Book Review: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

  Doctor Sleep is the sequel to the original novel The Shining written by Stephen King. (If you saw the Kubrick movie, and decide to read this, be forewarned that you may get confused. The movie with Jack Nicholson did not follow the book, and introduced elements that were never in the tale.) The story picks up directly after the destruction of the Overlook Hotel (it blew up in the Shining novel), finding Danny and Wendy Torrance dealing with the ghosts of the infamous hotel. Dick Hallorann is also with them, still cooking away like a chef-superstar at a Florida hot spot. The old love of these characters comes back like a blast of warm, comforting air on a cold day.

  After several bouts with the "ghostie people" of the Overlook we fast-forward years later to an adult Dan Torrance, drunk as skunk, high on drugs, who has reached the rock-bottom of his life. He has used substance abuse most of his life to quell the shining within him. Lucky for him, because traveling the highways and bi ways of America are the True Knot, an ancient race of immortals that kill and feed on people (mainly children) with the shining and other supernatural powers. During his blurry years his shine never blipped on their radar.

  Dan awakens in a deplorable state, and decides a change will do him good. He grabs up his meager belongings, and hitches a ride to New Hampshire, landing near North Conway in the White Mountains. There his childhood friend Tony returns as his bus stops. Tony tells him to get off in Frazier, that "This is the place." Dan does and begins a decade-long journey of sobriety, AA meetings, and helping the dying cross over in a nursing facility. He is deemed "Doctor Sleep" by the nursing staff. As the years go by, his shining returns connecting him to a child named Abra Stone, who also has the shining...but also something more powerful.

  As the True Knot cut a bloody canyon through American killing children to get their essence (or steam as they call it), they are being watched through visions by Abra. One night in Iowa, they murder a young boy with a baseball glove. Abra cries out to Tony, who has started to visit her, and Dan hears her loud and clear:

  THEY ARE KILLING THE BASEBALL BOY!

  Dan knows that this is no coincidence that this girl is able to find him. As he gets to know Abra through psychic links and emails, she tells him of her visions of a woman named Rose and her tribe called the True Knot. She explains the murder she witnessed. As the psychic doors open between them Rose the Hat learns of Abra, and sets a plan in motion to get the girl and capture her essence. Even if she has to kill everyone in her way.

  Filled with old friends, new characters, and a down-right creepy vibe this books gets under your skin. It weaves a tapestry of shocking revelations that will have any Shining fan gasp! Suspense and terrifying imagery make this book one to read until the wee hours of the morning. You may even call out of work to finish it! King has done fans of the Shining a huge favor by writing this book. It brings the two books together into an amazing full-circle finale that will have you on the edge of your seat. 

  I give this book 4 1/2 stars

Because there is always time to read,
  Xepherus3

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All written content (c) Copyright 2015 by Thomas Bahr II