Review of DOCTOR SLEEP by Stephen King

DOCTOR SLEEP is the long-awaited sequel to Stephen King’s novel THE SHINING. Danny Torrance has grown up and wrestled with the demons of his past. He becomes an alcoholic like his father was, and while coping with the challenges of being sober, he assumes a role in hospice care center where he becomes known as Dr. Sleep. The story is also about a little girl named Abra Stone who also has the shining. A group of people known as the True Knot want Abra because they live off of the steam that comes out of the body of someone who is killed who has the shining. Dan’s and Abra’s paths converge as Dan tries to rescue Abra from the True Knot and Rose the Hat, their merciless leader.

I hate to say it, but I’ve never actually read THE SHINING. I saw the movie once a long time ago, but King states in the book that the sequel has more to do with the novel than the movie, so it doesn’t really count. 

Even though I haven’t read the first book, I absolutely loved this story. It chronicles a very long period of time as we see Danny grow up and hit rock bottom as an alcoholic and watch Abra grow up into a thirteen-year-old.  

The True Knot made for a ruthless villain, and yet King tries to inject a little sympathy for them. They’re simply trying to survive. 

I loved Dan and Abra’s connection and how their story unfolded. Abra is an interesting little girl, and you want everything to be okay for her, but, as the story progresses, you’re not quite sure that it will.

The book felt a little long, but it does chronicle a lot of time. It was a great story. I suppose I’ll have to go back and read THE SHINING now.

Review copy provided by Scribner

Where you can buy it: Amazon.com