Back to Best! (Duma Key - Stephen King)

Member Name: wendybull

Product:	Duma Key - Stephen King
Date:	01/06/09 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great to have King back, excellent character descriptions

Disadvantages: Long - so no quick read here.

Edgar Freemantle had a great life until he collided with a crane on one of his building sites and nearly died. Losing an arm instead and having various issues with his head which was crused in the accident, his marriage finally collapses due to his crazed behaviour during and after recovery. His decision to move to Duma Key and recouperate away from the stresses of life will change his life forever.

Once there, in a rented house called Big Pink, he settles down and starts to paint again, something he used to do when he was much younger. His paintings are very good but he soon finds out they seem to have a power that is incomprehensible.

I adored this book! After trying to read Lisey's Story and giving up, Duma Key restored my faith in King and I settled in for the long read with a greed for his stories.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book but my favourite was Edgar's freind who lives down the beach from him on Duma, Wireman. I built up such a picture of him through King's narrative and dialouge and if this was made into a film then Jeff Bridges would have to play him a that is how I see him. His character however is amazing. He is the full time live in carer for an old lady who lives on the Key and his friendship with Edgar and their subsequent investigative work over some of the strange things that are happening is fantastic. While we're talking characters if this were a film - then Roxy from Eastenders would play Edgar's daughter perfectly too!

This is a horror book, as well as a thriller, a love story (not the normal kind) and a mystery but all lumped in together it really works and the end result is a brilliant read. I did get the willies a couple of times, when some of the narrative turned to spooky goings on with the young twin sister's of the old lady but it was in a good way - it made me want to read more to justify what was happening and how I was feeling.

Would I recommend? Absolutely, it's long but worth it, especially if you were disillusioned with some of his last offerings.

Summary: RECOMMENDED xx