I know I mention Stephen King quite often. I admit to being somewhat obsessed with his career. Like his work or not, you must admit the guy makes an impression. It’s been years since I’ve read fiction from King. Have read On Writing a few times. Read his articles in Entertainment Weekly. Always take a second to read a magazine or newspaper article if I see his named mentioned. So, when I noticed a reference to his newest release Lisey’s Story in EW, I checked it out. Looks as if it’s time to pick up King’s fiction again.

EW said:

The novel, which stars the titular Lisey - widow of a King-esque blockbuster author - is a story about marriage and fidelity, the dark places writers go to find their material, and the even darker people who stalk writers. “It’s also a love story, and I’ve never tried that before,” King says. “I saw a chance to touch an audience that normally stays away from my books.”

Evidence of this one being a bit difference comes in the form of a quote from Nicholas Sparks - yes, that Nicholas Sparks - the guy who wrote The Notebook and not a guy I imagine hangs out with Stephen King:

Lisey’s Story is a wondrous novel of marriage, a love story steeped in strength and tenderness, and cast with the most vivid, touching and believable characters in recent literature. I came to adore Lisey Landon and her sisters, I ached for Scott and all he’d been through, and when I finally reached the bittersweet and heartfelt conclusion, my first thought was that I wanted to start over again from the beginning, for it felt as if were saying good-bye to old friends. This is Stephen King at his finest and most generous, a dazzling novel that you’ll thank yourself for reading long after the final page is turned.

Of Lisey’s Story, Kirkus Reviews says:

The widow of a bestselling novelist reveals that the wellspring for his ideas is a very dark place, indeed. First and last, this is a powerful love story-and love causes people to do strange and remarkable things. It has been two years since legendary novelist Scott Landon died. His widow, Lisey, has finally summoned the strength to begin clearing and cataloguing his workspace. It is a significant metaphor that Scott and Lisey never had children. Instead, their coupling allowed him to produce numerous novels that thrilled readers. His bestselling works are filled with raw emotion. Academic vultures circle the widow, desperate for access to Scott’s massive archive of unpublished works, notes and secrets. And some of those secrets are worth killing for. Only Lisey knows the source of Scott’s magic, the place where imagination runs wild, the place called Boo’Ya Moon. Scott and Lisey shared a life full of passion, but his death has left a void in her life. She is adrift, confused and stalked by supernatural forces. Incunks prowl, while Lisey chases bools and ducks blood-bools. Sometimes it is unclear where her reality stops and her imagination takes over. Battling against Scott’s legacy, Lisey also comes face to face with her own demons at the edge of Boo’Ya Moon. King is surprisingly introspective and mature here. He showcases the agony and the ecstasy of the writing process. Where Misery (1987) looked at the relationship between writer and fan, this time it is that of the writer and his one true love. There seems to be much of King in the character of Scott (although Scott is both a Pulitzer- and National Book Award-winner). Pain and suffering are Scott’s literary trademarks. The Buddha taught that the end of suffering is supreme happiness. When King finally reveals Lisey’s fate, we all reach the same destination in Boo’Ya Moon. One of King’s finest works.

Sounds a bit different for King. Kind of intrigued.

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 22nd, 2006 at 6:07 am and is filed under About Authors, About Books, About Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.