The first book I read in 2014; Stephen King's 'Doctor Sleep' - his sequel to 'The Shining' and for me, a superb Christmas present from my beloved daughter Hayley - a 'real' book too, hardback and inscribed to me inside. Something to treasure.
So, the question is - as a novel, is 'Doctor Sleep' something to treasure also?
I have been reading King for more than 30 years now, ever since I read 'Salem's Lot' on a family holiday to Spain in 1981, although my loyalty has been fickle. Like many, I felt he went considerably off the boil around the mid 1990s - to the point where I actually ditched 'Insomnia' half way through and ever since I have read him only sporadically, the days of a new 'King' being a major event and a 'must read' long gone - so there is still much to catch up with. I've tried a bit harder ever since reading his splendidly scary and frankly downright nasty 'Full Dark No Stars' a few years back and I am also three books into his completely out there 'Dark Tower' series (a big thank you to my lovely friend Michelle Selleck for telling me to 'get cracking' on these!)
Anyhow - where were we? Ah yes, 'Doctor Sleep'
King himself does not like Kubrick's film interpretation of 'The Shining' - something he makes very clear in his note at the end of 'Doctor Sleep' - and goes to great pains to remind his 'constant reader' (As I have already said, I have been something less than constant over the last 20 years, but it's still nice to be acknowledged) that this is a sequel to the novel, not the film. However, like many I loved the novel AND the film, making it difficult not to have Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duval, Scatman Crothers and whoever it was who played the mouldy old bag in the bath in mind when their respective characters are mentioned - or make and appearance (be warned!)
Whereas 'The Shining' took place over a few months and mostly within the confines of the sinister Overlook Hotel, 'Doctor Sleep' spans more than three decades and a large chunk of the U.S.A, as we discover what became of young Danny Torrance after the horrors of 'The Shining'. Danny has grown up with many of his Father's demons, worst of all, the demon drink and we find him shambling from one failure to the next as a hopeless alcoholic. After a truly bottom of the barrel experience that plagues him with guilt for years afterwards, he makes a huge effort to clean up and is given a break at last in a small New Hampshire town as well as a job (first at a fairground and then at a nearby hospice, where he eases the terminally ill through the moment of death, courtesy of his ability to 'shine') Danny also agrees with his new boss to attend A.A. meetings and 'stay dry' no matter what temptations may come his way to make him fall off the wagon.
Danny is soon drawn into the world of a young girl, Abra Stone, who has similar - but far stronger - powers to Danny and a sinister group of travellers, 'The True Knot' who pose a terrifying threat to Abra's life.
What follows is classic King; a seemingly impossible battle of good against evil, fought between some of the best and very real human characters he has crafted in years and a truly unpleasant bunch of nasties. True to form there is a sublime balance of moments of terror, suspense, humour, pathos and a terrific pace throughout. As always King manages to tackle a very real and human subject along the way, with refined and well researched skill; in the case of 'Doctor Sleep' he deals with the despair of alcohol addiction and the long and treacherous road to recovery.
All in all this is a worthy sequel, genuinely spooky in places (look out for that great King staple - someone, or something floating at a bedrooom window) at times truly unsettling (the fate of the poor 'baseball boy') and packed full of believable characters, whether they are 'goodies' or 'baddies'
As a sideline - on the subject of characters, be warned, in 'Rose The Hat' he has created a truly classic King nasty, well worthy of a place on the podium of nastiness along with such classic villains as Pennywise The Clown, Randall Flagg and Annie Wilkes.
One small gripe was that I felt the ability to 'Shine' is used at times as something of a 'sonic screwdriver' type plot resolution device, especially when it comes to working out the intentions and motives of the bad guys - but it's only a minor gripe and doesn't spoil a great read in the classic King style, which builds to a genuinely thrilling and satisfying ending.
Whether this is up there with the King classics; 'The Stand', 'Christine', 'Salem's Lot' - even 'The Shining' itself, is a matter of opinion, but I really enjoyed it and would certainly recommend it, especially to any fellow reader who, like me, felt that King had lost his way somewhat back in the 1990s.
So, thank you again Hayley for this superb book, which gets a Chairman's rating of 8/10
