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袨褋褌褉褨胁 袛褍屑邪
袝写谐邪褉 锌芯褌褉邪锌谢褟褦 胁 邪胁邪褉褨褞. 袙褨薪 蟹邪谢懈褕邪褦褌褜褋褟 卸懈胁懈屑, 邪谢械 蟹 褉芯蟹写褉芯斜谢械薪芯褞 薪芯谐芯褞 褨 斜械蟹 褉褍泻懈. 袩褉懈褋褌褍锌懈 薪械泻芯薪褌褉芯谢褜芯胁邪薪芯褩 邪谐褉械褋褨褩 蟹屑褍褕褍褞褌褜 泄芯谐芯 锌芯泻懈薪褍褌懈 褉褨写薪械 屑褨褋褌芯. 袟邪 锌芯褉邪写芯褞 锌褋懈褏褨邪褌褉邪 袝写谐邪褉 锌芯褔懈薪邪褦 屑邪谢褞胁邪褌懈. 袉 胁懈褟胁谢褟褦褌褜褋褟, 褖芯, 薪邪褔械 泻芯屑锌械薪褋褍褞褔懈 胁褋褨 薪械褖邪褋褌褟, 写芯谢褟 薪邪写褨谢褟褦 泄芯谐芯 薪械蟹胁懈褔邪泄薪懈屑 褌邪谢邪薪褌芯屑 写芯 卸懈胁芯锌懈褋褍. 袡芯谐芯 泻邪褉褌懈薪懈 屑芯卸褍褌褜 蟹屑褨薪褞胁邪褌懈 卸懈褌褌褟 谢褞写械泄, 褟泻褨 薪邪 薪懈褏 蟹芯斜褉邪卸械薪褨. 袝写谐邪褉 锌芯胁械褉褌邪褦 蟹褨褉 褋胁芯褦屑褍 薪芯胁芯屑褍 写褉褍谐褍, 胁懈谢褨泻芯胁褍褦 褋褌邪褉褍 卸褨薪泻褍, 褖芯 褋褌褉邪卸写邪谢邪 薪邪 褏胁芯褉芯斜褍 袗谢褜褑谐械泄屑械褉邪. 袗谢械 蟹 泻芯卸薪懈屑 写薪械屑 褋懈谢邪 泻邪褉褌懈薪 蟹褉芯褋褌邪褦, 褨 袝写谐邪褉 胁卸械 薪械 屑芯卸械 褩褩 褋褌褉懈屑邪褌懈. 袛邪褉 胁懈褉懈胁邪褦褌褜褋褟 蟹-锌褨写 泻芯薪褌褉芯谢褞, 褑械 胁卸械 薪械 写邪褉褍薪芯泻 写芯谢褨 鈥� 褑械 褋褌褉邪褕薪邪 褋懈谢邪, 褟泻邪 蟹写邪褌薪邪 胁斜懈褌懈 薪邪泄写芯褉芯卸褔械... 袧邪褋芯谢芯写卸褍泄褌械褋褜 锌芯-泻褨薪谐褨胁褋褜泻懈 薪械锌械褉械胁械褉褕械薪懈屑 褉芯屑邪薪芯屑!
688 pages, Hardcover
First published January 22, 2008
4575 people are currently reading
73753 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,572听books872k听followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,733 reviews
April 6, 2025
Duma Key has officially climbed the ranks, dirtily throwing elbows along the way, and entered my Top 5 Kings List!!
This is quite an accomplishment, as other Constant Readers can attest.
Edgar Freemantle is a successful businessman.
Living with his wife of 20+ years in Minnesota, the couple have raised two healthy girls and have a good life; a solid life.
That is until the day Edgar is involved in a horrific accident on one of his construction sites.
Crushed under a piece of heavy equipment, Edgar is lucky to be alive, although losing his right arm, injuring his hip and scrambling his brain doesn't seem so lucky to him at the time.
His recovery is extremely difficult, putting a lot of strain on his marriage, with him and Pam ultimately separating.
His psychologist, Dr. Kamen, suggests perhaps a change of scenery would do him a world of good and aide in his recovery efforts. The doctor also urges him to pick up a hobby; it couldn't hurt.
Edgar figures, why not? He has the money, what is he sticking around Minnesota for anyway?
With this in mind, he rents a beach house on a remote piece of land on the Florida coast, Duma Key. The house, something of an artist's retreat, is perfect for him, as he is feeling like doing some sketching.
Edgar begins to settle in and does indeed begin to create amazing works of art.
He's unsure where some of it is coming from. He just seems to be compelled. The drawings and paintings pour out of him at an incredible rate, becoming more intricate and astounding as he progresses.
During this time, he makes a new friend while out for one of his daily beach walks. Jerome Wireman lives at the big house on Duma Key, caring for its aging lady of the house, Elizabeth Eastlake.
It is mainly through these characters that Edgar begins to learn of the dark history and lore of Duma Key and the Eastlake family.
However, Duma has a lot to say itself and that's when things really start to get dangerous.
There is so much to love about this story. I knew absolutely nothing about it going in. I honestly don't think I ever even read the synopsis.
I was delighted as the story unfolded. The relationships, as is to be expected with King, were so deep and well done. The friendship between Edgar and Wireman is easily one of the best I have ever read.
In my opinion, King is great with this type of human dynamics. Further, I really appreciated how none of the relationships in this story were romantic.
It's friendship, it's family, and none of them are perfect, but they're all so real and compelling.
Duma Key, the location, was incredibly well done. King develops such a sense of place, always incorporating the idea that places remember; pieces of history live on through the lifeblood of the land and structures upon them.
You see this type of idea a lot throughout King's works, from this one, to The Shining, Salem's Lot, Pet Sematary and everything in between.
Overall, I could wax poetic about this novel for hours. There is so much to unpack with this story. It's extremely intricate, I would love to read it again someday and most likely will.
If you are a Constant Reader and haven't picked this up yet, delay no more. It's a stunner!
This is quite an accomplishment, as other Constant Readers can attest.
Edgar Freemantle is a successful businessman.
Living with his wife of 20+ years in Minnesota, the couple have raised two healthy girls and have a good life; a solid life.
That is until the day Edgar is involved in a horrific accident on one of his construction sites.
Crushed under a piece of heavy equipment, Edgar is lucky to be alive, although losing his right arm, injuring his hip and scrambling his brain doesn't seem so lucky to him at the time.
His recovery is extremely difficult, putting a lot of strain on his marriage, with him and Pam ultimately separating.
His psychologist, Dr. Kamen, suggests perhaps a change of scenery would do him a world of good and aide in his recovery efforts. The doctor also urges him to pick up a hobby; it couldn't hurt.
Edgar figures, why not? He has the money, what is he sticking around Minnesota for anyway?
With this in mind, he rents a beach house on a remote piece of land on the Florida coast, Duma Key. The house, something of an artist's retreat, is perfect for him, as he is feeling like doing some sketching.
Edgar begins to settle in and does indeed begin to create amazing works of art.
He's unsure where some of it is coming from. He just seems to be compelled. The drawings and paintings pour out of him at an incredible rate, becoming more intricate and astounding as he progresses.
During this time, he makes a new friend while out for one of his daily beach walks. Jerome Wireman lives at the big house on Duma Key, caring for its aging lady of the house, Elizabeth Eastlake.
It is mainly through these characters that Edgar begins to learn of the dark history and lore of Duma Key and the Eastlake family.
However, Duma has a lot to say itself and that's when things really start to get dangerous.
There is so much to love about this story. I knew absolutely nothing about it going in. I honestly don't think I ever even read the synopsis.
I was delighted as the story unfolded. The relationships, as is to be expected with King, were so deep and well done. The friendship between Edgar and Wireman is easily one of the best I have ever read.
In my opinion, King is great with this type of human dynamics. Further, I really appreciated how none of the relationships in this story were romantic.
It's friendship, it's family, and none of them are perfect, but they're all so real and compelling.
Duma Key, the location, was incredibly well done. King develops such a sense of place, always incorporating the idea that places remember; pieces of history live on through the lifeblood of the land and structures upon them.
You see this type of idea a lot throughout King's works, from this one, to The Shining, Salem's Lot, Pet Sematary and everything in between.
Overall, I could wax poetic about this novel for hours. There is so much to unpack with this story. It's extremely intricate, I would love to read it again someday and most likely will.
If you are a Constant Reader and haven't picked this up yet, delay no more. It's a stunner!
March 15, 2019
It鈥檚 funny, I read King鈥檚 Florida beach novel during a brutally cold Minnesota winter storm. Thirty below, not windchill, just straight up bone chilling cold. We also got plenty of accompanying snow. In this 600-page beast, King still transported me to burning sandy beaches and dangerous tropical storms. It begins with a construction-site accident, a man horrifically injured and the corresponding confusion, loss, pain, and brutal recovery that accompanies such an accident. King published this book in 2008, just about nine years after his experience with a terrible accident that led to his own vicious injuries and ruthless recovery, after a van struck him on one of his walks. He clearly draws on his personal experience and it makes his writing on pain and suffering honest and raw. The protagonist named Edger leaves his home in the Twin Cities and relocates to the mythical 鈥淒uma Key鈥� to recover physically and emotionally. King owns a home in 鈥榥earby鈥� Casey Key, where I鈥檓 sure he did his own recovery and found more inspirations for this book.
Somehow the story feels familiar yet extremely different. The familiarity comes from a variety of plot lines and themes. A sinister supernatural force, slowly revealing itself over the course of the story. A protagonist who, like King, is an artist, and finds himself thrust into the spotlight. A rich set of characters that come together to support the main character in overcoming the supernatural evil. You can see pieces and parts of this story in many of his other works.
However, in many ways, it is one of his more unique books. The location is far from Maine, starting in St. Paul, Minnesota, but quickly moving to Florida鈥檚 gulf coast. Just this change in scenery creates an extremely different feel than most of his works. The main character is a painter. And while King clearly draws on the similarities of writing, this also differentiates this story from the many others where the main character is an author. King includes twelve delightful little vignettes titled, 鈥淗ow to Draw a Picture鈥�, throughout the story. These departures really added to my enjoyment.
As always King excels at making character鈥檚 reactions to supernatural events feel believable. He also peppers his stories with wonderful observations and little revelations that make his writing so enjoyable.
鈥淛ust looking into that mild flat sunlit calm is healing. It鈥檚 a big word isn鈥檛 it? Gulf, I mean. Big enough to drop a lot of things into and watch them disappear.鈥�
He also follows his own advice and bravely 鈥榢ills his darlings鈥�. No spoilers, but he did make the final third of the story hard to swallow for me. An event I won鈥檛 reveal not only made me sad, I felt it made Edger鈥檚 actions somewhat off at the end. It鈥檚 probably just me, I just hate to even imagine that kind of loss. For me it made the first two thirds more enjoyable then the end of the book. But it鈥檚 not a bad ending, I just didn鈥檛 enjoy it as much as I loved the first two thirds.
I loved the characters such as Wireman and Jack. Jack is a can-do, good to the last drop, young friend that falls into Edger鈥檚 life in Duma Key. And Wireman is this unique, kindred spirit, that immediately connects with Edger and has wonderful little sayings throughout the story. The three of them make the perfect team and are easy to root for, but also provide genuine concern when they are in peril.
In the end, this is another magnificent King ghost story, just one with a ghost ship and buried treasure. One where you feel like your friend Stephen is telling you, fireside during a thunderstorm. It鈥檚 making the hair on the back of your neck standup, but you don鈥檛 want it to end. This is another example of why I think so many people have such affection for King. By the last page, you鈥檒l feel like you know him as well as any friend you have, and as Wireman says, that muchacho, can only come from some seriously honest and talented writing.
Somehow the story feels familiar yet extremely different. The familiarity comes from a variety of plot lines and themes. A sinister supernatural force, slowly revealing itself over the course of the story. A protagonist who, like King, is an artist, and finds himself thrust into the spotlight. A rich set of characters that come together to support the main character in overcoming the supernatural evil. You can see pieces and parts of this story in many of his other works.
However, in many ways, it is one of his more unique books. The location is far from Maine, starting in St. Paul, Minnesota, but quickly moving to Florida鈥檚 gulf coast. Just this change in scenery creates an extremely different feel than most of his works. The main character is a painter. And while King clearly draws on the similarities of writing, this also differentiates this story from the many others where the main character is an author. King includes twelve delightful little vignettes titled, 鈥淗ow to Draw a Picture鈥�, throughout the story. These departures really added to my enjoyment.
As always King excels at making character鈥檚 reactions to supernatural events feel believable. He also peppers his stories with wonderful observations and little revelations that make his writing so enjoyable.
鈥淛ust looking into that mild flat sunlit calm is healing. It鈥檚 a big word isn鈥檛 it? Gulf, I mean. Big enough to drop a lot of things into and watch them disappear.鈥�
He also follows his own advice and bravely 鈥榢ills his darlings鈥�. No spoilers, but he did make the final third of the story hard to swallow for me. An event I won鈥檛 reveal not only made me sad, I felt it made Edger鈥檚 actions somewhat off at the end. It鈥檚 probably just me, I just hate to even imagine that kind of loss. For me it made the first two thirds more enjoyable then the end of the book. But it鈥檚 not a bad ending, I just didn鈥檛 enjoy it as much as I loved the first two thirds.
I loved the characters such as Wireman and Jack. Jack is a can-do, good to the last drop, young friend that falls into Edger鈥檚 life in Duma Key. And Wireman is this unique, kindred spirit, that immediately connects with Edger and has wonderful little sayings throughout the story. The three of them make the perfect team and are easy to root for, but also provide genuine concern when they are in peril.
In the end, this is another magnificent King ghost story, just one with a ghost ship and buried treasure. One where you feel like your friend Stephen is telling you, fireside during a thunderstorm. It鈥檚 making the hair on the back of your neck standup, but you don鈥檛 want it to end. This is another example of why I think so many people have such affection for King. By the last page, you鈥檒l feel like you know him as well as any friend you have, and as Wireman says, that muchacho, can only come from some seriously honest and talented writing.
June 13, 2020
"We can't imagine time running out, and God punishes us for what we can't imagine."
Duma Key focuses on the story of Edgar Fremantle, a self-made millionaire who becomes injured at work after a crane crushes his pickup truck. Following the loss of his arm, amidst other injuries, Edgar becomes a little too much for his wife to handle and she asks for a divorce. He leaves behind his wife and two daughters and heads off to Duma Key, a stunning but eerily quiet stretch of the coast where he has rented a house. Very quickly upon his arrival, he encounters the charismatic Wireman and the old lady he looks after - Elizabeth Eastlake. Although suffering from dementia, Elizabeth's tragic and heartbreaking history begins to unfold, while at the same time, Edgar finds himself able to paint striking, haunting pictures. However, the ability to paint such pictures seems to come from some other outside force...
It's been a while since I posted a book review - three weeks to read Duma Key! But let me emphasise that this was due to being busy and not because I wasn't engrossed in this story. This book is held with high regard amongst the King community on bookstagram and pretty soon after starting this book, I realised why. This book easily has two of King's most likeable characters in Edgar and Wireman. What a duo. Their friendship just lifts up from the page from the get-go. There's just a real respect and love there and the lengths they will go to for each other and for their friendship is pretty astounding. I think these two characters are a huge part of what makes this book so enjoyable. And what makes their inclusion even more fascinating is that they're just pretty normal guys. Normal guys going through a kinda crazy situation. King's ability to build a story based on his characters is simply unparalleled. In addition to the friendship between Edgar and Wireman, the relationship between Edgar and his daughter, Ilse, is just so sweet and believable. King clearly draws on his real-life relationships when putting his character's relationships on page, which explains why they're just so real and touching. Heart eyes.
As for the story itself, it was captivating. From the very beginning, I just had no idea where King was going to go with this one, and I was kept guessing for the majority of the book. The story actually gets pretty scary at times, there's some parts that made my hairs stand on end and were quite unsettling. I quite enjoyed the supernatural force at work within Duma Key, I liked the story behind it and thought King executed it perfectly. I also feel like King was commenting on the mixed blessing that comes with having an artistic talent and how often such talents come with their own drawbacks.
Now I am not one for locations such as the Floria coast, I'm not a beach kinda gal, but King really sells Duma Key to me. The location of this novel is GORGEOUS. His descriptions of sunsets and the beach and the house itself is just beautiful. He builds a real atmosphere, and if it wasn't for the scary forces at play, I'd move to Duma Key, like yesterday.
As for the ending - PERFECT. King's endings are often criticised but this one cannot be faulted, for me, personally. The book continually built up to a crescendo and didn't fall at the final hurdle. This one will stay with me for a long time, and has even forced itself into my top 5 King books. Outstanding.
Edit: reread June 2020. Still holds up! Love this book.
Duma Key focuses on the story of Edgar Fremantle, a self-made millionaire who becomes injured at work after a crane crushes his pickup truck. Following the loss of his arm, amidst other injuries, Edgar becomes a little too much for his wife to handle and she asks for a divorce. He leaves behind his wife and two daughters and heads off to Duma Key, a stunning but eerily quiet stretch of the coast where he has rented a house. Very quickly upon his arrival, he encounters the charismatic Wireman and the old lady he looks after - Elizabeth Eastlake. Although suffering from dementia, Elizabeth's tragic and heartbreaking history begins to unfold, while at the same time, Edgar finds himself able to paint striking, haunting pictures. However, the ability to paint such pictures seems to come from some other outside force...
It's been a while since I posted a book review - three weeks to read Duma Key! But let me emphasise that this was due to being busy and not because I wasn't engrossed in this story. This book is held with high regard amongst the King community on bookstagram and pretty soon after starting this book, I realised why. This book easily has two of King's most likeable characters in Edgar and Wireman. What a duo. Their friendship just lifts up from the page from the get-go. There's just a real respect and love there and the lengths they will go to for each other and for their friendship is pretty astounding. I think these two characters are a huge part of what makes this book so enjoyable. And what makes their inclusion even more fascinating is that they're just pretty normal guys. Normal guys going through a kinda crazy situation. King's ability to build a story based on his characters is simply unparalleled. In addition to the friendship between Edgar and Wireman, the relationship between Edgar and his daughter, Ilse, is just so sweet and believable. King clearly draws on his real-life relationships when putting his character's relationships on page, which explains why they're just so real and touching. Heart eyes.
As for the story itself, it was captivating. From the very beginning, I just had no idea where King was going to go with this one, and I was kept guessing for the majority of the book. The story actually gets pretty scary at times, there's some parts that made my hairs stand on end and were quite unsettling. I quite enjoyed the supernatural force at work within Duma Key, I liked the story behind it and thought King executed it perfectly. I also feel like King was commenting on the mixed blessing that comes with having an artistic talent and how often such talents come with their own drawbacks.
Now I am not one for locations such as the Floria coast, I'm not a beach kinda gal, but King really sells Duma Key to me. The location of this novel is GORGEOUS. His descriptions of sunsets and the beach and the house itself is just beautiful. He builds a real atmosphere, and if it wasn't for the scary forces at play, I'd move to Duma Key, like yesterday.
As for the ending - PERFECT. King's endings are often criticised but this one cannot be faulted, for me, personally. The book continually built up to a crescendo and didn't fall at the final hurdle. This one will stay with me for a long time, and has even forced itself into my top 5 King books. Outstanding.
Edit: reread June 2020. Still holds up! Love this book.
April 19, 2020
...Just finished it. I heard one reviewer state that it was the best book King had ever written. While reviewers have short memories and liberal use of hyperbole, I must admit that this was one of his best he's written. While not epic like , , or , it is powerful, insightful, and terrifying. Also, the fact that the book is not epic is one of its greatest strengths. One of King's self-indulgences in the past couple of decades has been his ability to use 1000 pages to write a 500 page story. Remember that and were both just novellas. In Duma Key, King uses each of the 607 pages with power and efficiency.
Another of King's self-indulgences has been his treatment of Bryan Smith, the man who hit him during his walk and nearly killed him. That same man died a year later from a prescription drug overdose. I remember being especially uncomfortable of King's incorporation and depiction of the accident as a key element in one of his stories. (I HATE spoilers, so either you know what I'm talking about or you don't.) It got to the point where I really started to dislike the man, Stephen King. I mean, c'mon, let the dead rest.
But in this book, King delves into the aftermath of being broken and how being broken made him act and say things that simply were not of his character. Noticeably in this story, King only refers to the crane that causes the accident that crushes Edgar Freemantle and sets everything in motion, and he never once speaks of the driver. Later in the story as Edgar tests his newfound talents, the test results in the death of a child molester. Now, while the bastard certainly had it coming to him, Edgar is overwhelmed with a sense of power, horror, fear, and guilt. In this narrative, I believe that King is trying to work through the aftermath of his own brokenness and how it changed him, most noticeably in his treatment of Bryan Smith. And an interesting thing happened...I found that I had forgiven King's spite and nastiness during this period of pain and healing.
Finally, King puts to words so well what it is like to be broken...what it's like to not be yourself and be the monster and victim at the same time...and what it's like to look back on the wake of relationships that will never be the same again. Having gone through this myself (and I'm not out of the woods yet) I found myself weeping in sections where King's script perfectly put to words the hopelessness, frustration, and loneliness of a broken person. In this book, I found a bit of my own healing realizing that I'm not the only one to have dealt with this and coming to terms with the fact that it's not my fault.
Was this Stephen King's best book? I honestly don't have an answer. All I know is that it has had a bigger impact on me than any other work of fiction I've ever experienced.
Another of King's self-indulgences has been his treatment of Bryan Smith, the man who hit him during his walk and nearly killed him. That same man died a year later from a prescription drug overdose. I remember being especially uncomfortable of King's incorporation and depiction of the accident as a key element in one of his stories. (I HATE spoilers, so either you know what I'm talking about or you don't.) It got to the point where I really started to dislike the man, Stephen King. I mean, c'mon, let the dead rest.
But in this book, King delves into the aftermath of being broken and how being broken made him act and say things that simply were not of his character. Noticeably in this story, King only refers to the crane that causes the accident that crushes Edgar Freemantle and sets everything in motion, and he never once speaks of the driver. Later in the story as Edgar tests his newfound talents, the test results in the death of a child molester. Now, while the bastard certainly had it coming to him, Edgar is overwhelmed with a sense of power, horror, fear, and guilt. In this narrative, I believe that King is trying to work through the aftermath of his own brokenness and how it changed him, most noticeably in his treatment of Bryan Smith. And an interesting thing happened...I found that I had forgiven King's spite and nastiness during this period of pain and healing.
Finally, King puts to words so well what it is like to be broken...what it's like to not be yourself and be the monster and victim at the same time...and what it's like to look back on the wake of relationships that will never be the same again. Having gone through this myself (and I'm not out of the woods yet) I found myself weeping in sections where King's script perfectly put to words the hopelessness, frustration, and loneliness of a broken person. In this book, I found a bit of my own healing realizing that I'm not the only one to have dealt with this and coming to terms with the fact that it's not my fault.
Was this Stephen King's best book? I honestly don't have an answer. All I know is that it has had a bigger impact on me than any other work of fiction I've ever experienced.
August 18, 2015
DUMA KEY BY STEPHEN KING: Most Stephen King fans will admit that the last couple of novels by the international bestselling author, while selling well, have been somewhat lacking coming from the renowned horror writer; one might even go so far as to use the term 鈥渕ediocre,鈥� and don鈥檛 get me started on Cell. Thankfully, with the arrival of Duma Key, the slate has been wiped clean and the master of horror is back! King鈥檚 first novel set in his alternate home of Florida weighs in at over six hundred pages, and while it reveals a more laid-back and matured author, with the terrifying days of The Tommyknockers and It perhaps over; Duma Key is nevertheless an incredibly well written novel with some wonderfully deep and complex characters, and a world that is just as complicated but in many more ways real.
Enter Edgar Freemantle. An entrepreneur who started a construction company and developed it into a multi-million dollar business; loving husband of two adult daughters; until he is involved in a freak on-site accident that should鈥檝e killed him, but leaves him missing his right arm, a couple of slowly healing broken ribs, and a damaged mind that results in outbursts of anger and violence. The strain becomes too great and Freemantle鈥檚 marriage falls apart, leaving him an angry, empty shell. Seeking escape, he leases a beautiful house on the island of Duma Key. While watching the breathtaking sunsets, Freemantle decides to try his hand at some artwork, having sketched a little throughout his life. He discovers the more he works, the better he gets, soon switching to paints and canvasses; he also discovers that painting satisfies the seemingly insatiable itch in his missing right arm. Freemantle鈥檚 work is of the sunsets and the beautiful coastline, along with the occasional abstract object added in to offset it; he is eventually tagged as an American Primitive, but as more and more people discover his work, they are amazed by it and at his first gallery showing all works listed for sale are sold.
But beneath the art, there is a sinister plot at work, because this is after all a Stephen King novel. Freemantle discovers a psychic ability in his work, painting items he should know nothing about, as well as the eventual power to paint events that come to fruition: whether it be the restoring of blindness, or the forced suicide of a serial killer. And then there鈥檚 something wrong with the sold paintings: death follows them. The plot thickens, deepens, and becomes darker as the enigmatic history of Duma Key is discovered. It seems Freemantle isn鈥檛 the only person in its history to come to the island with a fragile mind and a special ability expressed through art. Then there鈥檚 the south side of the island which has become an overgrown and seemingly impenetrable jungle. The last time Freemantle and his daughter, Ilse, took a trip headed in that direction, Ilse immediately felt nauseous and horrible sick, while Freemantle felt the insatiable familiar itch that grew to an unstoppable buzzing; upon driving back north, they mysteriously found their ailments disappearing. Clearly something evil and powerful doesn鈥檛 want them getting to the south of the island.
Duma Key is not just a novel for the fans, but a cathartic response from King over his near-death accident in 1999; no doubt he relived his agonizing recovery while writing about Freemantle, and yet it is because of this firsthand experience, that Duma Key feels much more personal and empathetic. Also being King鈥檚 first foray into his new sometime Florida home, one might think his fellow Floridians a little unhappy on this introduction, or being Stephen King, they may feel the opposite and expect this. Regardless, Duma Key is a welcome return of the great horror writer, with an extra development of character and setting that King seems to have discovered in his later years, making this book one of his best, and one of my personal favorites.
For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to .
Enter Edgar Freemantle. An entrepreneur who started a construction company and developed it into a multi-million dollar business; loving husband of two adult daughters; until he is involved in a freak on-site accident that should鈥檝e killed him, but leaves him missing his right arm, a couple of slowly healing broken ribs, and a damaged mind that results in outbursts of anger and violence. The strain becomes too great and Freemantle鈥檚 marriage falls apart, leaving him an angry, empty shell. Seeking escape, he leases a beautiful house on the island of Duma Key. While watching the breathtaking sunsets, Freemantle decides to try his hand at some artwork, having sketched a little throughout his life. He discovers the more he works, the better he gets, soon switching to paints and canvasses; he also discovers that painting satisfies the seemingly insatiable itch in his missing right arm. Freemantle鈥檚 work is of the sunsets and the beautiful coastline, along with the occasional abstract object added in to offset it; he is eventually tagged as an American Primitive, but as more and more people discover his work, they are amazed by it and at his first gallery showing all works listed for sale are sold.
But beneath the art, there is a sinister plot at work, because this is after all a Stephen King novel. Freemantle discovers a psychic ability in his work, painting items he should know nothing about, as well as the eventual power to paint events that come to fruition: whether it be the restoring of blindness, or the forced suicide of a serial killer. And then there鈥檚 something wrong with the sold paintings: death follows them. The plot thickens, deepens, and becomes darker as the enigmatic history of Duma Key is discovered. It seems Freemantle isn鈥檛 the only person in its history to come to the island with a fragile mind and a special ability expressed through art. Then there鈥檚 the south side of the island which has become an overgrown and seemingly impenetrable jungle. The last time Freemantle and his daughter, Ilse, took a trip headed in that direction, Ilse immediately felt nauseous and horrible sick, while Freemantle felt the insatiable familiar itch that grew to an unstoppable buzzing; upon driving back north, they mysteriously found their ailments disappearing. Clearly something evil and powerful doesn鈥檛 want them getting to the south of the island.
Duma Key is not just a novel for the fans, but a cathartic response from King over his near-death accident in 1999; no doubt he relived his agonizing recovery while writing about Freemantle, and yet it is because of this firsthand experience, that Duma Key feels much more personal and empathetic. Also being King鈥檚 first foray into his new sometime Florida home, one might think his fellow Floridians a little unhappy on this introduction, or being Stephen King, they may feel the opposite and expect this. Regardless, Duma Key is a welcome return of the great horror writer, with an extra development of character and setting that King seems to have discovered in his later years, making this book one of his best, and one of my personal favorites.
For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to .
November 2, 2016
And this is why adults shouldn鈥檛 play with dolls鈥�
Edgar Freemantle used to be the quintessential American success story. He was a self-made millionaire who built a thriving construction business, and he had a long and happy marriage which produced two daughters. However, Edgar鈥檚 good luck ran out one day when he had a brutal run in with a crane at a job site that cost him an arm, screwed up a leg, and cracked his skull. The brain trauma left his eggs slightly scrambled and made him prone to fly into furious rages that his wife couldn't endure so the accident also ends his marriage.
While trying to recover from his injuries and the divorce Edgar decides to relocate to Florida and indulge in his long dormant hobby of drawing and painting pictures. Edgar rents a house at isolated Duma Key on the Gulf Coast where the gorgeous views and long walks on the beach inspire him to amazing artistic achievements and a rapid recovery of his health. In fact, Edgar鈥檚 progress in both areas could be termed as too good to be true if not downright spooky.
I read this for the first time shortly after it was originally released in 2008, and at that time I was intrigued by the story of a damaged man turning to art to heal his body and mind which is a subject that King has intimate knowledge of after being run down by a car. (King wrote movingly about it in the non-fiction On Writing.) However, I found the supernatural stuff lacking, and I鈥檇 kinda wished that King had written just a straight up character piece about a guy discovering a latent talent following a tragedy.
Since then I鈥檝e seen what happens when King tries his hand at a non-horror genre piece (Mr. Mercedes) so I no longer think that would have been a good idea. Overall, I found myself more intrigued this time by the supernatural aspects and less enamored of the story about Edgar鈥檚 recovery and development as a painter. This is probably because I鈥檝e find myself more sensitive to the tics of his that I dislike which this has several of.
First is that there鈥檚 a general lack of focus. King has always been willing to throw the kitchen sink at a reader, but he really seemed particularly unwilling or unable to pick a path and stick to it here. There鈥檚 elements you see from other stories like Dead Zone with a brain injury leading to weird abilities and there鈥檚 the ghost story in an isolated locale like The Shining as well as bits and pieces from other King works. All of this leads to the typical case of King bloat where it seems like a couple of hundred pages could have easily been shaved from the finished product.
The character of Wireman is a prime example of something else I鈥檝e grown irritated with in King鈥檚 work where he creates wise and quirky characters and then fills their mouths with overblown dialogue. Here, Wireman frequently refers to himself in the third person, sprinkles his conversations with Spanish jargon, and he鈥檚 full of meaningless sayings that are treated as profound by Edgar. Seriously, if someone ever told me, 鈥淒o the day, muchacho! And let the day do you!鈥� then I鈥檓 going to flip them off and walk away. Which is a shame because there was much about Wireman in this best friend role other than the way he constantly expressed himself that I really liked.
Another King trope that has increasingly irked me in recent years in his habit of creating situations where the characters are fighting the clock but then waste huge amounts of time talking instead of acting. In this one there鈥檚 a point near the end where hell is gonna be unleashed at sunset which is coming fast, and yet Edgar feels that鈥檚 the ideal time to sit the other characters down and tell them a long rambling story about what he鈥檚 discovered. And then of course they find themselves screwed at sunset. How about for once you let them get the job done and save story time for afterwards, Uncle Stevie?
However, despite these gripes I did enjoy this book. King hits the melancholy tone of Edgar, a middle-aged man with a broken home and broken body, perfectly. Doing one of his stories on a bright Florida beach rather than the spooky Maine woods was a nice change of pace, and it fits the way that there鈥檚 an underlying tension to all of it. There鈥檚 also an extremely wicked irony at play here in that most of the stuff happening seems like a good thing rather than evil. Edgar is healing and he鈥檚 creating amazing art, and he even uses his newfound abilities to do some good. You can see how he鈥檚 willing to push aside any warning signs because so much of what is happening to him is legitimately changing his life for the better without any of the usual dark down side you鈥檇 immediately see in most horror books.
It鈥檚 not quite as good as I found it in 2008, but it鈥檚 still one of the better later era King novels.
Edgar Freemantle used to be the quintessential American success story. He was a self-made millionaire who built a thriving construction business, and he had a long and happy marriage which produced two daughters. However, Edgar鈥檚 good luck ran out one day when he had a brutal run in with a crane at a job site that cost him an arm, screwed up a leg, and cracked his skull. The brain trauma left his eggs slightly scrambled and made him prone to fly into furious rages that his wife couldn't endure so the accident also ends his marriage.
While trying to recover from his injuries and the divorce Edgar decides to relocate to Florida and indulge in his long dormant hobby of drawing and painting pictures. Edgar rents a house at isolated Duma Key on the Gulf Coast where the gorgeous views and long walks on the beach inspire him to amazing artistic achievements and a rapid recovery of his health. In fact, Edgar鈥檚 progress in both areas could be termed as too good to be true if not downright spooky.
I read this for the first time shortly after it was originally released in 2008, and at that time I was intrigued by the story of a damaged man turning to art to heal his body and mind which is a subject that King has intimate knowledge of after being run down by a car. (King wrote movingly about it in the non-fiction On Writing.) However, I found the supernatural stuff lacking, and I鈥檇 kinda wished that King had written just a straight up character piece about a guy discovering a latent talent following a tragedy.
Since then I鈥檝e seen what happens when King tries his hand at a non-horror genre piece (Mr. Mercedes) so I no longer think that would have been a good idea. Overall, I found myself more intrigued this time by the supernatural aspects and less enamored of the story about Edgar鈥檚 recovery and development as a painter. This is probably because I鈥檝e find myself more sensitive to the tics of his that I dislike which this has several of.
First is that there鈥檚 a general lack of focus. King has always been willing to throw the kitchen sink at a reader, but he really seemed particularly unwilling or unable to pick a path and stick to it here. There鈥檚 elements you see from other stories like Dead Zone with a brain injury leading to weird abilities and there鈥檚 the ghost story in an isolated locale like The Shining as well as bits and pieces from other King works. All of this leads to the typical case of King bloat where it seems like a couple of hundred pages could have easily been shaved from the finished product.
The character of Wireman is a prime example of something else I鈥檝e grown irritated with in King鈥檚 work where he creates wise and quirky characters and then fills their mouths with overblown dialogue. Here, Wireman frequently refers to himself in the third person, sprinkles his conversations with Spanish jargon, and he鈥檚 full of meaningless sayings that are treated as profound by Edgar. Seriously, if someone ever told me, 鈥淒o the day, muchacho! And let the day do you!鈥� then I鈥檓 going to flip them off and walk away. Which is a shame because there was much about Wireman in this best friend role other than the way he constantly expressed himself that I really liked.
Another King trope that has increasingly irked me in recent years in his habit of creating situations where the characters are fighting the clock but then waste huge amounts of time talking instead of acting. In this one there鈥檚 a point near the end where hell is gonna be unleashed at sunset which is coming fast, and yet Edgar feels that鈥檚 the ideal time to sit the other characters down and tell them a long rambling story about what he鈥檚 discovered. And then of course they find themselves screwed at sunset. How about for once you let them get the job done and save story time for afterwards, Uncle Stevie?
However, despite these gripes I did enjoy this book. King hits the melancholy tone of Edgar, a middle-aged man with a broken home and broken body, perfectly. Doing one of his stories on a bright Florida beach rather than the spooky Maine woods was a nice change of pace, and it fits the way that there鈥檚 an underlying tension to all of it. There鈥檚 also an extremely wicked irony at play here in that most of the stuff happening seems like a good thing rather than evil. Edgar is healing and he鈥檚 creating amazing art, and he even uses his newfound abilities to do some good. You can see how he鈥檚 willing to push aside any warning signs because so much of what is happening to him is legitimately changing his life for the better without any of the usual dark down side you鈥檇 immediately see in most horror books.
It鈥檚 not quite as good as I found it in 2008, but it鈥檚 still one of the better later era King novels.
April 25, 2021
The shells were rattling again, whispering up through the house goes the refrain of this book. Stephen uses the rattling shells over and over like the waves on the ocean, a constant reminder of something speaking to you. He also uses "I can do this" as a mantra like someone droning on in an 'OM'. We also can't forget the pain Edgar, our resident painter and artist, is in all the time. I love these little devices used to keep us in the setting, to bring the story to life. Like the ocean droning on in the background on the beach. They work so well hand in hand.
It's so fascinating to see how Stephen uses the image of painting and how Edgar can bring a painting to life much as Stephen does with his writing. Somehow, Stephen is able to bring these words, sentences and paragraphs alive and into the readers mind like magic that overpowers and keeps him on the bestseller list. The parallel is wonderful.
This book felt so fresh to me. I just loved it. The setting was new, split between Minnesota and Florida. The subject was also new. I don't recall offhand having a protagonist who is an artist/painter. Usually, they are authors. I was impressed how visual the writing was to bring these paintings to life.
Edgar was in an accident, a bad accident that changed him. He must leave his old life behind and find his future life of some kind. He comes to Duma Key, a Key off the west coast of Florida on the Gulf around Sarasota. Edgar was a developer and always enjoyed painting. In his new life he explores painting and finds that he is very good at it.
I love the pacing of the book. Man, Stephen is amazing at building a character and a feeling. The first 200 pages of this book were good and a little slow. I did enjoy it, but by page 300, I began to rush through this book and I simply couldn't put it down. I was under Stephen's spell he wove so expertly. I just loved the time on Duma with mostly just Edgar and him painting. It was beautiful and hypnotic. It had me.
This so was masterfully told. Man, when he is good, he is superior.
I loved the relationship between Wireman and Edgar that develops, from their laughing riot at the beginning to how close they were at the end. I love that it wasn't what we see on TV or think of as a bromance. It felt real to me and grounded in these two broken recluses, a little odd couple thing going on. I love the character of Wireman. I also loved Elizabeth Eastlake and I would love to see a story of her past as a short story. She seems to have been very cool.
There is no horror story in the first 300 pages. I began to think this was one of his literary works and it is, but by page 400, I could see how the horror was developing. I read the last 200 pages in 2 days. It was fantastic.
I can also say that it has been a very long time since any book at all has creeped me out like this one did. Going to bed after pages 400, I was nervous and just a little bit scared. It's been years. The horror isn't realy a ghosty or something, it's simply the set-up that Stephen uses on the reader and he just puts me in that place of being creeped out.
This is about a man living on the beach laid back and painting when he feels like it. The first part of the book has that sort of pacing and then the last 200 pages when it shifts into high gear, man, it takes off.
This is now one of my Top 10 Stephen King books. It's a great story. I hope to read it again someday. This got my emotions all going and feeling. It reads so smoothly. This is Stephen at the top of his game. I have heard that some call this time of 2005-2010 one of his down times as far as novels go, but this book is a gem. It clearly shows the genus that Stephen shares with us constant readers.
I know it's not a perfect book, but I want to focus on what I loved right now and I can deconstruct it later. I'm so glad I decided to read this. I think I have 8 more books to read of his to be caught up, maybe less now.
It's so fascinating to see how Stephen uses the image of painting and how Edgar can bring a painting to life much as Stephen does with his writing. Somehow, Stephen is able to bring these words, sentences and paragraphs alive and into the readers mind like magic that overpowers and keeps him on the bestseller list. The parallel is wonderful.
This book felt so fresh to me. I just loved it. The setting was new, split between Minnesota and Florida. The subject was also new. I don't recall offhand having a protagonist who is an artist/painter. Usually, they are authors. I was impressed how visual the writing was to bring these paintings to life.
Edgar was in an accident, a bad accident that changed him. He must leave his old life behind and find his future life of some kind. He comes to Duma Key, a Key off the west coast of Florida on the Gulf around Sarasota. Edgar was a developer and always enjoyed painting. In his new life he explores painting and finds that he is very good at it.
I love the pacing of the book. Man, Stephen is amazing at building a character and a feeling. The first 200 pages of this book were good and a little slow. I did enjoy it, but by page 300, I began to rush through this book and I simply couldn't put it down. I was under Stephen's spell he wove so expertly. I just loved the time on Duma with mostly just Edgar and him painting. It was beautiful and hypnotic. It had me.
This so was masterfully told. Man, when he is good, he is superior.
I loved the relationship between Wireman and Edgar that develops, from their laughing riot at the beginning to how close they were at the end. I love that it wasn't what we see on TV or think of as a bromance. It felt real to me and grounded in these two broken recluses, a little odd couple thing going on. I love the character of Wireman. I also loved Elizabeth Eastlake and I would love to see a story of her past as a short story. She seems to have been very cool.
There is no horror story in the first 300 pages. I began to think this was one of his literary works and it is, but by page 400, I could see how the horror was developing. I read the last 200 pages in 2 days. It was fantastic.
I can also say that it has been a very long time since any book at all has creeped me out like this one did. Going to bed after pages 400, I was nervous and just a little bit scared. It's been years. The horror isn't realy a ghosty or something, it's simply the set-up that Stephen uses on the reader and he just puts me in that place of being creeped out.
This is about a man living on the beach laid back and painting when he feels like it. The first part of the book has that sort of pacing and then the last 200 pages when it shifts into high gear, man, it takes off.
This is now one of my Top 10 Stephen King books. It's a great story. I hope to read it again someday. This got my emotions all going and feeling. It reads so smoothly. This is Stephen at the top of his game. I have heard that some call this time of 2005-2010 one of his down times as far as novels go, but this book is a gem. It clearly shows the genus that Stephen shares with us constant readers.
I know it's not a perfect book, but I want to focus on what I loved right now and I can deconstruct it later. I'm so glad I decided to read this. I think I have 8 more books to read of his to be caught up, maybe less now.
July 15, 2019
Still every bit as good as I remembered.
It was red....
This must be King's most underrated book, and I've no idea why. Maybe because it was released in 2008 and maybe horror wasn't as cool then and it kind of slipped through the cracks. Feels weird calling a book with 70k ratings underrated, but there you go. I've never heard anyone say that Duma Key was up there with the best of King's works. After finishing this I certainly will be!
If this was released earlier in King's career, would it be mentioned as one of his greatest? Maybe...
This book is creeeeeepy and original. The ending is also superb, which isn't always the case in King's books (see Under the Dome!).
More than anything, King's ability to create memorable characters and dialogue shines through.
You need to sit in the chum, sit in the buddy and read this you stupid birch!! All the stars and perhaps one of my top three King books...which is saying something!
Do the day, and let the day do you!
It was red....
This must be King's most underrated book, and I've no idea why. Maybe because it was released in 2008 and maybe horror wasn't as cool then and it kind of slipped through the cracks. Feels weird calling a book with 70k ratings underrated, but there you go. I've never heard anyone say that Duma Key was up there with the best of King's works. After finishing this I certainly will be!
If this was released earlier in King's career, would it be mentioned as one of his greatest? Maybe...
This book is creeeeeepy and original. The ending is also superb, which isn't always the case in King's books (see Under the Dome!).
More than anything, King's ability to create memorable characters and dialogue shines through.
You need to sit in the chum, sit in the buddy and read this you stupid birch!! All the stars and perhaps one of my top three King books...which is saying something!
Do the day, and let the day do you!
October 30, 2021
In Duma Key Stephen King taps into extreme mid-life crisis and although he stirs it in a bubbling vat of macabre, the core, non-magical, element remains. What is one to do with one鈥檚 life? Edgar Freemantle struggles with redefining himself after having faced near-death trauma, having lost not only his right arm but some of his mental function, and, oh yes, his marriage. Have a nice day. Luckily for him, and conveniently for the author, he has been a very successful contractor and, having socked away rather large sums, he can afford to take a giant step away from the rubble of his life. Eager to heal both body and mind, Edgar opts in to a large beach house on the lightly populated Duma Key. This being Stephen King, the beach house and the island itself come with more than just sun, sand and surf.
Stehen King - image from Slash Film
In short order Freemantle discovers that his amateur鈥檚 ability for drawing has blossomed into a world class talent for painting. Edgar continues to experience sensations in the missing arm, and that feeling seems to connect him with inspiration for his creepy, if inspired canvasses. There are dark forces at work, and the paintings Freemantle is cranking out have a little extra in them.
Down the beach he meets the elderly Elizabeth, owner of most of the Key, and Wireman, her caretaker. The three strike up a fast friendship. Elizabeth鈥檚 past is at the center of this tale.
Expect creepie crawlies, a few shivers, a puzzle to be figured out, good friends working together to try to do just that, and a powerful resident evil. This is a fast-paced book. I hated to put it down. It was fun to read, and scary enough.
King has a particular fondness for children in his stories, and does not disappoint here, offering not only chapters in which the narrator is a child, but characters both immediate and historical that fit the bill. Also, Freemantle鈥檚 own children, while adult, or near-adult, still qualify because of how he feels about them.
I did not think that Duma Key was one of his best works. But garden-variety Stephen King is better than most in this genre. He is readable, enjoyable, and taps into enough reality to lend emotional substance to his spook stories.
A few other SKs we have reviewed
-----2020 -
-----2019 -
-----2014 -
-----2014 -
-----2013 -
-----2009 -
-----2006 -
-----1977 -
Stehen King - image from Slash Film
In short order Freemantle discovers that his amateur鈥檚 ability for drawing has blossomed into a world class talent for painting. Edgar continues to experience sensations in the missing arm, and that feeling seems to connect him with inspiration for his creepy, if inspired canvasses. There are dark forces at work, and the paintings Freemantle is cranking out have a little extra in them.
Down the beach he meets the elderly Elizabeth, owner of most of the Key, and Wireman, her caretaker. The three strike up a fast friendship. Elizabeth鈥檚 past is at the center of this tale.
Expect creepie crawlies, a few shivers, a puzzle to be figured out, good friends working together to try to do just that, and a powerful resident evil. This is a fast-paced book. I hated to put it down. It was fun to read, and scary enough.
King has a particular fondness for children in his stories, and does not disappoint here, offering not only chapters in which the narrator is a child, but characters both immediate and historical that fit the bill. Also, Freemantle鈥檚 own children, while adult, or near-adult, still qualify because of how he feels about them.
I did not think that Duma Key was one of his best works. But garden-variety Stephen King is better than most in this genre. He is readable, enjoyable, and taps into enough reality to lend emotional substance to his spook stories.
A few other SKs we have reviewed
-----2020 -
-----2019 -
-----2014 -
-----2014 -
-----2013 -
-----2009 -
-----2006 -
-----1977 -
April 23, 2021
I will forever hear the grinding of the shells, shells, shells when I think of Duma Key.
I loved it! From the scenery to the sci-fi/paranormal elements, it was completely unpredictable!
My favorite part was the description and scenes of the art- how art and talent unfold and feel. When in the flow of art you can lose yourself for hours on end, eating up all your energy, leaving you ravenous, even mad. That burning itch you feel deep down when the creativity muse starts to stir. The writing was executed extremely well!
I crave the Duma Key sunsets and will miss the characters deeply.
If you love beachfront settings, murder, quirky characters, mystery, and art; you will surely love this, as I did if you don't mind a lengthier book.
Trigger warnings: domestic violence/abuse, blood, death, suicide, and murder
Finally, a King book with NO sexual abuse! This is what I have been looking for! I would love to read more books of his like THIS.
5 stars marked down to 4 stars, when I re-read, the first-person narration was a tad off-putting.
I purchased this from my local used bookstore. Lucky me, it was in the clearance section unbeknownst to them, a hardcover, first edition! Score! It's not signed or anything but this cover variation is rare, and I love it! In no way was I obligated to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
I loved it! From the scenery to the sci-fi/paranormal elements, it was completely unpredictable!
My favorite part was the description and scenes of the art- how art and talent unfold and feel. When in the flow of art you can lose yourself for hours on end, eating up all your energy, leaving you ravenous, even mad. That burning itch you feel deep down when the creativity muse starts to stir. The writing was executed extremely well!
I crave the Duma Key sunsets and will miss the characters deeply.
If you love beachfront settings, murder, quirky characters, mystery, and art; you will surely love this, as I did if you don't mind a lengthier book.
Trigger warnings: domestic violence/abuse, blood, death, suicide, and murder
Finally, a King book with NO sexual abuse! This is what I have been looking for! I would love to read more books of his like THIS.
5 stars marked down to 4 stars, when I re-read, the first-person narration was a tad off-putting.
I purchased this from my local used bookstore. Lucky me, it was in the clearance section unbeknownst to them, a hardcover, first edition! Score! It's not signed or anything but this cover variation is rare, and I love it! In no way was I obligated to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
January 24, 2022
After a life crisis Edgar Freemantle moves to Florida to try and get his life back in order but that doesn't go according to plan because it's written by Stephen King.
Anyway.....I read this when it came out, just noticed that I never marked it as read on here so thought I'd leave a little review also.
I loved this book, it was really creepy at times.
I think one of the biggest strengths of this particular one was great friendship between Edgar and Wireman.
It was such an atmospheric book also and I could almost hear the waves on the beach and feel the sun on my neck. 鈾�
That's why I love King's writing because it's so detailed and his descriptions just put it right into your imagination.
I never expected this to end the way it did, it's a tragic ending but also perfect in a lot of ways.
I can't wait to re-read this.
I'd also really like to see this adapted into a mini-series, I think that would be cool!
Anyway.....I read this when it came out, just noticed that I never marked it as read on here so thought I'd leave a little review also.
I loved this book, it was really creepy at times.
I think one of the biggest strengths of this particular one was great friendship between Edgar and Wireman.
It was such an atmospheric book also and I could almost hear the waves on the beach and feel the sun on my neck. 鈾�
That's why I love King's writing because it's so detailed and his descriptions just put it right into your imagination.
I never expected this to end the way it did, it's a tragic ending but also perfect in a lot of ways.
I can't wait to re-read this.
I'd also really like to see this adapted into a mini-series, I think that would be cool!
July 22, 2021
So good and pretty scary too! For me this is one of King's best books and, even though it is an absolute door stop, the pages flew past almost as quickly as Edgar (the main character) paints.
I always find real horror comes from the supernatural and this book is totally out there. There is a death ship, zombie like sailors, haunted houses and an ancient spirit with an amazing way of reaching into our world. Not the sort of thing you want to think about lying in bed in the dark. The characters are well written, especially Edgar and Wireman.
Amazingly for a book of 600 or so pages the writing is tight and every word counts. Much of the time I was totally gripped and did not want to put it down. I left a lot of things I should have been doing undone in the last two days which is definitely the sign of a really good book.
I always find real horror comes from the supernatural and this book is totally out there. There is a death ship, zombie like sailors, haunted houses and an ancient spirit with an amazing way of reaching into our world. Not the sort of thing you want to think about lying in bed in the dark. The characters are well written, especially Edgar and Wireman.
Amazingly for a book of 600 or so pages the writing is tight and every word counts. Much of the time I was totally gripped and did not want to put it down. I left a lot of things I should have been doing undone in the last two days which is definitely the sign of a really good book.
April 14, 2008
Awful. Cloyingly sentimental, forcedly folksy, sloppily written. At first I was hoping that he was doing this on purpose, using the unrealistic dialogue and the instant bonding of the characters to turn it around on us, make us look back and see it as creepy eventually, but it's just bad writing. The characters don't act like people, they act like characters in a Stephen King novel. When they develop psychic powers, nobody even blinks, and everybody immediately understands how they work...because these are the things that would happen in a Stephen King novel.
To an extent he's earned a lot of leeway, and he's still a great natural storyteller, so there's nothing preventing you from reading it; it's not the kind of awful where you can't force yourself to read another page. (Thus two stars.) But it's just poor work on all sorts of levels.
Here's something that particularly bothered me. Maybe it's quibbling, but an editor should have caught this, if not the author. The first person narrator uses the word "febrile" on page 248; first time it's appeared in the book. On page 249, another character uses it in dialogue.
It's an uncommon enough word that the reader notices (especially since it's out of character for the regular-guy narrator). If it were ultimately going to be revealed that it's all taking place in the narrator's head, it would be a good, if sort of obvious clue, but because it isn't, it's just a reminder that it's all taking place in the author's head. Which, you know, it's sort of his job to avoid.
To an extent he's earned a lot of leeway, and he's still a great natural storyteller, so there's nothing preventing you from reading it; it's not the kind of awful where you can't force yourself to read another page. (Thus two stars.) But it's just poor work on all sorts of levels.
Here's something that particularly bothered me. Maybe it's quibbling, but an editor should have caught this, if not the author. The first person narrator uses the word "febrile" on page 248; first time it's appeared in the book. On page 249, another character uses it in dialogue.
It's an uncommon enough word that the reader notices (especially since it's out of character for the regular-guy narrator). If it were ultimately going to be revealed that it's all taking place in the narrator's head, it would be a good, if sort of obvious clue, but because it isn't, it's just a reminder that it's all taking place in the author's head. Which, you know, it's sort of his job to avoid.
August 30, 2024
I ended up loving this one!
Character development was fantastic along with the atmosphere and setting of Duma Island.
In fact, the island felt beautiful and menacing. The secrets of the island knocks up the tension and unease, and I loved that.
I also loved the supernatural elements in the plot and felt that Edgar鈥檚 art was both expressive and frightening. By having his transformation connected to his art, it's a brilliant way of making the reader feel uneasy and knowing something is "off" with this newly discovered talent.
The characters in Duma Key are the best part of this book.
Stephen King gives the main character, Edgar Freemantle a journey of transformation. He goes from a broken and powerless man to a courageous and strong resilience when facing trauma, inner demons, and an outside supernatural force trying to destroy Duma Key.
While going through his transformation, we see how the power of art can be therapeutic and life changing to Edgar.
I also connected with Jerome Wireman, Elizabeth Eastlake and Jack Cantori. Fantastic characters and I loved all of them!
Edgar鈥檚 family felt more like filler to me and his ex-wife was an easy character to hate. 馃し馃徏鈥嶁檧锔忦煒�
The pacing in this novel is a slow build up and I can see it effecting readers who struggle with this type of plot.
It felt deliberate and necessary to me because it gives the reader time to understand the main character鈥檚 journey, emotions and purpose in this plot.
When I got to the ending of Duma Key, I was on the edge of my seat while our courageous trio is battling an evil and supernatural force!
I loved the ending and felt like King lands this one.
I鈥檓 super happy to get to this one and hope this book gets more love and attention from King fans!
Character development was fantastic along with the atmosphere and setting of Duma Island.
In fact, the island felt beautiful and menacing. The secrets of the island knocks up the tension and unease, and I loved that.
I also loved the supernatural elements in the plot and felt that Edgar鈥檚 art was both expressive and frightening. By having his transformation connected to his art, it's a brilliant way of making the reader feel uneasy and knowing something is "off" with this newly discovered talent.
The characters in Duma Key are the best part of this book.
Stephen King gives the main character, Edgar Freemantle a journey of transformation. He goes from a broken and powerless man to a courageous and strong resilience when facing trauma, inner demons, and an outside supernatural force trying to destroy Duma Key.
While going through his transformation, we see how the power of art can be therapeutic and life changing to Edgar.
I also connected with Jerome Wireman, Elizabeth Eastlake and Jack Cantori. Fantastic characters and I loved all of them!
Edgar鈥檚 family felt more like filler to me and his ex-wife was an easy character to hate. 馃し馃徏鈥嶁檧锔忦煒�
The pacing in this novel is a slow build up and I can see it effecting readers who struggle with this type of plot.
It felt deliberate and necessary to me because it gives the reader time to understand the main character鈥檚 journey, emotions and purpose in this plot.
When I got to the ending of Duma Key, I was on the edge of my seat while our courageous trio is battling an evil and supernatural force!
I loved the ending and felt like King lands this one.
I鈥檓 super happy to get to this one and hope this book gets more love and attention from King fans!
June 10, 2023
Great concept but I feel like this is King at max waffle. Any other author would have been forced to cull at least 100 pages. Probably 200.
February 26, 2025
小褌褉邪褕薪芯 屑薪芯谐芯 屑懈 褏邪褉械褋邪 鈥炐斞冃夹� 袣懈鈥�! 孝邪蟹懈 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟 薪邪 小褌懈胁褗薪 袣懈薪谐 械 褋褞褉褉械邪谢懈褋褌懈褔薪邪 懈 胁褗蟹写械泄褋褌胁邪褖邪, 泻邪褌芯 泻邪褉褌懈薪懈褌械 薪邪 小邪谢胁邪写芯褉 袛邪谢懈鈥�
袚谢邪胁械薪 谐械褉芯泄 胁 薪械褟 械 袝写谐邪褉 肖褉懈泄屑邪薪褌褗谢 鈥� 褋褌褉芯懈褌械谢械薪 锌褉械写锌褉懈械屑邪褔, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 芯褋褌邪薪邪谢 褋邪屑芯 褋 械写薪邪 褉褗泻邪 懈 械 锌芯谢褍褔懈谢 屑芯蟹褗褔薪邪 褌褉邪胁屑邪, 胁褋谢械写褋褌胁懈械 薪邪 褌械卸泻邪 蟹谢芯锌芯谢褍泻邪. 袧械谐芯胁邪褌邪 褋褗锌褉褍谐邪 谐芯 薪邪锌褍褋泻邪 蟹邪褉邪写懈 谐薪械胁薪懈褌械 屑褍 懈蟹斜谢懈褑懈, 邪 褋邪屑芯 械写薪邪 芯褌 写胁械褌械 屑褍 写褗褖械褉懈 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪胁邪 写邪 芯斜褖褍胁邪 褋 薪械谐芯. 袝写谐邪褉 褋懈 薪邪屑懈褉邪 泻褗褖邪 锌芯写 薪邪械屑 薪邪 泻褉邪褋懈胁懈褟 芯褋褌褉芯胁 袛褍屑邪 袣懈 胁 褖邪褌邪 肖谢芯褉懈写邪, 泻褗写械褌芯 写邪 褋械 胁褗蟹褋褌邪薪芯胁褟胁邪. 袙 薪芯胁芯褌芯 褋懈 卸懈谢懈褖械 褌芯泄 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 褉懈褋褍胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 械 薪械谐芯胁芯 褋褌邪褉芯 褏芯斜懈, 薪芯 懈蟹胁械写薪褗卸 锌芯谢褍褔邪胁邪 褋胁褉褗褏械褋褌械褋褌胁械薪 褌邪谢邪薪褌鈥� 袟邪锌芯褔胁邪泄泻懈 胁 泻褉邪褌泻懈 褋褉芯泻芯胁械 写邪 褋褗蟹写邪胁邪 屑薪芯谐芯 懈 薪械胁械褉芯褟褌薪懈 泻邪褉褌懈薪懈, 褌芯泄 械 薪邪锌褗褌 写邪 褋械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪械 胁 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉械薪 褏褍写芯卸薪懈泻鈥� 袦械卸写褍胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 褋械 褋锌褉懈褟褌械谢褟胁邪 褋褗褋 褋胁芯懈褌械 褋褗褋械写懈 鈥� 泻芯谢芯褉懈褌薪懈褟褌 芯斜褉邪蟹 校邪泄褗褉屑邪薪 懈 斜芯谐邪褌邪褌邪 胁褗蟹褉邪褋褌薪邪 写邪屑邪 袝谢懈蟹邪斜械褌, 蟹邪 泻芯褟褌芯 校邪泄褗褉屑邪薪 褉邪斜芯褌懈. 袞懈胁芯褌褗褌 薪邪 袝写谐邪褉 胁 褌芯蟹懈 屑芯屑械薪褌 褋褌邪胁邪 锌芯褔褌懈 懈写懈谢懈褔械薪, 芯斜邪褔械 褋谢械写 胁褉械屑械 褏褍写芯卸薪懈泻褗褌 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪, 褔械 薪械谐芯胁懈褟褌 褌邪谢邪薪褌 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢褟胁邪 褋褗褖芯 懈 芯谐褉芯屑薪邪 芯锌邪褋薪芯褋褌. 袧邪 芯褋褌褉芯胁邪 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪褌 写邪 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪褌 写芯褋褌邪 屑褉邪褔薪懈 薪械褖邪, 锌褉懈褔懈薪械薪懈 芯褌 写褉械胁薪芯 蟹谢芯鈥� 袨褋胁械薪 褋褌褉邪褕薪芯 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖 褌褉懈谢褗褉, 鈥炐斞冃夹� 袣懈鈥� 械 懈 褋褌褉邪褏芯褌薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪 蟹邪 褋懈谢邪褌邪 薪邪 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯!
鈥炐樞沸拘毖壭� 薪械 斜褟褏 褋械 蟹邪屑懈褋谢懈谢 泻邪泻胁芯 泻邪蟹胁邪屑. 校邪泄褗褉屑邪薪 蟹褟锌薪邪, 邪 蟹械谢械薪懈褌械 屑褍 芯褔懈 褋械 芯泻芯泻芯褉懈褏邪; 褌褗泻屑芯 褖褟褏 写邪 褋械 懈蟹胁懈薪褟 蟹邪 薪械褍褔褌懈胁芯褋褌褌邪 褋懈, 薪芯 褌芯泄 懈蟹斜褍褏薪邪 胁 褋屑褟褏. 孝邪泻邪 褋械 褋屑械械 褔芯胁械泻, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 薪褟泻芯泄 械 褍褋锌褟谢 写邪 锌褉械芯写芯谢械械 胁褋懈褔泻懈褌械 屑褍 蟹邪褖懈褌薪懈 褉械写褍褌懈 懈 械 写芯泻芯褋薪邪谢 褋邪屑邪褌邪 褋褗褉褑械胁懈薪邪 薪邪 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯褌芯 屑褍 蟹邪 褏褍屑芯褉.鈥�
鈥炐毿把€褌懈薪邪褌邪 胁械褔械 薪械 斜械 锌褉械写薪邪蟹薪邪褔械锟斤拷邪 蟹邪 懈蟹锌褗谢薪械薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 屑邪谐懈褔械褋泻懈 褌褉懈泻. 孝褟 褋邪屑邪褌邪 褋械 斜械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪谢邪 胁 屑邪谐懈褔械褋泻懈 褌褉懈泻. 袙械褔械 薪械 屑芯卸械褏 写邪 屑懈褋谢褟 蟹邪 褋械斜械 褋懈 斜械蟹 薪械褟, 邪 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟, 泻芯懈褌芯 械胁械薪褌褍邪谢薪芯 褖褟褏邪 写邪 褋械 褋谢褍褔邪褌 胁 芯斜芯蟹褉懈屑芯褌芯 斜褗写械褖械 (懈薪褌械褉胁褞褌芯 褋 袦械谢懈 袗泄褗褉, 谢械泻褑懈褟褌邪, 懈蟹谢芯卸斜邪褌邪) 褋械 褉邪蟹锌芯谢邪谐邪褏邪 薪械 锌褉械写 屑械薪, 邪 薪褟泻褗写械 胁懈褋芯泻芯 薪邪写 屑械薪. 袙褗蟹锌褉懈械屑邪褏 谐懈 锌芯 褋褗褖懈褟 薪邪褔懈薪, 泻邪泻褌芯 褉懈斜邪褌邪 胁褗蟹锌褉懈械屑邪 写褗卸写邪, 锌邪写邪褖 薪邪写 芯泻械邪薪邪.鈥�
鈥炐澬感盒拘� 薪械 械 泻邪蟹邪谢, 褔械 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯 胁懈薪邪谐懈 械 薪械卸械薪 斜褉懈蟹; 锌芯薪褟泻芯谐邪 褌芯 械 褍褉邪谐邪薪. 袗谢邪 写芯褉懈 懈 褌芯谐邪胁邪 薪械 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 褋械 泻芯谢械斜邪械褌械 懈谢懈 写邪 锌褉芯屑械薪褟褌械 泻褍褉褋邪 褋懈. 袟邪褖芯褌芯 泻邪卸械褌械 谢懈 褋懈 薪邪泄-谐芯谢褟屑邪褌邪 谢褗卸邪 薪邪 谢芯褕芯褌芯 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯 (褔械 胁褋懈褔泻芯 械 锌芯写 泻芯薪褌褉芯谢邪 胁懈), 褖械 锌褉芯锌褍褋薪械褌械 褕邪薪褋邪 写邪 蟹邪锌械褔邪褌邪褌械 懈褋褌懈薪邪褌邪.鈥�
袚谢邪胁械薪 谐械褉芯泄 胁 薪械褟 械 袝写谐邪褉 肖褉懈泄屑邪薪褌褗谢 鈥� 褋褌褉芯懈褌械谢械薪 锌褉械写锌褉懈械屑邪褔, 泻芯泄褌芯 械 芯褋褌邪薪邪谢 褋邪屑芯 褋 械写薪邪 褉褗泻邪 懈 械 锌芯谢褍褔懈谢 屑芯蟹褗褔薪邪 褌褉邪胁屑邪, 胁褋谢械写褋褌胁懈械 薪邪 褌械卸泻邪 蟹谢芯锌芯谢褍泻邪. 袧械谐芯胁邪褌邪 褋褗锌褉褍谐邪 谐芯 薪邪锌褍褋泻邪 蟹邪褉邪写懈 谐薪械胁薪懈褌械 屑褍 懈蟹斜谢懈褑懈, 邪 褋邪屑芯 械写薪邪 芯褌 写胁械褌械 屑褍 写褗褖械褉懈 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪胁邪 写邪 芯斜褖褍胁邪 褋 薪械谐芯. 袝写谐邪褉 褋懈 薪邪屑懈褉邪 泻褗褖邪 锌芯写 薪邪械屑 薪邪 泻褉邪褋懈胁懈褟 芯褋褌褉芯胁 袛褍屑邪 袣懈 胁 褖邪褌邪 肖谢芯褉懈写邪, 泻褗写械褌芯 写邪 褋械 胁褗蟹褋褌邪薪芯胁褟胁邪. 袙 薪芯胁芯褌芯 褋懈 卸懈谢懈褖械 褌芯泄 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪 写邪 褉懈褋褍胁邪, 泻芯械褌芯 械 薪械谐芯胁芯 褋褌邪褉芯 褏芯斜懈, 薪芯 懈蟹胁械写薪褗卸 锌芯谢褍褔邪胁邪 褋胁褉褗褏械褋褌械褋褌胁械薪 褌邪谢邪薪褌鈥� 袟邪锌芯褔胁邪泄泻懈 胁 泻褉邪褌泻懈 褋褉芯泻芯胁械 写邪 褋褗蟹写邪胁邪 屑薪芯谐芯 懈 薪械胁械褉芯褟褌薪懈 泻邪褉褌懈薪懈, 褌芯泄 械 薪邪锌褗褌 写邪 褋械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪械 胁 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉械薪 褏褍写芯卸薪懈泻鈥� 袦械卸写褍胁褉械屑械薪薪芯 褋械 褋锌褉懈褟褌械谢褟胁邪 褋褗褋 褋胁芯懈褌械 褋褗褋械写懈 鈥� 泻芯谢芯褉懈褌薪懈褟褌 芯斜褉邪蟹 校邪泄褗褉屑邪薪 懈 斜芯谐邪褌邪褌邪 胁褗蟹褉邪褋褌薪邪 写邪屑邪 袝谢懈蟹邪斜械褌, 蟹邪 泻芯褟褌芯 校邪泄褗褉屑邪薪 褉邪斜芯褌懈. 袞懈胁芯褌褗褌 薪邪 袝写谐邪褉 胁 褌芯蟹懈 屑芯屑械薪褌 褋褌邪胁邪 锌芯褔褌懈 懈写懈谢懈褔械薪, 芯斜邪褔械 褋谢械写 胁褉械屑械 褏褍写芯卸薪懈泻褗褌 芯褌泻褉懈胁邪, 褔械 薪械谐芯胁懈褟褌 褌邪谢邪薪褌 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢褟胁邪 褋褗褖芯 懈 芯谐褉芯屑薪邪 芯锌邪褋薪芯褋褌. 袧邪 芯褋褌褉芯胁邪 蟹邪锌芯褔胁邪褌 写邪 褋械 褋谢褍褔胁邪褌 写芯褋褌邪 屑褉邪褔薪懈 薪械褖邪, 锌褉懈褔懈薪械薪懈 芯褌 写褉械胁薪芯 蟹谢芯鈥� 袨褋胁械薪 褋褌褉邪褕薪芯 胁褗谢薪褍胁邪褖 褌褉懈谢褗褉, 鈥炐斞冃夹� 袣懈鈥� 械 懈 褋褌褉邪褏芯褌薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪 蟹邪 褋懈谢邪褌邪 薪邪 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯!
鈥炐樞沸拘毖壭� 薪械 斜褟褏 褋械 蟹邪屑懈褋谢懈谢 泻邪泻胁芯 泻邪蟹胁邪屑. 校邪泄褗褉屑邪薪 蟹褟锌薪邪, 邪 蟹械谢械薪懈褌械 屑褍 芯褔懈 褋械 芯泻芯泻芯褉懈褏邪; 褌褗泻屑芯 褖褟褏 写邪 褋械 懈蟹胁懈薪褟 蟹邪 薪械褍褔褌懈胁芯褋褌褌邪 褋懈, 薪芯 褌芯泄 懈蟹斜褍褏薪邪 胁 褋屑褟褏. 孝邪泻邪 褋械 褋屑械械 褔芯胁械泻, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 薪褟泻芯泄 械 褍褋锌褟谢 写邪 锌褉械芯写芯谢械械 胁褋懈褔泻懈褌械 屑褍 蟹邪褖懈褌薪懈 褉械写褍褌懈 懈 械 写芯泻芯褋薪邪谢 褋邪屑邪褌邪 褋褗褉褑械胁懈薪邪 薪邪 褔褍胁褋褌胁芯褌芯 屑褍 蟹邪 褏褍屑芯褉.鈥�
鈥炐毿把€褌懈薪邪褌邪 胁械褔械 薪械 斜械 锌褉械写薪邪蟹薪邪褔械锟斤拷邪 蟹邪 懈蟹锌褗谢薪械薪懈械褌芯 薪邪 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 屑邪谐懈褔械褋泻懈 褌褉懈泻. 孝褟 褋邪屑邪褌邪 褋械 斜械 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪谢邪 胁 屑邪谐懈褔械褋泻懈 褌褉懈泻. 袙械褔械 薪械 屑芯卸械褏 写邪 屑懈褋谢褟 蟹邪 褋械斜械 褋懈 斜械蟹 薪械褟, 邪 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟, 泻芯懈褌芯 械胁械薪褌褍邪谢薪芯 褖褟褏邪 写邪 褋械 褋谢褍褔邪褌 胁 芯斜芯蟹褉懈屑芯褌芯 斜褗写械褖械 (懈薪褌械褉胁褞褌芯 褋 袦械谢懈 袗泄褗褉, 谢械泻褑懈褟褌邪, 懈蟹谢芯卸斜邪褌邪) 褋械 褉邪蟹锌芯谢邪谐邪褏邪 薪械 锌褉械写 屑械薪, 邪 薪褟泻褗写械 胁懈褋芯泻芯 薪邪写 屑械薪. 袙褗蟹锌褉懈械屑邪褏 谐懈 锌芯 褋褗褖懈褟 薪邪褔懈薪, 泻邪泻褌芯 褉懈斜邪褌邪 胁褗蟹锌褉懈械屑邪 写褗卸写邪, 锌邪写邪褖 薪邪写 芯泻械邪薪邪.鈥�
鈥炐澬感盒拘� 薪械 械 泻邪蟹邪谢, 褔械 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯褌芯 胁懈薪邪谐懈 械 薪械卸械薪 斜褉懈蟹; 锌芯薪褟泻芯谐邪 褌芯 械 褍褉邪谐邪薪. 袗谢邪 写芯褉懈 懈 褌芯谐邪胁邪 薪械 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 褋械 泻芯谢械斜邪械褌械 懈谢懈 写邪 锌褉芯屑械薪褟褌械 泻褍褉褋邪 褋懈. 袟邪褖芯褌芯 泻邪卸械褌械 谢懈 褋懈 薪邪泄-谐芯谢褟屑邪褌邪 谢褗卸邪 薪邪 谢芯褕芯褌芯 懈蟹泻褍褋褌胁芯 (褔械 胁褋懈褔泻芯 械 锌芯写 泻芯薪褌褉芯谢邪 胁懈), 褖械 锌褉芯锌褍褋薪械褌械 褕邪薪褋邪 写邪 蟹邪锌械褔邪褌邪褌械 懈褋褌懈薪邪褌邪.鈥�
July 10, 2023
One of my favorite quotes from Stephen King's The Stand:
"That was what distinguished the Earth鈥檚 children of darkness; they couldn鈥檛 make things but only break them. God the Creator had made man in His own image, and that meant that every man and woman who dwelt under God鈥檚 light was a creator of some kind, a person with an urge to stretch out his hand and shape the world into some rational pattern. [The Anti-Christ] wanted鈥攚as able鈥攐nly to unshape. Anti-Christ? You might as well say anti-creation.鈥�
It's an idea that repeats throughout King's work, humankind's unique ability to create, to problem-solve. It's this that gives his characters the power to defeat his famous monsters 鈥� the creativity that allows them to outthink such creatures of destruction.
The motif is most interesting when it comes to 2008's Duma Key, a book wholly about the creation of art.
After surviving a terrible car accident, protagonist Edgar Freemantle (presumably no relation to The Stand's Mother Abagail Freemantle) relocates to Duma Key, FL to aid his recovery. There, he begins to draw and paint, a passion relegated to doodling on the corners of work papers his whole adult life. In creating art, he regains confidence in his body after the accident changed his physical abilities. It reunites his family, left fractured from the stress of trauma, and introduces him to new friends in and out of the Florida art world.
This is a complete story onto itself, and many authors would end it there.
But this is Stephen King. And the more Edgar paints and the more he shares his art with the world, his work reveals the insidious past of Duma Key, now bleeding into the present.
For the life the art gave back to him, it also gives life back to something else...something evil.
And the opposite side of the motif is explored, perhaps here the most fully of any of King's books: Mankind's own ability to destroy, equal to that of the monsters.
So many King books reveal the darker side of humanity through villains and side characters; the way life can twist them so that they cause pain, so that they un-create. Duma Key, conversely, offers the POV of a protagonist un-creating not to cause harm to others, but in hopes of saving them.
Fighting the monster with its own tools, not at the loss of his humanity, but to preserve it. It allows for a very unique and somewhat quiet conclusion and a very good book.
This was one written after King's own car accident, when he was struck by a negligent driver while out on a walk in 1999. Like Edgar, he sustained severe injuries, but art - specifically, working on the novel Dreamcatcher - helped in his recovery.
Still, I noticed a difference in tone here; anger at life's unfairness, the loneliness of recuperation, the sting of physical injury. So when allusions to his previous works showed up here, like:
- Ilse hearing voices from her drain
- A blue heron watching like Randall Flagg's crows
- Twin girl victims transmuted villainous by a cruel death
- A friend's invitation to join him in Mexico
it almost felt like King was tossing them from hand to hand, seeing how he would play with them through this new, changed perspective. It was fascinating.
"That was what distinguished the Earth鈥檚 children of darkness; they couldn鈥檛 make things but only break them. God the Creator had made man in His own image, and that meant that every man and woman who dwelt under God鈥檚 light was a creator of some kind, a person with an urge to stretch out his hand and shape the world into some rational pattern. [The Anti-Christ] wanted鈥攚as able鈥攐nly to unshape. Anti-Christ? You might as well say anti-creation.鈥�
It's an idea that repeats throughout King's work, humankind's unique ability to create, to problem-solve. It's this that gives his characters the power to defeat his famous monsters 鈥� the creativity that allows them to outthink such creatures of destruction.
The motif is most interesting when it comes to 2008's Duma Key, a book wholly about the creation of art.
After surviving a terrible car accident, protagonist Edgar Freemantle (presumably no relation to The Stand's Mother Abagail Freemantle) relocates to Duma Key, FL to aid his recovery. There, he begins to draw and paint, a passion relegated to doodling on the corners of work papers his whole adult life. In creating art, he regains confidence in his body after the accident changed his physical abilities. It reunites his family, left fractured from the stress of trauma, and introduces him to new friends in and out of the Florida art world.
This is a complete story onto itself, and many authors would end it there.
But this is Stephen King. And the more Edgar paints and the more he shares his art with the world, his work reveals the insidious past of Duma Key, now bleeding into the present.
For the life the art gave back to him, it also gives life back to something else...something evil.
And the opposite side of the motif is explored, perhaps here the most fully of any of King's books: Mankind's own ability to destroy, equal to that of the monsters.
So many King books reveal the darker side of humanity through villains and side characters; the way life can twist them so that they cause pain, so that they un-create. Duma Key, conversely, offers the POV of a protagonist un-creating not to cause harm to others, but in hopes of saving them.
Fighting the monster with its own tools, not at the loss of his humanity, but to preserve it. It allows for a very unique and somewhat quiet conclusion and a very good book.
This was one written after King's own car accident, when he was struck by a negligent driver while out on a walk in 1999. Like Edgar, he sustained severe injuries, but art - specifically, working on the novel Dreamcatcher - helped in his recovery.
Still, I noticed a difference in tone here; anger at life's unfairness, the loneliness of recuperation, the sting of physical injury. So when allusions to his previous works showed up here, like:
- Ilse hearing voices from her drain
- A blue heron watching like Randall Flagg's crows
- Twin girl victims transmuted villainous by a cruel death
- A friend's invitation to join him in Mexico
it almost felt like King was tossing them from hand to hand, seeing how he would play with them through this new, changed perspective. It was fascinating.
August 10, 2024
Even though I wasn鈥檛 quite feeling it this time, in the end it was just how I remember it and the ending was satisfying with really special characters.
Of course Jerome Wireman is the MVP here with his sayings and Edgar Freemantle a very interesting individual with his own struggles.
Even when mostly the supernatural stuff felt really powerful and creepy, the overly long character study was really too much at times.
This story is really worth it but after much consideration this is not amongst my favourite King novels.
2.25/5
Edit 2024: this did not age well. The characters and the atmosphere still remain memorable but the whole thing was a slog to get through.
Of course Jerome Wireman is the MVP here with his sayings and Edgar Freemantle a very interesting individual with his own struggles.
Even when mostly the supernatural stuff felt really powerful and creepy, the overly long character study was really too much at times.
This story is really worth it but after much consideration this is not amongst my favourite King novels.
2.25/5
Edit 2024: this did not age well. The characters and the atmosphere still remain memorable but the whole thing was a slog to get through.
April 7, 2023
3.75/5
Ostatnie 100 stron uratowa艂o t臋 ksi膮偶k臋, ale co si臋 wym臋czy艂am to moje. Na powroty do Kinga musz臋 zdecydowanie si臋ga膰 po krotsze pozycje.
Ostatnie 100 stron uratowa艂o t臋 ksi膮偶k臋, ale co si臋 wym臋czy艂am to moje. Na powroty do Kinga musz臋 zdecydowanie si臋ga膰 po krotsze pozycje.
June 17, 2018
It's been years since I first read Duma Key. While I loved it the first time around and gave a five star rating, it's possible I loved it more the second time around.
I think just knowing the story better and where it was going, helped clarify some of the more supernatural aspects of certain events early on.
Lately, (on bookstagram) I've seen people rating a King book lower *because* he had a supernatural element to an otherwise, genre specific story--example: The Outsider. People thought it should have just been a detective novel.
Well, let me step up on this platform as a seasoned Constant Reader for second and announce that Mr. King is well known and admired for his genre-bending stories. The Dark Tower series, for instance, is everything. It's a Western, dark fantasy, horror, supernatural, apocalyptic, science fiction/time travel, you name it, it's probably in there to some degree.
Duma Key is not going to be pigeon-holed into a genre either so be prepared to just enjoy the ride and not try to figure it out--at its core, this story is about a man who has had his life stripped away after a body (and soul crushing) accident on the job.
He goes to Florida to stay in a big house at the edge of the sea for some contemplative walks on the beach. Of course this is a King novel so Edgar Freemantle isn't going to be left alone at "Big Pink" despite however lonely he feels, right?
Right.
My favorite aspect to this novel are the relationships. The unexpected deep friendship between Wireman and Edgar and perhaps even the crazy love between Fathers and Daughters, even the destructive/toxic relationship between former lovers is intense and compelling--told through dialog and inner mind chat that only King can tell it.
The climax and the way the story takes on that snowball-racing-down-an-avalanche feeling towards the end is some of King's best work.
This is definitely a top 20 if not top 10 King ranking for me.
I think just knowing the story better and where it was going, helped clarify some of the more supernatural aspects of certain events early on.
Lately, (on bookstagram) I've seen people rating a King book lower *because* he had a supernatural element to an otherwise, genre specific story--example: The Outsider. People thought it should have just been a detective novel.
Well, let me step up on this platform as a seasoned Constant Reader for second and announce that Mr. King is well known and admired for his genre-bending stories. The Dark Tower series, for instance, is everything. It's a Western, dark fantasy, horror, supernatural, apocalyptic, science fiction/time travel, you name it, it's probably in there to some degree.
Duma Key is not going to be pigeon-holed into a genre either so be prepared to just enjoy the ride and not try to figure it out--at its core, this story is about a man who has had his life stripped away after a body (and soul crushing) accident on the job.
He goes to Florida to stay in a big house at the edge of the sea for some contemplative walks on the beach. Of course this is a King novel so Edgar Freemantle isn't going to be left alone at "Big Pink" despite however lonely he feels, right?
Right.
My favorite aspect to this novel are the relationships. The unexpected deep friendship between Wireman and Edgar and perhaps even the crazy love between Fathers and Daughters, even the destructive/toxic relationship between former lovers is intense and compelling--told through dialog and inner mind chat that only King can tell it.
The climax and the way the story takes on that snowball-racing-down-an-avalanche feeling towards the end is some of King's best work.
This is definitely a top 20 if not top 10 King ranking for me.
March 25, 2010
How jacked up is it that I'm going to say I find Stephen King comforting?
Yep. Pretty jacked up.
Then again, I've been reading him since I was a pre-teen (or tween, I think that's the proper term for it these days). Anyway, when the R.L Stine and Christopher Pike seemed a bit immature, (no offense to those authors, I LOVED them as a kid!) I turned to King.
He's what I know.
(insert joke about my psychological issues here)
After all these years, he still manages to weave a fantastic tale.
So, to not give the whole story away, I'll say this:
A man named -------- suffers a brain injury and loses an arm in an accident - he gets hit by a --------. He gets away from his failing marriage in ---- and heads to Duma Key, where he can recover and ------- in peace. There, on the island, he discovers he has amazing talent for drawing and painting. He creates surreal, haunting art that eventually causes problems.
Really BIG PROBLEMS. Like ----------!!!
Naughty, EVIL, art!
Anyway, he meets ----- and ------. Gets an art exhibition. Makes ------. Then --------- tells him to get ------- off the island to and NEVER ----------------. So then --------- happens and he has to ---------- with a few of his new island friends and -------. So they go to ---------- and he brings --------- and the next thing you know they see ----------, which is totally fucked up! But then he -----------, so that ----------. Awesome.
AWESOME!
Thank you again, Mr. King., for another great read, and for always being that warped, scary, "happy place" for me.
Yep. Pretty jacked up.
Then again, I've been reading him since I was a pre-teen (or tween, I think that's the proper term for it these days). Anyway, when the R.L Stine and Christopher Pike seemed a bit immature, (no offense to those authors, I LOVED them as a kid!) I turned to King.
He's what I know.
(insert joke about my psychological issues here)
After all these years, he still manages to weave a fantastic tale.
So, to not give the whole story away, I'll say this:
A man named -------- suffers a brain injury and loses an arm in an accident - he gets hit by a --------. He gets away from his failing marriage in ---- and heads to Duma Key, where he can recover and ------- in peace. There, on the island, he discovers he has amazing talent for drawing and painting. He creates surreal, haunting art that eventually causes problems.
Really BIG PROBLEMS. Like ----------!!!
Naughty, EVIL, art!
Anyway, he meets ----- and ------. Gets an art exhibition. Makes ------. Then --------- tells him to get ------- off the island to and NEVER ----------------. So then --------- happens and he has to ---------- with a few of his new island friends and -------. So they go to ---------- and he brings --------- and the next thing you know they see ----------, which is totally fucked up! But then he -----------, so that ----------. Awesome.
AWESOME!
Thank you again, Mr. King., for another great read, and for always being that warped, scary, "happy place" for me.
October 10, 2019
For such a great King novel it鈥檚 actually quite baffling that this one isn鈥檛 mentioned alongside his best works, it certainly has a forgotten modern classic feel to it!
It鈥檚 probably here where I should confess that it wasn鈥檛 until the first couple of chapters that I鈥檇 soon realised that I鈥檇 read this before, it would have been around the time that the paperback it was first published 10 years ago.
My theory is with no movie adaptation it鈥檚 easily slipped peoples minds, with a King resurgence surly it鈥檚 due a big screen outing...
Admittedly there鈥檚 a reassuring familiarity that runs throughout the book as the main protagonist Edgar Freemantle uses his creative talents as a focal point for the story.
Where many of Kings books features writer, Duma Keys strength is with Edgar鈥檚 artistic prowess.
There鈥檚 something really creepy about a painting!
After a traumatic accident that sees Edgar servilely injured on a construction site as he loses his right arm, on the advice of his psychologist after mood swings and an inevitable divorce Edgar moves to the remote island off of Florida.
King has written great flawed characters before but there鈥檚 a more personal touch with Freemantle, having survived a car accident himself the painful rehabilitation process feels raw and authentic.
The three main elements of the beach location, the supporting cast and the mysterious supernatural elements that are about to be uncovered makes this a truly underappreciated classic!
It鈥檚 probably here where I should confess that it wasn鈥檛 until the first couple of chapters that I鈥檇 soon realised that I鈥檇 read this before, it would have been around the time that the paperback it was first published 10 years ago.
My theory is with no movie adaptation it鈥檚 easily slipped peoples minds, with a King resurgence surly it鈥檚 due a big screen outing...
Admittedly there鈥檚 a reassuring familiarity that runs throughout the book as the main protagonist Edgar Freemantle uses his creative talents as a focal point for the story.
Where many of Kings books features writer, Duma Keys strength is with Edgar鈥檚 artistic prowess.
There鈥檚 something really creepy about a painting!
After a traumatic accident that sees Edgar servilely injured on a construction site as he loses his right arm, on the advice of his psychologist after mood swings and an inevitable divorce Edgar moves to the remote island off of Florida.
King has written great flawed characters before but there鈥檚 a more personal touch with Freemantle, having survived a car accident himself the painful rehabilitation process feels raw and authentic.
The three main elements of the beach location, the supporting cast and the mysterious supernatural elements that are about to be uncovered makes this a truly underappreciated classic!
June 2, 2021
IEsta era mi cara al leer las 煤ltimas 200 p谩ginas:
Peque帽o resumen de la trama para meterlos en contexto:
Edgar Freemantle era un contratista antes de perder casi todo su brazo derecho en un accidente de tr谩fico. Al despertar conocemos a un personaje traumado, con una ira incontrolable; debido a esto su esposa termina divorci谩ndose de 茅l. Su psic贸logo le aconseja iniciar una nueva vida, en un nuevo lugar, con un nuevo pasatiempo. Desde este punto, la pintura (su pasatiempo) parece desembocar toda la trama, volvi茅ndose exageradamente repetitiva.
Tengo tantos problemas con esta novela, ten铆a esperanzas de que me gustara, pues, generalmente, los libros de Stephen King me entretienen, lo cual no ha ocurrido con los 煤ltimos dos que he le铆do de 茅l.
Mientras pasaba las p谩ginas hubo una pregunta que no sal铆a de mi cabeza. 芦驴En serio King escribi贸 esto?禄, porque la narrativa era s煤per b谩sica, absurda y, al igual que la trama, repetitiva. Me imagino a SK yendo a un restaurante chino, abriendo una galleta de la fortuna y leyendo cosas como:
芦Forja tu d铆a y deja que el d铆a te forje a ti.禄
Entonces 茅l dice: 芦Oh, Dios, esto es incre铆ble, lo agregar茅 unas veinte veces a mi pr贸ximo best seller, Duma Key禄.
Despu茅s de eso compra toda la taza llena de galletas y con ellas escribe este libro. Disc煤lpenme, pero as铆 lo sent铆.
Tambi茅n hay di谩logos demasiado ficticios, inveros铆miles. 隆驴Qui茅n habla de uno mismo en tercera persona?! Eso hizo que no tomara en serio los personajes.
Demasiado relleno.
El final fue sacado de la manga, o sea, como si las 500 p谩ginas predecesoras fueran un largo inicio. 驴Escrib铆as todo lo que se te ven铆a a la mente? Este libro puede reducirse a unas 300 p谩ginas, o menos.
S铆, ya sabemos que los paisajes que pint贸 Edgar son s煤per especiales. S铆, ya sabemos que las conchas hacen mucho ruido bajo la casa. 驴Ya dije que las pinturas son s煤per especiales? Porque s铆, son s煤per especiales. Tienen una especialidad especialmente especial.
Ahora, con esto de la pintura, 驴fue mi imaginaci贸n turbada por el tedio de la novela o en realidad el libro estaba insinuando que la ocupaci贸n de un pintor es f谩cil? 驴Las grandes obras fueron pintadas sin un arduo y previo trabajo? No creo que la Creaci贸n de Ad谩n o Noche Estrellada hayan sido pinturas hechas sin un mensaje o un estilo propio, enviado y creado por su respectivo autor.
Los cap铆tulos llamados C贸mo dibujar un cuadro fueron escritos con la misma funci贸n que el prefacio de el Retrato de Dorian Gray: pedir disculpas si el lector piensa que el autor repudia o minimiza el trabajo de un artista. De un pintor, siendo exacto. O as铆 es como yo veo dichos cap铆tulos.
Personajes:
Wireman es uno de los personajes m谩s rid铆culos que King ha creado; trat贸 de encari帽arnos con 茅l forzosamente, en mi caso, sin lograrlo. No, los chistes de putas y perras no dan risa. Nada de lo que dice Wireman es divertido, solo das tristeza, y no de la buena.
Edgar. Tuvo un buen desarrollo, la verdad, si comparamos al Edgar que nos describen antes del accidente con el Edgar despu茅s de 茅ste. Pero algo falt贸 en 茅l, siento como si una pieza de su personalidad se hubiese perdido; tambi茅n le falt贸 abandonar algunas actitudes despectivas.
Elizabeth. A m铆 parecer, un poco exagerada su personalidad pomposa, pero eso no quita que su papel como personaje secundario fuera bueno, habr铆a sido genial si hubiera habido m谩s profundidad en ella. Mas para m铆 fue el mejor personaje.
Jack. Ni siquiera s茅 en qu茅 momento apareci贸 este muchacho, 驴no hab铆a nada interesante en tu vida o por qu茅 siempre aparec铆as cuando era conveniente?
El resto de personajes no son tan importantes como para hablar de ellos.
Duma Key parece un corte de comerciales, porque a cada rato te est谩n nombrando la marca de todo. Bebi贸 una Pepsi, comi贸 tales galletas, un pollo congelado que nada que ver. No necesitamos tu propaganda. 驴Ganaste m谩s con las ventas de esta novela o con las promociones que hiciste en ella? Nombran tantas cosas desconocidas que se llega a pensar que este libro fue escrito 煤nicamente para norteamericanos.
Un peque帽o problema que tuve a parte.
驴Es Stephen King racista? No lo s茅.
Al 煤nico personaje que se nos describe de piel negra, es una sirvienta de una 茅poca pasada, lo cual justifica un poco el trato hac铆a ella si nos metemos en el contexto de entonces. Pero 驴era necesario que ella hablara como retrasada, usando una dicci贸n con contracciones que nadie usa? 芦隆Ante鈥� de que la 鈥檋ogue!禄, por ejemplo. La traducci贸n tuvo algo que ver, pero s茅 que si miro en el idioma original del libro tambi茅n encontrar茅 algo parecido, pues de alg煤n lado tuvo que basarse el traductor para hacer esto. Tambi茅n s茅 que en la vida real algunos usamos contracciones, pero me molesto porque a este personaje me lo imagin茅 como esas personas blancas que se pintaban de negro y hablaban golpeado. El t铆pico blackface.
Y este libro fue escrito en el 2008, King f谩cilmente pudo crear a este personaje con un vocablo inteligible, salirse de ese estereotipo racista. Y si quiso hacer una cr铆tica al racismo norteamericano, pues le falt贸 la cr铆tica.
Ya por terminar, curiosamente, este es uno de los pocos libros de SK que no tiene una adaptaci贸n cinematogr谩fica. 芦Curiosamente禄, no hay nada curioso. Si este libro no fue/es llevado a la pantalla grande, tal vez se deba a la exagerada ridiculez de su trama. Cualquiera que lo lea sabr铆a que ser铆a un fiasco como pel铆cula.
PD.: Las pinturas de Edgar son s煤per especiales, no lo olviden.
PD2.: Me disculpo si mi opini贸n fue muy negativa. No s茅 si es necesario mencionarlo pero respeto tu opini贸n si este libro es de tus favoritos.
驴Este libro es de los favoritos de alguien? Es broma, s铆 lo es. Creo.
PD3.: Forja tu d铆a y blablabl谩...
Gracias por leer.
Peque帽o resumen de la trama para meterlos en contexto:
Edgar Freemantle era un contratista antes de perder casi todo su brazo derecho en un accidente de tr谩fico. Al despertar conocemos a un personaje traumado, con una ira incontrolable; debido a esto su esposa termina divorci谩ndose de 茅l. Su psic贸logo le aconseja iniciar una nueva vida, en un nuevo lugar, con un nuevo pasatiempo. Desde este punto, la pintura (su pasatiempo) parece desembocar toda la trama, volvi茅ndose exageradamente repetitiva.
Tengo tantos problemas con esta novela, ten铆a esperanzas de que me gustara, pues, generalmente, los libros de Stephen King me entretienen, lo cual no ha ocurrido con los 煤ltimos dos que he le铆do de 茅l.
Mientras pasaba las p谩ginas hubo una pregunta que no sal铆a de mi cabeza. 芦驴En serio King escribi贸 esto?禄, porque la narrativa era s煤per b谩sica, absurda y, al igual que la trama, repetitiva. Me imagino a SK yendo a un restaurante chino, abriendo una galleta de la fortuna y leyendo cosas como:
芦Forja tu d铆a y deja que el d铆a te forje a ti.禄
Entonces 茅l dice: 芦Oh, Dios, esto es incre铆ble, lo agregar茅 unas veinte veces a mi pr贸ximo best seller, Duma Key禄.
Despu茅s de eso compra toda la taza llena de galletas y con ellas escribe este libro. Disc煤lpenme, pero as铆 lo sent铆.
Tambi茅n hay di谩logos demasiado ficticios, inveros铆miles. 隆驴Qui茅n habla de uno mismo en tercera persona?! Eso hizo que no tomara en serio los personajes.
Demasiado relleno.
El final fue sacado de la manga, o sea, como si las 500 p谩ginas predecesoras fueran un largo inicio. 驴Escrib铆as todo lo que se te ven铆a a la mente? Este libro puede reducirse a unas 300 p谩ginas, o menos.
S铆, ya sabemos que los paisajes que pint贸 Edgar son s煤per especiales. S铆, ya sabemos que las conchas hacen mucho ruido bajo la casa. 驴Ya dije que las pinturas son s煤per especiales? Porque s铆, son s煤per especiales. Tienen una especialidad especialmente especial.
Ahora, con esto de la pintura, 驴fue mi imaginaci贸n turbada por el tedio de la novela o en realidad el libro estaba insinuando que la ocupaci贸n de un pintor es f谩cil? 驴Las grandes obras fueron pintadas sin un arduo y previo trabajo? No creo que la Creaci贸n de Ad谩n o Noche Estrellada hayan sido pinturas hechas sin un mensaje o un estilo propio, enviado y creado por su respectivo autor.
Los cap铆tulos llamados C贸mo dibujar un cuadro fueron escritos con la misma funci贸n que el prefacio de el Retrato de Dorian Gray: pedir disculpas si el lector piensa que el autor repudia o minimiza el trabajo de un artista. De un pintor, siendo exacto. O as铆 es como yo veo dichos cap铆tulos.
Personajes:
Wireman es uno de los personajes m谩s rid铆culos que King ha creado; trat贸 de encari帽arnos con 茅l forzosamente, en mi caso, sin lograrlo. No, los chistes de putas y perras no dan risa. Nada de lo que dice Wireman es divertido, solo das tristeza, y no de la buena.
Edgar. Tuvo un buen desarrollo, la verdad, si comparamos al Edgar que nos describen antes del accidente con el Edgar despu茅s de 茅ste. Pero algo falt贸 en 茅l, siento como si una pieza de su personalidad se hubiese perdido; tambi茅n le falt贸 abandonar algunas actitudes despectivas.
Elizabeth. A m铆 parecer, un poco exagerada su personalidad pomposa, pero eso no quita que su papel como personaje secundario fuera bueno, habr铆a sido genial si hubiera habido m谩s profundidad en ella. Mas para m铆 fue el mejor personaje.
Jack. Ni siquiera s茅 en qu茅 momento apareci贸 este muchacho, 驴no hab铆a nada interesante en tu vida o por qu茅 siempre aparec铆as cuando era conveniente?
El resto de personajes no son tan importantes como para hablar de ellos.
Duma Key parece un corte de comerciales, porque a cada rato te est谩n nombrando la marca de todo. Bebi贸 una Pepsi, comi贸 tales galletas, un pollo congelado que nada que ver. No necesitamos tu propaganda. 驴Ganaste m谩s con las ventas de esta novela o con las promociones que hiciste en ella? Nombran tantas cosas desconocidas que se llega a pensar que este libro fue escrito 煤nicamente para norteamericanos.
Un peque帽o problema que tuve a parte.
驴Es Stephen King racista? No lo s茅.
Al 煤nico personaje que se nos describe de piel negra, es una sirvienta de una 茅poca pasada, lo cual justifica un poco el trato hac铆a ella si nos metemos en el contexto de entonces. Pero 驴era necesario que ella hablara como retrasada, usando una dicci贸n con contracciones que nadie usa? 芦隆Ante鈥� de que la 鈥檋ogue!禄, por ejemplo. La traducci贸n tuvo algo que ver, pero s茅 que si miro en el idioma original del libro tambi茅n encontrar茅 algo parecido, pues de alg煤n lado tuvo que basarse el traductor para hacer esto. Tambi茅n s茅 que en la vida real algunos usamos contracciones, pero me molesto porque a este personaje me lo imagin茅 como esas personas blancas que se pintaban de negro y hablaban golpeado. El t铆pico blackface.
Y este libro fue escrito en el 2008, King f谩cilmente pudo crear a este personaje con un vocablo inteligible, salirse de ese estereotipo racista. Y si quiso hacer una cr铆tica al racismo norteamericano, pues le falt贸 la cr铆tica.
Ya por terminar, curiosamente, este es uno de los pocos libros de SK que no tiene una adaptaci贸n cinematogr谩fica. 芦Curiosamente禄, no hay nada curioso. Si este libro no fue/es llevado a la pantalla grande, tal vez se deba a la exagerada ridiculez de su trama. Cualquiera que lo lea sabr铆a que ser铆a un fiasco como pel铆cula.
PD.: Las pinturas de Edgar son s煤per especiales, no lo olviden.
PD2.: Me disculpo si mi opini贸n fue muy negativa. No s茅 si es necesario mencionarlo pero respeto tu opini贸n si este libro es de tus favoritos.
驴Este libro es de los favoritos de alguien? Es broma, s铆 lo es. Creo.
PD3.: Forja tu d铆a y blablabl谩...
Gracias por leer.
December 27, 2019
I鈥檓 mixed on this book. I鈥檓 a big King fan, and love it when he does spooky; and for the most part, that鈥檚 where this book takes it. It has some of his best character work, and his descriptions of this haunted little island off the Florida Keys really make it come to life. What annoyed me was the page after page after page of info dumps as the characters try to unravel the dark mysteries behind this island. And I鈥檓 still baffled at how they reached some of their conclusions. But the real show stopper for me was something we hear about at the very end. It was depressing, and really spoiled it. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
June 5, 2018
鈥淥ur memories have voices, too. Often sad ones that clamor like raised arms in the dark.鈥�
The first time I read Duma Key in 2014 I spent a lot of time kicking myself for not picking it up sooner. I had actually received it as a gift for my birthday the year it was published, and it just ended up sitting on my shelf for a long time. I didn't even buy Under the Dome and 11/22/63 when they were originally released, and that's saying something because for years I had never missed a Stephen King release day. Something happened to me in 2008, the year Duma Key was released. I had friends on the internet who I spoke to daily and were heavily influencing my reading choices. I had yet to discover 欧宝娱乐 or Bookstagram, and the people that I talked to the most had very selective reading choices. I had taken a lot of literature courses in college, so it wasn't hard for me to understand that my new friends were into what a lot of people might call pretentious writing. All of a sudden I thought my love for King should be a secret. That liking King was a guilty pleasure that I was over, and now I could read some serious fiction. That isn't their fault, the fault is all mine.
We fool ourselves so much we could do it for a living.
Flash forward to 2014, and a 欧宝娱乐 challenge FINALLY got me to read Duma Key. By then my reading had started to shift back to contemporary and genre novels, and I realized that I was a complete idiot for worrying about what other people thought about my reading tastes. Thank goodness I came to my senses, because Duma Key absolutely blew me away. I immediately bought the King books that I had missed while I was busy being a book snob, and devoured all of them. I got over myself, and then I found an entire group of Constant Readers on Instagram. My love for King had returned, and I was no longer ashamed of it.
This year my friend Sadie announced that she wanted to host a Duma Key group read, and I immediately knew I wanted to take part. I remembered the book so fondly, but details were starting to fade, and even though my reading schedule this year has been tight and doesn't have a lot of room for rereads, I didn't care. I knew that reading this book for the second time needed to happen.
Revisiting Duma Key and Big Pink was exactly what I needed in my life right now. I remember that I loved this book the first time, but I loved it even more the second. I know for sure now that this book is definitely in my list of top 5 Stephen King novels. I usually just tell people to read it. The cover develops a lot more meaning after you read the story, but it doesn't look like a typical Stephen King novel, at least not typical horror, and I think there's something about either the cover or the synopsis that doesn't really draw people in. Which is really a shame because this book is absolutely fantastic. I think you should approach it knowing as little as possible though. Some of it may be a bit confusing during a first read, but by the end everything makes crystal clear sense, and every single word is worth it.
This is another one of King's big books. It's certainly not as long as It or The Stand, but King definitely takes his time telling this story, and he tells it in exactly the right way. Each character gets just enough time for their stories to unfold, and those stories are important, because Duma Key has some of the best characters King has ever written. Jerome Wireman will always be one of my all-time favorite King characters, but the other's are just as beloved. Even the Key and Big Pink itself are almost characters, and as the reader you find yourself wanting to be there. Wanting to hear the shells under Big Pink...wanting to feel the sand between your toes as you watch the sun set into the Gulf. Wanting to drink green tea at El Palacio while Elizabeth plays with her Chinas and Oprah plays in the background. But now I feel as if I've said too much. What I really want to say is read this book. Fall in love with the characters. Fall in love with Duma Key.
鈥淚n the end we always wear out our worries. That鈥檚 what Wireman says.鈥�
The first time I read Duma Key in 2014 I spent a lot of time kicking myself for not picking it up sooner. I had actually received it as a gift for my birthday the year it was published, and it just ended up sitting on my shelf for a long time. I didn't even buy Under the Dome and 11/22/63 when they were originally released, and that's saying something because for years I had never missed a Stephen King release day. Something happened to me in 2008, the year Duma Key was released. I had friends on the internet who I spoke to daily and were heavily influencing my reading choices. I had yet to discover 欧宝娱乐 or Bookstagram, and the people that I talked to the most had very selective reading choices. I had taken a lot of literature courses in college, so it wasn't hard for me to understand that my new friends were into what a lot of people might call pretentious writing. All of a sudden I thought my love for King should be a secret. That liking King was a guilty pleasure that I was over, and now I could read some serious fiction. That isn't their fault, the fault is all mine.
We fool ourselves so much we could do it for a living.
Flash forward to 2014, and a 欧宝娱乐 challenge FINALLY got me to read Duma Key. By then my reading had started to shift back to contemporary and genre novels, and I realized that I was a complete idiot for worrying about what other people thought about my reading tastes. Thank goodness I came to my senses, because Duma Key absolutely blew me away. I immediately bought the King books that I had missed while I was busy being a book snob, and devoured all of them. I got over myself, and then I found an entire group of Constant Readers on Instagram. My love for King had returned, and I was no longer ashamed of it.
This year my friend Sadie announced that she wanted to host a Duma Key group read, and I immediately knew I wanted to take part. I remembered the book so fondly, but details were starting to fade, and even though my reading schedule this year has been tight and doesn't have a lot of room for rereads, I didn't care. I knew that reading this book for the second time needed to happen.
Revisiting Duma Key and Big Pink was exactly what I needed in my life right now. I remember that I loved this book the first time, but I loved it even more the second. I know for sure now that this book is definitely in my list of top 5 Stephen King novels. I usually just tell people to read it. The cover develops a lot more meaning after you read the story, but it doesn't look like a typical Stephen King novel, at least not typical horror, and I think there's something about either the cover or the synopsis that doesn't really draw people in. Which is really a shame because this book is absolutely fantastic. I think you should approach it knowing as little as possible though. Some of it may be a bit confusing during a first read, but by the end everything makes crystal clear sense, and every single word is worth it.
This is another one of King's big books. It's certainly not as long as It or The Stand, but King definitely takes his time telling this story, and he tells it in exactly the right way. Each character gets just enough time for their stories to unfold, and those stories are important, because Duma Key has some of the best characters King has ever written. Jerome Wireman will always be one of my all-time favorite King characters, but the other's are just as beloved. Even the Key and Big Pink itself are almost characters, and as the reader you find yourself wanting to be there. Wanting to hear the shells under Big Pink...wanting to feel the sand between your toes as you watch the sun set into the Gulf. Wanting to drink green tea at El Palacio while Elizabeth plays with her Chinas and Oprah plays in the background. But now I feel as if I've said too much. What I really want to say is read this book. Fall in love with the characters. Fall in love with Duma Key.
鈥淚n the end we always wear out our worries. That鈥檚 what Wireman says.鈥�
April 13, 2009
I've read a lot of King. I read a lot of King, and this is among his best. I know some people feel that after his accident he lost his touch for the creeping horror that made him famous, but I assure you that is not the case. This book proves that King not only still has it, he's still improving.
I listened to this on audio, and I'm sure that lent something to the suspense, but I'm very glad that I did. (I downloaded from Audible, and each part was preceded by music that is creepy on its own. I'm not sure if the audio CD's are the same way.) Listening to this made me pace myself, and made sure that the build-up was properly built up. I have a tendency to speed-read when I get excited, when I know I hold something great in my hands and want to experience it as quickly as possible. I couldn't do this with the audio, and so the anticipation piled up until I had to finish, regardless of the fact that it's now 4:19a and I have to work tomorrow.
John Slattery's reading was just about perfect. He had this great tone, a feeling for the story, and a subtle way of lending personality to the characters that makes them come alive. King obviously gives him a lot to work with and build on, but I don't know if another reader would have done the book justice the way Slattery did. I could tell exactly who was speaking at all times, even before he got around to telling me who it was, yet he didn't make the characters HIS characters, if that makes sense. He just gave them life. His reading of Perse (this is how I'm assuming it's spelled, as I haven't seen it in print) gave me goosebumps, and I think will haunt me for a long time.
This book contained more than a few of the things that creep me out the most. But I couldn't stop listening. I loved the aspects of Elizabeth's childhood history. That part of the story fascinated me. I also felt that the book brought back pieces of other books that King has written, making it a part of the larger universe that links his stories together.
-Perse's red robe, and the mentions of red throughout the story brought the Crimson King to mind. Could she be the Crimson King's consort, maybe?
-Perse speaking to Ilsa from the drains and toilet obviously brings IT to mind.
-Edgar's ability to create (and uncreate) through his art. King does this with every story he writes, but I kept thinking specifically of Peter Rickman from Kingdom Hospital and Patrick Danville from The Dark Tower series and Insomnia.
-Edgar's accident and injuries acting almost as a muse/catalyst for his artistic ability, as Peter Rickman's did, as King's own did, if you consider the shift his stories took after his accident. How the ability seemed to flow through him, but was not invented BY him. (Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but these are the things I was thinking of...)
-Wireman not only mentioning that he's a gunslinger, but actually being a gunslinger, if only temporarily. I have no doubt that had he made his way into that section of the SK Universe, he'd have found 5 missing members of his Ka-tet.
Anyway, I found much to love in this book, and I have a feeling it will become a favorite. I would highly recommend it.
I listened to this on audio, and I'm sure that lent something to the suspense, but I'm very glad that I did. (I downloaded from Audible, and each part was preceded by music that is creepy on its own. I'm not sure if the audio CD's are the same way.) Listening to this made me pace myself, and made sure that the build-up was properly built up. I have a tendency to speed-read when I get excited, when I know I hold something great in my hands and want to experience it as quickly as possible. I couldn't do this with the audio, and so the anticipation piled up until I had to finish, regardless of the fact that it's now 4:19a and I have to work tomorrow.
John Slattery's reading was just about perfect. He had this great tone, a feeling for the story, and a subtle way of lending personality to the characters that makes them come alive. King obviously gives him a lot to work with and build on, but I don't know if another reader would have done the book justice the way Slattery did. I could tell exactly who was speaking at all times, even before he got around to telling me who it was, yet he didn't make the characters HIS characters, if that makes sense. He just gave them life. His reading of Perse (this is how I'm assuming it's spelled, as I haven't seen it in print) gave me goosebumps, and I think will haunt me for a long time.
This book contained more than a few of the things that creep me out the most. But I couldn't stop listening. I loved the aspects of Elizabeth's childhood history. That part of the story fascinated me. I also felt that the book brought back pieces of other books that King has written, making it a part of the larger universe that links his stories together.
-Perse's red robe, and the mentions of red throughout the story brought the Crimson King to mind. Could she be the Crimson King's consort, maybe?
-Perse speaking to Ilsa from the drains and toilet obviously brings IT to mind.
-Edgar's ability to create (and uncreate) through his art. King does this with every story he writes, but I kept thinking specifically of Peter Rickman from Kingdom Hospital and Patrick Danville from The Dark Tower series and Insomnia.
-Edgar's accident and injuries acting almost as a muse/catalyst for his artistic ability, as Peter Rickman's did, as King's own did, if you consider the shift his stories took after his accident. How the ability seemed to flow through him, but was not invented BY him. (Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but these are the things I was thinking of...)
-Wireman not only mentioning that he's a gunslinger, but actually being a gunslinger, if only temporarily. I have no doubt that had he made his way into that section of the SK Universe, he'd have found 5 missing members of his Ka-tet.
Anyway, I found much to love in this book, and I have a feeling it will become a favorite. I would highly recommend it.
July 19, 2019
This one gave off a kind of Bag of Bones vibe 鈥� swell characterizations; engaging enough storyline; clunky foreshadowing; decent, but not thrilling, horror aspects; some puzzling plot turns and yet still another disappointing dispatching of a villain and what鈥檚 with the Slipknot hate, King?
I鈥檓 probably in the minority, but I like a lot of King鈥檚 more 鈥渟ober鈥� works and this one oddly makes a decent tandem read with Bag of Bones and, of all things, Maugham鈥檚 The Moon and the Sixpence.
Cuz it鈥檚 about painting and creativity and stuff, Jeff?
Well, yeah, Random Goodreader, but also because they all examine the process of the artist and where, in the sometimes dark recesses of the mind, the creative impetus for that particular muse gets pulled from. Plus, Bag of Bones mentions The Moon and the Sixpence a decent amount.
Also, Wireman is now a top ten King character and it's what drove the reading experience here: characters I gave a damn about.
This one isn鈥檛 on my Cuz Mah Fah says so shelf because she didn鈥檛 say so, but it very well could have ended up there if in fact, she 鈥渟uggested鈥� it.
I鈥檓 probably in the minority, but I like a lot of King鈥檚 more 鈥渟ober鈥� works and this one oddly makes a decent tandem read with Bag of Bones and, of all things, Maugham鈥檚 The Moon and the Sixpence.
Cuz it鈥檚 about painting and creativity and stuff, Jeff?
Well, yeah, Random Goodreader, but also because they all examine the process of the artist and where, in the sometimes dark recesses of the mind, the creative impetus for that particular muse gets pulled from. Plus, Bag of Bones mentions The Moon and the Sixpence a decent amount.
Also, Wireman is now a top ten King character and it's what drove the reading experience here: characters I gave a damn about.
This one isn鈥檛 on my Cuz Mah Fah says so shelf because she didn鈥檛 say so, but it very well could have ended up there if in fact, she 鈥渟uggested鈥� it.
October 23, 2024
Such a great storyteller. In a highly readable tale, the protagonist here is getting over trauma, adjusting to radically different conditions of existence, figuring out Act II, being open to friendship, exploring latent talent, and then, bravely facing evil and the supernatural when necessary.
3 1/2 stars.
3 1/2 stars.
March 27, 2025
It's been ages since I read a SK's that I didn't know and ended up loving! I needed it!
This last month hasn't been very good to me and I found comfort in my old reading habits (Calvin and Hobbes, comics, even a Monk episode 馃槃, etc.) and Stephen King is the most emblematic figure of my teenage years. Returning to him was an automatism I didn't anticipate, but it was a great idea!
I struggled in the first parts, not because of the book but because of my mental state. Time after time, I kept getting more into the story and finally got into the flow.
I'm glad SK helped me get back on track and I think I'm going to read another one right now just to keep the feeling going!
---------------------
Update three weeks later: I just finished the other Stephen King's I said I'd read next, and while I thoroughly loved Duma Key, I feel compelled to withdraw a star because it's not up to Pet Sematary which earned five stars from me.
This last month hasn't been very good to me and I found comfort in my old reading habits (Calvin and Hobbes, comics, even a Monk episode 馃槃, etc.) and Stephen King is the most emblematic figure of my teenage years. Returning to him was an automatism I didn't anticipate, but it was a great idea!
I struggled in the first parts, not because of the book but because of my mental state. Time after time, I kept getting more into the story and finally got into the flow.
I'm glad SK helped me get back on track and I think I'm going to read another one right now just to keep the feeling going!
---------------------
Update three weeks later: I just finished the other Stephen King's I said I'd read next, and while I thoroughly loved Duma Key, I feel compelled to withdraw a star because it's not up to Pet Sematary which earned five stars from me.
January 13, 2021
Slow to start, but it becomes an emotional and evocative read. Definitely King鈥檚 more literary side in this writing.
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