Stephen King's "Duma Key" 1/22/08
#4
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It's a magical-realist mystery novel about a professional tennis player who is murdered while he's out spear-fishing. The primary suspect is his wife, who is a famous artist (ala Thomas Kinkade) who apparently put clues to her husband's murder in her paintings.
And there's also a talking frog named Mr. Beppo that plays a major role in the novel.
And there's also a talking frog named Mr. Beppo that plays a major role in the novel.
Last edited by Josh-da-man; 10-15-07 at 05:59 PM.
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Originally Posted by Josh-da-man
It's a magical-realist mystery novel about a professional tennis player who is murdered while he's out spear-fishing. The primary suspect is his wife, who is a famous artist (ala Thomas Kinkade) who apparently put clues to her husband's murder in her paintings.
And there's also a talking frog named Mr. Beppo that plays a major role in the novel.
And there's also a talking frog named Mr. Beppo that plays a major role in the novel.
No seriously...
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In an interview with Lilja's Library, King said:
"...it’s about a construction worker who is involved in a terrible accident. He lives in the northern part of the United States, Minnesota, and he’s hurt very badly and loses an arm, sustains head injuries and is not expected to live but he does and he comes out of a coma and because of the head injuries he has uncontrollable rages and memory lapses. It’s very difficult and his wife divorces him so he decides he’s going to move to Florida but he’s also thinking about suicide just because of his pain and because he doesn’t like being angry all the time and this psychiatrist kind of talks him out of it and one of the things he says is, “Is there anything that you do that you can use as a kind of buffer against this depression? Is there any kind of new life for you besides working on buildings?” and this guy says, “I used to draw, I used to paint a little bit” and the guy says, “Well, try that” and he discovers that, after this injury, that he is really a very talented painter and he moves to Florida and he starts to paint these pictures and then strange things start to happen with the pictures. They have this power so that sometimes if he paints things into the world they kind of appear and if he paints things out they disappear, including people. And there is something going on, on this island, this Duma Key that is actually amping that talent up and making it stronger because there is something wrong there. That’s the real basis of the story."[2]
"...it’s about a construction worker who is involved in a terrible accident. He lives in the northern part of the United States, Minnesota, and he’s hurt very badly and loses an arm, sustains head injuries and is not expected to live but he does and he comes out of a coma and because of the head injuries he has uncontrollable rages and memory lapses. It’s very difficult and his wife divorces him so he decides he’s going to move to Florida but he’s also thinking about suicide just because of his pain and because he doesn’t like being angry all the time and this psychiatrist kind of talks him out of it and one of the things he says is, “Is there anything that you do that you can use as a kind of buffer against this depression? Is there any kind of new life for you besides working on buildings?” and this guy says, “I used to draw, I used to paint a little bit” and the guy says, “Well, try that” and he discovers that, after this injury, that he is really a very talented painter and he moves to Florida and he starts to paint these pictures and then strange things start to happen with the pictures. They have this power so that sometimes if he paints things into the world they kind of appear and if he paints things out they disappear, including people. And there is something going on, on this island, this Duma Key that is actually amping that talent up and making it stronger because there is something wrong there. That’s the real basis of the story."[2]
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Originally Posted by JLBkret
I thought Mr King was retiring?
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I reviewed it last week in the Chicago Sun-Times. I liked it.
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Originally Posted by Josh-da-man
And there's also a talking frog named Mr. Beppo that plays a major role in the novel.
#17
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Originally Posted by ceeece
SPOILER TAGS please!! I am only 1/3 through. Why do I insist on reading threads where the spoiler danger is always present? ugg.
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just finished this book and I have to say, it's the first King book I really enjoyed cover to cover in many years. Great story, great characters, great ending! Anyone else finish this one yet? I'm curious about how others liked it compared to his other books....
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I finished it a couple of weeks ago. I liked it. The momentum really built to the climax. The ending was one of his best IMO. I thought it was very poetic. I've been very pleased by his latest books. "Blaze" was great. "Lisey's Story" was excellent. I put "Duma" above "LS" too. The last 3 Dark Tower books were hard to put down. I loved "The Dark Tower" and the ending. I didn't read "Dreamcatcher" or "Colorado Kid" yet (even though I have them). I guess I hurdled those bumps!
His best stuff is his early stuff. "The Shining", "Salem's Lot", "The Stand", "It", I could go on and on.
His best stuff is his early stuff. "The Shining", "Salem's Lot", "The Stand", "It", I could go on and on.
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I enjoyed it but thought it lost steam towards the end.
Didn't enjoy the last 3 Dark Tower books at all, and I've been a fan of the series for about 10 years now (late in the game). I didn't mind the ending but the last 3 books were just awful in comparison to the first four.
Dreamcatcher: Excellent book, awful movie.
Going to listen to (I do audio books) Black House next.
Didn't enjoy the last 3 Dark Tower books at all, and I've been a fan of the series for about 10 years now (late in the game). I didn't mind the ending but the last 3 books were just awful in comparison to the first four.
Dreamcatcher: Excellent book, awful movie.
Going to listen to (I do audio books) Black House next.
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I consider myself a big King fan, but I really had trouble getting "into" this one.
I got to the part about the painting done of his daughter's boyfriend, and I realized I didn't care much about anyone involved - and there was still a long way to go, pages-wise.
I may stick it on a shelf and try again in a few months.
I got to the part about the painting done of his daughter's boyfriend, and I realized I didn't care much about anyone involved - and there was still a long way to go, pages-wise.
I may stick it on a shelf and try again in a few months.
Last edited by Pointyskull; 04-01-08 at 10:05 AM.
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I just finished it also, first 1/3 I would read a little bit a day, very slow start in my mind kind of like Bag of Bones. After that all I got was my wife telling me to put the damn book down because it seemed to pick up and I wanted to know what was going to happen. Not "the best" of his but for sure in the top 5 or so.
#25
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Originally Posted by schmedy
Not "the best" of his but for sure in the top 5 or so.
I'm spoilerizing what I'm going to say because I'm not here to bash (or threadcrap, as they say) something that people seem to be enjoying...so please feel free to not look at what I'm saying...I'm just blowing off steam.
Spoiler:
I think that maybe I'm just getting a little too old to enjoy his stories...could be a factor?