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)

Awesome Sequel

Would you listen to Doctor Sleep again? Why?

Yes! It draws you in and makes you feel all warm and cozy, then it hits you over the head with a sack of marbles.

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

The meeting at Cloud Gap and the ensuing fight.

Which scene was your favorite?

Abra and Dan fighting Rose The Hat at the Overlook

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

The nightmares have come to life again!

Any additional comments?

Fantastic sequel from the Master Storyteller. Dan Torrance is a fully believable character and the struggles he deals with feel real and gritty, full of life. The story quietly forces you to care about the characters and the reader's performance draws you into the story even deeper than I thought possible. I have listened to it several times and I normally do no re-listen to my audiobooks.

Redrum, Redrum 30 years later ...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The Shining was the first Stephen King novel I read. Years later I traveled to Colorado and saw a place like The Overlook in the mountains and read The Shining again on the trip home. Picking up this book was like visiting with an old friend after not seeing them for a very long time.

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

It's prequel The Shining. The Shining and some of his earlier books was Stephen King writing at his best. In the last ten years he has written Under the Dome, 11-22-63 and Doctor Sleep and it is like Sherman set the WayBack machine and we have younger Stephen King writing again. I love the characters in this book, specifically Danny now Dan Torrance.

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

Dan Torrance. Hands down. He was so real. Beautifully flawed and human. Abra Stone who was such a wonderful reminder of little Danny Torrance.

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

Shining on...

Any additional comments?

Mr. King's last three books have given me an even greater regard for him as an author. I will admit I stopped reading him around Rose Madder, but picked him up again with Under The Dome and it is like reuniting with an old friend. Not only have I enjoyed the three books mentioned earlier but also his wonderful Joyland.

Awrsome!!!

This was my first book on Audible....I had already read the book, but I really enjoyed listening to it....I couldn't put it down just like the book ..great narration!!

Kings epic ode to Alcoholics Anonymous

What made the experience of listening to Doctor Sleep the most enjoyable?

The flow of the book was good, as with most King novels, and it keep my interest. The story was unique and well thought out.

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

Ha Ha The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Don't get me wrong I actually work in the Alcohol and Addiction recovery field but it did seem at times that he was a bit heavy on the 12-Step stuff, King being an admitted recovering alcoholic himself, I think this book was as much about him doing his 12th step as it was to tell the story of a grown up Danny Torrence.

Did Will Patton do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Yes, for the most part all of the voice acting was great I think they should have had a few actors do several of the parts to better define the difference between the male and female, good and bad creatures.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Waned to, maybe. It would have been difficult even if I didn't have a busy schedule. I was captivated and listened for long periods toward the end but I found that it was a bit slow at times in the middle.

Any additional comments?

Not that it is a bad thing but to me it was very almost preachy when it came to A.A. and the 12-steps. I get how Danny was kind of like a Jack Torrence that had found the help he needed and was able to reign in his demons before it was to late. As I said I am in the field of Recovery but all the cliches and A.A. is the only way stuff has never sat well with me personally, though I have seen miracles happen it the Program and am an advocate of its work and purpose. If King wanted to write a book about his struggles with Alcoholism and his road to Recovery in A.A. I would most likely have read it and recommended it to my clients Doctor Sleep, However, as a pure work of literature was good, not extraordinary nor bad. I do find it ironic that he was in his disease when he wrote The Shining and in Recovery when he wrote Dr. Sleep but not surprised.

Brilliant

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

this book made me decide to join audible. Best Narrator

Who was your favorite character and why?

Danny Torrence of course. He is awesome

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

He made the story come alive.

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

when the Tommy was killed.

Any additional comments?

I am a huge Stephen King fan and having his books in audibles makes the stories come alive.

It was good

Patten always sounds like he wants me to go to sleep, they are really going to have to change the tempo for the movie

I almost missed interview listening to this book!

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

I enjoyed the audio version but it I think I would have enjoyed creating the characters voices and behaviors reading the book myself

What did you like best about this story?

The finale was full of suspense I couldn't stop listening!

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

Will Patton truly brought these characters to life

Who was the most memorable character of Doctor Sleep and why?

Abra that feisty little woman! She doesn't Fuxk around

Any additional comments?

Enjoy!

Overall great book, however...

This is, so far, the only book I have struggled to keep listening to only because of the reader. He does great impressions of some of the characters but I was having a very hard time with the drawn out, whispery, Alfred Hitchcock(ish) voice (It could be just me who feels that way) but I did make myself continue listening because I really liked the book and knew I'd never get a chance to sit down and read it myself. I LOVED the authors notes read by Stephen King, especially the one at the end of the book.

A solid novel in need of a better editor

There are large sections of Doctor Sleep that I absolutely loved. There are also large sections (entire chapters) that probably should have been left on the editing room floor. It made the book hard to get through in spots but I'm glad I stuck it out. The ending is perfect. I'd heard there was one section that made readers cry and, sure enough, I hit that spot and got all weepy.

At times creepy and horrifying, at others poignant and emotional, this is a solid book for any King fan.

It shines

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

masterful narration, clever

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dan Torrence is a flawed human being who is hitting the bottom and soar to the top.

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

Will Patton key to the success of this audiobook. He used so many distinct different voice personalities that I listened to it twice.

Who was the most memorable character of Doctor Sleep and why?

I remember Abra because I keep thinking that Stephen King may have to rekindle her for a follow up

Any additional comments?

I don't like spooky, unnatural vampire movies and books. Why did I like this so much?