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)

constantly entertaining

This audiobook narrated by Will Patton is a sweet treat. Stephen King says at the end that it is harder and harder to scare people, especially those who admit to being creeped-out by the Shining and Pet Sematary, like me. So no, I did not find this scary in any way but I was constantly entertained. King is such a great storyteller that each chapter has something to hold your interest and lead you into the next, as only he can do. I loved his “good” characters and enjoyed the “bad” ones. Some characters I adored just because of the voice Will Patton gives them, adding a whole new layer of who they are.
I give it 4 stars as a good enjoyable story, 5 stars for the narration, and on the Stephen King scale, also 4 stars. Having read 27 novels/compilations by this author, I think he deserves his own scale of comparison. For me, Doctor Sleep is like Duma Key with a better ending, or Firestarter for the 21st century. It is not epic like the Stand or powerful like Misery or the Green Mile, but way better than The Dark Half and Thinner, and much better than Hearts in Atlantis. If you are like me and need a Stephen King “fix” every few years, this is a good bet.

I love King and as always he did a great job.

I made sure to read The Shining first and it was so much better than the movie.

I'll never look at a Winnebago the same again.

I really enjoyed this story. My wife and I listened to Dr Sleep on our way to Phoenix last summer, but didn't finish it. the story stuck with me for months until we again were on travel and were able to pick up where we left off quite easily. The characters just resonated and were real enough to remember without much difficulty. I really enjoyed the narrator and I thought he was a perfect choice to read this story. As even the author points out, most will not find this story as terrifying or epic as the original, but try to listen with great ears and you'll be in for a treat.

Terrifying

My wife and I drive a semi cross country. We will never look at RV's the same way. We dread going through Quartzsite AZ during the months of January and February. If the remaining members of the True are still out there, that would be an easy place for them to hide.

Stephen King at his best

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

I love audio versions of any book, as it really takes reading to the next level, between a play/movie and reading itself. This book is over the top and I could see every part crystal clear, like I was right there watching...scary!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Doctor Sleep?

The most memorable moments of Dr. Sleep was the finale at the end of the book when they meet all of the people in the rec center for a showdown.

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brought the characters to life and to try to explain to people that still "just read" is difficult, but the experience of hearing someone literally act it out through audio is truly worth every word.

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

Stephen King is one of the only authors that can make me laugh out loud in many parts of his books. I find him to be so down to earth and able to actually read the reader's mind to know the reaction and then blurt it out in almost exactly how one might react at that very moment in the story. He uses profanity when it should be used and sometimes little songs or poems that the moment might remind a reader of. Every time, I laugh at something in a Stephen King novel, I shake my head at his mastery of writing and knowing his reader's so very well!! Of course, I am usually on the edge of my seat with fright, as well, so his novels give a whole range of emotions and yes I have cried at times. I mostly feel like I am on a rollercoaster when reading his books and what a great ride!!

The Shining continues...

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

I read or watch the Shining years ago and really did not understand what was going on.. With Dr. Sleep I get what happened and what Dan has been doing since... Super LOVED it. It is Stephen King like before...

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

Where's Dan???

Wow! Really, I mean wow!

Doctor Sleep is a wonderful sequel in the life of Danny Torrance. I love how Stephen King used AA as a vehicle to resolve a conflict inside of Danny much larger than merely alcoholism. I would recommend to all, but remember it is a King novel and a little unsettling.

Fantastic

Loved it IT Kept My interest From The beginning Till the end .... Amazing !

Awesome sequel

A good sequel to the Shinning. I liked that we finally got to see what happened to Danny and got to meet Abra. Kept my attention through the whole thing and integrated multiple stories into one perfectly.

Amazing and intense

Fantastic listen this book was funny sad thrilling and down right terrifying!! If you were a fan of the shining and loved it as much as I did read this book and finally figure out what just happened to Danny "doc" Torrence. Stephen king is a genuine master of horror