Definitely King's worst

Would you try another book written by Stephen King or narrated by Mare Winningham?

Based on this book, I wouldn't read another King. Thankfully, I've read many of his other books so realise this is probably his blip rather than his regular output. Mare Winningham gives a great performance reading this book but cannot save it from being a dull story.

Has Lisey's Story put you off other books in this genre?

No. I have read other works by Stephen King and can clearly see this is the exception rather than the norm.

Which character – as performed by Mare Winningham – was your favourite?

They were all pretty dull but Winningham managed to put some life into all of them. I guess Lisey would be my favourite but her story and character left me wanting something more.

Did Lisey's Story inspire you to do anything?

After giving up twice on reading it before deciding to persevere just so I can claim I've read all his books, I guess it inspired me to read something else.

Any additional comments?

If anyone is wanting to read Stephen King's work, please leave this book as either one of the last ones or in the middle. If you read this first, you'd have avoided his other work like the plague. I'd recommend "The Stand" or "It" as a solid first book. Maybe "Skeleton Crew" or "Four Past Midnight" if you don't want to commit to a large novel or just want to try small nibbles.

Don't get me wrong, the story is solid but, compared to his other works, the characters are weak, the basic premise is a rehashing of "Rose Madder" which is significantly better and the 'married language' like replacing f**k with smuck starts off quaint but becomes tedious and annoying very quickly. More so when it's on practically every page. Do yourselves a favour and read one of his better works which, after reading this, is any of them.

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3 people found this helpful

Fantastic!

Being new to Audible, but not to Stephen King, I thought I would try out this title. It is not as sinister as other titles and I have to say that I was addicted! Over recent years my reading tastes have mellowed dramatically and I had moved away from Stephen King but now I am back with a vengeance! This story is so easy to fall into, well crafted, intricate and beautifully read leaving me in tears on more than one occasion. Highly recommended!! Bool, the end!

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wonderful

I absolutely love this story! Great narration too. It's a slow burner but definitely worth a listen!

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So very good

Beautiful reading of a brilliant story. Warm, genuine and tragic. On of King’s best. Highly recommended.

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Not vintage Stephen King but still very good

I liked this book - a very absorbing and moving tale and exemplifying Stephen King's gift for telling a story with a lot a good characters. My only minor beef is that I thought the book too long. Narration takes a bit of getting used to, but in the end the narrator held the book together for me and she does a first class job.

Not Stephen King's best, but well worth listening to nonetheless.

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2 people found this helpful

One of the best

This was for me, one of the best audiobooks I've heard. Boo'ya Moon (Scott's mysterious and dangerous other world) and Mare Winningham are a fine combination. She reads the book with colour and flare, really bringing the central characters to life, and I suspect that listening to this is a much better experience than actually reading the story in page form, as much of it is told in Lisey and Scott's 'personal couple language' which works so well in this medium with Winningham's talent as a narrator.

Plot wise, it may not be for everyone, it's not fast paced, but the enjoyment is in the details around the main story for a change. It's been criticized for being overly longwinded, and this is true, but I didn't mind as there's a always a fascination to lead you on in Winningham's capable hands. Her voice was perfect for Lisey I felt.

King describes this as one of his most personal and favourite writes, understandable as it could be almost about himself, his own muse, intriguing.

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1 person found this helpful

Slow and long winded.....

I love SK books, listened to many over the years. This one is slow and just meanders through. I think there were two moments of brief tension....just did not grip me like his others.

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1 person found this helpful

A 3 course meal, not a Snickers bar!

This is a deliciously satisfying book.

Classic, poignant King characterisation, what he doesn't say making your heart ache, along with what he does!

Outright scary? Terrifying? No. It's somehow much more REAL than that, it is the insidious, pervasive chill of psychological and physical danger. It gave me the shivers, rather than the shocks. And was highly effective for that.

Lisey is beautifuly realised, and so is Scott and their relationship. The description of their relationship was engrossing, satisfying. Lisey, all gritty, pragmatic courage and Scott ... well, he just broke your heart, made you love him, made you laugh and scared the crap out of you all at once.

Mare IS Lisey's voice. She reads with grit and passion. Having first read the book, she did not read it as I'd heard it in my head. Within the first chapter reading, I was hooked and thoroughly enjoyed her interpretation and characterisation.

In addition to his master of horror title, King is humane, insightful, wistful and soulful. To me, this book is his maturation as a writer, a pushing and exploration of his own boundaries as a person, not just his wide-grinned enjoyment of finding stuff to scare you with. For Lisey, for Scott, for this reason, this work of his is a courageous, honest cut above anything else I've read of his. Not diminishing his previous works, just evolving beyond them.

Highly recommended, unless you prefer Snickers to 3 course meals.

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1 person found this helpful

Best novel by Stephen King

I have just listened to this one the second time and I'm sure it was not the last. One of the best books I have ever read from Stephen King if not the best. The narrator is fantastic a lovely, soothing voiice and her voices, accents and characters are spot on. a proper classic.

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Another King Masterpiece

Once again King belivably merges the supernatural with the everyday as Lisey's story unfolds in this masterful work.

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