Doctor Sleep

A Novel

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 18 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Fiction, 2014

Audie Award Nominee, Solo Narration - Male, 2014

Stephen King returns to the characters and territory of one of his most popular novels ever, The Shining, in this instantly riveting novel about the now middle-aged Dan Torrance (the boy protagonist of The Shining) and the very special 12-year-old girl he must save from a tribe of murderous paranormals.

On highways across America, a tribe of people called The True Knot travel in search of sustenance. They look harmless - mostly old, lots of polyester, and married to their RVs. But as Dan Torrance knows, and spunky 12-year-old Abra Stone learns, The True Knot are quasi-immortal, living off the "steam" that children with the "shining" produce when they are slowly tortured to death.

Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father's legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant "shining" power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes "Doctor Sleep."

Then Dan meets the evanescent Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan's own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra's soul and survival. This is an epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of hyper-devoted fans of The Shining and wildly satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

©2013 Stephen King (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Will Patton's delivery enhances King's prose in ways that make King's work so much more enjoyable in audio than just reading it…Patton's narrative voice captures the rhythm of King's words. His character voices, filled with a variety of regional American accents, remain consistent. Most importantly, the sinister aspects that embody characters and moments of this novel are superbly executed and will certainly leave listeners on edge." ( AudioFile)

"King, not one given to sequels, throws fans a big, bloody bone with this long-drooled-for follow-up to The Shining." ( Booklist)

"…a gripping, taut read that provides a satisfying conclusion to Danny Torrance's story." ( Publisher’s Weekly)

Classic King

First of all, if you've only seen the movie "The Shining" and not read the novel - please for the love of whatever you consider holy - read the novel. No offense to the late, great Mr. Kubrick, but he butchered the story with that film. Anyone who has not read "The Shining" must do so before picking up this sequel or the richness of the story will be lost.

I was a little worried about a sequel as most tend to be watered-down extensions of a great story that only serve to make the writer more money. And good on the writer for that, by the way, get it! But this was a truly great story. It held me so greatly that I was irritated to have to return to real life to work, or sleep or anything else normal folks do. I just wanted to remain in the world of the story. And honestly, I was curious to see what had become of little Danny Torrance.

As the now grown Dan Torrance struggles with past and present demons, he meets a little girl who possesses the same gift that he has - the shining. It is around her stunning abilities that the story evolves as good fights evil and man fights himself. It is classic King and I highly recommend diving into this story for a truly satisfying read.

...but not before you read "The Shining" dammit.

Will Patton did a remarkable job narrating, deftly switching from the voice of an innocent little girl to the raspy growl of pure evil. I'll be searching out other books that he's narrated.

One of my favorite King novels!

Where does Doctor Sleep rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is an excellent audiobook! I could not bring myself to stop listening.

What other book might you compare Doctor Sleep to and why?

Naturally, I would compare it to 'The Shining' because this is the sequel. I think that it was an excellent sequel.

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not that I am aware of.

If you could rename Doctor Sleep, what would you call it?

Good question, but I'm drawing a blank.

Any additional comments?

There were such high expectations for a sequel to a book as well known and loved as 'The Shining". I am so pleased that 'Doctor Sleep' exceeded them all for me.

Danny Torrence, all grown up

Interestingly enough, I have never spent any time wondering what happened to Danny Torrence after surviving the Overlook Hotel. Thank goodness Mr. King has!!!! I loved this book, and I loved Will Patton's performance of it! King took Dan Torrence in a direction that I would not have considered, from a fictional sense, and I truly got a sense of Dan as a real person, sharing his journey into and during adult hood. There were enough flashbacks to the Overlook to be able to help anyone who hasn't read that book in awhile, or at all, really, but King did not dwell in the past for this book (as opposed to Dan Torrence!). I thought the story was very imaginative, even for King. In many ways, this novel felt more like a combination of Stephen King and Neil Gaiman, with the best parts of those experiences present.

Will Patton is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators, and he was perfectly suited to this novel. His voice is soothing, but can be a bit ominous as well, and he found the perfect pitch and balance for different parts of the novel. (By the way, if you've never heard his performance of Deliverance, get over there now!!!!) His female voices never sound forced or silly (unless they are supposed to be), and he goes beyond the words, adding the inflections, sound effects (coughing, laughing, etc.), and appropriate timbre when indicated.

I was so happy to have two new Stephen King books this year, and I will be listening to both of them again!

Another amazing read!

Stephen King can write! He pleased me from the beginning to the end of this book. I truly enjoy his storytelling and this narrator was top notch. I agree that you need to read "The Shining" before reading this because it helps make sense of many past issues these characters faced. Don't watch to movie because it does not follow the book. I read "The Shining" prior to this in order to refresh my memory and it made this read so much better. Thanks Stephen!

Amazing.

What did you love best about Doctor Sleep?

This was a great story, excellent narrator. It kept my attention throughout. I don't want to ruin the tale but I really always wondered what happened to Danny. This was quite a satisfying "next chapter" of his life and introduced new characters with whom he could have additional adventures. I can't wait!!!

What about Will Patton’s performance did you like?

Will Patton is extraordinary. Perfect for this type of story; doesn't yell at you or get hysteric, even at the scariest parts. That somehow adds to the suspense in a more believable way than a narrator who is seeming to goad you into a reaction. He was pitch perfect throughout.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I'm not going to reveal the story, but there were many moving parts, especially the love and protective instincts the protagonists had for each other. I also valued the way King has of not telling you every single thing and instead showing you the events unfolding.
Everything rang true!

Finally, a King novel not bogged down with details

So I've attempted many King books before, starting with Misery & Cujo when I was a teenager, and then painfully getting through "It" years later. By painfully I mean too many details. King would mention the mail man's gastrointestinal issues for two pages in Cujo, and all of them just made me want to scream "Get to the point man!" Well surprise surprise, he has finally won me over with "Doctor Sleep." I can't recall one time while listening to this book that I became irritated with the typical excessive details bogging down King's other books.

I can't say that this is a scary book, but more of a thriller, which is fine by me either way. Still, I'm glad to report to those of you who suffered like me through many King books screaming for less details or just giving up, I recommend.

Will Patton's narration is awesome, he nails it.

Go ahead and give this book a shot...I think you'll like it.

A worthy 'sequel'

If you could sum up Doctor Sleep in three words, what would they be?

gripping, intriguing, satisfying.

What other book might you compare Doctor Sleep to and why?

For me, Dr Sleep compared to other favourite King books including It and The Stand, but unlike those two it actually had a satisfying ending and didn't start running out of gas in the last quarter. I often find King novels to have wonderful beginnings and middles but deeply unsatisfying endings. Dr Sleep maintained its pace for the duration of the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to mention, but I particularly liked the idea of young Dan learning how to use the 'lock boxes' in his mind.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book had me sitting in my parked car (I listen to my Audible books mainly whilst driving) more times than I can count, because I HAD to listen to the end of a chapter - always a sign of great book to me.

Any additional comments?

Initially I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy Will Patton's narration, but after about 20mins or so I really started to like what he was doing with all the characters. Overall, I think he gave a masterful performance with such a wide variety of characters - young, old, male, female, - he was pleasure to listen to and his voice work really made the story come alive for me.

Epic story with a telegraphed ending

Would you consider the audio edition of Doctor Sleep to be better than the print version?

Yes. Will Patton did such a marvelous job here that I went out and purchased two other books he narrated less than ten minutes after I finished listening to DOCTOR SLEEP. I also believe that, had reading this been my only option, I might not have finished it. Patton made this book for me.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The conclusion was a huge let down. Abra and Dan were far too overpowered and I never felt any true fear for their safety.

Have you listened to any of Will Patton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

His narration of DOCTOR SLEEP is only slightly better than his performance on James Dickey's DELIVERANCE. DOCTOR SLEEP was my first experience with Patton as a narrator, but I've been a longtime fan of his acting.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

DOCTOR SLEEP will tie a "True Knot" in your guts.

Any additional comments?

Stephen King has said on several occasions that his books are always more about the journey than the destination. He proves this, once again, with Doctor Sleep. I loved this book, that is, until the last thirty percent.

I really, really, REALLY wanted to love this book, and I did, for over half of it. Then, King did as King does, and phoned in the ending.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

The book peaks with the death of Crow Daddy. After that, it's all downhill. I still have no idea why Concetta's steam killed the True Knot in the lodge. Yeah, I get that she had cancer, and that cancer was transferred over to them through the steam, but why did the cancer kill them so quickly? I think King took the easy way out. Not for the first time, he created too many characters and didn't know what to do with them.

*sigh*

Could I have done better? Probably not. But that doesn't lessen my disappointment. Does it stand up to The Shining? Get off that horse. You knew it wouldn't. Is the first 70% of the book some of the scariest stuff King has written in almost thirty years? Yes.

Canny. Enough said.

I have friends who've given this book five stars, but I can't bring myself to give it higher that a three. And it gets that three because I love the first three-quarters of the book. Read it for yourself.

Kept me hooked, lined and sunk.....

Where does Doctor Sleep rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

My first audio book that I listened to all the way through. Will Patton Kept me wanting to hear more. He is such a great reader and did this book fabulous.

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors and have read a lot of his books. I haven't read any of his books from about 15 yrs ago till now but am planning to listen to those in the near future. Now that I am into Audible I listen everywhere I go.

"Doctor Sleep" makes me want to go back and listen to "The Shining". I read the book years and years ago and also saw the movie but the book is always the better of the two. Now I've got to decide which of his books do I want to listen to next... Decisions, decisions. decisions.....

What other book might you compare Doctor Sleep to and why?

This book made me think of several of his books. Like when Abbra talked about Clowns I thought of "It". I think the book had a clown in it. Not a nice clown either!

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

My favorite character was probably Abbra. Will Patton did a great job with his reading when changing characters. He has spoiled me so much that now I'm listening to a different book with a woman reading it and I just can't get into it like I did him.

If you could take any character from Doctor Sleep out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would have to take 2 people out Danny and Abbra or maybe Rose, the latter to see how scary she really was. Maybe all 3 of them to see what would happen with all of them in the same room together. The book unfolding right before my eyes.

Not bad, but a thin story

Would you listen to Doctor Sleep again? Why?

No, it was like a TV series episode. Not bad, but nothing memorable either.

Would you be willing to try another book from Stephen King? Why or why not?

Yes. I prefer his less "fluffy" books. Unfortunately, I don't foresee him writing too many more of those, if any.

Which character – as performed by Will Patton – was your favorite?

Don't remember.

If you could rename Doctor Sleep, what would you call it?

N/A

Any additional comments?

Probably better off borrowing this book from the library for free. Not worth the credit I spent on the book.