journey into the life of prostitution and the one man who she may have ever truly loved.

When writing professor, Sophia Grayson, reads her former student’s explicit memoir, she begins to suspect the man in Eve’s novel is non other than her husband. Shell-shocked, despite the agreement between her and her husband, she boards a plane for Paris to discover the truth of her dispassionate marriage, a marriage that has been buried in years of lies and loss and has become all-too comfortably numb. Or so she thought. Could her husband really be behind the disappearance of Eve?

BODIES is a slick paced thriller from an author that is otherwise known for her fun, romantic, and sunny stories. In it, Danielle Porter (a.k.a. Juliette Sobanet, ONE NIGHT IN PARIS, CONFESSIONS OF A CITY GIRL) expertly captures the downward spiral of the human condition as it questions fidelity of marriage, exposing the hidden truth behind Eve’s disappearance through the steamy pages of Eve’s memoir and the unraveling of Sophia’s mind as she begins to put it all together and suspect the worst.

What’s really interesting about BODIES is this idea of a story within a story. You’ll read key pieces to Eve’s memoir as Sophia struggles to put them together, all while striking a nerve about how much we understand of our own relationships. I’ve read a few other novels that have strived to do something similar with mixed results, but Danielle manages to put it all together without reminding you that you’re reading, and for me, that’s a winner.

The questions Porter asks here might strike a little too close to home for some. They shine a light on an aspect of life most would rather pretend didn’t exist. Her writing crafts characters that demand empathy and sympathy and, like trying to catch that morbid glimpse of a covered body when passing an accident, keeps us glued to the page, even when in disgust.

If you’re a fan of Paula Hawkins with a dose of E.L. James, then ALL THE BEAUTIFUL BODIES needs to be next on your TBR list.

Satisfy your curiosity.

= Dan.

Walking Alone by Bentley Little

Walking Alone is a fun collection of twenty-seven short stories written by Bentley Little. While not all of the stories are what I would call stellar, there are a few that stand out that I’ll mention here.

The first story to stick with me after reading was SNOW. For me, this is hands down the BEST story in the collection. After all, who doesn’t appreciate killer snowmen?

Last Rodeo on the Circuit is another creeper that hangs around long after you’ve read it. How do you make the last rodeo of the year stand out from the rest? Bentley may have an idea or two.

The Mall. This one is simply a fun ghost story with perhaps a little bit of a message for its readers. While not the scariest ( did I mention Snow? ), it is definitely one of the better stories.

The Man Who Watched Cartoons. Is just messed up. This is a story that you’ll either love or hate. Regardless, it will haunt you.

The Smell of Overripe Loquats is probably my second favorite in the collection. What happens when kids lose faith in God and decide to make their own? Good grades, new bikes, a happier life is what. But at what cost?

The collection is nice, contains a few stories not previously published, and will make for a nice addition on any Bentley fan’s shelf, but, if I’m to be honest, once I reached the stories written in 2016 and later, they became quick to forget.

Grade: C+

Confessions of a City Girl: Washington, D.C.

Confessions of a City Girl: Washington, D.C.

Released: August 18, 2016

Reviewer: Daniel Boucher

As far as Juliette’s City Girl series goes, Confessions of a City Girl: Washington, D.C. is a terrific addition to her ongoing saga and delivers more of what you’ve come to expect from this character-imbuing author.

The story opens with a recently divorced Violet losing her s**t during her D.C. alma mater speech to a senior class. Her breakdown, caught on video and shared online, becomes the catalyst for launching herself into self-discovery and eventually–this is a Juliette Sobanet story by the way–a surprise romance.

Having read Sobanet’s Meet Me in Paris, it was easy to see that she pulled deep from within her own personal journey and that made it all the more invigorating of a read.

If you are a fan of Juliette’s City Girl series, be sure to add this one to your must-read list.

Stephen King

via: StephenKing.com

“Stephen has written a new short story, “Laurie,” which is available now as a free download exclusively on stephenking.com. You may download and/or print the story for yourself or to pass along to others, but may not charge any money to share it.”

Count me in!

Here’s the link:

https://stephenking.com/other/stephenking-laurie.pdf

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels

Jason Schreier’s Blood, Sweat, and Pixels

Release Date: September 5, 2017

Review by: Daniel Boucher

Say what you will about Jason Schreier, but his book Blood, Sweat, and Pixels is a jaw-dropping look into the world of making video games. I was warmed, inspired and shocked (looking at you George Lucas) while reading it.

Blood, Sweat and Pixels details ten games and the righteous path through Hell they took to get made. I mean, holy crap, I had no idea. This should be required reading for every player that’s ever bitched, whined or complained about a game’s delay or bugs. I have a  profound new respect for the people that bring these games to life.

While I enjoyed all ten stories, here are a few of my favorites.

Uncharted 4

I wasn’t really a fan of Uncharted 4, but I’ve gotta to say that the peek into how things work over to Naughty Dog was awesome–and exhausting. There’s no doubt in my mind why these guys are always on top. It was sad to read of Bruce Straley’s recent departure after eighteen years with the company.

On a related side note, here’s a personal project of mine: The Last of Us: Memories.

Stardew Valley

This one reads like a rags-to-riches story. After five years of virtual solitude, Eric Barone comes out from his dark cave to the smashing success of Stardew Valley. This read really shows the benefit to pushing forward even when you hate what you’re doing and think it’s all crap. It’s both heart-warming and inspiring.

Star Wars 1313

This one shocked me. After years of working through poor direction, constant executive turnover, and Lucas’s neverending changing of the game’s direction, the team at LucasArts finally felt like they have their feet on stable ground with Star Wars 1313. Determined to rise up from the ashes and make LucasArts a name that meant something after a series of failures, the teams dig-in to change the course they’ve been on.

Enter Bob Iger, Disney, and four billion dollars, and George Lucas suddenly “retires” leaving the fate of LucasArts in the hands of their new owner, and we all know how that ends.

I can understand Lucas taking the four-billion-dollar deal (I know I would,) but disrespecting the LucasArts team by not looking out for their interests after decades of servitude to him, well that makes him the biggest, douche-bag on the planet.

Other stories include:

From the Back Cover:

The creative and technical logistics that go into building today’s hottest games can be more fraught with challenges and complex than the games themselves, often seeming like an endless maze or a bottomless abyss. In Blood, Sweat, and Pixels, Jason Schreier takes readers on a fascinating odyssey behind the scenes of video game development, where the creator may be a team of six hundred overworked underdogs or a solitary geek genius. Exploring the artistic challenges, technical impossibilities, marketplace demands, and Donkey Kong–sized monkey wrenches thrown into the works by corporate, Blood, Sweat, and Pixels reveals how bringing any game to completion is more than Sisyphean—it’s nothing short of miraculous.

Examining some of the bestselling games and most infamous failures, Schreier immerses readers in the hellfire of the development process, whether it’s RPG studio BioWare’s challenge to beat an impossible schedule and overcome countless technical nightmares to build Dragon Age: Inquisition; indie developer Eric Barone’s single-handed efforts to grow country-life RPG Stardew Valley from one man’s vision into a multimillion-dollar franchise; or Bungie employees spinning out from their corporate overlords at Microsoft to create Destiny, a brand-new universe that they hoped would become as iconic as Star Wars and Lord of the Rings—even as it nearly ripped their studio apart.

Blood, Sweat, and Pixels is a journey through development hell—and ultimately a tribute to the dedicated diehards and unsung heroes who scale mountains of obstacles in their quests to create the best games imaginable.