Insomnia - Stephen King

Advantages: Superb story, interesting believable characters
Disadvantages: It ends

...he attributed it to the insomnia but as things progressed over the next few weeks Ralph began to doubt his judgement more and more. Lonely nights spent looking out of the window on to Harris Avenue where he lived found Ralph seeing a different side to the world, one ordinary people like you and me just weren’t meant to see. What were the two little bald doctors doing outside of May Locher’s house the night that she died? Just what exactly had they ...
...bolted from the inside? Insomnia is quite simply one of the best books I have ever read. Stephen King is almost always exceptional but for me this is much more than that. The characters are fantastic, the story tantalising and intriguing, and the writing style so captivating, I never wanted it to end. Every single character has a reason to be there, no matter how small or short lived their appearance may be. You might not see it at the time but ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent read, well developed characters, gripping storyline
Disadvantages: Bit slow to start

...is going (other than the insomnia of course!), but it starts to take on typical King characteristics when Ralph witnesses a scene involving one of his younger friend’s, Ed Deepneau. His wife Helen and baby Natalie are also central to the story although not main characters by any means. When Ralph starts hallucinating, he puts it down to his lack of sleep, especially when he spots some little bald doctors coming out of the house of a chronically ...
...middle of the night. This is where the story turns sci-fi. Ralph describes what he sees as auras. Lois, another main character, widow and friend of Ralph’s describes them as colours. The story feels a little restricted and slow until the point where they both confide in each other and discover that they have both been experiencing the same sleepless nights, the same ‘hallucinations’ and team together. This is the point where you ... Read review

Advantages: Play on emotions, character led, very original.
Disadvantages: Some may be put off by the length (until you start reading that is!)

...doesn't like his style. However, Insomnia is different. I'm not sure why it is categorised as a horror story by many retailers - there are small horror elements, but the bulk of the book is emotional suspense, probably more akin to a fantasy genre. So if you are not usually a fan of King, I would still recommend this book highly, you'll be pleasantly surprised I assure you! One of the things that does stand out with Stephen King is his incredible ...
...with most of his books, Insomnia is a roller-coaster ride of emotional intensity, from fear and disgust, to love and sadness. The chapter where Ralph relives watching his wife die in her hospital bed is particularly moving. The book ends in a series of sort, two paragraph chapters which really adds to the exciting climax. Again, emotions run high, and the ending really does do it's previous chapters justice. Basically, this book is an absolutely ... Read review

Advantages: Great story, likeable characters
Disadvantages: May be too long for some

Insomnia is one of the best of King's novels. The main character is Ralph Roberts, a pensioner whose wife has just died. He suffers from - you got it - insomnia. On the face of it this doesn't sound too promising, but Ralph is one of the most endearing character King has created. I like the fact that King seems to be writing a lot of characters who are normally marginalised in fiction - women, the elderly, children. This book comes across as rather ... Read review

Advantages: Great read and quite beleivable
Disadvantages: None that I am aware of

...planes, after a dose of insomnia myself, you feel like anything is possible. Basically Ralph, the main character experiences an increasing case of insomnia after losing his wife and begins experiencing hallucinations. He eventually can tell who’s going to die next. He acquires a few new friends from the “other dimension” who are amusing short bald doctors. He also finds there is a another bald doctor brandishing a rusty scalpel ...
...before they are ready to die. Ralph has the adventure of his life and you go right along with him. The book is very addictive and very believable. Well recommended, if you have never read Steven King before start here, if you want to start off slowly, just watch out for the not so nice doctor with the rust scalpel, he may just cut your life lines! ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastic Plot
Disadvantages: Story Stumbles Along At Times

...a time, in the haunted city of Derry (site of Stephen King's IT and Insomnia), four young boys stood together and did a brave thing; something that changed them in ways they hardly understand. A quarter-century later, the boys are men who have gone their separate ways although they still get together once a year, to go hunting in the north woods of Maine. But this time a man comes stumbling into their camp, lost, disoriented and muttering about lights in the sky. Before long, these old friends will be plunged into the most remarkable events of their lives and a terrible struggle with a creature from another world. Their only chance of survival is locked in their past and in the boys they once were.... Read review

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Advantages: Undemanding, easy to put down
Disadvantages: Didn't capture my imagination, stretched the realms of credibility

...INTRODUCTION... I will pretty much read anything and everything. In fact I think there is only one book that I have ever started and failed to finish reading - that was a Stephen King novel called Insomnia. I kept falling asleep (I know that sounds like a joke, but it's true, honest!) So when I got a chick-lit type book from my sister at Christmas, I started reading it almost immediately as I had just finished a P.J. O'Rourke book and I thought it would make a change. Sometimes after a week of rich food, you just want scrambled eggs for dinner. I had never heard of the writer, Sophie King, but the praise for her previous book on the back cover was encouraging. Her dedications made me smile and I started reading with an open mind and full of optimism. THE PLOT... The premise of the book centres round the mums... Read review

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Advantages: Amazingly well written, Great character build up, ingenious storyline
Disadvantages: very long story! Shop around as buying each book could be costly

...about the Dark Tower; the plot is too big, too grand, to sum it up in a few words. A lot of Kings earlier works are starting blocks for The Dark Tower, with some characters appearing in earlier works (such as Insomnia, The Eyes of the Dragon and The Stand) which goes to show how long this masterpeice has been on Stephen Kings mind! This also makes you feel a certain kind of closeness to this series, as if this is the authour had been planning all along. As is Kings way, it is a very magical feeling! Even if you haven't read Stephen King before I urge you to get down to the local bookstore or library. This is one peice of work I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on having the joy to read. (After shopping around I have found that one of the cheapest sites to purchase all of the collection is Amazon, where you are able to buy them all... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful