Duma Key: A Novel

I read all of King's earlier work, but his last few books have been really bad. In Duma Key, the most hilarious part was Reba the Anger Management Doll. But here's the really irritating stuff:
#1. This theme of evil white men being horrible to Black women - Been there, Done That with Bag of Bones already.
#2. King breaks the story no less than 7 times (if I remember correctly) to give his hateful political opinions. How many times can he cram the point "George Bush is an idiot" into a book that has nothing to do with politics? Are you freaking kidding me?
#3. The Spanish slang was irritating coming from Wireman.
#4. The Father-in-Law is described as a white, conservative, ex-military man. Then he is painted as a racist and given bowel cancer. King writes "that's catching around white a**holes" - GIVE ME A BREAK! PLEEEEASE.
#5. The plot is not good. Somehow King used to be able to make readers believe in his wild plots -- but I ended up laughing at the china doll and frogs.
#6. It seems like Elizabeth Eastlake should have been more central to the story...it seems like she WAS the story, but got treated as a backseat passenger.
#7. King's constant, non-stop, never-ending references to music nobody younger than 50 recognizes. It gets old.
#8. The nonstop profanity. This was even worse in Lisey's Story. When I was 18 and reading his older works, it didn't seem to bother me. But now it's so gratuitous it's annoying. Either King is leaning too heavily on the profanity, or I've finally grown up and find it distracting.

Duma Key isn't a single story. It's a combination of two intermingled (and inseparable) tales, each drastically different from the other.

The first story is a typical King concept; a sinister, far-reaching force and its effects on the protagonists. This tale, while impressive in execution and extremely interesting, isn't so great compared to King's pure-horror works (Pet Sematary, The Shinning, Gerald's Game, Misery, Bag of Bones, etc.).

The other story isn't supernatural at all. Instead, it focuses on the everyday life of Edgar Freemantle, a man who has lost his arm and suffered brain damage in a crippling accident. His family life is in shambles, he's no longer interested in his work, and he contemplates suicide. At the urging of his doctor, Edgar moves to Florida, hoping the change would help him get on with his life.

Day by day, we watch as Edgar extends his long and painful beach walks, meets new people, and communicates with his family and the folks from his "previous life". The recurring theme of King's books (that art and creativity can have a healing effect) mingles with the horror story, creating a disturbing mix in which art can both mend and kill.

The book truly comes alive during dialogue. Edgar's friendship with Wireman, his dealings with his ex-wife, his interaction with his daughters, and the conversations he has with miss Eastlake, all feel like they were taken straight out of real life. As always, there is a small caste of main characters and a large number of supporting characters, and each and every one of them leaves an impression in the reader's mind. For example, even a passing comment that Bozeman would hate knowing Edgar calls him "Bozie" gives us great insight into the personality of an unimportant character - King effectively makes us believe that, even though he's irrelevant to the story, Bozie is still an actual human being with a real life.

I could go on writing praise for Duma Key, but I think you get the picture. Honest advice: buy this book. It doesn't matter if you love King or if you hate him, this book is a masterpiece that will appeal to most book lovers.

King goes to show that no locale is safe. He doesn't need an icy Maine or snowy Colorado town to bring the dread. Even the sunny climes of Florida aren't safe. This tale, true to the author, are just what you expect from King. A 'don't miss' for the avid King reader. (or listener as I am.)

I have read everything that King has written to date. Obviously, I'm a true fan and constant reader. I felt that DUMA KEY was very wordy at the beginning of the book. It took King almost half the book to develop the story line. To some this might be a bonus, as King becomes deeper than some of his past works where he's been a quick read. However, to others this slow start could mean abandoning the effort. By the last half of the book Duma Key grabs you in full King fashion.

This is the Stephen King that I grew up with and couldn't get enough of. And he's better than ever.