... What were the two little bald doctors doing outside of May Locher’s house the night that she died? Just what exactly had they been doing with the giant pair of scissors one of them carried? And did they really come out of that front door when it was found to be locked and bolted from the ... Read review
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 ... ...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 ... more
If ever you’re lying in bed at night, wondering when you might finally drop off to sleep, contemplating just when you might feel that warm fuzziness begin to steal over you, perhaps you could spare a thought for Ralph. I don’t know how long you’ve been lying there, I don’t know how many nights you’ve felt this way, but I know that it’s probably not as long as Ralph.
It’s since Carolyn died you see. His wife, his love, his companion, his friend: since she died to the ticking of the deathwatch. Since then Ralph has been waking up earlier and earlier. He can’t think straight, he can’t function, he’s confused and frustrated, but above all he’s oh so very miserable. A month after Carolyn’s death Ralph was waking up at 6am, only an hour earlier than normal. But another month on and his eyes were opening by 5.15, another month and yet another 45 minutes earlier, until eventually Ralph was down to less than three hours sleep a night.
He’s tried everything to fix it, and nothing has helped. One good friend after another has suggested their own particular favourite remedy, along with a good dose of sympathy of course, but none of them have had the slightest effect. In the mean time Ralph has tried to continue with his life as normal, he’s got other things to worry about. Not least of all his friend and neighbour Helen Deepneau whose husband, Ed, has uncharacteristically taken to using his wife as a punchbag recently. Up until now Ed and Helen appeared to be a perfectly happy couple, living the American dream, with their little baby, Natalie, in tow. Suddenly Ed’s personality has taken on a decidedly hysterical edge, turning his and Helen’s lives upside down.
Ralph had seen this turnaround for himself when he came across Ed out by the airport once before Carolyn died. Ed had been swearing that day, saying things Ralph never would have thought could come out of his mouth. Ed had driven into the side of a pick-up truck, proceeded to attack the driver of the truck (a man twice his size), before accusing him of being a murderer with bodies hidden under the tarpaulin in the back. The following summer when Helen stumbled into the parking lot of the local Red Apple store, her face covered in blood and Natalie swinging precariously on her hip, Ralph didn’t need to ask where she got her injuries.
It wasn’t long after that that Ralph first saw the colours. It was just a few gentle trails at first, blue ribbons coming out of the end of his friend Lois’ fingers when she waved her hand. But by the end of the same day Ralph had seen an awful lot more than a few wispy lines. Bright, colourful auras that surrounded people, footprints they left behind where they walked and a smoky maroon trail from the exhaust of the bakery truck. The whole experience was totally wonderful to Ralph, although strange and frightening at the same time. At first 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 been doing with the giant pair of scissors one of them carried? And did they really come out of that front door when it was found to be locked and 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 later you’ll know why they were there and you’ll be glad they were. King manages to convey so much to the reader in a short space of time without appearing obvious or patronising. This is a book that really makes you think and I love that about it.
For me the most important thing in any book is the character development and I think this is why I enjoyed Insomnia so much. You are left to make up your own mind about who you like and who you’re not so sure about and you feel at liberty to change your mind as the book progresses. Too often authors have such a definite distinction between ‘goodies’ and ‘baddies’ right from the start that they forget to allow for human nature and our inherent fallibility. That definitely isn’t the case here and it means that even if the story wasn’t brilliant it would still be an excellent book.
However the story is brilliant, which is just the icing on the cake. There’s always something going on without leaving you feeling overwhelmed by details or a lack of depth and explanation. To me it feels like being given a jigsaw to complete where you’re only given one piece at a time and not many will fit together before you’re off to a different section. You have to piece this story together and play detective but the complete unpredictability of direction makes it incredibly interesting reading. Just when you think you’re getting there Stephen King adds another dimension and you realise there had been clues all along.
I liked Ralph right from the start, and not just from a sympathy perspective because Carolyn was dying. He’s got a ‘spark’ about him that makes you instantly feel at home with him as the central character. Carolyn, and Ralph’s neighbours, Lois Chasse and Bill McGovern, all play a major part in the development of the story in different ways and at different stages. Then there’s old Dorrance Marstellar who doesn’t initially appear either mysterious or important but as the story progresses becomes both. There’s Faye Chapin and his chess tournament. There’s Susan Day, a politically influential activist who is due to talk in Derry about abortion and a woman’s right to a choice. There’s Joe Wyzer, a pharmacist with an interest in insomnia. And of course Ed and Helen Deepneau, people who are changing daily with stories to tell. All these characters play their part and to me they feel very real. The two little bald doctors with the scissors and the other one with the dirty scalpel might not feel so real to us, but who are we to judge what goes on in the other levels of the world? Have you seen the colours?
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for a book with a bit more substance. It isn’t full of stereotypes and predictability, but neither is it beyond comprehension or lacking in enjoyment through sheer confusion and detail. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, you’ll lose a lot of sleep.
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 ...
joannavos 25.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Insomnia - Stephen King
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 ...
Empeda 30.03.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Insomnia - Stephen King
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 ...
assethound 21.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Insomnia - Stephen King
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! ...
LUMP 08.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Insomnia - Stephen King
Advantages: Powerful and touching story Disadvantages: You won't be able to put it down
...many of Stephen King's books. Insomnia is the story of a man called Ralph Roberts, who is becoming increasingly aware that his wife is dying. This section of the book is indeed very emotional, where King's character ponders how he will live without his wife, who has an inoperable brain tumor. It as at this time that Ralph suffers sleep deprovation, also known as Insomnia.
Without wanting to give too much of the plot away, let me say that 'Insomnia' ... ...least, have ever read. It raises many interesting and thought provoking ideas about the world then we live in, and what we percieve to be reality. 'Insomnia' is also higly charged with strong language, but this is justified in the context of the situations. And topics such as abortion and rape are also touched on.
If you've got a bit of time on your hands, perhaps going on holiday or even as a bit of bed time reading, this book is highly recommended. ...
jaffacakemonster 26.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Insomnia - Stephen King
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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 StephenKing 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 ...
Advantages: King at the peak of his "serious" fiction phase Disadvantages: None that I can think of...to be honest
did very well developing the characters. These characters feel like our friends and we want to keep reading to find out what happens to them (even if you have seen the movie, you will keep reading).
I do want to tell you about the forward in the book. StephenKing tells how this story came about and I thought it was interesting. He said that he has insomnia and instead of counting sleep he thinks up stories. He decided this one was too good to keep at bedtime and so he wrote the first paragraph. Later his foreign rights agent called him and asked him what he thought about doing a serial-novel like Charles Dickens had done in his time. And the rest is history?
In conclusion
I cannot really say more - it's a great book by a great author and it truly is captivating from the start.
I cannot really recommend this enough ...
Advantages: Fantastic Plot Disadvantages: Story Stumbles Along At Times
a time, in the haunted city of Derry (site of StephenKing'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. ...
A nice gripping and readable novel ; A terrific tale of survival ; Very atmospheric ; The characters thoughts and feelings are projected well to the reader
Suddenly stops flowing towards the middle ; King can be slightly over obsequious towards the main character (*)
