I am very glad that Stephen King won the Bram Stoker award this year for Best Novel with DOCTOR SLEEP. I think it is a superior achievement to NOS4A2 -- so long as you consider being darker, more serious, and having a real-life subtext (alcoholism) "superior" to the lighter, more fantasy-oriented (and without much subtext) approach Joe Hill took with his splendid third novel. Ironically: Joe Hill's book is over one hundred pages longer than DOCTOR SLEEP!
Stephen King's surprise sequel to THE SHINING takes some time getting kick-started. It required a serious effort on my behalf, one which I was willing to give due to the fact it's Stephen King, one of my favorite authors, not to mention it's the sequel to one of his best novels. The trouble I had getting into it is partly due to my hectic new Daddy life, and not necessarily a shortcoming on King's behalf.
After a hundred pages or so, things heat up, and once the entire cast of characters (including Dan Torrance and his cohorts at the hospice where he works, Abra Stone and her family, and our villains in The True Knot) becomes firmly embedded in the reader's head, the plot unfolds at a nice, consistent pace. A lot of us are aware that King seems to have a spotty reputation for wrapping some of his novels up. I've heard as much from more than one fan, and while I myself have only had problems with the endings of two of his books I can think of (IT and CELL), I guess can understand the apprehension. DOCTOR SLEEP is a book that I honestly feel would be unfairly dismissed by careless readers who don't really give it a try nor respect the material enough to hang in there until the final payoff.
*mild Spoilers to follow, without really giving away major plot points*
With me, I admit to a double-ending which, on the one hand--the *surface narrative* concerning Dan and Abra's confrontation with Rose the Hat and The True Knot at their Lodge---that left a tad to be desired, but I'm okay with it, really. It's my main criticism of the book, whose resolution of the *principle action* fell a bit short of expectations. However, the *subtext* has its own matters to tie up, and that played out in a truly heartfelt manner, resulting in a resolution which should satisfy the dear and devoted reader tremendously.
Also, the development of the True Knot, while not as in-depth as that of Dan Torrance and Abra Stone, nonetheless rendered some awesomely memorable villains. I really dig the whole idea behind them. And Rose the Hat was a badass. She and her clan remain one of the novels strengths, for sure.
In short: if it wasn't for the subtext of real life alcoholism, DOCTOR SLEEP wouldn't be quite as good, I think. It's that undercurrent of characterization which gives it the edge over NOS4A2, in my opinion. Joe Hill's novel doesn't seem to have as much of a subtext, which in truth is what lends it more power, based on the fact that it's just a straight-up kick ass story. DOCTOR SLEEP digs deeper. As a sequel to THE SHINING it's an outright success because of the fact it does not fixate so much with returning to the scene nor replicating the original formula; something King could've easily fallen prey to, and thankfully for us, didn't.
DOCTOR SLEEP tells its own story, and what makes it succeed is the very characterization which King built his early reputation on. He seemed to have lost his touch in that regard with some of the mid- to late-career novels (Cell comes to mind, although I enjoyed it well enough), but here with this sequel to his most classic novel, he is back in full swing with character development along with a solid story line.
Plus, the reader can't help but connect the dots from Abra Stone and her powerful "shining" gift, back to Charlie McGee from FIRESTARTER (in my Top 10 King novels for sure) not to mention CARRIE herself. I highly recommend DOCTOR SLEEP to any King fan or new reader. I don't think it's even necessary to read THE SHINING beforehand, but it sure helps a lot. It deserves at least 4 stars, but I'm giving it 4.5 out of 5 because it really satisfied me, and besides, NOS4A2 deserves a 4 out of 5 rating, itself.
I'm willing to bet some day in the future, Joe Hill's writing talent will continue to develop to the point he can show up his old man. But here in 2014, that has yet to occur. Joe's still got a ways to go to catch up, from where I sit. And considering the elder King's output--not to mention the critically acclaimed novel 11/22/63-- along with two more highly anticipated novels for 2014 (MR. MERCEDES and REVIVAL), young Joe will have to put the pedal to the metal in order to catch up to his old man. We'll just have to wait and see.
"I think it is a superior achievement to NOS4A2 -- so long as you consider being darker, more serious, and having a real-life subtext (alcoholism) "superior" to the lighter, more fantasy-oriented (and without much subtext) approach Joe Hill took with his splendid third novel."
ReplyDeleteAlcoholism isn't "subtext" in Doctor Sleep -- it's text. I also think that claiming NOS4A2 has little subtext is silly. It's got plenty of subtext. There is no such thing as a novel without subtext; the issue is whether the subtext is interesting or not, and whether it is apparent or not.
Both novels are very good. I'd give the edge to NOS4A2, personally, but I'm also happy for King to have won another Stoker.
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ReplyDeleteI think you've made a good point, Bryant. After writing my review I began considering that NOS4A2 must certainly have its own subtext -- and, furthermore, I gotta hand it to ya, that the alcoholism in DOCTOR SLEEP isn't so much "subtext" as it is, like you mentioned, text.
ReplyDeleteI thought the characterization was more in-depth with the Stephen King novel, mainly. I admit that for its greater length, Joe Hill's novel was a quicker and easier read. That may certainly translate as a good thing.
I found certain passages in the King novel to be darker and more disturbing. Yet the Hill novel has it's share of equally disturbing, yet not as rooted in reality, I guess.
Doctor Sleep seems like the grittier, more realistic novel, whose ability to disturb reflects real life more. Whereas NOS4A2 was more of an adventurous thrill ride into the creepier aspects of the imagination.
Thanks for your feedback, you are right.
The winner is clear: anyone reading either of these novels.
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