509 pages, library, hardbackpublished in 2006
started 3/13/07, finished 3/19/07
First Sentence: "To the public eye, the spouses of well-known writers are all butinvisible, and no one knew it better than Lisey Landon."
Reason for reading: For the NYT Notable Books Challenge
Summary:
Lisey Debusher Landon lost her husband, Scott, two years ago, after a twenty-five year marriage of the most profound and sometimes frightening intimacy. Scott was an award-winning, best selling novelist and a very complicated man. Early in their relationship, before they married, Lisey had to learn from him about books and blood and bools. Later, she understood there was a place that Scott went-a place that both terrified and healed him, that could eat him alive or give him the ideas he needed in order to live. Now it's Lisey's turn to face Scott's demons, Lisey's turn to go to Boo'ya Moon. What begins as a widow's effort to sort through the papers of her celebrated husband becomes a nearly fatal journey into the darkness he inhabited.
Thoughts:
Believe it or not, Stephen King has written a love story! Oh, don't worry, the Stephen King we have come to know and love is still here, but the underlying love story between Scott and Lisey is just plain wonderful. And the reader gets the feeling this is a very personal book for Mr. King, near and dear to his heart. What I really enjoyed was Scott and Lisey's "secret" language. Anyone in a relationship knows there are phrases or words that you only use with each other and that only you will understand completely. King captures that beautifully. I have to admit, though, it did take awhile to get used to this language because a lot of things are not explained right away. But, if you are patient, you slowly find out the meaning of these words and phrases and how they tie in with Scott and Lisey's past. Words like "bool" become common and flow off your tongue after awhile. Stephen King is known for the thrills and chills he puts into his books, and this one is no exception. When Scott's past and his "long-boy" and Boo'ya Moon are finally fully revealed to the reader, it will send shudders down your spine. I haven't read a Stephen King book in probably 10 years, and I found that I still enjoyed him after all this time.
Favorite part: To me, the best part of the book was the relationship between Scott and Lisey.
Rating: 4 out of 5
6 comments:
I also loved the very natural seeming relationship between Scott and Lisey. All married people have those little in-jokes and phrases that are meaningless to the outside world. It makes our relationships little islands, doesn't it?
After reading this book, everytime I'm off in a daydreamy place or reading, I say to myself "Guess I'd better leave Boo'ya Moon and get some work done around here."
Love Stephen King. Have read all of his stuff and I will continue to do so until he stops writing, I guess. I'm glad this book made the list because it will give people who would normally shy away from King (because of his "horror writer" reputation) a look at what he is really capable of.
I'm glad you liked it, Kim.
I love Stephen King (and not just because I have roots in Maine). This one is on my list to read. I'm glad you guys are giving it good reviews (I've seen some bad ones out there and I was hoping, hoping that they were wrong!).
Kookie,
I thought Lisey was a special woman...anyone who could hear about Scott's past and what he went through and travel to a secret place with him and still stay with him and love him and not think he was completely crazy was pretty cool. I think all they went through bonded them together.
And I keep thinking of "strap it on!"...too funny!
Wendy,
I hope you like it, too, when you get to it!
Lisey is a real testament to what a great lady King's real wife, Tabitha is. Lisey is based on her in many ways (including her relationship with her sisters), and having read Tabitha King's novels I can say I think she is a warm, intelligent woman with a grand sense of humor.
Thanks for such a great review. This book is in my stack to read during the Spring Reading Challenge I'm participating in (see my blog for details). Now I really can't wait to dig into it! :)
Kim-
Great Review! This one is on my list for this challenge. I am looking forward to reading it even more now.
I am glad that you liked it!
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