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LISEY'S STORY
by Stephen King
Hodder & Stoughton, October 2006
576 pages
17.99 GBP
ISBN: 0340898933


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Lisa (Lisey) Landon was married to popular author Scott Landon for 25 years until he died. Now, two years later she decides that it's finally time to clean out the study where he did his writing. Since Scott's death, Lisey has been getting phone calls from professors who want her to donate Scott's unpublished works to their colleges. In her worst nightmare, she never dreamed that one of these professors would use an unstable man to force her to hand over her husband's work.

When she receives a threatening phone call, Lisey notifies the police and even though they protect her, the madman still finds a way into her home and attacks her. Lisey confronts the professor who says he can't find a way to call the man off, but Lisey soon finds clues as to how to stop him. It won't be easy.

Lisey has three older sisters and though they didn't get along as children, as adults they come together to help each other. Her oldest sister Amanda has been mutilating herself since childhood and when Lisey and another sister find Amanda in a catatonic state they put her in a mental hospital.

It is at the hospital that Lisey discovers that her husband Scott had made arrangements for Amanda knowing that one day she would need the help of professionals. This is one of many things Lisey learns about her husband that completely shocks her.

LISEY'S STORY by Stephen King is the tale of what Lisey learns. She is forced to recall some awful incidents in her life with Scott in order to save herself from the demons that were part of her husband's life.

I've read most of Stephen King's books. His first books were genius in quality, but his novels during the past few years have left much to be desired. Recently, King seems to be coming back to himself. In LISEY'S STORY I once again see the superior writer that is Stephen King.

Not relying on violence and gore as he did in some of his other books, King is back to using the everyday fears that we all have to make this book exceptional. LISEY'S STORY does not have evil ghosts, strange, bloody creatures or aliens wondering throughout its pages, yet this book is terrifying.

The readers travel with Lisey as she remembers what Scott told her about his childhood with a father who not only cut himself but also mutilated Scott and his older brother Paul. Lisey forces herself to remember previously purposely forgotten memories and then she rediscover the beautiful yet deadly place where Scott found refuge and where she must go in order to save herself.

Some people feel that LISEY'S STORY was edited too much and that if the novel were longer the reader would have gotten a better look into Lisey and Scott's life. Personally I can't help but cringe to think this 560-plus page book could have been even longer. I feel that it is fine as it is.

LISEY'S STORY is a complex, solid read that is fast-paced and riveting. Scott and Lisey are a complicated pair and King does a fine job in explaining their life together. Lisey's sisters are also a big part of the book, especially Amanda. King skillfully shows us the similarities between Scott and Amanda.

It looks like the King is back with LISEY'S STORY. It's well worth reading.

Reviewed by Sharon Katz, November 2006

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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