Title: Insomnia [amazon]
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Signet (September 1, 1995)
Pages: 672
Book Number: 5
What’s this 52 Books in 52 Weeks thing about?
I just finished reading Insomnia by Stephen King today. It took me a bit longer than it should have, mostly because I got out of the habit of reading everyday. Due to my bookish negligence, now I’m going to have to play a bit of catch up to get back on track, for completing 52 books in 52 weeks. I digress…
Insomnia was an okay book. It certainly wasn’t anything outstanding, and I think a few years down the road, it will be one of those books that I remember little to nothing from. Perhaps I had my expectations set a bit too high after finishing The Dark Tower series; I don’t know.
The main issue I had with Insomnia was that it felt like the main plot just didn’t move as much as it should have, especially considering that this is a rather hefty book, weighing in at nearly 700 pages. It seemed like three fourths of the book was spent establishing the fact that yes, Ralph Roberts (and later, Lois Chasse) could see auras. They could reach higher level of experience; great. The last fourth was a quick rush through an ending which didn’t really explain a great deal. The Crimson King had gone to a great deal of trouble to set up Ed Deepneau on a suicide mission to kill a bunch of people at a rally; specifically, a four year old boy. Why? Apparently later in life, he’ll save someone who is critical to the survival of the Tower. If the boy dies,the worlds get thrown on a one way course to hell.
There were some good aspects to the book, for sure. I found the three “little bald doctors”, Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos*, to be really interesting. Atropos scared the hell out of me, truth be told; I can just see that pointy little grin. Shivers! After loving the Dark Tower series, I obviously enjoyed all of the little hooks that tied in with that.
Ultimately however, after reading the Tower series, this was a bit of a let down. Like I said, it was an “okay” book; that about covers it for me, really. The characters were good, but the major plot left something to be desired, at least for me. Enjoyable enough to read, but not something I’ll want to revisit later on.
* Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos were originally the names of the three Greek “Fates”.
Tags: 52 books in 52 weeks, 2007, books
6 comments
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February 20, 2007 at 7:00 pm
sayonaratosilence
If you like Stephen King and the Dark Tower series, try The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, its fast read, better than Insomina, The Green Mile is also fast but not as good as the Dark Tower, Riding the Bullet is fast but different than the Dark Tower or Insomina.
February 20, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Josh
Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll check ‘em out.
February 20, 2007 at 8:13 pm
sayonaratosilence
Anything to help reach the 52 books in 52 weeks goal. I know of plenty short books to read.
Tortilla Flats and Cannery Row by John Steinbeck are two fast but excellent reads, On the Road by Jack Kerouac and Night by Weinzel are another two fast read.
Just hollar when you need more ideas.
February 21, 2007 at 11:57 am
Josh
Yeah, short books are going to have to be the order of the day until I catch up. I’m (re)zipping through Myths to Live By right now, by Joseph Campbell.
February 21, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Joshua J. Slone
“The main issue I had with Insomnia was that it felt like the main plot just didn’t move as much as it should have, especially considering that this is a rather hefty book, weighing in at nearly 700 pages.”
Heh, yeah, sounds like Stephen King. I quite enjoy the guy’s work, but a lot of it tends to drag on forever before some out-of-the-blue whizbang ending.
I think I read this one before I read Dark Towers I-IV. It’s amazing how few of his books _don’t_ in some way tie in. I guess it makes for a convenient excuse as to how come there seem to be all these higher powers messing with people or bringing on those out-of-the-blue endings.
February 26, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Josh
Yeah… while I enjoy King’s books, I think you have something going there. The whole “everything is tied to the Tower, which I can’t really explain fully” deal.. that does serve as a pretty easy plot fixer-upper.