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veri84's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
brenna_law's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sianw1992's review against another edition
4.0
Stephen King's Duma Key is the tale of Edgar Freemantle. After losing an arm and gaining a head injury in a work accident, Edgar's life turns upside down. He divorces his wife and takes a break to Duma Key, an island off the coast of Florida. While there a passion for art emerges, but with serious consequences.
King creates a range of eclectic characters, in Edgar; Elizabeth Eastlake, a local landowner; Wireman, her carer with a shady past and Jack, Edgar's helper and chauffeur. On Duma Key nothing is as it seems and everybody has their own secrets. Edgar's artistic skills develop with the support of Elizabeth, but he soon learns that through his art other talents are revealed.
As well as the characters, King's descriptions of the locations are detailed and impressive. He really paints a picture of the old Eastlake house and the supernatural occurrences. Flipping between the island's past and present is not a challenge and in fact, I could have read this book forever and ever. King writes beautifully and the images he creates stay in your head long after you've closed the book.
King creates a range of eclectic characters, in Edgar; Elizabeth Eastlake, a local landowner; Wireman, her carer with a shady past and Jack, Edgar's helper and chauffeur. On Duma Key nothing is as it seems and everybody has their own secrets. Edgar's artistic skills develop with the support of Elizabeth, but he soon learns that through his art other talents are revealed.
As well as the characters, King's descriptions of the locations are detailed and impressive. He really paints a picture of the old Eastlake house and the supernatural occurrences. Flipping between the island's past and present is not a challenge and in fact, I could have read this book forever and ever. King writes beautifully and the images he creates stay in your head long after you've closed the book.
erickibler4's review against another edition
5.0
A lot different from how I remembered it. Funny how sometimes you get an impression of what the plot of a book is going to be. And even though that idea is erroneous, the impression still reinstates itself after you finish the book.
That’s a good reason to reread books you liked.
That’s a good reason to reread books you liked.
tdwightdavis's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Took a little longer to get going than most of King’s books do, but once it kicked off I couldn’t put it down. Not top tier King, but a strong middle of the pack book nonetheless.
emilyreadsinallentown's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
milesmark's review against another edition
5.0
This book was amazing. It moves into my top five Stephen King books.
tobin_elliott's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Yet another Stephen King, the next in line for the Great Stephen King Re-read. The first time I listened to this, I was driving the family and myself down to Universal Studios...and it lasted damn near the entire trip from Canada to Florida.
I remember enjoying it, both for the story, as well for the fact that we were driving closer to the place where the novel occurred.
This time around, the book was taken in in shorter gulps on dog walks, so I was able to digest it better along the way. And, to be honest, this is just a fascinating read. If there's three things that King has come back to in these, the latter years novels, they are, first, having a main character who's an author (see books going back to 'SALEM'S LOT and as recent as LISEY'S STORY); second, plumbing the horror of going through a terrible, life-threatening event that almost killed a character...or dealing with the aftermath of an event that DID kill a character (see LISEY'S STORY, FROM A BUICK 8, DREAMCATCHER, BAG OF BONES); and finally, a rather detailed examination of the creative process (see LISEY'S STORY, BAG OF BONES, ON WRITING, and even ROSE MADDER to a degree).
This book covers those last two, but swapping out an author for a artist. For me though, those two elements—surviving and coming back from a terrible accident, and the scenes of Edgar Freemantle deep in the creative process—are captivating. As usual, King also builds fascinating characters in Freemantle himself, but also his daughter—and their relationship—and also Wireman. Again, the scenes with Freemantle and either of these two just sing.
If I have any complaints, it's the seemingly overcomplicated ending and the rush to get some backstory out, but neither really overstays its welcome too much. Not his best work, but this one sits far more toward the top of the list of his good stuff. I truly enjoyed this one, less for the horror more for the characters and the creative process.
I remember enjoying it, both for the story, as well for the fact that we were driving closer to the place where the novel occurred.
This time around, the book was taken in in shorter gulps on dog walks, so I was able to digest it better along the way. And, to be honest, this is just a fascinating read. If there's three things that King has come back to in these, the latter years novels, they are, first, having a main character who's an author (see books going back to 'SALEM'S LOT and as recent as LISEY'S STORY); second, plumbing the horror of going through a terrible, life-threatening event that almost killed a character...or dealing with the aftermath of an event that DID kill a character (see LISEY'S STORY, FROM A BUICK 8, DREAMCATCHER, BAG OF BONES); and finally, a rather detailed examination of the creative process (see LISEY'S STORY, BAG OF BONES, ON WRITING, and even ROSE MADDER to a degree).
This book covers those last two, but swapping out an author for a artist. For me though, those two elements—surviving and coming back from a terrible accident, and the scenes of Edgar Freemantle deep in the creative process—are captivating. As usual, King also builds fascinating characters in Freemantle himself, but also his daughter—and their relationship—and also Wireman. Again, the scenes with Freemantle and either of these two just sing.
If I have any complaints, it's the seemingly overcomplicated ending and the rush to get some backstory out, but neither really overstays its welcome too much. Not his best work, but this one sits far more toward the top of the list of his good stuff. I truly enjoyed this one, less for the horror more for the characters and the creative process.
nervesofscared's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Addiction, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, and Medical content
andesz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Blood, and Alcohol
Sibling favoritism