Doctor Sleep (by Stephen King)
I re-read Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, which is the January selection for our Constant Reader book club. I first read it in 2013, so it was like reading it for the first time. I had forgotten so much, and I had no idea how the story was going to end. I seldom re-read books, but being part of this book club has required me to change that behavior. I’m discovering that I enjoy re-reading books, especially ones that I love.
Doctor Sleep is the sequel to The Shining. I’m grateful that the book club decided to read this in January. We just finished The Shining in December, and this was the perfect way to enjoy these two incredible books. I enjoyed meeting up with Dan Torrance as an adult…even though he was a bit of a mess, just like his dad, Jack.
Dan finds himself in a charming little town in New Hampshire, where he lands a job, joins AA, and quickly becomes a beloved member of the community. Through his shining, Dan meets remarkable 12-year-old Abra Stone who shines extremely bright. Unbeknownst to Dan, there exists a sinister group called The True Knot. They travel the country in their RVs, disguised as ordinary travelers, and their sinister mission is to capture children with extraordinary shines. These children are subjected to gruesome torture, and their steam is absorbed by the True Knot, fueling their own unique abilities. When The True Knot learns of Abra’s special shine, they set their sights on her. Dan, determined to protect Abra, steps in and becomes her unlikely hero.
I absolutely loved Doctor Sleep, just like I did The Shining. These two books go extremely well together! The Overlook and characters from The Shining make appearances in Doctor Sleep, while Dan’s character evolves, and a host of new characters are introduced. This is the thrilling, horror novel I’ve come to expect from King. The movie of Doctor Sleep is also fantastic. I’ve included the trailer below for your entertainment. I’m planning to re-watch it before our January meet-up of the Constant Reader book club.
Feel free to dive into my reviews of other Stephen King books below!
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