Duma Key Duma Key discussion


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Is SK back?

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Debbie Thorson I agree, I read all his books for years then he went kinda wierd. I enjoyed this one.


Meredith Watson I'm about half way through it, really liking it! Much better than Cell.


Lori Anderson SO loved this one.


message 4: by [deleted user] (new)

king got very weird after his accident if you can get weider than king
he bought the van that hit him and a radio show in Calais Maine ran a promotion where listeners could come on down and take a sledge hammer to the thing
the guy who hit him died a few years later
king was incredibly angry which is understandable because he was extremely messed up
i'm sure he still has pain and health issues due to the accident
still he vilified the guy in the press
and yes he was questionable that's for sure but his story was his dog distracted him and he accidently swerved off the road and hit king
i don't think he was found at fault other than negligence for not having the dog under control
My understanding was that it was a typical Maine country road with a soft shoulder-one you have to be damn careful walking along especially at twilight
King and the press went after the guy pretty hard. Can you imagine having Stephen King mad at you-that would be enough to scare you to death. Anyway, King was on heavy meds for at least 6 months. I remember a couple of interviews with him including a year afterwards and he was still loopy. It was really questionable whether he would even recover enough to get back to writing full time. Looks like he's recovering tho. Appropos of almost nothing, what was the name of that funky tv show set in a hospital he wrote that was on air for a few months around that time?


Lillie That would be kingdom hospital. I own those. I liked this book. I liked Cell also. I think the last one i dint care for was the girl who loved tom gordon. I think thats what its called. I cant even remember that one.


Meredith Watson Just finished Duma Key and I really liked it. It was pretty freaky and I had other plans this afternoon but the last 150 pages or so sucked me in so that I could do nothing til I finished it. I like how references to other books/chararcters pop up. The first I noticed was the name Freemantle; wasnt that Mother Abigail's last name? So I envisioned Edgar being a black man, Morgan Freeman-like throughout the book. Also the place in Mexico where Wireman goes? The same place Andy and Red end up in Shawshank.
This Constant Reader was pleased, Mr. King!


Lori Anderson Meredith, I totally missed those references! But I do love how King does that -- when I read the Dark Tower series, I just loved finding them all.


Marge Merdith, I also noticedsimilarities to any other of his books? I picked up a few....Freemantle-wasn't the name of the old woman in the Stand Abigal Freemantle? Also dead twin girls-The Shining bring any memories back? I loved this book. Like you I was sucked into it also. My husband was complaining that I was staying up too late but I couldn't put it down!


Meredith Watson yes, the twins. I thought of that one too!


message 10: by Ceci (new) - rated it 5 stars

Ceci I did enjoy this book immensely. And did notice the references... It was a wonderful read, but sad, too. The only thing that bothered me a bit is that the name Perse means, well, basically "arse" in Finnish (my native language). But of course King wasn't to know that, lol.


Cliff My gosh, only read about a quarter of the book. It's good but a little drawn out. I'm plodding along. I did notice the use of character names (Freemantle-Mother Abigail in The Stand).


message 12: by Minnie (new) - added it

Minnie I was tremendously disappointed in both Cell and Lisey's Story, so in all honesty i don't think I will be buying Duma Key. I think I'm an old school "Kingonite", The Shining, Carrie and my personal favourite The Dark Half were incomparable and the last ones left me wishing for the good old days.


Marge Minnie, if you loved the Shining and Carrie you will love Duma Key. Do yourself a favor and give it a try..you won't be sorry!


message 14: by Julia (last edited Mar 05, 2008 08:10AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Julia I completely agree with you. I also noticed similarities in the characters with past books, I thought of how his own accident tied into Freemantle's injuries and issues stemming from it (i.e. use of painkillers, the anger management doll, references to being in rehab hospital). The girls reminded me of the ghosts from The Shining. Edgar's character as well as the others were less complicated yet just as vivid as those from some of my favorite SK novels including Pet Sematary, The Tommyknockers, the short stories "The Body", "Trucks" and "Rage". I couldn't put the book down, was deliciously scared, saddened a times. My husband and son had fun startling me during the days I was reading the book.


Michael Not to get too King nit-picky, but the Mexican towns aren't the same. The Shawshank one is Zihuatanejo. The Duma Key town is different (can't remember the name off the top of my head).

Freemantle was an interesting addition, and there were some offhand Dark Tower references too (roses, multiple uses of the number 19).

This was a great book. I was a little worried because I didn't like Lisey's Story, but I loved Duma Key.


Cliff Unfortunately, I think it's wishful thinking if we can expect to get the thrill of reading a SK book that is as good as his pre-The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Duma Key was bearable. It's drawn out, the payoff is barely there.


message 17: by Ceci (new) - rated it 5 stars

Ceci I loved Lisey's Story even more, but Duma Key's great, too. I have to say that I far prefer these books to the ones he wrote when he was a drunk (such as The Tommyknockers, and Pet Sematary... Can't stand either. And speaking of which, I was never able to finish The Stand... it was so boooooring!!)... But I guess this is a question of taste. These books don't really scare you witless or gross you out, but the prose is beautiful and evocative and there is psychological horror in them. Another book that I really loved is Bag of Bones. I even wrote my MA thesis on it.


message 18: by [deleted user] (new)

I'm having trouble staying interested so far, but then I'm only at the beginning. And I actually enjoyed Cell.


message 19: by Bookreader1983 (new)

Bookreader1983 Finished it today. Thought it was ok, i found it slow in the middle but it really picked up in the last quater.
Im a big Stephen King fan, but to be honest, i havent really enjoyed one of Kings books in awhile.
I found Edgar Freemantel a likeable character though.


Dianne I really liked the characters in this one. King seems to have made a comeback; at least in my mind. One thing I've always liked about King's work is something several of you mentioned here: his references to previous characters, plot twists, etc. It's just fun for me to see how many of them I can spot. Just like going to Disney World (yikes, speaking of horror!) and looking for the Mickeys in the wallpaper and stuff.

I didn't mind the long buildup to the rather brief payoff at the end. After all, the ending wasn't all that happy, was it? And that's the way I like it. :)


message 21: by Minnie (new) - added it

Minnie Hi Marge
I have given in! Despite my misgivings I have taken up the challenge and am reading Duma Key. So far so good.... I'll let you know how I progress


Penny WOW... I LOVED " the Girl who loved Tom Gordon" ... It was perfectly SPOOKY:) .. The ones I didn't care for where the Rose Madder and Misery period... Although, even a BAD STephen King book is still an AWESOME READ:) I am 2/3rds through Duma Key and I absolutely LOVE IT!!! And, it definately feels like Old School Stephen King... :)


Margie While nothing can compare with The Stand (original version) I am glad that SK is back in good form. His Misery period was just that. while Duma Key was a bit wordy, it was a wonderful read.


message 24: by Bee (new) - rated it 3 stars

Bee Kingdom Hospital


message 25: by Luana (new) - added it

Luana I agree - he has made a bit of a come back. I just finished this book a few days ago, and I had a difficult time putting it down. I was getting so freaked out, I was texting friends trying to distract myself so that I wouldn't get too wrapped up in what was happening in the book.

I didn't mind SK's previous books, but they were a little "eh" for me. This one sucked me back in so that when the next one comes out, I will be picking it up ASAP.


message 26: by [deleted user] (new)

I would have to say yes, and I'm so glad that he's returned to writing the great horror stories that he's famous for. I bought Duma Key just yesterday and I'm about half way through. All I can say is "welcome back SK!"


Kandice I agree with some of you, that depending on the extent of his drinking/drugs, at the time, some of his books are not so great, however, even when I'm not thrilled with his plot or characters, I LOVE his style. My husband says he can use 5 pages to describe a dishrag, but that's what I love about him. For me, reading one of his books is as close to a "mind movie" as I will ever get!


message 28: by John (new) - rated it 4 stars

John P You hit the nail on the head Kandice! He can even make the reader conjure up emotions about the dishrag. That what I love about his style.


message 29: by Dani (new) - rated it 5 stars

Dani Harper I completely loved Duma Key - King has the ability to get you inside his characters' heads. And by the end of the book, you're sure everything happened to YOU!


Stephanie Cox Duma Key was a good read. I also enjoyed The Dome. I even got my husband, who is not a reader, to read The Dome and he liked it very much. I know some people do not like King's newer books because they don't like how his writing has evolved. I honestly can say that there are only a couple of his books that I did not enjoy. He is a great author and I look forward to many more of his books.


message 31: by Lucy (new) - rated it 3 stars

Lucy I just adored the relationship between Edgar and Wireman. Duma Key was indeed a wonderful read.


Meera Srikant I liked duma key, the dark half, lisie's story (my first), shining, hearts in atlantis, christine, but hated dream catcher and desperation.


Robert Julia wrote: ... My husband and son had fun startling me during the days I was reading the book. "

I wait until I'm alone to read SK. Of course, that means it's usually late at night so much scarier.. at 2am everything is scarier.


Giansar Virtual wrote: "Kingdom Hospital"
Just a side note - I hope you don't mind.
For anyone who watched SK's Kingdom Hospital - you should watch the original. I am not saying King's remake was bad but Lars von Trier's series was in my opinion much better and much scarier.


message 35: by C.p. (last edited Nov 21, 2011 06:34PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

C.p. Bialois Dumma Key was the first of his books that really hooked me from the first page. I'm a huge fan of his but in general the first X number of pages are tough because fo the description. I can't tell you how happy I am that he seems to have captured his old zeal.


message 36: by Kim (new) - rated it 5 stars

Kim I read this a few years ago and agree that it was a "comeback" for him, his "old school" writing. I love how he incorporates real life and his characters cross over into other stories.


message 37: by [deleted user] (new)

I had not read any SK for a number of years. I had heard praise for Duma Key and intended to read it. However, I am currently reading King's 11-22-63 and really liking it a lot. There are many small stories within the larger story. Great characters. I'm at the 40% mark and really pleased with it.


Diego I love SK, and liked this book almost all the way, but didn't care that much for the ending.


Kelli I thought King got a bit wierd after his accident, too. His work wasn't the same as it was before he got hit. But Duma Key was a wonderful story. I really loved it.


message 40: by evie (new) - rated it 3 stars

evie I read lots of SK when I was young . The Shining is my personal favourite . When I finished it I spent a weekend at a big old rambling hotel in the mountains.I stayed in that world for a while

I read Duma Key last year while on holiday at a quiet seaside location during the off season. The weather was moody and unpredictable . A great backdrop for this story. This is number 2 for my SK list


message 41: by Sim (new) - rated it 4 stars

Sim I really like Duma Key, it was my first SK book and it scared the crap out of me. At night I had to put it away and not leave it on my bedside table as I could feel the story tumbling around my head and needed it out of sight and reach. Let's just I have a great imagination and love books, this is why I don't really read horrors .


Janese Jackson I hated Cell, and couldn't even get into The Girl Who loved Tom Gordon or Lisey's Story, but I enjoyed Duma Key. Gotta get Under The Dome, I'm hearing good things about it.


message 43: by Ann (new) - rated it 5 stars

Ann Stephen King hasn't ever left but we have figured out that he isn't "hungry" any more so a lot of his stories seem to be rushed or ended too early. You can also feel the changes he has gone through in his life and health. Duma Key, Bag of Bones (book not the horrible TV series), 11/22/63 were all excellent. Cell, Under the Dome, Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon had good bits but the endings were just plain dumb. Saying that, Stephen King could write a grocery list and I would want to read it. He has the most amazing ability to describe scenes or people so that you have a complete picture of who it is or where you are. He is the true master.


message 44: by Bill (new) - rated it 3 stars

Bill Didn't care too much for, Cell or Duma Key but loved Dome and 11/22/63!


message 45: by Jim (new) - rated it 4 stars

Jim Bowen I enjoyed it. I thought it was one of his better books. It reminded me of The Regulators or Desperation a little.


message 46: by Jeni (new) - rated it 4 stars

Jeni I felt like Duma Key was the first book after his accident that felt like it was more like him. It felt "Kingy" after a huge disappointment in Cell (for me, anyway).

I loved it. I also like "Sun Dog," which is similar.


message 47: by Paul (new) - rated it 4 stars

Paul Duma Key is outstanding. There are not many books that get a re-read in our house and this has got one from the GLW and myself. Great book, although there is a bit in the last quarter for me where it lost the path a bit (Assuming myself and Mr King were on the same path for the first three). Gave up on the dome at about half way but am about to king up with either 11.22.63 or the shining - can't decide.


message 48: by Minnie (new) - added it

Minnie The Shining, most certainly The Shining! 11.22.63 is good enough but it is not a patch on The Shining


message 49: by Paul (new) - rated it 4 stars

Paul I did go for the shining, am a few chapters in and it's very good so far :-)


message 50: by Mr (new) - rated it 1 star

Mr Shroom king lost the ability to finish a book well,many years ago..


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