Review: Doctor Sleep
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4 stars. So here's the thing: I really, really, really love The Shining. And that's why this gets 4 stars - BECAUSE I really, really, really love The Shining. It's one of the best books ever, one of my favorites, and a King classic. I just re-read it in anticipation of reading this, and then seeing the adaptation of this, in November. And please listen closely: I loved this! It's an excellent read. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a kickass horror novel that packs an emotional punch. I just didn't love it as much as I love The Shining.
Inevitable? Maybe. Due to the hype? Maybe. But also, I'd say that King is a bit unhinged here. He's not as tightly glued (or tightly edited) as he has been in the past. I don't mind details - really, I don't, and it's one the things that King is the king at. He goes deep and wide (tired of me saying that yet?) and his stories are full of fascinating subplots, substories, and minor characters with infinite depth.
Here, it seems extra. A little superfluous. I dunno, maybe I was just looking so deeply for the perfect essence of The Shining that I overshot and ended up being more critical than usual. But I also didn't find that Dan Torrance's character necessarily matched with the adult version. I ALSO found a few twists to be WAY more ridiculous than plausible. The coincidences were just too much, for me.
But HEY - THIS WAS SO AWESOME. Doctor Sleep takes place years after The Shining - Danny is now a recovering alcoholic trying to deal with the trauma of his childhood and exist with the shining without coming apart at the seams. He encounters another shining little girl, Abra, and they develop a beautiful friendship. Meanwhile, Abra is being stalked by a group of steam vampires led by an ambitious, soulless, hungry woman named Rose the Hat. It's all good fun and scares with a good old fashioned showdown at the end. Fans of King will love this. Fans of reading will love this.
I just ... love him. His reading is super easy to fall into, and to focus on. Living a distracted, busy life? Pick this up for awhile and I guarantee you'll get the escape you need. He's a tremendous author, and I can't wait to keep working my way through his repertoire. Long live the king.