Lisey's Story: A Novel

There were moments when I enjoyed this: King's peek into the complexity of relationships, his vivid descriptions of pain and loss, and his idea of a fantasy world where some of us - maybe all of us, particularly the creative - go when we can't deal with reality.

In this (as well as his more recent novels), he's truly honed the ability to delve deep into close relationships - and get at the core of what it is to be human. I relished in those moments: father and son, sister and sister, husband and wife.

But Lisey's story felt plodding, slow, and heavy; with hardly enough sparkle to keep one going through all the the muck to get to the pool. Like walking through a swamp to find rare flora, but coming up nearly empty-handed. I finished feeling mostly disappointed. There wasn't enough STORY there to make up for the discomfort of the continual inner-mind wanderings of the main character. And the bad guy seemed almost an afterthought; unnecessary to the story, just used as a plot mover.

Always love a good Stephen King novel. This one was partly the unworldly Stephen King, partly the story of a terrible childhood and the life altering effect it has on one of the characters, and partly a bittersweet love story.

So, there are always elements in stories that I like, along with other elements I don't like. One element, or maybe theme is a better word, that I'm not a big fan of is Romance. Don't get me wrong, I'm not completely opposed to it, at least not in the real world, but I tend to follow the practice of romance being something that you do(most often in private) and not something that you talk about.

And I certainly don't look for it in my literature. Which is one of the reasons that I've been a fan of Stephen King. His stories are supposed to be about mystery, adventure, philosophy, abnormal psychology, and, of course, horror.

Lately, however, a very large element of romance has crept into his stories, for some unknown reason. This long and drawn-out story is yet another case in point. There was so much romance in this book, not only was it almost unreadable, but it came very close to being nauseating, with such absurd phrases like "Babyluv" and "SOWISA", as well as sexual situations and innuendos, being repeated over and over and over again. Also, if Scott didn't want to have kids because he was afraid of passing on his bad genes, why was he having so much sex with Lisey? Could never figure that one out.

Anyway, because I am a dedicated Academic, and because there were other elements I was interested in, I muddled on to see what would happen. And, as usually happens in novels, I was finally rewarded with several "payoffs"- namely Scott's backstory, as well as how Lisey finally defeated her stalker.

Regardless, I was glad I stuck it out to the end. And, I generally enjoyed the book, especially the supernatural elements. But, personally, I could have done without the romance, or at least without so much of it.

As a life-long Constant Reader some of The Master's work starts off slow and takes perseverance to keep reading. Lisey's Story is like this. I have always stuck with these because it's always been worth it. The words and phrases other reviewers find annoying didn't bother me so much because it is what makes this story work in the sense that it is Lisey's story and in order to tell Lisey's story it is necessary to use the words and phrases Lisey, her deceased husband and her family used. Every family has someone that uses silly words or distorts an adage because they think it's cute or funny. My brother married a woman whose name starts with a V. Our last name starts with a D. They've been married for 30 years and he stills thinks it's funny to say when he married he got VD.

IMHO this is an excellent book and I found it well worth reading. The story is put together well and after a slow start, picked up and then I couldn't let it go.

What an imagination Steven King has, and how lucky am I to be able to read! I love the name "Linsey" and that character's strength was amazing. It's a VERY INTERESTING love story .... and quite a page-turner.

How much Stephen King would like us to believe he is singing the praise and power of the pool of language and myths in which he has found all his stories. But this book is not about this pool, in spite of his author's statement. And this attempt at hijacking us onto a false road is not even humility or modesty, shyness or bashfulness. It is simply and purely disguise. He is trying to derail us from the proper tracks. This book is a marvellous story about a whole life seen from after its end and through the eyes of the spouse of the recently deceased and departed husband. She looks at him, and in a way Stephen King looks at himself, from beyond his own grave, reached for the character, still to be reached for Stephen King. This way of contemplating the end of a story or of a life, what's more his own life, is new for King. The Dark Tower series ended up with the death of the negative and tyrannical fatherly Crimson King but opened onto a new beginning that was exactly like the first one seven volumes before. In the Dark Half he got rid of and mourned his own twin brother, the doppelganger that haunts his own life, the perverse writer's mind that shadows every moment in his life. He is saved in the end. We could also think of Rose Madder where a beaten wife tries to escape a real husband by wasting and dropping him in some kind of Minotaur's labyrinth to be killed by the bull (so close to and so different from the bool). In this case the similitude is not real because the husband is not dead and she does not mourn him. She escapes from him in order to be able to start anew with another man. This present story is a long mourning tale about the death of a popular writer buried and remembered by his wife and then widow, which is also the real departure of this husband, the real farewell to this husband. She learns how to part from her dear departed. The story is poignant because little by little the whole secret life - and we all have at least one secret life - that has haunted and inspired Scott Landon, the hero of the tale, all along and even beyond his own death, is revealed to us. Poignant because it reveals the real inspiration of all horror writers : everyday real life the way it lives and thrives in all the little unbelievable stories on the back page of some tabloid. These small news items that sound both so true and so incredibly impossible. Real life is a lot more horror packed and fear spined than we would like to believe. And we are speaking of our peaceful life in our western countries. Imagine what it may be like in Darfur or Gaza. I know I am ambiguous in this section about the author as being the character of the book and the author of the book. I do not mean to say both are the same and what is attributed to the character of the book is what can be attributed to the author of the book. I just say the character in the book is a metaphor of the author of the book. And that's why this book has another interest of a totally different origin and fragrance. All literature, great, popular, learned, sophisticated, or whatever, is always the product of its author's imagination which flows from his memory being mashed through the distorting blender of real life and grafted onto what may grow in the public garden of our social hell, because society is some kind of hell somewhere, somehow, even if we believe it is not. This book is such a constantly mutating patchwork of transmutant recollections, borrowings and distortions. King even gives this patchwork a name. It is an African, the big brother of a smaller brother called a Delight. This African, a wedding present, holds the power to cross from one world to the other, or to anchor the carrier into one world or other. This African-Delight is the metaphor of two couples : bigger brother vs smaller brother, or author vs spouse. And it may be seen as a tragic metaphor of two other pairs : author-character vs his crazy yet loving and though assassinated father or author vs absent father, a father he must have killed so many times in his long life, a father that is so often metaphorically killed, assassinated, or at times vindicated (another way to murder someone) in so many novels. In other words, this novel, like so many others, is a perfect example of a mythology at work in King's literature. But a mythology that enables us, all of us, to step beyond our fear of the world, of death, beyond our rage at a world that is going whimsical and warped in the heads of some politicians and leaders that wrap up their own phantasms in deadly decisions that plough up countries and peoples with bombs and other deadly bonbons. That's what lurks between the lines, among the words, behind the pages and beyond the margins. Pick the yarn or thread of the African and trace up all the stations of the bool of this author and come face to face with the long boy of King's obsessions.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Paris Dauphine & University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne

As always this book is a typical Stephen King but with a twist. This actually is a love story which is something I have never found in any of his books before. It certainly doesn't detract from the story but is just an exception to the normal books he has written.

The story starts as a typical ghost story, Lisey's dead husband contacts her to warn her of impending danger, but then the plot becomes more complex. Lisey's psychotic sister deteriorates, a mysterious threatening caller stalks, and Lisey suspects there may be deeper connections between her emerging memories and seemingly random events. It was a good page turner, and makes an easy read. Characters are interesting, especially Lisey herself, who grew from a loving, but passive, at times neglected wife/widow into the independent heroine. Solid King novel.

Author Scott Landon died two years ago and his widow Lisey is starting to go through the papers he left behind. Going through his stuff is a painful process as Lisey finds many items that bring back memories of her relationship with Scott. But Lisey is about to experience real physical pain when a crazed fan of Scott demands some of his work. Despite calling the police, Lisey realizes the fan will kill her if she doesn't stop him. However, Lisey will learn that she's not alone; Scott's love for her was so great that he is able to help her one more time.

If "Cell" could be considered to mark the return of Stephen King the master horror writer, "Lisey's Story" is the return of Stephen King the master storyteller. Lisey is a strong heroine, still dealing with Scott's death as well as the mental health issues of her sister Amanda. Even though Scott is dead as the book opens, Stephen King makes him seem alive. Scott's story is revealed slowly throughout the book and is heartbreaking, especially his childhood. Jim Dooley is a true mad man and Stephen King is at his scariest not when writing about the supernatural but when Dooley attacks Lisey in an all too realistic way.

Long-time Stephen King fans will notice that he, as he often does in his books, mentions characters from some of his other novels, such as Michael Noonan, Norris Ridgewick and Andy Clutterbuck and will be delighted to visit Castle Rock again. Boo'ya Moon, where Scott went to hide from his demons (and he had plenty, including his father) is new to the Stephen King world, but elements of Boo'ya Moon will remind readers of other worlds of Stephen King and will also remind them of "thinnies". And, speaking of Boo'ya Moon, "Lisey's Story" has the most beautiful cover I've ever seen on a book.

"Lisey's Story" is one of Stephen King's best books.

Recently saw a Stephen King interview that describes this as his favorite book. I can understand why, extremely enjoyable. Read most all the king books but my have skipped this one. Glad I took the time to find it.

While this was not one of my favorite Stephen King novels I did find it to be a fun look inside an author's mind. I think the fact that a novel is described as following a string and hoping it doesn't break before the end of the story a really interesting way to look at how an author shapes his craft. I will keep on reading Mr. King's novels for as long as he continues to write them.

Lifetime King fan who was surprised to find this title unread, especially being out for awhile. Could not put this book down. Such a departure for King in terms of story line, but the tension and suspense were real and the imagery stunning.

Another great tale spun with the greatest of ease from Stephen King. The story is the standard SK formula but it keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire book with what feels like smaller stories building up the main storyline. A great read

Brilliant! Excellent! Typically King where as always from the first few pages you start to live & breath Lisey - who she is, where she is in her head, why she is. It's a bit of a detective mystery with the usual twists and turns that not too many writers can get right.

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!

Felt like a slow start but later you realize every word was necessary to the awesomeness of this book. Or bool? This one is terrifying and fascinating at a deep and personal level. Stephen King is a master storyteller.

I absolutely love the way Stephen King spins a tale. He always brings back past parts of the book and brings it to life again so the whole story sticks in your head and becomes a real story...A plus writing in my book can't wait to start reading the next book I ordered...