I’m a big fan of Stephen King’s writing (especially his more recent works) (much to the bemused horror of my book group friends who all think that Stephen King books are all too scary and graphic for nice ladies like us to enjoy!). I think he is a true master storyteller – characters are real and stories build in complexity and emotional heft to well realised endings. I was very excited to read this book, and a bit gutted that I didn’t instantly warm to it.
Yes, I found the beginning a little slow, but I persevered, and boy and I glad I did! Gradually the book began to get under my skin until I was totally gripped. To begin with, it’s a semi-autobiographical story about a middle to older age very successful horror writer, Scott, and his wife, Lisey. How they met as young people and how their relationship developed over the years – often with the wife having to stand in the background at functions and events where her husband is the star (this reminded me of Anna Kendrick’s role in one of my favourite films: The Last Five Years).
There is darkness – we learn in little pieces about Scott’s abusive childhood and the issues in his family with mental health (or is it supernatural influence?). I liked how the supernatural/horror elements in the novel were all metaphors for real life experiences like grief and trauma – reminded me of another of my favourite movies, the horror film The Babadook where the monster is very much a personification of grief and the resolve is not to destroy grief but to learn to live with it in a controlled way.
In Lisey’s story, after Scott’s death, Lisey has to find her own strength to deal with dangers and family crises drawing on her once hidden memories of what Scott told her about the otherworldly place his visited throughout his whole life which had the potential to both heal and destroy him.
I thought is was a very good book.
Sarah Wray Writer 