Lisey's Story

"Lisey's Story" is like "Bag of Bones" in reverse, with a little "Secret Window, Secret Garden" thrown in (as well as a pinch of Richard Matheson's "What Dreams May Come" and King's "Rose Madder").But it is much more than a retread. While I don't agree with King that it's the best novel he's ever written, it is quite compelling."Lisey's Story" is another King tale about marriage, loss and grief. And though some of it certainly gets lugubrious -- King always had a sentimental streak to go along with the gore -- it is never less than heartfelt. With all of its ghosts and stalkers and violence and strange exotic worlds and manifestations of death itself, "Lisey's Story" is really about picking yourself up after someone you love dies and moving on with your life.King's story is about a woman who loses her beloved husband, and the book absolutely aches at its core.The book has a tried-and-true plot structure -- a treasure-hunt (sorry, bool-hunt) of clues left behind that slowly reveals to Lisey (and us) what in the world is going on. King very effectively teases us and paws at us as he gradually lets us in on the truth. I found the plotting in "Lisey's Story" -- which asks you to pay attention -- to be some of the best in a King book in quite a while.Of course, the book isn't only about love and heartbreak; it also provides some frights. King's description of the longboy, and a close encounter someone has with it, was completely horrifying in a weirdly real way. It is an image I can't imagine I will ever forget.Ironically, King said he wrote this book while suffering from pneumonia and running to the bathroom to vomit. Despite this, he really loved the book and, like I mentioned already, considers it the best thing he's ever written."Lisey's Story" is just the type of skewed, twisted love story you'd expect King to create -- haunting, a little maudlin, frightening, and ultimately grounding all the crazy disparate elements in a relationship that feels utterly believable.

In some ways this book is mistitled, because even though we see everything through Lisey, the title character, the story really belongs to Scott, Lisey's deceased novelist husband. Lisey's struggles, even her torture at the hands of a maniac, never achieve the intensity of Scott's, and even when she faces the demons, she faces them second-hand: they are really Scott's demons, after all. (Of course, this being a Stephen King story, Scott's demons are REAL creatures, very nasty looking indeed.)On the other hand, the book does raise up Lisey. It shows the true story of her and Scott's relationship and how most of his success really belongs to her behind-the-scenes actions. This book reveals the story that only Scott and Lisey know, and that Lisey herself has not fully acknowledged until now. In that way, the tale becomes a tribute to wives in general and, I suspect, to King's wife in particular. It is fitting that he dedicates the book to Tabitha King.For those who only care about horror and suspense, this book has plenty. But even more, the book has sadness. The sadness of loss, inevitable loss, loss that cannot be conceived by those who have not loved deeply. As in so many of King's books, love is active here: strengthening, healing, redeeming. Love shines through the darkness and sweetens the moments of sorrow.A tender tribute and a good read.

I have loved Stephen King's stories for years (decades?) This book has become one of my favorites! I'm not sure if I should describe the pace as steady or fast; I guess I'd say it is steadily at the perfect pace. The story goes back and forth between the present, various times in Lisey and her late-husband's past, and his descriptions of his childhood. Occasionally, I backed up a little to make sure I knew where I was, but that was more likely due to my eagerness to see what was next, than a reflection of the writing. I was quickly drawn in and almost resented it when I had to stop reading. (Is sleep absolutely necessary?) It's the quintessential story that you're dying to know what happened but can't stand the thought of finishing it!I loved the characters! They were interesting, complex and relatable. Lisey was not a "poor me, my husband died" kind of character but my heart ached for her. Her relationship with her sisters was realistic. Her husband's childhood was horrifying but, other than the supernatural aspects, was also realistic. (I worked at a psychiatric hospital for children and sadly, it is all too realistic.)Stephen King tells stories in a way that is completely immersive and I have sometimes felt that the stories are so phenomenal that it's impossible to end them in a way that does the rest of the story justice or is ultimately satisfying. (This is not intended as an insult in any way! He really is my favorite author and how do you put an end to such excellence?) This is not one of those stories. The ending was perfect!

Excellent artwork and story. The delivery was before expected! I recomend you not hesitate and get it if you wanna experience alternate realities, frightening moments and, most importantly, love.

One of my favourite Stephen King books. The nuance, the love story, overlay of multiple memories living out as seamlessly put together plots that merge into one. Grief is a bool hunt, and this book has allowed to get over my own and to move on. That is the power of his writing. There is blood, there is horror, there is the thing that goes bump in the night. But underneath it all, there is warmth, there is humanity, and there is love.

No es el típico libro de SK y me ha costado un poco al principio, sobre todo por leerlo en inglés creo, pero hacia un tercio del libro ya estás más que enganchado y me ha gustado mucho hasta la última página. Si te gusta leer SK por los personajes y sus relaciones, te va a encantar!

Came by this by chance and thought I would give it a try. I'm so glad I did worth more than 5🌟 if I could give them. A love story, a horror story, a life story,and so much more!!! Heart rending and yet uplifting. Read it and weep!!!!!!

worst stephen king i read. did not finish it