Holy Smackeral!!! I just finished this book called Lisey’s Story by Steven King. I actually got it from the library as an audio book, so it is more appropriate to say that I listened to it rather than read it.
There are some author’s that do such an amazing job at spinning a yarn and creating characters that you want to know or that you can relate to. Steven King is one of those author’s in my opinion. Most of us are pretty familiar with his horror stories (Cujo, Pet Cemetary, etc.). But King has another genre that is like a dark, mysterious, suspense fiction. Personally, I think this is where he excels. The Green Mile and the Shawshank Redemption are examples of this genre. So is a shorter lesser known book of his called The Colorado Kid.
Anyhow, the book is about a woman named Lisey Landon who is the widow (for 2 years) of the famous author Scott Landon. The storyline jumps through the present and past (through flashback and narrative). Scott had a pretty rough childhood and of course carries that baggage through his life. Lisey was the stabilizing force in his life for their 25 years of marriage. Lisey is the primary character in the story, and it is always told from her perspective. She has 3 sisters that factor strongly into the plot, including one of them that has a self-mutilating disorder (which also is important).
The one thing I would caution anyone about this book is that it is hard to follow at first, because it is almost like the book starts in the middle of the story. King throws names out there and words (he seems to make up a lot of words like “bool” and “shmuck” to name 2) and it is almost like he wants you to ask what he is talking about. If you are patient, you will get your answers. The story circles around (actually it might be better to say that it circle out towards) and eventually you reach the conclusion.
I really liked this book. Which pleased me, because I have been really struggling lately to find a story that really grabs me. This one did.
Bernie