After reading Gerald's Game, Dolores Claiborne feels in many ways like it's aunt. This isn't just because they take place in similar points in historyAfter reading Gerald's Game, Dolores Claiborne feels in many ways like it's aunt. This isn't just because they take place in similar points in history, share an astrological phenomenon, and even have spiritual glimpses at each other either. It is more than that.
While our heroine in Gerald's Game is still a fairly young "middle-aged" woman coming to discover that she is more than she ever thought, Dolores Claiborne is a much wiser woman who has seen much more in her life.
I'm glad that King decided to tell this one as he did, a woman looking back on her life and recounting it to the police.
If you would have gotten the story from Dolores as she experienced them, the story would have been much different and probably even more akin to Gerald's Game.
As it was, though, one long memory, broken up by the occasional words to those in the room, but with no chapter breaks, along with the very well told story made it difficult to put down.
It is difficult to try to put your self into the shoes of Dolores Claiborne, not because of poor writing, but because of really good writing. As you experience the abuse she receives at the hands of her husband and later what he does to their daughter, you are revolted. All of this on time of the sometime hellish experience of her day-to-day job and many today, including myself would not be able to persist.
However, Dolores Claiborne not only continues persevere each day, she continues to do her best to make the most of it. She doesn't complain, she just gets done what needs getting done.
This was a Stephen King drama up there with his best. There were some horrific elements, but none of them supernatural. The only little bit of that is really a throw away nod to Gerald's Game that plays no real factor in the book.
Therefore, here, King is able to let his ability to create full, rounded characters really shine.
If you are a fan of the movie, I would highly advise giving the book a read. Most of the main points are the same although the story telling devise itself is completely different. Also, the movie only scratches the surface of what we get in the book and obsessionally makes non-realistic jumps that make much more sense when more fully developed in the novel.
Overall, this was a very good read. I also think that it would be a great transition read for someone who doesn't think that they will like King because of the horror and supernatural aspects of his writing. Maybe even start here and then move to Gerald's Game as there are a few moments in that one that really got under my skin... in a good way.
Merged review:
After reading Gerald's Game, Dolores Claiborne feels in many ways like it's aunt. This isn't just because they take place in similar points in history, share an astrological phenomenon, and even have spiritual glimpses at each other either. It is more than that.
While our heroine in Gerald's Game is still a fairly young "middle-aged" woman coming to discover that she is more than she ever thought, Dolores Claiborne is a much wiser woman who has seen much more in her life.
I'm glad that King decided to tell this one as he did, a woman looking back on her life and recounting it to the police.
If you would have gotten the story from Dolores as she experienced them, the story would have been much different and probably even more akin to Gerald's Game.
As it was, though, one long memory, broken up by the occasional words to those in the room, but with no chapter breaks, along with the very well told story made it difficult to put down.
It is difficult to try to put your self into the shoes of Dolores Claiborne, not because of poor writing, but because of really good writing. As you experience the abuse she receives at the hands of her husband and later what he does to their daughter, you are revolted. All of this on time of the sometime hellish experience of her day-to-day job and many today, including myself would not be able to persist.
However, Dolores Claiborne not only continues persevere each day, she continues to do her best to make the most of it. She doesn't complain, she just gets done what needs getting done.
This was a Stephen King drama up there with his best. There were some horrific elements, but none of them supernatural. The only little bit of that is really a throw away nod to Gerald's Game that plays no real factor in the book.
Therefore, here, King is able to let his ability to create full, rounded characters really shine.
If you are a fan of the movie, I would highly advise giving the book a read. Most of the main points are the same although the story telling devise itself is completely different. Also, the movie only scratches the surface of what we get in the book and obsessionally makes non-realistic jumps that make much more sense when more fully developed in the novel.
Overall, this was a very good read. I also think that it would be a great transition read for someone who doesn't think that they will like King because of the horror and supernatural aspects of his writing. Maybe even start here and then move to Gerald's Game as there are a few moments in that one that really got under my skin... in a good way....more
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