Helpful Score: 9
After reading all the glowing reviews and remarks that this was the return of the "Old King", I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of Duma Key. By the time I was 1/4 of the way through, I found myself totally bored. This was the first King book that I put down numerous times and had to force myself to pick up again. I know the main character is recoving from brain damage (this is not a spoiler, but is how the story begins) but do we have to read pages and pages of the same phrases & dialogue? This happens over & over throughout the book. Ever since King became the success that he is (and after his accident), I think that editors gave him free reign and are hesitant to edit his work. This was one that needed editing badly - maybe 200-300 pages could have been removed. This is not how King wrote in the beginning of his career. Even in his long books (like the Stand), he easily managed to grab your attention and keep it till the book's end. Every word was a precious morsal to devour & relevant to the plot.
I did enjoy the final chapters of the book. But, the payoff was not worth the hours of tedious reading. I am beginning to realize that King can no longer can recapture the brilliance of his first works. I'm sure this one will end up as a movie - and I'll probably watch it, but this is nowhere near the caliber of early King.
I did enjoy the final chapters of the book. But, the payoff was not worth the hours of tedious reading. I am beginning to realize that King can no longer can recapture the brilliance of his first works. I'm sure this one will end up as a movie - and I'll probably watch it, but this is nowhere near the caliber of early King.
