Book Review : Doctor Sleep

I was keen to read this follow up to 'The Shining.'  Although I only ever watched the film it was a story I enjoyed and was looking forward to getting stuck into another Stephen King novel.  I've read several of Kings novels over the years and loved Misery, Salem's Lot, Gerald's game, Desperation, The Green Mile, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, was a touch meh about Liseys story and hated Dream Catcher! I'm also making my way through the audio book versions of The Dark Tower series and enjoying the stories and links to the other novels...but back to the purpose of this review, Doctor Sleep. 

This synopsis is from Stephen King UK website  or you can see the American website here. 

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless - mostly old, lots of polyester, and devoted to their comfortable Recreational Vehicles. They live off the 'steam' that children with the 'shining' produce when they are slowly tortured to death.  Following a childhood haunted time he spent with his parents at the Overlook Hotel, Dan Torrance has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father's legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles into a job at a nursing home in rural New Hampshire where his remnant 'shining' power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes 'Doctor Sleep.'  Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest ‘shining’ ever seen, that reignites Dan's own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra's soul and survival . . .

I was fortunate to come across this video of Stephen King reading from Doctor Sleep.  This video explains more about The True Knot, the main 'bad guys' of the book...

I honestly don't know where to begin on how much I enjoyed this book.  The characters were very well drawn and throughout I was enthralled by Danny's story going through a roller coaster of emotions. Their is a particular seen towards the end that almost had me in tears!  I felt protective and drawn to the 'good' characters although was freaked out by the second appearance of Dick which didn't seem to bother Danny.  

Apart from being on the front cover the cat isn't a major player in the story but I felt we would have missed something without him an only relied in the humans. Something about the independent yet caring attitude of the cat that is reflected in Danny's character.

As for the bad guys, the True Knot, I'll never look at a camper the same way again! I didn't see them so much of a threat to begin with but as the story unfolds I found myself being more and more terrified.  I don't want to go on about the scenes I particularly enjoyed as their were quite a few twists and turns and I don't want to give them away but trust me it was a brilliant read!  All I will say is the ending was right for me and ended Danny's story nicely.

As I said at the beginning I am working my way through the Dark Tower series and did pick up early in the book Doctor Sleep the phrase "...their are other worlds than these..." which in the Dark Tower, I think book one, is spoken by one of the characters Jake.  Coincidence? I think not :)

I also picked up a phrase which was in my previous read Resistance (I'm sure just a coincidence and me King isn't stalking my reading habits) "..the devil is beating his wife..."  Hmm, I wonder, is it possible to be haunted by a phrase?

I bought the W.H Smith special collectors edition of Doctor Sleep which differs from the main copies by having purple cat eyes and wisps of steam. The cover felt nice with embossed steam and good paper and print font. I also liked the size of the hardback and format throughout.

If I had to summarise Doctor Sleep in 100 words or less (which I do for several book review sites) I would say:

This sequel to the shining is a must read not just for any King fan but for any fan of horror.  The characters are well drawn and the story keeps you hooked. A magnificent ending to one of Kings earlier stories, the proper ending that the character Danny deserved.