Doctor Sleep (The Shining, #2) in Bookworm Buddies

Jan 21, 2012 Chris Haught rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013-read-owned, fof-reads, read-owned-hardcover

What can I say? Stephen King has blown me away again. I've been reading him for 30 years or more and I'm rarely disappointed.

There were a couple of flaws in this towards the end, but I won't go into that in the interest of saving spoilers. They were fairly minor points though, and didn't take away from my overall enjoyment.

Great concept, great characters, great sequel. It's awesome to see Danny Torrance all grown up, and I really felt for his character and all he'd had to endure, just in the pro ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Oct 18, 2012 Veronica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Loved the story. I enjoyed it as much as The Shining. I give it 4.5

6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 30, 2011 Gatorman rated it liked it

I wish I liked this book more than I did, but while I found it enjoyable and well-written, it should have been more than that. Of course it's hard to follow The Shining, but that's really no excuse when it's Stephen King. I think the main problem with it was that the villains just weren't that intimidating or scary and they kind of fizzled out despite the buildup for more. It's been a problem for King for a while and it continues here. My standard for King is higher based on the quality of his o ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2013 Chris rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, horror

I started this book right when it came out. I was waiting a long time because Doctor Sleep was originaly set to come out in January 2013, but then it was pushed back to September. I made it a little over half way through the book when I had to take quite a break from reading due to life changing events. It always bothered me not having time to pick up this book because the story was really good and I was hooked. Plus I hate leaving things unfinished. I was so glad when things calmed down, and I I started this book right when it came out. I was waiting a long time because Doctor Sleep was originaly set to come out in January 2013, but then it was pushed back to September. I made it a little over half way through the book when I had to take quite a break from reading due to life changing events. It always bothered me not having time to pick up this book because the story was really good and I was hooked. Plus I hate leaving things unfinished. I was so glad when things calmed down, and I was able to jump back into this. I couldn't put it down. That break gave me new excitement to find out which road King would lead me down next. Once it was finished I decided I needed to take some time and really think over what I wanted to say about this book. After a few days of thinking about it I am still at a loss for words. I loved this book, and I wasn't sure I was going to. Sequels can be a let down sometimes.

I have only been reading King for a few years now. My first King novel was The Cell and I loved that one. I was hooked instantly. When Lisey's Story came out the following year, I jumped at the chance to get it. That book killed King for me, so I didn't bother reading anymore for a long time. Three years ago a bunch of friends started telling me how great the Dark Tower series is, and I was willing to give it a try. With how many people said they loved this series I decided that I had to read it for myself. Those books made me the die hard "Constant Reader" I am today. Since reading those I have made it my mission to read all of his work and collect some select titles in hardcover. Last year I decided to read The Shining in preparation of this book. It was also January, and I figured that was the perfect time to read The Shining while snow fell outside. I really liked The Shining but it wasn't as scary as I had expected. It didn't scare me like IT and Salem's Lot. Still, it was a really good story. Doctor Sleep was the same for me. Not scary, but a wonderful story filled with real, likable characters that had me hooked from the very beginning.

I loved this book!!! It was a thrill to see Danny Torrence as an adult who tried so hard not to follow in his father's footsteps but ended up just like him. The other main character in this book, Abra, was so well written that I loved every time she was featured. Abra is a teenage girl who has the shine so strong that she has powers and abilities that rival those of Danny himself. The way King writes characters is amazing. He makes you feel like each one is a close friend you have known all your life. It really allows me to get into his books.

There really is so much to love about this book. I could probably go on for pages. Some of the things I really enjoyed was reading more about the "Shine". We get to see more of what this can do in both Danny and Abra. King also introduces us to a group of travelers who call themselves the True Knot. These people feed off of the shine and are becoming a threat to Abra. This book was really fast paced, and I was hooked from the very beginning. I will say that this can be read alone if you haven't read The Shining, but it will spoil the ending of The Shining, and there are some references that you might miss out on as well. Dr. Sleep is not one of King's scarier stories, but it was amazingly written, and I actually would love to know more about Abra or even the True Knot. King could do a whole book on the True Knot, and I would be fine with that. Maybe down the road he will wonder about what Abra is up to and write a book featuring her. Like King did, Danny is one of those characters that as soon as I finished The Shining I wondered what would become of him. This book is definitely one of my favorites, and I give this an enthusiastic 5 out of 5 stars. I would say this is a must read for any Stephen King fan.

One last thing before I end this review. I am usually not a fan of book trailers. I think they are cheesy and a good book should speak for itself. If I am not captivated by reading the dust jacket or the description on Goodreads then a trailer is not going to get me to read it. That being said, I really think the Doctor Sleeep trailer was pretty cool. It has some things that having read the book I picked up on. It was also rather creepy to watch. If you haven't seen the trailer then check it out. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2013 Angel Jenkins rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Warning: spoilerish - no plot spoilers though

First off, I can't believe how many people are upset this book isn't about the hotel. The Shining wasn't about a hotel, it was just a building. Contrary to what you may read in other reviews, it is mentioned and the site is even visited. There are even a few of the more memorable characters who make cameos ;).

On to the book. Mr. King has always been a great writer but seems to sometimes fall apart towards the end of his books and for the first time i ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 15, 2013 Ms. Nikki marked it as to-read

Shelves: on-kindle-fire-nook-samsung, back-burner, horror-extreme-horror, kobo, 2014-horror-challenge

Pre-Ordered Sale $7.49 B&N Gift Card Sept 24th release~

3 likes · Like · see review

Oct 03, 2013 Alisha Marie rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, read-2013

I have a tad bit of a confession to make...I didn't love The Shining. In fact, I thought it was just okay, and kind of preferred Stanley Kubrick's movie. *ducks from rocks* It's just that it dragged so much for me! It was amazingly written, (I mean, come on, it IS Stephen King after all), but I just didn't connect much with it...It also didn't scare me. So, my expectations weren't that high when I picked up Doctor Sleep. Imagine, my surprise when I actually really liked Doctor Sleep! It didn't s I have a tad bit of a confession to make...I didn't love The Shining. In fact, I thought it was just okay, and kind of preferred Stanley Kubrick's movie. *ducks from rocks* It's just that it dragged so much for me! It was amazingly written, (I mean, come on, it IS Stephen King after all), but I just didn't connect much with it...It also didn't scare me. So, my expectations weren't that high when I picked up Doctor Sleep. Imagine, my surprise when I actually really liked Doctor Sleep! It didn't scare me either, but it kept me intrigued throughout the whole thing...which is more than I can say for The Shining.

Another small confession...I didn't really like Danny in The Shining. In fact, I MAY have called him a neurotic little freak in my review of that book (I'm lying, I totally did). But I have much love for grown-up Dan. He was my favorite character in Doctor Sleep. I just found his struggle for sobriety much more compelling than little Danny seeing ghosts and being generally annoying. As someone who couldn't give a crap what happened to Danny after I finished The Shining, I was really intrigued in how his story came about.

Considering my mild dislike for Danny in The Shining, I expected to dislike Abra in the exact same way because kids with the shining generally aggravate me. But I really loved Abra. In fact, when I read the part of her as a baby playing the piano to the Beatles as a way of putting herself to sleep with her own little lullaby, I actually squealed "Awww! She's so cute!". I guess since we see Abra as a thirteen year old as opposed to Danny's 5 year old self in The Shining, the differences in age made a difference in how I viewed both those characters and the moments that resonated with me as opposed to those that just made me roll my eyes.

The Big Bad: The True Knot were an intriguing, sociopathic, blood hungry bunch, weren't they? Again, they didn't really scare me, but I was creeped out by there general way (people getting off on the torture of children tends to do that to me). However, Rose as the leader of the pack was a revelation to me. We always see the biggest bads be male, so to have an evil, blood thirsty, willing to murder children villain be female was refreshing to me...I'm sane, I promise...

The only thing that bugged me about Doctor Sleep (and the sole reason it's not getting five stars) was the ending. I guess that everything was so built up in Doctor Sleep that by the end I expected it to go out with a big, explosive bang...but it didn't. The ending wasn't bad at all, but I just expected...more.

So, overall I found Doctor Sleep to be amazing! Especially when you consider my apathy for The Shining. I just found it much more intriguing than it's predecessor. However, I am aware that I'm probably in the minority as most King fans seem to love and adore The Shining. Highly recommended! ...more

Like · see review

Sep 04, 2013 Michelle rated it really liked it

Shelves: horror, stephen-king

A nice follow-up to The Shining. While reading, I felt a brightness in this story that was definitely missing from The Shining. Where The Shining was old and dingy, Dr. Sleep was new and sunny. Seemed to be a little bit of a departure from the usual books by Uncle Stevie, but a great read none the less.

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 13, 2013 Sunsette rated it really liked it

Shelves: pre-ordered

Pleasantly surprised. After reading the sequel to The Talisman and being disappointed by it, I really didn't expect too much from Doctor Sleep. A sequel that lives up to the classic everyone loves is hard to come by. The Author's Note says it all. I think King pulled it off, though. Although, there are many, many references to The Shining scattered throughout, you can't really compare the two. They are completely different. Doctor Sleep wasn't as scary as The Shining, but it had it's creepy mome ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 14, 2012 Kit★ rated it really liked it

Shelves: keep-forever, horror

I was so eager to read this book when it was announced, but had to wait until I got it for Christmas to get my grubby lil paws on it. At long last, it was mine! I tried to make myself hold off on reading until I finished the Western that I've been working on all month, but I just couldn't do it... So I read it, took about a day. I was drawn in right away, and I liked how it started back with Danny as a kid, still being haunted by The Overlook. I was excited. And it was great to see Hallorann aga I was so eager to read this book when it was announced, but had to wait until I got it for Christmas to get my grubby lil paws on it. At long last, it was mine! I tried to make myself hold off on reading until I finished the Western that I've been working on all month, but I just couldn't do it... So I read it, took about a day. I was drawn in right away, and I liked how it started back with Danny as a kid, still being haunted by The Overlook. I was excited. And it was great to see Hallorann again, I always liked him. I would've really liked to spend more time with Danny growing up instead of going straight into adulthood.
I was saddened to see him as an alcoholic, especially after his father being that way. I wasn't really surprised though. It was fitting, especially as he didn't seem to want to cope with his abilities. His bottom, the situation with Deenie and her little boy, that saddened me as well. I kept thinking about that poor lil kid...
I was intrigued though. Where was the story going to go? What was going to happen to Danny now? Where the tale took me was not really what I'd been expecting, though I don't know what I was expecting. Some super scary malevolent forces maybe, or I don't know. I will say I didn't feel quite the same creepiness in this book that I did in The Shining. That one didn't terrify me, but it was good and creepy almost throughout. This one had a couple creepy moments, but I didn't feel as worried for the safety of the characters. I felt pretty confident they'd be ok. The villains started off pretty wicked, and I felt like they could be scary, but in the end they just weren't that bad. I felt way more afraid of the vamps in Salem's Lot and at the Dixie Pig in the DT. I was almost waiting for something bad to actually happen. Sure, they was the somewhat tense battle at Cloud Gap, but it was like our guys triumphed too easily there. Then it was edge of my seat again when Abra was kidnapped.
Speaking of Abra. I liked her. I liked her as a little kid with her tinkling Beatles tune and her chalkboard communications with Dan, and I liked her as a older girl. Gotta say, I liked how she was vengeful, how she wanted to take out the baddies, and smiled like a bad-ass all the way. It was a nice change from characters who don't wanna kill the bad guys because killing is bad that I read about. I could relate to her. Someone comes after me, I'm gonna fight, tooth and nail if I have to. I liked how powerful she was, even though it made me feel like I didn't have to worry about her being killed. I liked Abra's Momo too, she was a good character. Their family's link to Danny was a bit of a shock for me, I didn't see that coming. Still not sure if I liked that or not. In a way it was neat, but it also felt like too happy a coincidence.
But the baddies... I do wish they had been scarier, or tougher, or something. The build-up to the showdown was good, lots of tension, but when it came time, it was like Rose just wasn't that bad. The 'Momo ambush' on the rest of the True Knot people was cool, but the battle with Rose was... I don't know. Not enough? For a minute I worried for Danny and Abra, but it was just for a minute. It was too easy, too fast.
I did really like the story though, don't get me wrong. I cared about the characters, I especially liked Billy and Dr. John. I couldn't put the book down, I was eager to see what would happen. I was interested in the True Knot, and curious to learn more about them, even if they weren't terrifying because Danny and Abra were so strong. Had the good guys not been so strong, the bad guys would've probably been more worrisome. But it was an enjoyable read, entertaining for sure. And always, always nice to have a new SK story. It's like coming home, slipping into the comfort of his storytelling. And of course, I'm left desperate for my next dose, and pained at the thought of how long I have to wait...
Oh, and as a side-note, I did enjoy the little slip-ins from Joe Hill's book, that made me grin, like the slip-ins from SKs world did in Joe's story :D Fun. ...more

Like · see review

Feb 06, 2013 Chrizette rated it liked it

Shelves: audio, reviewed, horror

I loved THE SHINING. I read the book more than once, saw the movie a few times (here's Johnny!) and even sat through the disaster that was the re-make. So imagine how excited I was, when Doctor Sleep was announced.

Unfortunately my excitement turned to disappointment fairly quickly. I was irritated from the start. Dan is messed up (as I imagine anyone would be after his experiences at the Overlook Hotel) but his troubled life was not shared sympathetically at all. He just came across as a very u ...more

Like · see review