Duma Key: A Novel by Stephen King
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Book Reviews of Duma Key: A Novel
Book Review: Doo Maa Key
Summary: 5 Stars
Love it. From start to finish. I'm not sure why some say that it was boring or others that it was typical of Stephen King.
There was nothing typical about this book at all. In fact it is one of his best and ranks up there with Bag of Bones. Stephen again manages to tell a story like no other in brilliant dialog. Stephen writes and paints a picture with dialog and adds detail only when needed and anyone who has ever read Earnest Hemingway can appreciate this. This is what I enjoy about him, my imagination is free to create the environment based on hints that he gives along the way. I guess that's why I enjoy Stuart Woods so much too.
Edward Freemantle, a successfull building contractor was nearly killed in a work related accident. After suffering the loss of a limb and a difficult recovery he ends up divorced from his wife and left rich but full of anger. On advice from his doctor, Kamen, he decides to move somewhere peaceful so that he can get some rest and learn to cope with his periodic fits of rage. Welcome to Duma Key. Once Edgar arrives, he learns that he enjoys it and begins randomly paiting(but is it really random?) images that call to him. Eventually these paintings begin inducing otherworldly effects some of which are in proportions that he'll later regret. During his stay at Duma Key he makes friends Wireman who cares for an eldery woman name Eliabeth (aka Libbet) Eastlake who has a secret devastating past with Duma Key. Obsessed with her little china figures that's the last she can hold on to as alzheimers has begun its course with her. With periodic times of clarity she warns Edgar of his new found talent on Duma Key's effect on it.
Edgar and Wireman become good friends and together they begin to unravel the mystery of Duma Key. Edgar soon discovers the mysterious bond linking himself and Miss Eastlake together and how to finally end the curse that enshrowds Duma Key.
While I didn't find Duma Key scary I did find it difficult to put down and I'll never look at my grandfathers lawn jockey the same way ever again. I found Duma Key very easy to read inspite of its size, however its ending...well you decide.
- Dan.
Book Review: "The sea has no memory"
Summary: 5 Stars
Stephen King's latest novel, "Duma Key", is first and foremost a character study. You must understand that "Duma Key" is somewhat of a departure from his typified genre work; in one sense, it is a continuation of the psychological terrain he explored in "Lisey's Story" and in another sense it is the story of his own recovery after the accident in 1999. Edgar Freemantle, Duma Key's protagonist, was severely injured in a crane accident at a job site. His marriage ends as a result and he relocates from Minnesota to the Florida keys to heal, both physically and mentally. It is on Duma Key that Edgar begins to develop a long-dormant talent - he is a gifted artist.
Duma's sandy beach and mesmerizing view of the Gulf - and, most importantly, it's burning sunsets - are the backdrop for the majority of the novel. Edgar realizes at some point that the sea (the "caldo largo" as his friend Wireman calls it) has no memory, and that is why someone in his position loves it so much. He can gaze at the "wine-dark waters" (echoes of Homer, and not the only one to be found in "Duma Key") and construct his new life around his rather scattered old memories. As Stephen King writes it, the process of healing is both rehabilitative and also nostalgic. As Edgar's feeling better, he's distancing himself from the reality of his old life.
The first three quarters of "Duma Key" play out, in an easy-to-read and compellingly conversational point of view, Edgar's struggle to rebalance his life. There is not much external action or gross-out horror, but some of Stephen King's most unsettling writing reveals itself as the war raging inside Edgar's head: why can't he remember certain things, why is he uncontrollably angry sometimes, why does Duma Key seem to have a kind of power over him? Supernatural forces show up with a vengeance in the last quarter of the novel, but these can be taken literally and figuratively. The true "horror" of "Duma Key" - and ultimately it's devastating power - comes from the conflict inside a convalescing mind. "Duma Key" is riveting, clearly and concisely written, and will drive you forward to the very end, when all you can remember is that 'caldo' and its wine-dark waters.
Book Review: "Duma Key" By Stephen King
Summary: 5 Stars
If you want my thought on my Duma Key, I Think that it is a great book, i wouldn't go as far as saying that it's King's best but to me at least it's one of his best.
Duma Key tells the story of a man named Edgar Freemantle, Edgar is well I guess you might call him a billionare maybe si mabey no although he dose have a lot of money, the reason well Edgar runs his own construction company. One day while geting ready to go home Edgar gets into an accident it really is a horrible one, one that cripples him the accident causes Edgar to lose his right arm and badley hurt his right leg and if that wasent bad enough it also crushes his skull.
This whole thing puts Edgar in the hospital, Edgar who dosent really know who he is, who his wife is or what things around him are called. you might imange that this causes Edgar to do things he can't quite remember even when he's outside of the hospital back in his house. during one of his rehab/workout sessions Edgar's wife (Pam) comes in and anounces that she wants a divorce, the reasoning behind this Edgar hasent been the same since the accident and he strangeld her even though he dosent remember doing this.
during the process of the divorce Edgar goes to his tharpist Doctor Xander Kamen, Kamen asks Edgar if there was anything that he did before the accident. Edgar says that he used to sketch, Dr Kamen tells him to start doing this again soemthing he calls hedges in the night, he also tells Edgar to get a change of enviorment maybe move somewere for the next year or so. Edgar comes up with a few places and finnaly dedides on a place called Duma Key, Florida.
Edgar takes up his sketching and drawing again and finds out he's pretty good at it, an inner voice tells him that he should take up painting and well he dose, painting things that are Sereal basing his paintings on the work of Slavador Dali.
While in Duma Key Edgar Meets some people including the people next door to him on the key Jermone Wiremen and Elizabeth Eastlake.
No doubt Duma key will keep you up reading well into the night, one of my favorite King stories so far and a higlhly recomended one 5/5
Book Review: A Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
Duma Key isn't a single story. It's a combination of two intermingled (and inseparable) tales, each drastically different from the other.
The first story is a typical King concept; a sinister, far-reaching force and its effects on the protagonists. This tale, while impressive in execution and extremely interesting, isn't so great compared to King's pure-horror works (Pet Sematary, The Shinning, Gerald's Game, Misery, Bag of Bones, etc.).
The other story isn't supernatural at all. Instead, it focuses on the everyday life of Edgar Freemantle, a man who has lost his arm and suffered brain damage in a crippling accident. His family life is in shambles, he's no longer interested in his work, and he contemplates suicide. At the urging of his doctor, Edgar moves to Florida, hoping the change would help him get on with his life.
Day by day, we watch as Edgar extends his long and painful beach walks, meets new people, and communicates with his family and the folks from his "previous life". The recurring theme of King's books (that art and creativity can have a healing effect) mingles with the horror story, creating a disturbing mix in which art can both mend and kill.
The book truly comes alive during dialogue. Edgar's friendship with Wireman, his dealings with his ex-wife, his interaction with his daughters, and the conversations he has with miss Eastlake, all feel like they were taken straight out of real life. As always, there is a small caste of main characters and a large number of supporting characters, and each and every one of them leaves an impression in the reader's mind. For example, even a passing comment that Bozeman would hate knowing Edgar calls him "Bozie" gives us great insight into the personality of an unimportant character - King effectively makes us believe that, even though he's irrelevant to the story, Bozie is still an actual human being with a real life.
I could go on writing praise for Duma Key, but I think you get the picture. Honest advice: buy this book. It doesn't matter if you love King or if you hate him, this book is a masterpiece that will appeal to most book lovers.
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
Edgar Freemantle had proven the American dream works. As a building contractor in the Twin Cities he made millions and received plenty of acclaim. As the Freemantle Company continued to grow by the time he turned fifty, he and his beloved wife Pam were worth at least forty million. They had two children, who at the time his "Golden Age" abruptly ended, were attending Brown University or teaching in France respectively.
The end of the Golden Era began when he experienced a basic law of physics that a pickup truck has no chance against a twelve-story crane. He came out of that crash with a cracked right side of his skull, and a thrice fractured left side; his ribs were broken; his right hip was shattered; thirty per cent of his vision in his right eye was gone; and finally his right arm was lost. He was fortunate to have survived. Twenty-five years marriage ended when a constantly raging Edgar became verbally abusive towards Pam who visited everyday as he recuperated; threatening to physically hurt and kill her; she left him believing he meant it. He also suddenly displayed a talent as an artist. Needing to leave behind people, he flees to hermit territory, Duma Key, Florida where only two other trauma survivors reside. Edgar finds out his new artistic skills enables him to see and change the future life and death of others even as he investigates the tragic history of his new island home.
The angry Edgar is an incredible three dimensional character even when he begins to display paranormal skills. Readers will sense the rage inside him even as he calmly tells his tale; his double edged demeanor shows Stephen King at his best as he uses the theme of a person feeling isolated (The Stand and Carrie, etc) ready to strike out at others even loved ones. In fact Edgar is so fascinating; the well written Duma Key historical subplot feels like an intrusive segue as the audience only wants to know more about this angry isolationist.
Harriet Klausner