Doctor Sleep

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 18 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

An epic war between good and evil, a gory, glorious story that will thrill the millions of hyper-devoted readers of The Shining and wildly satisfy anyone new to the territory of this icon in the King canon.

King says he wanted to know what happened to Danny Torrance, the boy at the heart of The Shining, after his terrible experience in the Overlook Hotel. The instantly riveting Doctor Sleep picks up the story of the now middle-aged Dan, working at a hospice in rural New Hampshire, 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 tween 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....

©2013 Stephen King (P)2013 Simon & Schuster Audio

Better than The Shining

It's a big call, I know - but I enjoyed this book more than it predecessor The Shining. Why? I think because the evil in Doctor Sleep is more tangible; Rose the Hat and her 'True Knot' have human-like characteristics and emotions, but they must do the unspeakable in order to survive.

One thing I love about Stephen King is his ability to create interesting and complex characters, and draw us close to them. His characters are often likeable despite their flaws. Sleep Doctor is no exception. Through Dan Torrance we glimpse the world through the eyes of an alcoholic with a disturbing past and an ability to 'shine'. Through Rose we see a vicious yet alluring leader struggling to keep her family, her True Knot, alive. And through Abra, we see a typical teenager, cocky and naïve, but with powerful physic abilities and a vengeful streak.

I thoroughly enjoyed Sleep Doctor and would recommend it to those who enjoy a good Stephen King thriller/horror.

WOW! just WOW!

loved going back to Doc's life. wish I had some shine. Kings work is the best.

Excellent!

Any additional comments?

Excellent sequel to The Shining yet could be read / listened to as a stand alone novel. Will Patton is the best male narrator I have listened to. Often it is the case that male narration of ladies makes them all sound like Mrs Doubtfire - however with Will this is not the case. His reading is subtle yet very complelling - instantly drawing you in. I will definately be seeking other books he has narrated. Perhaps another Steven King. I have read many Steven King novels but this is the first I have listened to. Very much enjoyed.

Great stand alone book and awesome sequal

As usual King is outstanding, this tells a story of a grown Danny facing real grown up problems. This book has great pacing and a gripping story line!

A voice to DIE for!

Will Patton is undoubtedly my new best friend and greatest voice actor ever. I think I still have to decide whether Doctor Sleep is vintage King, i.e. better than his later books. However what is beyond argument is that Will Patton performs this book with breathtaking skill and craftsmanship.
He creates believable good characters and voices the evil ones in a manner that gives you cold shivers.
If Mr Patton were to read War and Peace in binary code, it would still be riveting.

A frightening visit to an old friend

Having loved the Shining when I listened to it ON Audible fir the first time this sequel was a must. A great story with actual horror like few people can get right. The performance was goid, though the narrator presented an unpleasant, jarring voice for Billy Freeman. All in all still a a stellar book

A Good Sequel.

I worried at first that it was going to drag out and become boring before the crux of the story got started but I was wrong. Im glad I stuck with it and am now worried the film coming out later this year is going to leave out important stuff just so it can be connected to The Shining but that if it doesnt a lot of fans of the Kubrick film are gonna be pissed because the book continues King's vision of the story not Kubrick's.

A deeper look into what we've come to know as the shinning

I have read this book over three times n have listened too it at least four, I loved the book the shinning ever since I read my mother copy as a child my mother ended up giving me her copy when I left home n I always wounded n hoped there would be a second coming, now I hope to see a third. ( listen n find out whom I'm now wondering what happened to.) this book takes us back into Doc childhood n through to what I understand to be about his late 40 or early 50 possibly even older I lost track. So realax ( turn up ur hearing aids if u got em) n become amazed at the story that follows Dan Torrent's life as he grows up in our heads.

This man can write and Will Patton -- oh man.

What an amazing talent this author has. I reread The Shining to refresh my memory and the first thing that popped into my head after I finished the book was that it held far less of the shock element than it did when I read it at 15, instead it held the wonder of a well crafter work of art.
Then I started on Dr Sleep. Not OVERLY enthusiastic since I always say…. I like and much prefer 'OLD SCHOOL SK". To my delight the book was marvelous. Truly even better, more layered and the plot and theme running like a double helix throughout the book.
So it did NOT scare me enough to fear to switch off my light at night. However, it kept me listening and listening for hours at a time sometimes going back a chapter if something distracted me. A brilliantly written thriller by a true master of the genre. I am sure SK will entice tons of new 15 years old and make them fear to turn off their light at night.
At the end of the audio production SK himself left a note that exactly says, only far better, what I came to realize while rereading The Shining. We grow up. We change. The stories that scared us might not scare us anymore.
About the narrator…Will Patton. This man is a master of his craft much as SK is. He gave a tenderness to some of the main protagonists that made my heart melt and ache for them. Others was hard edged and others still was totally disinterested. All though were unique and his pacing and dialogue was brilliant.
WaAr

Will for president

Will Patton as the narrator...nothing short of brilliant with his performance, thanks Will.
Great follow on from the Shining...