Insomnia Sucks

[User Lame]

Insomnia gave me the best expectations for a plot Stephen King could make into a truely great horror story. Unfortunately, that is the furthest thing from what Insomnia actually is.

Recently I have read Insomnia and the first thing I wondered was: Why in the hell haven't I read this earlier? A book about insomnia by Stephen King (written over a decade ago) and I missed it?!
Well, now I remember. I had all the best hopes back then but I think after a brief description and reading the first pages, I put it down and forgot about it. Then, after nobody talked about it and no movie was made, I relaized there was something wrong.
Insomnia could have been a story about so much. Almost infinate possibility for a scarry story and nightmares and sleeplessness. Why in the hell King took a great title the direction he did has me wondering. I read through this painful novel about being old and probaly lost more of my life than the week or so it took to read.

It ALMOST got good with the introduction of the little bald doctors (and it took forever just to get there). Then the whole novel fell apart for me when this old fart is shooting light beams at the supposed 'evil' little bald doctor.

What makes me mad is the very very little time spent on describing the actual terror and helplessness of not being able to sleep. I expected a natural progression of madness from not being able to sleep but what I got was madness from reading something that was making me mad. It's barely even described, for a book called Insomnia, the story treats it just as a minor afterthought while it goes on with some wack-ass 'ability' to transend being human with no real world explanations.

One day this old fart just starts being able to see colors because he can't sleep...That much makes sense...But then for some reason he is a superhero because he can see these auras and so forth. He starts to then see these little "agents of death" that are subdued as incompetant children before they even have the chance to seem scary...Or even interesting.

I think if, at some point toward the end, we learn that the main character is just going crazy from lack of sleep - it might have been okay...Not good but okay...But it all is supposed to be "really happening" and for that the whole novel sucks. Not as much as real insomnia sucks...But close.

I think this novel by SK is just supposed to be some kind of 'safe' story about getting old and facing death...That in itself is scary, I admit, but it has nothing to do with the wretched terrible prospect of loosing sleep and how things from nightmares could leak out into the real world.

Sorry King, you really dropped the ball on this one. The concept was a pop fly ball into deep right field and it just bounced off your mit. Blame it on the sun, I understand. Just write a REAL novel about insomnia.

Thanks!

[wally wonder]

nice critique...my guess is that it gets a lot of response...i think i get what you're saying, about insomnia....that that part of the story should have taken center stage...i imagine there's different degrees of insomnia....where do you think ralph's insomnia stacks up in that regard? not very high, i take it...he does get some sleep from time to time, doesn't he? i spose there's people out there walking around for days w/o sleep...i spose we're to see insomnia as a kind of vehicle that takes ralph to where he goes, and once delivered, it's not as important to the story anymore....i spose once the weird stuff starts happening, most readers wouldn't want to spend time w/ralph, sitting in his easy chair....it's not like he's manacled there...the story takes another direction....makes sense to go with it, see what takes.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Hmmm, I'm sorry you didn't like Insomnia but I'm guessing that you haven't read the Dark Tower because it's a completely different book post-DT IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

[RandomMan]

I would be curious to know what books you have read....this may be why you don't fully understand the relevance of how it was written.

Maybe si....maybe no ????

Thanks for the thoughts...

[Doc Wilson]

Not sure I understand anger at a book not doing it for you. Some of his books are better than others, thats just the way life (and art) is.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

And I'd just like to say that I don't like the title of this thread very much.

Your post is literate and thought out (if mistaken IMO) , but 'Insomnia Sucks'?

Surely you can do better than that, for, whatever your personal opinions as to its merit, it most definitely doesn't 'Suck', I find that insulting to Sai King personally.

Long days and pleasant nights

[MyLife4YouSK]

WOW. I freakin LOVED Insomnia! LoL., just goes to show you can't please everyone. But yes i'm guessing LameUser didn't read the Dark Tower series.
On a sidenote., I lent this book to my father to read think it was the 3rd King book I lent him and he was blown away... he literally felt as if he'd just read a THESIS or something, he was confused a bit by it all, then again he wasn't familiar with the Tower either.

I think this book could make a WILD movie., maybe someday!

[rjt65]

Iam rereading it right here and now--- and loving it. As I just finished a 5th reread fo the dark tower series.....

I (like what JD said below) think you really need to have read dT series to appreciate this book.

It takes a whole new light with it's partnership with the DT series.

[GNTLGNT]

O.K. I've been losing sleep over this one...really tossing and turning...so what you're saying is, you don't like the book? Seriously, chill out Turbo. Uncle Stevie has written a couple of other little stories you might enjoy a bit more. Try em and see.

[BTRNYC]

I'd agree that it's a little slow in the beginning, but not that it sucks.
I read Insomnia during my first read of The DT series, and it (Insomnia) does get much richer with the completion of the series. ie The Crimson King and Patrick Danville.

The Old Fart (Ralph) is a great character imo. I love the imagery in the novel and the use of colors.

And someone way more important than you REALLY liked it cuz it won the Bram Stoker Award...

[smashingblouse]

I loved Ralph! And I'm not even an old fart. I remember when I read it years and years ago, that I felt he was the most genuine character in any book I'd read. Loved it! I guess if you are a fan of SK's more frightening work, then this would not be on the top of your reading list, though. Thanks for sharing your opinion. and like mylife4usk said, "just goes to show you can't please everyone". So true.

[91rewoT]

Sorry you feel that way, User Lame..I wish you hadn't tied so much expectation on the title, you may have enjoyed it more. I love this book and the characters in it...and it plays a large part in the DT series, which makes it that much better!

[-Caleb-]

When I read Insomnia, i thought the exact same thing, but then i realized how much it was connected to the Dark Tower books and that's when I appreciated it more. Then when I re-read The Dark Tower, Insomnia was even better than before.

[KyleKarabekian]

Wow then don't post a thread on it. If you didn't like it then keep it to yourself and don't vocalize your opinion to us all. Insomnia Sucks? Wow, I agree with John on that, you need to rethink the name. How many Sai King books have you read? I suppose (like John) you haven't read Dark Tower because it's different. Or The Green Mile because it's not horror. Just because it's titled Insomnia doesn't men he has to make the book revolve around insomnia. Try reading Dark Tower and then maybe you will have a better opinion toward this novel than you do now. Have some respect, too, the title is awful.

[strange]

From a reader who has yet to start the Dark Tower series I didn't find the book a problem, I looked up the references when made thanks to wikipedia and i'll admit the plot does start off slow but the King kept me and I'm guessing many of us who loved it reading because of the way he described these aura's and Ralph's feelings and just when one question gets answered, about four more questions are made.

[Snaggletooth]

So improve on it; write a revised version and see if you can get it published.

It's not one of my favorite SK books, but it's still pretty good if a bit lengthy. Was he trying to imitate Barker? Why would he want to, he's a more successful writer.

[~Ally~]

Wow then don't post a thread on it. If you didn't like it then keep it to yourself and don't vocalize your opinion to us all. Insomnia Sucks? Wow, I agree with John on that, you need to rethink the name. How many Sai King books have you read? I suppose (like John) you haven't read Dark Tower because it's different. Or The Green Mile because it's not horror. Just because it's titled Insomnia doesn't men he has to make the book revolve around insomnia. Try reading Dark Tower and then maybe you will have a better opinion toward this novel than you do now. Have some respect, too, the title is awful.

UserLame has every right to post an opinion on something, whether good or bad. We are not here just to kiss ass, sorry. They were not satisfied with the story, and they are entitled to voice that. I did not find the post disrespectful, or rude. It was actually extremely well thought out and literate. I enjoyed reading it, much more than I enjoy reading posts littered with "lol" throughout. Every time I read "lol" now I think of "Lack of Literacy"--all credit to Bryan James for that one. Anyway, I'm rambling again. Whether the poster has read the DT books is irrelevant IMO, as since it is not a part of the DT series then the story should be able to stand alone on it's own merits. From my recollection it is a difficult book to get into. And also the poster has a right to give the thread any title they choose. This may be SK's website but people should still be able to voice their own opinion on his works, good or bad.

[no bounce no play]

old fart? old fart?!? old fart?!?!? LOL! I loved Ralph... he was SK's first for real honest to goodness hero... not like most of SK's anti-heros and I loved him... even if he was an old fart lol. Ralph was the first hero I would trust with my life. I think Insomnia is SK's most imaginative novel. SK's imaginative genius scares me even moreso than some of his characters lol.

imho, Insomnia did NOT vacuum :D

[SharonC]

Sorry you didn't like it. It is among my favourite novels mainly because of Ralph and Lois.

[michal]

No need to get all angry honey. It's just a book. Some people dig it, others don't and there are many other books out there - Mr King's and many other good ones out there.

[naviboy95]

"Insomnia" is my favorite book of Stephen.To me it's like an endless, beautiful mirage.I read it for about 3 days and it was great experience.I was completely overwhelmed by the characters and the way Steven has shown all events - like a dream, so smooth and full of fantasy.I cannot understand why you don't like it. This is perhaps only a moment that will pass.Insomnia is something that should not be missed.One of the most different and beautiful works of King.

[guardianofthebeam]

Oh my god. I just laboured over a heartfelt reply but couldn't post it because I took too long to write it and got logged out! Lost in cyberspace darkness forever :down:

So.... Different strokes for different folks? I can just imagine dear Lois saying that to Ralph over a plate of macaroni. Of course we don't all like the same things-that's what good, honest debate is for methinks.

Maybe si, maybe no.

Anyway. I read your original post with interest because Insomnia is one of my personal favourites and I wanted to offer my interpretation of (some of) this book and why I think the title is so very apt.

One of the recurring themes in SK's work that I became much more aware of while reading The Dark Tower series, was the idea of places and times where and when reality as we perceive it day to day becomes thin. At these points worlds collide, often with seismic results. A wonderful-and chilling-example of this is the story N. in Just After Sunset, a story that scared me more than anything King since Salem's Lot. And I'm a veteran horror fan who loves the gore and madness and terror of novels like The Shining, Pet Semetary and Cujo as much as the next fanatic.

Back to thread. What Ralph's insomnia does to him/for him is to deprive him of sleep to the point that his perception becomes enhanced (like madness for some perhaps?) and he becomes privy to more complex parts of reality. The little bald doctors explain it well on the hospital roof. Reality isn't flat but many layered; a kind of hierachy in which multiple facets of experience exist simultaneously, but are not accessable to everyone or all of the time. By taking Ralph to the brink, SK gives him a ticket to ride, a kind of Access All Area pass that Joe Public wouldn't normally get. Whether this is a blessing or a curse is another debate.

As for King's depiction of the effects of sleep deprivation, I think he does it excellently-everyone has a home remedy that doesn't work but you try it anyway, prescription pills leave you zombie like, the loneliness, silence and despair of an empty street at 3am, the daytime clumsiness and nausea, auras, hallucinations etc. But King doesn't want to show simply a man driven mad by lack of sleep. What Ralph experiences must be real because it is a glimpse (for him and for the reader) of the bigger, richer, deeper (higher?), darker (lighter?) world that is SK's imaginative landscape. Insomnia is his passkey.

The DT series would definately help with these ideas but it's not obligatory to love everything an author writes to be a fan-life is too short to read books you don't enjoy. I initially found Insomnia to be far gentler than some of my earlier King favourites, but it's subtlety is it's beauty and thinking of it now makes me shiver with delight-happy debating :smile2:

[StatesideVilla]

Insomnia gave me the best expectations for a plot Stephen King could make into a truely great horror story. Unfortunately, that is the furthest thing from what Insomnia actually is.

Recently I have read Insomnia and the first thing I wondered was: Why in the hell haven't I read this earlier? A book about insomnia by Stephen King (written over a decade ago) and I missed it?!
Well, now I remember. I had all the best hopes back then but I think after a brief description and reading the first pages, I put it down and forgot about it. Then, after nobody talked about it and no movie was made, I relaized there was something wrong.
Insomnia could have been a story about so much. Almost infinate possibility for a scarry story and nightmares and sleeplessness. Why in the hell King took a great title the direction he did has me wondering. I read through this painful novel about being old and probaly lost more of my life than the week or so it took to read.

It ALMOST got good with the introduction of the little bald doctors (and it took forever just to get there). Then the whole novel fell apart for me when this old fart is shooting light beams at the supposed 'evil' little bald doctor.

What makes me mad is the very very little time spent on describing the actual terror and helplessness of not being able to sleep. I expected a natural progression of madness from not being able to sleep but what I got was madness from reading something that was making me mad. It's barely even described, for a book called Insomnia, the story treats it just as a minor afterthought while it goes on with some wack-ass 'ability' to transend being human with no real world explanations.

One day this old fart just starts being able to see colors because he can't sleep...That much makes sense...But then for some reason he is a superhero because he can see these auras and so forth. He starts to then see these little "agents of death" that are subdued as incompetant children before they even have the chance to seem scary...Or even interesting.

I think if, at some point toward the end, we learn that the main character is just going crazy from lack of sleep - it might have been okay...Not good but okay...But it all is supposed to be "really happening" and for that the whole novel sucks. Not as much as real insomnia sucks...But close.

I think this novel by SK is just supposed to be some kind of 'safe' story about getting old and facing death...That in itself is scary, I admit, but it has nothing to do with the wretched terrible prospect of loosing sleep and how things from nightmares could leak out into the real world.

Sorry King, you really dropped the ball on this one. The concept was a pop fly ball into deep right field and it just bounced off your mit. Blame it on the sun, I understand. Just write a REAL novel about insomnia.

Thanks!


I liked it :smile2:

[JohnDalglish]

I liked it :smile2:

Hi,

Aye, me too!

Long days and pleasant nights

[SueC]

Hi,

Aye, me too!

Long days and pleasant nights

Me three! :grinning:

[BlunkLaura]

Hi,I just finished Insomnia, and,in my sad little opinion, I think it was a very well--written,cleanly thought-out book.
The characters in Insomnia are well-described and REAL, and it is very easy to get close to them and emotionally attached..I was in tears while reading the last few pages of this book.
No other book,or movies,really,bring me to tears, but this book was so much more than just Stephen King's usual brand,of horror and the macabre, but of love and sacrifice, that it touched me down,wayyyy deep, and I was full-out crying as I finished the last page.
The fact that Clotho and Lachesis felt the love between Lois and Ralph, and how they were seeing love-TRUE love-for the first time..it was beautiful.
And the fact that Clotho and Lachesis helped Lois heal (or,lessen the grieving I mean) makes it even more so.

I was skeptical at first,reading this book.
I had only read It before, when I was 10 or so,and it scared the bejeezus out of me (In fact,I quite clealy screaming and throwing it across the room.....) but I had re-read it recently and was stunned how much more in-depth the book was,than the movie.
Not that the movie wasn't any good--It was good (no pun intended), and Tim Curry was WAYYYY creepy as Pennywise,a big diference from that lovable Frank-N-Furter!
But I am rambling.
What I was saying,before I ntertuppted,erm,MYSELF,was that I was skeptical at first, reading Insomnia.
I mean,it was long, yes but so are most all of Stephen King's books, but this one took a little longer to get into.
And the mythology aspect, of the Fates,had me ALMOST put the book down ...but I am glad I did not !
This is by far one of his best non-horror books, and I am excited that it is being adapted into a movie !!!!

Lauran

[GLewman]

Don't tell me it stinks...It's next on my list :). I haven't read it in years and I'm reading Black House and The Talisman simultaneously so I can get to it sooner...lol...has anybody ever tried reading a book series out of order, or backwards to try to get a different perspective on the characters? I done it with the Dark Tower and L.E. Modessit Jr. writes his series out of order...It makes it fun to try and figure out the time line and what relation the characters might have to each other :)

[Pucker]

Didn't care much for Insomnia the first time I read it. I found it very ponderous and -- simply as a matter of taste -- don't find people who are inexplicably endowed with super powers very entertaining as a plot device. I've found, in most cases, that upon re-read I like most of Mr. King's work better the second time around, but that was certainly not the case with Insomnia . . . even after having finished the interminable Dark Tower series and found -- not very surprisingly -- that there was our old friend Patrick just waiting to descend from the clouds and blow pixie dust at the supposedly indimotibable evil (as is so often the case in Mr. King's work).

I suppose, more than anything, it's the rehashing of easy themes. He draws the story around a volatile topic and beats us over the head with his opinion (which is fine), and once again -- ho hum -- the primary antagonist is an abusive spouse. "Shot your wife, eh? Good deal." Sooner or later, even the best among us run out of ideas and if I were asked to point to one of Mr. King's stories to make that case about him, Insomonia would be it. I think there's a tendency to stand back in awe at the incredibly intricate (or convoluted, depending upon your perspective) webwork of the Dark Tower multiverse and forgive Mr. King for publishing what I once heard described as "his laundry list," but as a stand-alone story, Insomnia simply didn't work for me on any level (pun intended).

[throne_92]

I read Salem's Lot, the DT series, IT and then Insomnia.

Must say, Insomnia has to be a disappointment from all the hype it got from the 7th book. I'm glad Roland didn't read it (not that he'd be able to understand).

The best thing to me was it's connections to IT. The whole balloon strings and ring in the sewer, the mentioning of the first kill in IT and the burning house..

Personally, I expected more. Maybe my expectations were too high for this one. I researched that this was THEE book to read after the DT series for it's connections. I must say, it was OK but definitely has some weird turns at times. The whole Lois part in it was sometimes a distraction, and I couldn't help thinking why not make Patrick a little more involved in the story despite his age?

I don't know. I don't think the book 'sucks', but it definitely wasn't good or above average. Lots of potential, lots of bits and pieces and juicy **** if you're a kinf fan to look for and be excited about..but for me it was kind of a letdown.

Only reason why I embarked on the DT series/Insomnia adventure was because of Jack Sawyer. I REALLY REALLY cannot wait for another book with this dude. I also think it's unfair for how 'Black House' ended that Jack still hasn't been in any of the DT books (yet).

I'm hoping and praying we are in for some DT/Jack Sawyer huge connection book that rocks our world. I hope.

Long days and pleasant nights.

[Garriga]

I disagree, I think the novel is truly a piece of art, because it invoked my imagination. Imagining all those colors that Mr. King describes was invigorating.

[JohnDalglish]

Didn't care much for Insomnia the first time I read it. I found it very ponderous and -- simply as a matter of taste -- don't find people who are inexplicably endowed with super powers very entertaining as a plot device. I've found, in most cases, that upon re-read I like most of Mr. King's work better the second time around, but that was certainly not the case with Insomnia . . . even after having finished the interminable Dark Tower series and found -- not very surprisingly -- that there was our old friend Patrick just waiting to descend from the clouds and blow pixie dust at the supposedly indimotibable evil (as is so often the case in Mr. King's work).

I suppose, more than anything, it's the rehashing of easy themes. He draws the story around a volatile topic and beats us over the head with his opinion (which is fine), and once again -- ho hum -- the primary antagonist is an abusive spouse. "Shot your wife, eh? Good deal." Sooner or later, even the best among us run out of ideas and if I were asked to point to one of Mr. King's stories to make that case about him, Insomonia would be it. I think there's a tendency to stand back in awe at the incredibly intricate (or convoluted, depending upon your perspective) webwork of the Dark Tower multiverse and forgive Mr. King for publishing what I once heard described as "his laundry list," but as a stand-alone story, Insomnia simply didn't work for me on any level (pun intended).


Hi,

I've read your opinion denigrating with an arrogant disdain most of Sai King's work so far, but never once read anythning positive.

Is there ANY of his canon that you enjoyed?

Or are you just naturally half empty?

Long days and pleasant nights

[Pucker]

Ah . . . Johnny . . . whatever shall we do with you.

:smile2:

I think you might be mistaking objective critical analysis with disdain.

The fact that I don't fall on my knees and slobber over every word the man writes -- which is not unusual behavior on a fan site such as this, and perfectly okay with me -- does not mean I don't like any of it. In point of fact, I like most of it, but Mr. King is just a guy who tells stories. Some of them are good, and some of them are bad . . . and worst of all, some of them elicit no opinion at all. In your apparent desire to create an army of robots who see everything exactly the way you do -- and might I add, judging by some of the behavior I see here on the board, you're doing a bang-up job -- you seem to have singled me out as some kind of burr under the saddle of those who don't like critical light shone on their hero.

It's humorous to me that you would think anyone who had "disdain" for an author's work would bother to read every word of it -- and more than that -- take the time to articulately point out what he thought was both good and bad about it. But that's the difference between you and me.

I think it's wonderful that you "view the glass as half full," but that doesn't really illuminate your thought process, now does it? Before you start scattering uninformed opinions about "disdain" for your minions to lap up, maybe you should join me and my friends in one of our chronological social read discussions. There, not only can you discover how we feel about the work, but why, and in often labored (in my case) detail. Of course, it's a little more involved than injecting nonsense like "half full" and expecting that to pass as a useful observation.

Come to think of it . . .

Don't join us.

Clearly, you're far to busy acting superior here.

But do have a nice "half full" day.

[JohnDalglish]

I think you might be mistaking objective critical analysis with disdain.


Hi,

Apparently not.

Thankee for your patronising condescsension (and for insulting many of the members of the SKMB with your arrogant disdain)

Long days and pleasant nights

[wings47]

I often march to the beat of a different drummer but that's what turns the world, right? I love reading dissenting views and SK is a mature, talented, resepected and very rich writer so I'll bet he can take our critiques with a smile and grain of salt so I am not at all disturbed when people don't like something he's written.

I LOVE Insomnia. Not so much the supernatural elements - what I love is the small and beautiful story of Ralph and Lois and their friends. And I especially love this book on audio read by Eli Wallach!! Man, is he good! He IS Ralph Roberts to me when I listen. Maybe because I am in my "early oldies" now and I relate deeply to the concerns and feelings of all the "old crocks". I always cry at the end - it is so tender and beautiful.

But it's not your cup of tea and that's fine. Which of his stories do you love???

[muskrat]

heh heh...Oh, Johnny! You SLAY me!

Incidentally, Dinh Dalglish, you sniffed around the ???????? thread lately? Looks like somebody has SLAIN you! Cripes! It's gettin' ooOOoooglie around Forumland!

(Oh...and I never cared for Insomnia either...but that's just cause the book, ironically, puts me to sleep! Sorry! Can't all be winners, man. I never liked OLD MAN AND THE SEA, either...or THE PEARL...but Hemingway and Steinbeck are GODS! Same goes for Scott Fitz, Jack London, hell...all writers; ya getcha good, ya getcha bad--all personal taste, I'd say...BUT! Worst Book Ever? Gotta be ETHAN FROME! Jeez, that's a turkey, cats--I don't care what anyone says--makes THE MONK read like THE GREAT GATSBY...)

Gotta go...there's an angry Scotsman on a horse riding towards me swinging a claymore! Yikes! Johnny NO!

[Moderator]

This may be a good time to remind people that Board Etiquette rules apply in the Social Groups as well as on this side and in light of recent events and topics about creating climates of animosity, let's try to be remember to be civil and treat each other respectfully.

[blunthead]

Ah . . . Johnny . . . whatever shall we do with you.

:smile2:

I think you might be mistaking objective critical analysis with disdain...The fact that I don't fall on my knees and slobber over every word the man writes -- which is not unusual behavior on a fan site such as this, and perfectly okay with me...Mr. King is just a guy who tells stories. Some of them are good...and worst of all, some of them elicit no opinion at all. In your apparent desire to create an army of robots who see everything exactly the way you do...you seem to have singled me out as some kind of burr under the saddle of those who don't like critical light shone on their hero.

It's humorous to me that you would think anyone who had "disdain" for an author's work would bother to read every word of it -- and more than that -- take the time to articulately point out what he thought was both good and bad about it. But that's the difference between you and me.

I think it's wonderful that you "view the glass as half full," but that doesn't really illuminate your thought process, now does it? Before you start scattering uninformed opinions about "disdain" for your minions to lap up, maybe you should join me and my friends in one of our chronological social read discussions. There, not only can you discover how we feel about the work, but why, and in often labored (in my case) detail. Of course, it's a little more involved than injecting nonsense like "half full" and expecting that to pass as a useful observation.

Come to think of it . . .

Don't join us.

Clearly, you're far to busy acting superior here.

But do have a nice "half full" day.

Hi, Kid. You provide us with much to respond to, which is a good battle plan--rely on shell-shock to intimidate. What's fun for me is being this far away from wherever you are and having the freedom to take as much time as I want. Let's see...

First of all, I notice your smiley face, which is universally used to communicate friendship or, in order to make up for the lack of hearing or seeing emotional inflection, to ensure no offense. You should be more careful. Your true colors (yellow, in this case) are exposed and right off the bat, too!

Second: 1) disdain (dis dān′) noun, a feeling or show of contempt and aloofness; scorn; 2) objective (əb jek′tiv, äb-) adjective, without bias or prejudice; detached; 3) critical analysis [you have excused yourself; please see numbers 1 and 2].

Third: "a fan site such as this". You either worded this very badly (that is, you meant simply to say, for instance, "a fan site") or you consider yourself superior to the rest of us, and maybe so do your "friends".

Fourth: "and perfectly okay with me" (this is fun).

Fifth: "Mr. King is just a guy who tells stories". Bias. "Some of them are good...". This statement reminds me that by the time you got to the end of your "critical analysis" of a fellow member, you forgot to answer his question.

Sixth: "and worst of all, some of them elicit no opinion at all". That's an opinion. (Oh, and try not to use the same word in the same sentence unnecessarily).

Seventh: "In your apparent desire to create an army of robots who see everything exactly the way you do...". Apparent?

Eighth: "you seem to have singled me out as some kind of burr under the saddle of those who don't like critical light shone on their hero". Again, bad writing. Most of us have never been on a horse; and, for us robots, which "hero"? And, has this member singled you out or not? (you have singled me out would have been much better. "...you seem to have...", that sounds like you are admitting defeat or at least that you are not sure). Anyway, imho, you have singled your own self out.

Ninth: "It's humorous to me that you would think anyone who had 'disdain' for an author's work would bother to read every word of it...". Well, you are the expert.

Tenth: "-- and more than that -- take the time to articulately point out what he thought was both good and bad about it ". Please see [I]Eighth and Fifth.

Eleventh: "But that's the difference between you and me". Speaks for itself.

Twelfth: "I think it's wonderful that you 'view the glass as half full...'. Stop lying, it's obnoxious.

Thirteenth: "Before you start scattering uninformed opinions about 'disdain' for your minions to lap up...". Minions do not lap. Prove me wrong.

Fifteenth: "There, not only can you discover how we feel about the work, but why, and in often labored (in my case) [italics added] detail". arrogant (ărˈə-gənt) adjective, full of or due to unwarranted pride and self-importance; overbearing; haughty.

Sixteenth: "...a useful observation". So, I repeat the member's question: Is there ANY of his canon that you enjoyed?

Seventeenth: "Come to think of it . . . Don't join us". Don't your friends have a say?

[muskrat]

Huh? Hope it wasn't anything I said! I was just funnin', as I'm sure Johnny knows...me and him go WAY back (like two whole months!) And the ???????? thread I was referring to is the crazy STORY thread, where Johnny D is a character, and was recently killed by a monster...like, fiction, man...It's okay; we're gonna bring him back ala Obi Wan's ghost in Star Wars...All part of the story, man...

But I still don't like Insomnia...OR Ethan Frome.

[Moderator]

Huh? Hope it wasn't anything I said! I was just funnin', as I'm sure Johnny knows...me and him go WAY back (like two whole months!) And the ???????? thread I was referring to is the crazy STORY thread, where Johnny D is a character, and was recently killed by a monster...like, fiction, man...It's okay; we're gonna bring him back ala Obi Wan's ghost in Star Wars...All part of the story, man...

But I still don't like Insomnia...OR Ethan Frome.

My misunderstanding. I thought you were bringing to his attention the fact that someone (not you) was being disrespectful towards him in a Social Group thread. I was concerned it was a pattern of breaching of board etiquette. :smile2:

[blunthead]

My misunderstanding. I thought you were bringing to his attention the fact that someone (not you) was being disrespectful towards him in a Social Group thread. I was concerned it was a pattern of breaching of board etiquette. :smile2:

Still a good reminder.

[Connie Reader]

Me three! :grinning:

Me four! Five anyone? nice little Ka-tet of Insomnia lovers? :)

[blunthead]

Me four! Five anyone? nice little Ka-tet of Insomnia lovers? :)

Me 5 :grinning:

[nate_watkins]

Me 6!

[PatInTheHat]

Me 5 :grinning:

Oh drat, and I so wanted to be a prime number:down:!
Oookay, I can wait:rolleyes:....hm hm hmmm hmmm hm hmmmmm.....................

[Mookie]

Me 5 :grinning:

Me 6!!! I couldn't put Insomnia down.....In fact, I am going to make it next on my re-read list!!!:biggrin2:

[kellykid]

Make that 6 :cool2:

[blunthead]

That's three sixes. I'm outta here! :eek2:

[PatInTheHat]

Me 6!!! I couldn't put Insomnia down.....In fact, I am going to make it next on my re-read list!!!:biggrin2:


Make that 6 :cool2:

Daggumit, well since Mookie got there first, you get to be seven...and I certainly hope you appreciate it:glare:!

Well I guess I'll be over here, primarily st-i-i-i-i-l-l-l-l waitin'...lala la la la hm hm hmm hmmm..................

[kellykid]

Daggumit, well since Mookie got there first, you get to be seven...and I certainly hope you appreciate it:glare:!

Well I guess I'll be over here, primarily st-i-i-i-i-l-l-l-l waitin'...lala la la la hm hm hmm hmmm..................

I've always had an affinity for the number 7, so 7 I shall be:biggrin2:

[Robert Gray]

Insomnia does not suck. I liked it, but I did not love it. A larger problem is I liked it for the wrong reasons. A story should be able to stand on its own two legs. We should like it for its own merits. It seemed to me that a lot of my enjoyment came from seeing references and connections to other works. It is as if the book wasn't a story so much as an elaborate construction to try and explain the cosmic mysteries of other tales. I don't need cosmic cliff notes. I don't think anyone needs them. The book was written with technical expertise, great characters, and a tone which pulls you in. The problem is the situation and story of Insomnia itself took the backseat to all these other links. It is almost as if the effort made to create those links somehow made the story forced and artificial. I don't quite know how to describe it beyond that.

It was a good book. It was not, however, a great book. No amount of fan boy adoration is going to blind me to that fact.

[Tinahorve]

That's how I felt, too. Insomnia was not my favorite, but it had many neat parts, and I loved that it dealt with older folks. After reading DT series and finding those links, it made a little more sense as to why it didn't seem to feel as BIG as some if the other King books. It was still a good story, just not my favorite.

[Evil Queen]

Yes, Well, certainly many mixed feelings involved w/this novel. I finally finished it last night. It took me about a month, give or take a few days, it was a long one....& I have to agree w/the member who started this thread in that yes, a novel written by SK titled Insomnia could make one conjure up horrendous images of a crazy man dealing w/insomnia. I certainly had that impression that that was where the book was going. But after reading detail after detail after detail after detail after detail after detail after...(do you get where I'm going here?)...I started to wonder what was the point of all this?? I guess dealing w/ the auras was a little too science fictiony(?) for me. It was hard to stay interested. The little bald doctors & Ka-tet stuff was ok, not really into stuff like that. I just kept reading because I wanted to see how all this was going to end. I liked Ralph, & Bill & Lois, & all the other characters, especially liked Trigger Vachon, he cracked me up the way he talked! Ok, so here comes the big ending & I'm expecting something really grand & terrifying...only it wasn't terrifying...it was sad! I cried and cried. Even after I closed the book & thought, Whew! I'm done, I just laid there & cried. I had hoped those weird little doctors were going to give Ralph back to Lois after seeing how much they loved each other, but sadly no, that's not what happened. My heart went out to Lois. I had kind of thought Ralph was going to do something like what he did, but I didn't expect it was going to end that way. So, I have to admit, the ending was the best part of the book. It wasn't what I expected, but it was an ok book. At least I can say I read it, but not up for a reread. I'm sure Mr. King doesn't mind constructive criticism. I wouldn't say it sucked(or vacuumed, as someone else put it :laugh:), but if I put it on a scale on 1-10, I'd give it a 6.5....ok, 7.0, because it did invoke emotion from me, thus the tears :laugh:. I have not read any of the Dark Tower books, but I appreciated the references to that series. Oh, I almost forgot! Imagine my surprise at the name of the mother of the boy who was not to be killed because he had a higher destiny(speaking of DT)...Sonia! Ah, what a beautiful name!! :cool2: Ok, I'm sorry Mr. King, forgot about that part. Just for having that beautiful name, a name fit for a Queen, in your book, I'll give it a rating of....8.5 :biggrin2:.

[randallFlaggfan1]

Hi,

Hmmm, I'm sorry you didn't like Insomnia but I'm guessing that you haven't read the Dark Tower because it's a completely different book post-DT IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights


Hi, John! :biggrin2:

Having re-read Insomnia after DT, I must agree with: Insomnia is quite a different story after DT. The reader understands much more as many, many connections are made.

[Tinahorve]

I picked up a copy of The Stephen King Universe. I have been amazed by how many of the stories, characters, and other things are interwoven between all the books. I thought I had found most of these connections, but there are tons of "Easter Eggs"

[User Lame]

There is an Easter Egg in Spike, hold all four buttons down on the title screen.

I mention this because only one particular game system can be haunted.

Ever feel like theres long periods of nothing then everything-all-at-once?

[~Ally~]

There is an Easter Egg in Spike, hold all four buttons down on the title screen.

I mention this because only one particular game system can be haunted.

Ever feel like theres long periods of nothing then everything-all-at-once?

And again with the http://ohiok.com/img/cowmooos/emoticons/animated/hmm.gif

[Patch9]

Juan Montalvo: "Old age is an island surrounded by death". Insomnia could have been a story about so much. SO MUCH YOUNGER ?

[CaseyM]

I, personally, really enjoyed this novel. One thing I'd like to point out, if it hasn't been already (lots of posts, tl;dr) is that the little doctors are the three fates. Look up Moirae and you will see they share the same names.


He starts to then see these little "agents of death" that are subdued as incompetant children before they even have the chance to seem scary...Or even interesting.

I find this idea of the Moirae is very interesting indeed, and the fact that they were worked into this story really enriched it for me. If you didn't know about the Moirae, perhaps the little doctors seemed a little odd, but once you do it changes things I think.

[Silhouette86]

I enjoyed the book. A part I liked about it was the creepy bald doctor. It was slow in the beginning, but there are plenty of other books that are much slower. Probably my main problem with the book was that it was built around references. Don't get me wrong, some of the references from IT were good, but having a book that focuses on the reference of a series of books as the main plot, or somewhere near the main plot, weakens the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the book very much.

[User Lame]

I think maybe it could be a good story...

I guess if its just a statement about old age then I get it, kinda, but the reference of a nightmare in a permanent wakeful state is not the same as a period of insomnia and reference to sleep/nightmares...Which is more what I expected, etc.

Sleep is important or at least relevant to conscious beings, hense insomnia sucks.
haha haa.

[JohnDalglish]

hense insomnia sucks. haha haa.

Hi,

I disagree.

Hence it don't!

Long days and pleasant nights

[CCAL]

I really loved Insominia. I think it was well written and must have taken alot of researching his old material so he wouldnt put in something out of character or something. I thoroughly enjoyed and even purchased the audio for it as well. Main problem with that is finding someone to watch the grandchildren so I can devote my thoughts to the audio/ or the book if I want. I cant understand why anyone would have such a negative opinion of this book....imo its one of his best-written! Maybe it was just over your head...(idk). I mean if you ever suffered from something like insominia, you would have at least some understanding. Ralph even specifys the type of insominia-premature waking. Its hard to get to sleep (for me)but I can see where premature waking would be rough too. I imagine SK had to have some understanding of this problem, maybe even suffered from it himself.

[DebA913]

I can agree that suffering from insomnia can really suck:mad:, but SK's book is a different story. I wasn't sure I got it all the first time
so I was sure to read it again and it was fantastic. Probably re-read it after DT (who can remember which one went where when
you've read them all so many times!!!) I say give them all a second chance, you just never know.....

[leon.bowman65]

I too struggle with insomnia at appx 90% or [maybe 3 hrs sleep]. For a person to celebrate thier livelyhood such as U,I or Stephen for the matter at hand, is the Ultimate true appreciatiion of the Craft(s). Mine is the color spectrum where as Stephens' Mastery takes place in the Alphabet. True Grit I say....leon

[friend of Oye]

Loved it...will re-read it. One mans cieling........

[User Lame]

I remember a dream and dream again.
Woke up side down and backwards in the roots of trees in side out.

[MothPockets]

Every SK book is a venture into what would happen if an ordinary person was put into extraordinary circumstances. It is fitting that this book is soo long and "boring". We get to agonize with Ralph. Its drawn out and brutal as im sure insomnia is. But when it finally heats up we get to say "Yes! I knew I didnt read all about this poor bastard for nothing!" Its genius. And if you dont get it i feel sorry for you. Ralph had a Patrol Boy and his name is Stephen King. Too many of us die half way through this story without a firework ending. I personally was looking forward to King just diving this story into the dirt like it happens in real life.

[garygak]

I love seeing all the hidden references! It's like being in a secret club!

[Suzana]

Hi,

I disagree.

Hence it don't!

Long days and pleasant nights


oh sweet Lord... AHAHAHAHAAHAH

After that, I would go back to my little shell and hibernate for a few more years...
Thanks John! :biggrin2:

And about the whole Insomnia thing, I believe, UserLame, you can't just say a book sucks just because you don't like it... or worse, say its author "dropped the ball on that one" ... Is it just me or there are more people around the world that read that book and liked it? (or is it just me or there ARE, just simply ARE more people around the world? :eyebrow:) Well, anyway... instead of saying it "sucks" or "he dropped the ball" why don't you just try "I didn't like it"? For all I say, Mr. King has a LOT of fans, who really enjoy his works... and I've never read a book written by you, nor have I heard of you before... so let's just say WE don't have all that authority to criticize ANYBODY's works for that matter... but that's just my humble opinion...

And what the heck is going on with people on this board?? Geezzz... :oo: Attacking each other, c'mon, guys! We can do better! :smile2: (I have a few pairs of boxing gloves, I could always sell them... LOL)... poor Miss Mod...

[friend of Oye]

I personally reside in this board because I enjoy the common bond of the love of The Master. You won't find me on a Dickens or Hawthorne board telling them what crap thier heros write.:zip:

[Lily Sawyer]

I had all the best hopes back then but I think after a brief description and reading the first pages, I put it down and forgot about it. Then, after nobody talked about it and no movie was made, I relaized there was something wrong.


Quick question: is a film about the book you're reading a pre-requisite of yours for a book to be worth a read, or good?

-I ask because there are several King works that haven't been made into films that are, IMO, wonderful. Bag of Bones, Night Shift, The Breathing Method, and Under the Dome come to mind. (I haven't read UTD yet, but the premise of it paired with a whiz-bang hi-tech director like Spielberg or Favreau or Nolan has the makings of a great flick.)

That said, it's arguable there are several films that didn't do justice to Mr. King's works. So I'm curious why a film version of a King story validates the written word even more for you.

[jellydonut25]

I'll grant it's not his best work (waaaaayyyyyyyyyy toooooooooo sllloooooooowwwwwwww -- seriously, it could be like 100 pages shorter)...but not liking something because it doesn't match up with what you were expecting...i dunno...I get it, you thought Insomnia would be about not being able to sleep, but the insomnia is just a device or a tool for the story, this isn't a story ABOUT insomnia...

[bluesology]

Insomnia certainly seems to be one of King's more polarizing works. I'm not going to try and tell you that you should like the book - your critique seems perfectly reasonable and straight forward. I do wish that in light of how articulate your review was that you could have used a thread title slightly less pedestrian than "Insomnia sucks". And I don't really think that not liking the book is really grounds to get angry. King has written a ton of books - you aren't going to like all of them. I remember an interview with Martin Scorcese in which he said that he didn't expect anyone to like every movie he made and was actually suspicious of anyone who claimed they did. He didn't "drop the ball" - he just put out a book that you didn't like as much as others.

Personally, I thought that King did a good job dealing with the experience of Insomnia. Maybe the horror of the experience wasn't there as much but I thought that I came to more of an understanding of what Insomnia sufferers go through from day to day. But like I tried to say above - to each their own.

[blunthead]

Imho, Insomnia did not start too slowly, was anything but boring, and was as utterly unique as Rose Madder, Roadwork, The Tommyknockers, Needful Things, Gerald's Game, Dolores Claiborne, The Green Mile, Bag of Bones, Lisey's Story, Duma Key, and Under the Dome.

Insomnia was psychedelic for me, trip-like. (Maybe some aren't used to that.) And when I use the term psychedelic I am not making a comment about the author himself, why and/or how he wrote Insomnia, what the book is about, etc. Insomnia is great horror-fantasy through and through.

Anyway, I retain a great fondness for Insomnia, by Stephen King. Which, imo, isn't boring and does not start off too slow!!! :smile2:

[prufrock21]

All readers who were put to sleep while reading Insomia will be visited by a spade-claw hand fiend.

[prufrock21]

That should read Insomnia. I was not put to sleep while reading Insomnia and was particularly drawn to the way in which the main character dealt with the passing of a loved one as well as with the clinical descriptions throughout. Was the book too long? Possibly,
but I didn't notice because the characters and the storyline kept and held my interest. Wordiness is a SK fault which you must get used to. If not, how could you posibly read The Dark Tower?

[JohnDalglish]

Wordiness is a SK fault which you must get used to. If not, how could you posibly read The Dark Tower?

Hi,

I prefer to think of his 'wordiness' as a benefit rather than a 'fault'.

And The Dark Tower is far too short.

As he obviously thought himself, viz 'The Wind in the Keyhole' and 'Little Sisters of Eluria'.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Evil Queen]

All readers who were put to sleep while reading Insomia will be visited by a spade-claw hand fiend.

OH NO!! :eek2: :laugh:

[prufrock21]

Hi,

I prefer to think of his 'wordiness' as a benefit rather than a 'fault'.

And The Dark Tower is far too short.

As he obviously thought himself, viz 'The Wind in the Keyhole' and 'Little Sisters of Eluria'.

Long days and pleasant nights

I have no problem with SK's wordiness, prolixity, verbosity--and for some critics--diarhea of the keyboard. In SK's case, wordiness should be read as "worthy-ness."

[prufrock21]

OH NO!! :eek2: :laugh:

This also happens to reviewers who find fault with SK's work. Afterward, they feel invariably contrite, retract themselves and make a formal apology.

[blunthead]

...Wordiness is a SK fault which you must get used to... Which words should go?

[Owen Lee Smee]

I could start with the Pun " I lost a lot of sleep whilst reading this book" (and that's the truth) .. Ive been a insomnia-cal maniac for many a year maybe that's why this story appeal to me so much from the very start. Bed is my enemy i hate the journey towards it and i know ill feel worse when i travel back.

For the life of me why anyone would join a site like this and maintain hes a fan of the KING and then attack one of his books in such a manner is beyond me any how. Yes i feel we all have our favorites in his great collection and maybe lesser so liked ones as well.

But have you ever purchased an album by your favorite group and listened to every single track the same amount ?? For myself i
find Carrie is one of his weaker stories i wouldn't slate it though as every book one creates is a lesson learnt in improvement the craft and i feel not only has he learnt the trade well but he has now surpassed all others but the literal version of light years.

I can understand if you suffer from Insomnia yourself and mistakenly purchased this book thinking it may be a cure then you would be disappointed as it drew me in and several other people i know to the point of cant go to sleep yet just another few pages to read then after several more hours thinking heck there's no point going to sleep now the alarm will go off soon. Another fantastic part of it is like many other of his stories it stands alone as a great best seller but was also a part a building block of something much much bigger, and introduces some cast members of his greatest work to-date.

All hail SK the greatest Word Sling-er this worlds ever known

I like the word / disease "Wordiness" i don't how ever feel SK suffers from it at all as I've never like closing Any of his books at the end and wanted the DT series to continue forever (possibly why I've read the collection so many times now)

[bluesology]

I remember a while back - Kevin Costner was being interviewed and was asked about the fact that he had just released another of a series of very lengthy films. His response was something to the effect of comparing a movie to a great meal and that he was the kind of viewer who wanted to be fed. I feel the same way about these books. If you love the writing, it makes no difference how long or wordy it gets.

[prufrock21]

Which words should go?

Superfluous. In the case of SK and other professional writers, anything superfluous has already gone into the trash can.
And in one case, at least, something that went into the trash can was rescued by Tabitha King (in which case, it wasn't superfluous.) And happy are we.

[CarrieJo]

I'm not sure I would ever be able to say that ANYTHING that ANY successful writer (who actually made it on his/her skill, not necessarily a fad) sucks. Obviously if it isn't my cup of tea, it isn't my cup of tea. But writing is usually something that you really have to be good at if you're going to be able to make a career out of it. So I would never say that something from the likes of Stephen King and others (even if I'm not a fan) sucks. I find it disrespectful.

With that said, I loved Insomnia. Ralph Roberts is one of my favorite King characters. I had a big smile of my face when he showed up in the coffee shop (?) in Bag of Bones and chatted with Mike Noonan.