Insomnia
Published: 15, September 1994
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classic, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Supernatural, Thriller
Check the summary of this book here:
The Review
Stephen King's novel Insomnia is a horror/fantasy. It follows retired widower Ralph Roberts, whose increased sleeplessness allows him to sense auras and other hidden phenomena, prompting him to get involved in a fight between the powers of the Purpose and the Random. The narrative, like It and Dreamcatcher, is set in the imaginary town of Derry, Maine. It contains references to other Stephen King novels, most notably his novel series The Dark Tower.
One thing I want to clarify right away is why I only offered a 90 percent recommendation, despite if it is worth a hundred percent. The length of this book is the cause, and not many casual readers will pick it up for that reason alone.
Before the Tablet and Smartphone eras, I used to take my books around with me, and many people were terrified of seeing me reading works like Battlefield Earth, Gone with the Wind, It, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Stand, War and Peace, and many more.
Some even inquired whether I was studying for an exam. I was initially perplexed, but I soon realized that the people who asked me such questions, as well as those who were simply afraid of these books, were not book lovers or casual readers.
Although this book does not have over a thousand pages like the others I mentioned, it is still over 900 pages on paperback, which is a lot for non-readers or casual readers.
It's difficult to think that in this day and age, someone hasn't read at least one book by Stephen King, but I'm just talking about book aficionados, not the whole world's population.
His work is so prolific that even those who aren't fans of horror literature will be able to find something to like.
I heard somewhere that Stephen King has written at least one favorite novel for every reader, and that we, the readers, must seek that novel if we have never read any of his works.
I believe that is accurate because I have many favorites written by him. And I'm not the type of reader who easily likes or favorites something.
In this story, the main antagonist mentions a prominent evil that becomes the force in another of Stephen King's popular novels, The Dark Tower series, and it is here that all of the puzzle pieces are first coming together for the hero in that series to begin his journey.
I admire how the author's writings always seem to connect with people on some level. I appreciate the allusions to former characters in his earlier works, having read all of them before this one. For example, he cited Ben Hanscom as the architect who designed a famous structure in the region, and if you don't know, he was one of the seven scared teenagers in the wildly successful novel It.
One of the things that keeps me coming back to Stephen King, even if he does get a little carried away with details, is the way he always takes ordinary people, or even people who are even below average, and gives them extraordinary abilities and makes them do extraordinary things, such as people who are weak or underprivileged and are ignored by others.
These are the protagonists and heroines of many of his stories, which I find refreshing since I enjoy reading about ordinary people triumphing or gaining the upper hand.
I don't want to read about people who have a lot of money and power doing what they do best, which is messing with other people. Instead, I'd want to see the oppressed bully the bullies, and the corrupt.
The book is huge and can feel like it's dragging in the middle, and if you stopped reading or took a long break, you may have to go back several pages to figure out what's going on, so I strongly advise you to keep reading it, even if it's only a few pages per day, so you can stay in touch with all of the book's memories, plot points and the characters until you finish it.
Another aspect of this novel that appealed to me was the use of Greek legendary characters in a more modern setting. It was a great touch of quirkiness, and it prompted me to look up additional information about the Fates, the Muses, and so on.
Insomnia seems like another carefully produced chapter of author's monumental work The Dark Tower series. While not directly related to The Dark Tower, this narrative features characters that readers will recognize, as well as events that are tangentially related to the seven-book series. This novel also acts as a good unexpected sequel to It!
Character development is on pace with previous Stephen King works, although it is a little sluggish in places that are vital to the overall tale. If you like the author, and especially if you like The Dark Tower, you should read this.
Final Thoughts
In many respects, this novel is about the universe of The Dark Tower, which was a wonderful touch since I enjoy seeing the author blend and link the universes he creates.
Normally, I never mention the audio versions, despite the fact that I virtually always include a link for audiobooks, but this book's audio version was incredible, and I must recommend it as well.
I enjoyed this book, which meant I had to acquire the audio version as well since that's what I do when I enjoy a book.
Eli Wallach's narration surprised me completely; it was incredible! It was a unique and much more enjoyable experience than reading the book.
Nothing could ever beat The Dark Tower audio novels read by Frank Muller and George Guidall, but I think this rendition comes very near.
Abused wives, birth, death, feminism, homosexuality, insanity, promises, purpose completeness, stages of existence, unpredictability, various theological viewpoints, and so on are all covered by Insomnia.
The story takes some time to get into, and the chapters may appear weird for most of the first half of the book while the author introduces the sleeping problem.
But if you continue with it, the plot improves, blending mystical and medical elements so brilliantly that the reader wonders whether it's even conceivable.
The love relationship is appealing, there is action, and the villains are captivating. Also, being a fan of The Dark Tower series, I appreciated how he included a small twist into the story, demonstrating his mastery of plot development and construction.
Overall, Ralph Roberts is one of his other great heroes, and the supporting cast is also fascinating.
Synopsis
“A #1 national bestseller—“A yarn so packed with suspense, romance, literary reference, fascinating miscellaneous knowledge, and heart that only Stephen King could have written it. Marvelous—that is, full of marvels” (Booklist).
Since his wife died, Ralph Roberts has been having trouble sleeping. Each night he wakes up a bit earlier, until he’s barely sleeping at all. During his late night walks, he observes some strange things going on in Derry, Maine. He sees colored ribbons streaming from people’s heads, two strange little men wandering around town after dark, and more. He begins to suspect that these visions are something more than hallucinations brought on by lack of sleep.
There’s a definite mean streak running through this small New England city; underneath its ordinary surface awesome and terrifying forces are at work. The dying has been going on in Derry for a long, long time. Now Ralph is part of it…and lack of sleep is the least of his worries.
Returning to the same Maine town where It took place, a town that has haunted Stephen King for decades, Insomnia blends King’s trademark bone-chilling realism with supernatural terror to create yet another masterpiece of suspense.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Bald Doctors, Character Development, Crimson King, Derry Maine, Eli Wallach, Kings Best, Little Bald, Main Characters, Ralph And Lois, Ralph Roberts, Tower Series
Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.
Buy the Kindle Version Here
Free With Free Audible Trial
Misery (1990) (R)
Carrie (1976) (R)
Firestarter (1984) (R)
Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)
Thinner (1996) (R)
The Running Man (1987) (R)
The Dark Half (1993) (R)
The Green Mile (1999) (16+)
Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)
Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)
The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)
The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)
Compare Kindle E-readers on one page
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Any kind of support, even a simple 'like, thumbs up or a small comment' is enough and helps me grow, create and freely do more stuff and work on projects for the benefit of many.
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/namsu
Help me grow into a global force: https://www.patreon.com/namsu
Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
No comments:
Post a Comment