Stephen King Fans discussion

Let's discuss our book club read Insomnia here!

Who's reading along this month?

Me!

For those we have read it already would you recommend it to others?

I've read it before, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It's a good story. But, as Derry is based on Bangor, my hometown, I was able to visualize EXACTLY some spots he is describing on there. It made the read rather surreal, but more intense, I think. Regardless, though, it's a very good story.

I am! (Reading along, that is.)

While this is one of my favorites, It's not one of the first King novels I'd recommend, partly because I only liked it so-so the first time I read it, and partly because of a (spoilery) matter addressed in the Dark Tower series.

I am on page 5o....I am trying to read 2 books at one time. hard to do for some reason.

I had read it already some years ago, and am re-reading it now (in Italian, I must admit). It's not one of my favourites, in fact. The first chapters are up to the best SK we know, and so are some more here and there, with an interesting cue (the old man who cannot sleep anymore after his wife's death) and a growing tension as we follow Ralph through his attempts to find out what's wrong. But then it becomes too verbose... And here I stop for now! :)

After several attempts at reading Stephen King's Insomnia, I intantly gave into falling asleep! Definitely, my least favorite from the King of Horror.

That was funny JuLonda!

Several people I have met do not like this book at all. Are there any specific parts that people don't like? Any parts that were great and made you finish the book?

Read only once, and sorry again that I won't be able to join the gang in the read, but i would say that the opening half of the book just took too, too long to make it way to the 2nd half, where the "quest" started. And I recall the evil string-cutters just not being all that interesting or menacing compared to other King horrors once everything explained what they were existing for.

I really like this book. I haven't yet gotten to this for this month's read, but I figured that I would say something anyway...

Yes, it is long, and some parts can be slow. In comparison with some of King's other work I can see how it can be almost tedious, but I enjoy the character development aspect of it, as well as the subtle, and not-so-subtle links to the Dark Tower/SK Universe.

The characters in Insomnia felt like real people. I felt like if I went to Derry, and looked for Ralph Roberts, he'd be sitting on a park bench with Lois talking about old times or something.

I was fascinated by Ralph and Ed Deepneau's downward spirals, even though they were very different from each other both in cause and actions. The slow build-up in the story bothered me not at all. I felt like I was right there watching the insanity...

=)

Hi! I am reading along too. This is my first time reading this one. I just started -chapter 5.I like it so far. It seems like typical King.

Angie,
I read Insomnia several years ago.It was so long and boring,it took me 3 months to finish it.
Then I was mad because to me there was no pay off what so ever.
What about Gerald's Game for December.Has the club already read that one?

I felt that there was a definite payoff in this book. I'm sure that there will be time to discuss it later since I don't want to spoil it for anyone.

I guess it depends on each person's expectations. I personally thought that Insomnia's ending was appropriate and fitting, but we're all entitled to our opinions.

Becky go ahead and discuss it, some people have finish the book so it's OK to talk about it, just write spoiler in front of it.

Joe there is a poll up for December's book already. But that would be a great nomination for January! Watch for the January thead which will probably go up about Dec 7th or so.

I read this book awhile ago and remember not liking it all that much as opposed to other King novels. Although I am wondering if it's something I would need to read a second time to enjoy... It sits there on the shelf begging me to open its pages since I haven't touched it in years. XD

so insomnia is the read what is the december read gonna be? Im waiting for my new SK short stories book!yay!

I'm about 2/3 into the novel right now, and I have a question that I hope someone might know the answer to.

I also should mention that I have not read the Dark Tower series, and I guess that my confusion might be because of this.

(view spoiler)[When Ralph and Lois has the conversation with Clotho and Lachesis at the hospital, they (Clotho and Lachesis) explain the concept of the Random and the Purpose. They also mention that some people (events?) are not claimed by either the Random or the Purpose, as in the case Ed Deepneau. Atropos has cut Ed's "balloon string" which has somehow upset things since he wasn't claimed by either from the beginning.

My question is: If Ed wasn't claimed by either the Ramdom or the Purpose, and Atropos serves the Random, doesn't the fact that he cut Ed's life string now means that he IS claimed by the Random? (hide spoiler)]

Is the concept of the Random and the Purpose elaborated more on in the Dark Tower series? Or any other book related to it?

Katarina, that is one heck of a good question -- One that I admit, had never occurred to me.

By the time King got into the DT series, he had changed the name of quite a few of his earlier concepts/ideas. To the best of my knowledge, (and Becky can probably help out here) - he never uses the concept of the Random and the Purpose in any other book - but he DOES use the ideas under different names in the entire DT series.

Make any sense?

Bondama, thank you so much for the reply! Absolutely, that makes sense. And it makes me more curious about the DT novels now than I was before.

Good! --- If there is anything to prompt a reader to read the DT novels, I'm a HUGE cheerleader.... I love that series so very, very much.

Complete with pom-poms?

You bet - Any suggested colors?

Katarina wrote: "I'm about 2/3 into the novel right now, and I have a question that I hope someone might know the answer to.

I also should mention that I have not read the Dark Tower series, and I guess that my c..."

Wow, Katarina, that IS one heck of a good question!!
I hadn't ever thought about that, either.. I can't even recall that particular conversation, actually..

Dustin wrote: "Katarina wrote: "I'm about 2/3 into the novel right now, and I have a question that I hope someone might know the answer to.

I also should mention that I have not read the Dark Tower series, and ..."

me either... i remember that conversation; but that still may mean that he is not with either side. I do believe that the random and the purpose are called other things. Of course, all things serve the beam and the tower.

maybe you should pose that question to The Man Himself?? you may get an answer about that.. it was a great question. I reread Insomnia not too long ago, but surely not recently enough to clarify it better. mmmm

I noticed this is another long one. Is it worth the read? I really enjoyed Under the Dome and the length was of no concern. In fact I can really get into a longer book if the story can hold me.

Gary wrote: "I noticed this is another long one. Is it worth the read? I really enjoyed Under the Dome and the length was of no concern. In fact I can really get into a longer book if the story can hold me."

Insomnia is a great read Gary, one of my favorite King books!

Gary wrote: "I noticed this is another long one. Is it worth the read? I really enjoyed Under the Dome and the length was of no concern. In fact I can really get into a longer book if the story can hold me."

Yes, it is. I put off reading it for a while because I wasn't sure how it would be but ended up really liking it.

I really liked it, parts of it were a bit draggy for me, but overall a great story. I liked that it featured older characters and they read authentic to me. I consider it well worth reading, Gary.

I'm late to the Insomnia party here, but I will throw in my own 2 cents' worth: This book is among my favorites of King's and I have always been mystified that it has been essentially shunned by so many King readers. I love the story and the way it develops. The fact that it takes somewhat longer to "get into," is a plus on its side, as it adds to the whole horrible aspect of having insomnia!

Another book of King's that has been largely ignored is also among my favorites: "Rose Madder."

I highly recommend both!

"...I have always been mystified that it has been essentially shunned by so many King readers...."

Really? I had no idea. I know Rose Madder is, but hadn't heard "Insomnia" put into the same category.

Insomnia is a WONDERFUL read, IMO!

I need to read this book again. It's been ages and I don't remember it as well as his others. It's going to be my next King read!

Dustin wrote: "Insomnia is a WONDERFUL read, IMO!"
I agree Dustin, it's one of my top King favorites :)

Paula, I truly liked what you wrote about "Insomnia" - When I initially read the book, I just had my mind elsewhere, I suppose. I finished it (of course - it's King) - but it didn't make a huge impression on me.

Becky, one of mods, raved about the book so much that I realized I hadn't truly been fair to it, so I re-read it, and my eyes were opened enormously to the intricacy of the plot, the writing, the characterization, well... everything about it. It now is one of my top favorites. (As is "Rose Madder" - the other not-so popular King that you mentioned!

Tammy wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Insomnia is a WONDERFUL read, IMO!"
I agree Dustin, it's one of my top King favorites :)"

Hi, Tammy!

It's a favorite of mine, as well.:)


Very nice comment, Bondama. Thank you.

I think this may have been my second or third King novel that I read. I remember really enjoying the story and how much it felt like 'IT'. I really liked the fact that the main characters and the heroes were a couple of senior citizens. The ties into the Dark Tower were also very interesting and the use of the myth about the three fates. I don't remember very well but it seems like there was supposed to be some kind of future tie into the character's setting events in motion that would help Roland reach the Dark Tower, but I don't remember what it was.

I've heard that this is a hard book to get into. Is it?

Victor wrote: "I've heard that this is a hard book to get into. Is it?"It starts out with some excitement and then takes a while to come full circle, but ultimately I didn't find it terrible hard to get into. Of course I listened to it on audiobook.

Victor wrote: "I've heard that this is a hard book to get into. Is it?"

I don't think so, Victor. Though it is a little slow at first, but that didn't bother me one bit. I love it!

Victor, maybe a bit. The middle lags, but then again the way King writes it hardly matters. If I tried to explain the plot to someone it probably would sound dull, but when I read it I was never bored.

Thanks guys I'll try to pick it up soon, but it won't be for a while because I'm so busy with other books now.

Christopher wrote: "Victor, maybe a bit. The middle lags, but then again the way King writes it hardly matters. If I tried to explain the plot to someone it probably would sound dull, but when I read it I was never bo..."

Wow, that's a great way to look at it, Christopher!:)

Dustin a fair amount of King's books are that way. When you write phenomenal character driven fiction, just summarizing or trying to adapt them to film doesn't always work

Phenomenally written, character driven*

Christopher wrote: "Dustin a fair amount of King's books are that way. When you write phenomenal character driven fiction, just summarizing or trying to adapt them to film doesn't always work"

I couldn't agree more, Christopher!:)

Insomnia's one of my top favorites by King, I've read it a few times, always loved the whole situation and mystery behind the 'little doctors' and the colored auras and stuff :D

Kit★ wrote: "Insomnia's one of my top favorites by King, I've read it a few times, always loved the whole situation and mystery behind the 'little doctors' and the colored auras and stuff :D"

:)