I liked it. A lot. Bought the hardback as soon as it came out and didn't put it down until finished. I do find it to be a masterful piece, and very compelling. It was, to me, a different type of King novel. As mentioned above, it had less to do with youth and triumph in youthfulness as some others, but I believe it directly correltaes a lot with his personal life, with age, with injury, with a general realness about his work. Triumph is definately there, as Edgar for sure overcame some major roadblocks that a lot of maybe could not have, and came out better for it. I found it odd and refreshing that the book didn't take place in the northeast. :P I've been to the area several times, and the description of it was next to none. It made me wish I was back down there.
I say "liked it a lot" because I don't yet love it as I do the DT series. To me I would find it to be a great surprise if he could ever "one-up" those. It is very good, and outside of the DT, I would rank it in the top 5. For sure. CELL was ok. I was very glad to see this one so much more concrete than that one was. I very much look forward to the next one from SK, if it is anything like this one is. (By the way, there is a new one out...Can't remember the name, but looked to be a collection of stories. Anyone read it yet?)
12-10-2008 03:13 PM
Matt
Just Before Sunset.
Very cool collection of short stories.
03-10-2009 11:26 PM
theyspunaweb
Duma Key...this book was so awesome! I must admit, I feel like I want a better understanding of all of it though...so that actually means that I feel like re-reading it in the near future. The whole story of Miss Eastlake and Perse... well I wish we really learned more about Perse actually. There was crap and Kings and Queens...but I really wish I knew where all of the evil came from, it just left me wanting more out of the book, like there was something left unsaid.
THAT being said, so many elements made me love this book. My home away from home is Minnesota (and though just brief mentions I liked it)...and I go to school for art, so the concept of art being so powerful and so involved in the storyline was awesome. I also love Maritime anything...the beach too. So needless to say the basic storyline probably won me over.
I just really needed to know what was going to happen, and wanted more. There were however very disappointed pieces though...I wrote in another thread that being someone with epilepsy, it is upsetting that he describes seizures so incredibly different than what I have experienced. Another is that I don't like how SK mentioned Pop culture references...that were basically like him during the book! He said something about LOST! and M.Knight Shamalan movies....which is actually what this book reminded me of, and that kinda ruined some moments for me, since I like to feel like those shows take elements from SK, not vice versa. I guess it can work both ways.
About the epilepsy thing...I know that if he didn't have it, and that there are many different seizures it would be easy to mix up, but I believe at the end he thanked people for helping him getting contracoup injuries correct in the book. So why not seizures? I think I might actually right SK and explain how I'm feeling as a "Constant Reader" and because I would love to see him create a book where the character experiences the effects of epilepsy and believed those were something else (I guess that it sounds like other stories of his, but in my real life this is what I thought was happening, and I feel like it could be so powerful)...maybe I'll just end up writing it myself one day!
Kinda sidetracked. I overalled loved this book. I just wanted more out of it, and had a few personal tiffs haha!
03-11-2009 06:14 PM
Brainslinger
I don't think the main character in the book actually had epilepsy. In his case it was a head injury. I can't presume to know what you do about these things (the only seizures I had were as a child, when my temperature was too high, and I don't remember), but is it possible there are different kinds depending on person and affliction? (I'm not arguing with you though, I'm just wondering.)
I know that the forgetfulness and emotional difficulties were quite accurate for someone with head injuries.
03-11-2009 09:36 PM
theyspunaweb
No...I don't mean to say that. He describes seizures in the book (different types as well) and they aren't exactly how I've come to known them from my experiences with epilepsy. Also in other books like the one I read before, Insomnia, some characters experience something where they:
Spoiler
see auras, or a bunch of colors surrounding people?
originally believe they are experiencing Epilepsy. I know this is what the characters are thinking, not King himself per-say...but that is not at all what happens to epileptic people! I've never seen such things...!
It's like when people see flashing raingbow gif objects online and say "I think I have epilepsy!" or something like that....but really the flashing lights are not what ARE the epilepsy, but in a EEG test they use a strobe light to trigger a seizure. Maybe that doesn't make sense to you, but I see it online ALL of the time and it drives me crazy that people think epilepsy is all a bunch of bright colors. Epilepsy is a disorder that causes seizures, and is usually brought on by head injuries. That's the basics.
And the different types of seizures he described didn't fully ring true. He said that in the car, Wireman had a seizure, and then shortly after King wrote something like "just as long as he didn't have a grand mal bitch"
But the seizure that King described Wireman having sounded a lot like the effects a person might have while being under the effects of a grand mal to me, or they were rather close to the ones that I have had. You basically become unconscious (I have passed out a few times) and have a seizure that does include convulsions. I've awoken from them and felt the after affects or the end of the convulsions.
Here is a quick found definition:
A grand mal seizure — also known as a tonic-clonic seizure — features a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It's the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures in general.
03-12-2009 12:13 AM
Jon
There is growing evidence that the grand mal seizures of Epilepsy seem to have a kinship with migraines. Many migrains are preceeded with an "aura." I suspect this is the source of the confusion.
03-12-2009 05:16 AM
jayson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon
There is growing evidence that the grand mal seizures of Epilepsy seem to have a kinship with migraines. Many migrains are preceeded with an "aura." I suspect this is the source of the confusion.
Some of the current treatments for migraine involve anti-seizure medications typically used for epilepsy.
03-12-2009 06:06 AM
LadyHitchhiker
Oooooooooooh good to know. I suffer from many a migraine.
03-12-2009 06:55 AM
simongrant
Not been through all the thread so dont know if this has been mentioned,i seem to recall late on in Duma Key there is a reference to either Edgar or Wireman being or being like a gunslinger.
This was like a classic king book for me loved it
Simon
03-12-2009 07:33 AM
Matt
I loved it to, I'm getting very close to a re read I believe.
Welcome to the site Simon. :rock:
03-12-2009 08:10 AM
Brainslinger
Quote:
Originally Posted by theyspunaweb
Epilepsy is a disorder that causes seizures, and is usually brought on by head injuries. That's the basics.
Oh ok! I remember an incident when a kid repeatedly bashed my head against a wall when I was in infant school. It left me nauseous and concussed. It's funny (not in a ha ha way) because I knew I suffered from seizures as a kid (we called them 'fits' ;) ) but I never put the two together, cause and affect, until my Dad mentioned it to me years later as an adult.
I do remember later in life after these things had stopped, I was taken to the hospital for a brain scan (or some-such thing.) I remember particularly well because they stuck lots of things like coloured cables on my head. It took a long time. (I think they've simplified the process now, we're talking late 70s early 80s after all. Just to indicate how old I am.) I think there's a picture somewhere. I looked like one of those Egyptian Pharaohs. :P Fortunately, it came up clean after that.
Quote:
And the different types of seizures he described didn't fully ring true.
Ok, thanks for clarifying.
There are quite a few things Stephen King gets wrong in his books. I remember a lot of people on DT.net becoming irate when (Dark Tower Spoilers)
Spoiler:
King kept referring to Sussanah's 'disorder' as schizophrenia, when it was more likely to be MPD. I didn't have a particular problem with that at all though, as a lot of people make that mistake. A term 'schizoid' has come into usage based on that error! And I think it's more likely that Eddie would consider it schizophrenia.
This is a bit of a different case though, since it is the man character himself who is suffering the trauma, someone who likely had access to medical research. Best to just take it with a pinch of salt though, it's only a very small part of the story. If you feel strongly about it though, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to send Mr King a letter.
Back to the book, I really liked the book, and loved the DT connections, and the 'magic art affecting environment' thing is always rather fun. I was a bit disappointed that we were never confronted with Perse herself, outside of the visions and the figurine. Ok maybe the figurine actually was Perse, but I saw it as another kind of can-tah.
03-12-2009 10:42 AM
simongrant
Thanks for the welcome mat,i was on a few years back but i think it was thedarktower.net.The layout and everything is very similar so may be they are the same???
Simon
03-12-2009 01:06 PM
Matt
It's a forum so in that sense it is the same. We have all kinds of folks that used to frequent the dt.net here.
However, we're a totally separate and new operation. Great to have you either way.
03-12-2009 01:20 PM
theyspunaweb
Brainslinger- It bothers me that seizures seem to re occure in his stories but they don't ring true as someone who has experienced them. I just wished they were right since I notice they pop up a lot...randomly sometimes. But I don't think that it ruins a story and I didn't mean to sound nit picky if that's how it came across...I just think in the right light, it could make a great story all it's own, and I feel like King might want to know. I bet he would get plenty of letters though...so who knows if he would even get it.
Again I loved this book.
03-12-2009 10:32 PM
Jon
Quote:
Originally Posted by theyspunaweb
Brainslinger- It bothers me that seizures seem to re occure in his stories but they don't ring true as someone who has experienced them. I just wished they were right since I notice they pop up a lot...randomly sometimes. But I don't think that it ruins a story and I didn't mean to sound nit picky if that's how it came across...I just think in the right light, it could make a great story all it's own, and I feel like King might want to know. I bet he would get plenty of letters though...so who knows if he would even get it.
Again I loved this book.
yeah...it bothers me no more than his inaccuracy of describing Roland "fanning the trigger" of his gun. I know it was wrong, but I just moved on.
03-13-2009 08:10 AM
Brainslinger
Quote:
Originally Posted by theyspunaweb
Brainslinger- It bothers me that seizures seem to reoccur in his stories but they don't ring true as someone who has experienced them. I just wished they were right since I notice they pop up a lot...randomly sometimes. But I don't think that it ruins a story and I didn't mean to sound nit picky if that's how it came across...I just think in the right light, it could make a great story all it's own, and I feel like King might want to know. I bet he would get plenty of letters though...so who knows if he would even get it.
Again I loved this book.
That's all fair enough. As for nitpicking, no worries. It's ok to dissect the book and make known your views. That's what the thread is all about.
04-22-2009 04:59 AM
juliebcreative
I have to say as an artist...I found this book frustrating to read. I love everything SK writes, but I think it was my own personal issues that got in the way. Reading about someone who just "picks up a paintbrush and makes masterpieces" whether super-natural or not...is a frustrating thing for an artists to read. Anyone else feel that way? Other than that the mental imagery for this book was phenomenal and I did love the wireman character.
I often create paintings based on books I've loved (the Talisman series at http://juliebcreative.etsy.com) but I'm not sure if this book is calling to me to do a painting around. I think my next one is going to be based on Black House.
05-20-2009 01:23 PM
Lily-sai
Where will I start? There's so much I'd want to say about this book, but now I realise my head is quite empty. hmph. Well, let's give it a try.
Finished DK a few days ago. I was having this 'reader's block', but Duma Key managed to get me in its grip and kept calling for me even when I wasn't reading it. So I had a slow start.. and in the end, I was reading it almost feverishly.
It really was different. Something in the language, in the atmosphere. And it really managed to creep me out (it's just a good thing - it means it's well written) at some points (the lawn jockey, anyone?). I even had to put the book down when I couldn't bear the horror slowly crawling up my neck anymore.
In the beginning, I kept thinking if Edgar's pains after his accident were Sai King's pains as well. Everything doesn't have to be allegorical, but mayhap King did transfer some of his agony to Edgar? Ah, well.
Everything was so alive in this book, if ya ken what I mean. So real, and thus so horrifying to read sometimes. I'm amazed I haven't seen upside-down flying birds in my nightmares yet, phew.
^ julie's comment about Edgar's painting speed, I can understand how you feel, Julie. It's really rare for me to see how the painting just emerges from the canvas - usually it's a great struggle and eventually I throw away my paintbrushes, frustrated. Yet I wouldn't want Edgar's gift, because those aforementioned rare moments of mine are so worth of all the frustration.
I think I'll write more later, when I've recovered from Duma Key (or rather, returned from there).
05-27-2009 12:37 PM
Lost Rose
I just finished Duma Key for the fifth time..read it once and listened to the audio the other times...don't know where I should put this..or if it should be in a thread of it's own...but..this guy could be Wireman..he's heavier now and his hair has more gray... http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...ave/b94d_1.jpg
05-27-2009 12:45 PM
Jean
he is totally Wireman, - and your example (fifth time!) is, I am afraid, about to make me put aside the ninety five books I'm currently reading and start rereading Duma Key... bears love... and Lily, my меховая sister, is so right: everything is alive there, even more so than in any other King book.
05-27-2009 01:51 PM
Lost Rose
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jean
he is totally Wireman, - and your example (fifth time!) is, I am afraid, about to make me put aside the ninety five books I'm currently reading and start rereading Duma Key... bears love... and Lily, my меховая sister, is so right: everything is alive there, even more so than in any other King book.
Thanks..It took me a while to come up with a Wireman..then I saw him with his long gray hair on a tv show and Bam...there it was...I usually think of actors when I'm reading or listening to a book..I like a lot of Mr. King's books but this one hooked me..HARD...Have to agree with Lily, too!!:huglove:
05-27-2009 03:31 PM
Heather19
I agree, that's pretty much how I pictured Wireman in my head. :thumbsup:
Who is the actor?
05-27-2009 03:36 PM
Lost Rose
Quote:
Originally Posted by Heather19
I agree, that's pretty much how I pictured Wireman in my head. :thumbsup:
Who is the actor?
Eric Roberts..Julia's brother...
05-29-2009 02:03 PM
Matt
People on the SKMB are convinced he is black because of the "Freemantle" last name. :lol: