Dolores Claiborne

[devious1]

is it just me, or does this book read ridiculously fast? i consider myself a fairly swift reader, for the time i am able to dedicate to reading anyway, and yet i seem to be flying through this book like nothing. i read my normal amount yesterday when i started to re-read it (only read it once, just after it came out) and somehow made it through over 200 pages! (normally in this time frame i read about 100 pages of a book). i don't know if it's just the way the story flows or what but the pages seem to be flying by fast!

also, for some reason i didn't like this book that much when i first read it but now am enjoying it immensely. that Dolores is quite a character :D

[La Belladonna]

is it just me, or does this book read ridiculously fast? i consider myself a fairly swift reader, for the time i am able to dedicate to reading anyway, and yet i seem to be flying through this book like nothing. i read my normal amount yesterday when i started to re-read it (only read it once, just after it came out) and somehow made it through over 200 pages! (normally in this time frame i read about 100 pages of a book). i don't know if it's just the way the story flows or what but the pages seem to be flying by fast!

also, for some reason i didn't like this book that much when i first read it but now am enjoying it immensely. that Dolores is quite a character :D

She is one of my absolute favorite King creations. She is one tough broad!

It is a fast read, and I also enjoyed it more on the second (and third) reading. It is story telling at its finest - and it is one character telling the whole story. Well done. :smile2:

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I enjoyed it infinitely more on the second read as well, and after seeing the movie.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Dark Reader]

I'm currently half way through reading Dolores Claiborne for the second time, i too didn't think much to this book when i first read it when i was a teenager but now i'm loving it, the character work and the narrative style is genius.

I can't remember how it ends either so i'm racing through it :wink2:

[Wylde06]

At first it was kind of hard to start it. Probably because I had just finished Blaze and was still stuck in the story, but once I really got into it, I was done in 2-3 sittings (1-2 hours a sitting)

[Dark Reader]

What i am finding strange is the fact there are no chapters in this book, its continuous from start to finish, i've not come across a book like that before

[janeallyn]

:wink2: My favorite line from that movie is........(sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold on to......) Oh and the look on his face when he's in the well and it dawns on him that he isn't coming out! Priceless.

[bopropadop]

I recommend the audiobook as well. Listened to much of it during my holiday travels last week and Frances Sternhagen's portrayal was better then I could have hoped.

[Agincourt Concierge]

Love Delores..and yes it is a quick read.....

Gotta love Vera.... :D
For some reason.....I just identify w/both these women.....:D

Fav Vera quotes:

"I insist that all women who have hysterics in my drawing room call me by my Christian name. "

"It's a depressingly masculine world, Dolores."

" Sometimes you have to be a high-riding bitch to survive. Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto"

and this one by Delores is classic too.....

"If anyone is going to accuse me of killing my husband go right ahead and call me Dolores! "

Only SK could right a book about a woman 60 years old and make it so intriguing...it would suck you right in............LOL

[the_last_gunslinger]

Actually, I found it to be an unbearably slow read. It took me roughly two weeks to get through it. The concept was interesting, but it took so long for anything to happen, and when it did, I found it rather unremarkable.

It turned out being my least favorite King book, so that probably has something to do with why it took me so long to sludge through it, especially when I read it on the heels of the magnificent Duma Key.

[OhmyGod!]

Oh, Dolores Claiborne is one of my favorite stephen king novels...Ive read it about 6 times (I read it about once a year...it only takes me a day to read it...I have the dutch version and english version...the dutch version is pretty great too...it has been translated very well...specially the english 'sayings'.

I love the whole story and the no-nonsense style...and the many many great onelineres like: 'life's a sorry schoolroom' and 'the road to hell is paved with gold...but why?' and the humor! Even in the nastiest parts! I think the part when Dolores is questioned by the Irish policeguy and the parts about vera donovan are extra-ordinary and also written very well. The part in the bank is maybe the funniest...and kinda tragic at the same time.

The novel gives me still goosebumps! Maybe I love the novel somuch 'cause Dolores reminds me of my grandma...

[Boni]

4 days for me, second best King's drama for me, losing only to The Green Mile.

[thymeoperator]

this is so weird! i'm having all kinds of bizarre stephen king serendipity moments lately - and to add to the list this week is that i logged on here specifically to start a thread about 'dolores claiborne' as i just finished it about 10 mins ago, and then magically there was a new thread there already for it, saying similar things to what i was going to say.

i found it a little slow to get into at first too, but once it got going it really got going. i loved dolores and vera, and there were some bits that were so darkly funny. i have to admit i wasn't blown away by the ending, personally, although i did love the statement it was making - i think the trouble is i JUST finished 'IT' before this one, so i probably should have read them in a different order! it struck me, though, as a bit like when i read 'pet sematary' - for me, the REALLY intense part happened about 2/3 of the way through (when he digs up gage's body, and when joe is down in the well) so everything after that felt like a calming down compared to that - but those parts were so good (horrible?) i still really really liked both books.

[kingfanalaska09]

I listened to the audiobook has a good experience to it haven't seen the movie in awhile both are good

[Luli]

Dolores rocks!!!!!! :glare:

[finalfantasyVII]

:eyebrow: I justed noticed that you're from Glasgow..one place I've always wanted to visit..been to London and where Shakespere grew up (?)..but not that side..also would like to visit Ireland...you know, U2 and all that, sorry favorite band...good reading..Mark FFVII. :wink2:

[michal]

I loved Dolores. I sunk into her world with huge speed and was thinking in her voice for long after the book was over.

[Jojo87]

I was also little suprised that Dolores Claiborne only took few days to read. But I just loved it. And I think I gonna read it again sometimes.

[jchanic]

I recommend the audiobook as well. Listened to much of it during my holiday travels last week and Frances Sternhagen's portrayal was better then I could have hoped.

I agree completely! Frances Sternhagen IS Dolores!

As a bit of a side note, has anyone else noticed the textual differences between the audio book and the published book? I have about 28 Word pages of differences between the two. Did you know Dolores had five brothers and five sisters? It's in the audio book but not the published edition! Many changes are simply name changes but there are substantial numbers of other changes also.

John

[Patricia A]

One of my favorites. I love Delores. This book is one of many examples of how Stephen King treats his female characters, they have real depth and purpose, they are not just objects or plot fillers.
I wish Delores was real so I could take her out for a coffee.

Thanks for the heads up on the audio book guys, I'll be on the look out for a copy.

[Haunted]

One of my favorites. I love Delores. This book is one of many examples of how Stephen King treats his female characters, they have real depth and purpose, they are not just objects or plot fillers.
I wish Delores was real so I could take her out for a coffee.

Thanks for the heads up on the audio book guys, I'll be on the look out for a copy.

I totally agree. Mr. King was criticized a lot about his supposed 'neglect' of women in his writing. I think Dolores is a vindication of those criticisms. It is one of my very favorites and I can certainly relate to her.

[05jellis]

I'm still reading this but am getting through it very quickly. The story dosent slow at all and is one of my (many) favourites of Kings work. I'm hoping the movie is out on dvd so i can get it when I've finished the book.

[jchanic]

I was very disappointed in the movie version of Dolores. To me, it just wasn't the same story at all.

John

[Bev Vincent]

I thought that the movie adaptation was one of the most faithful to the spirit of the book while completely reimagining the way the story was presented.

[JohnDalglish]

I thought that the movie adaptation was one of the most faithful to the spirit of the book while completely reimagining the way the story was presented.

Hi,

I completely agree with Bev, I thought Kathy Bates was superb!

Long days and pleasant nights

[05jellis]

i finished it this morning and there was one question which popped in my mind. I know she was cleared of suspision for veras death but did they not do anything about her murdering her husband? I mean I know she did it for good reasons but it was still murder!

[jchanic]

Do you really think there's any jury that would have convicted her?

John

[Kmart85]

In all actuality, the town had already known of her having some kind of connection with his disappearance. After all, small town word gets around faster than a whore at Christmas time.

I did find the book quite a fast read. I think I've read it about 4 times, and I'm actually working on it during my spare time lately. That's what makes it so fascinating. It's all in one woman's p.o.v. and it doesn't drag on. SK definitely knew what he wanted to portray with her narration.:cool2:

[Manxkitti]

I like how this story is told in the first person. I have this one on audio and I listen to it all the time. She is also one of my favorite SK creations.

[boogerb53]

I reread this a couple of weeks ago. It is indeed a great read. I love Delores and her honest emotions and responses. She doesn't dress things up and certainly tells things like it is. She did to her husband what many people want to do to the people they find out have molested their children.

[Ghastly]

The reason she didn't go to jail for the whole Joe incident is because she captivated Frank, Andy and Nancy with her story. You couldn't put someone away with a story like that!

[jlessl]

I love the movie, in fact, bought the DVD because I can watch it over and over. Kathy Bates is excellent. So ... finally got around to reading the book. Unfortunately, I was apparently spoiled by the movie, I guess, because I didn't really love the book. I did not care for the way the book was written, that is entirely a Dolores confession, focused to her point of view, and no chapter breaks. I was so psyched to read the book after reading everyone's stellar reviews and accolades. I don't regret reading the book, but I was disappointed ... something that I've not experienced very often with SK's books.

[Matthew.Degnan]

I have an old edition of this story and on the back it is marketed as horror- is it just me or is this definately not horror?

[jlessl]

I would not characterize it as horror. But SK's books tend to get that tag no matter what the book, due to his reputation (and pigeonhole) as a strictly horror author. Unfortunate. He is so much more.

[JRM]

Actually, I found it to be an unbearably slow read. It took me roughly two weeks to get through it. The concept was interesting, but it took so long for anything to happen, and when it did, I found it rather unremarkable.

It turned out being my least favorite King book, so that probably has something to do with why it took me so long to sludge through it, especially when I read it on the heels of the magnificent Duma Key.

I laughed when I read this, 'cuz I'm also just starting Dolores Claiborne after reading through Duma Key. I'm about 30 pages in. Not diggin' it so far. :sleepy:

[jlessl]

In my humble opinion, the movie was much better. Go figure. Usually the book is better.

[JRM]

I don't think I've mentioned, but I finished this book. I liked it. It wasn't mind-blowing or anything, but it had some nice surprises here and there.

[davemelnick]

I njoyed IT a lot more my 2nd time I read it. The 1st time I was scared half to death.:eek2:
is it just me, or does this book read ridiculously fast? i consider myself a fairly swift reader, for the time i am able to dedicate to reading anyway, and yet i seem to be flying through this book like nothing. i read my normal amount yesterday when i started to re-read it (only read it once, just after it came out) and somehow made it through over 200 pages! (normally in this time frame i read about 100 pages of a book). i don't know if it's just the way the story flows or what but the pages seem to be flying by fast!

also, for some reason i didn't like this book that much when i first read it but now am enjoying it immensely. that Dolores is quite a character :D

[dwalters]

I have to admit I had my doubts when I first started reading this one. Only one character talking? No chapters, just a big block of text? What have I gotten myself into!? But, it didn't take long for the story to really grab hold of me, and I actually think the style in which it was written made it very unique and all the more enjoyable. I had put this one off for a while because it didn't sound the least bit scary, but even though there wasn't much of a scare factor it was wonderfully written and very well told.

[sissy]

This was a fast read for me too. My favorite about the story is its connection to "Geralds Game"
The way King links his works together is nothing short of amazing to me.

[Seb Shaw]

Firstly, I don't quite get the 'Gerald's Game' references (perhaps because i haven't read G.G yet you may say... that's probably true...)

Secondly, Wow! What an incredible drama/thriller! The characters were divine! the way it was woven was incredible and the fact that it was a one person perspective just stunned me.

At 1st though I was a bit worried about the concept, but then the wonderful king/Dolores combo draw you in.

TBH I cannot begin to describe how much I loved this book, his best for me so far? absolutely!

It was just so well worked and the pace was excellent, it builds up tension superbly!

I finished this book with an emotive tear in my eye and that rarely happens to a 19 year old like myself, but I guess that's the magic of King...

[C.R. Nelson]

I bought this book at Hastings at a fair price, and I have yet to read it. When I mentioned the book to my dad, he told me a joke
about there being a prequel to it, titled "Red Light Dolores".

[deathislife]

It's a fair book. Not a great book, like It or Insomnia, but a good book nonetheless. I find the style (one long continuous blending of past and present) quite odd, but it worked well with the story. I doubt it'd work well if it had a different plot. Also, I found the character of Vera interesting. Slightly disgusting at times, but interesting.

[gniknehpets]

Delores Claiborne is a sad human nature tale but the underdog gets the rotten, mean guy in the end and we all cheer for her. I also like that the eclipse ties into Gerald's Game. So sneaky, our Mr. King.

[Stillreading]

Personally, I think this is one of the most poignant novels SK has ever written. Dolores is about as thoroughly articulated, nuanced and layered as a fictional character can ever be. I was able to imagine her so vividly that most of the novel read like an audiobook - which is to say that it was as if Dolores herself was speaking directly to me.

[Mark R]

I attempted to read this the first time around and found it a very slow read, various times I was about to put it down and come back to it.
In the end, I decided to stick with it and pleased that I did. The movie was purchased and really enjoyed it helped by another stunning performance by Kathy Bates. She plays the charater exactly as she comes across through the words of SK. I have however gone back to the book and read it again, this time so much faster and really enjoyed it.

[Spideyman]

I attempted to read this the first time around and found it a very slow read, various times I was about to put it down and come back to it.
In the end, I decided to stick with it and pleased that I did. The movie was purchased and really enjoyed it helped by another stunning performance by Kathy Bates. She plays the charater exactly as she comes across through the words of SK. I have however gone back to the book and read it again, this time so much faster and really enjoyed it.

I often find that re reading a book at various time periods in ones life will give it a different tone/ meaning. First time around, I found it ok, second time it hit the wow factor.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I had the same experience, I read it and thought it was okay and then I saw the movie and went back and REALLY enjoyed the book.

Isn't Kathy Bates marvellous as Dolores? What an actress IMO!

'Six pins, Dolores, six pins'.

Long days and pleasant nights

[DebA913]

I enjoy reading this book. I've read it 3-4 times and enjoyed it each time.( No special words of insight or explanations here!)
All those things have already been said, so I just figured I'd say that I liked it:smile2:

[friend of Oye]

I often find that re reading a book at various time periods in ones life will give it a different tone/ meaning. First time around, I found it ok, second time it hit the wow factor.

Yes, re-reads, the beauty of owning a book.

[1BachmanKing9]

This book is the first book by anyone I ever read, it got me addicted to reading, and addicted to the king. Great Novel I thought.

[JLette]

This book is the first book by anyone I ever read, it got me addicted to reading, and addicted to the king. Great Novel I thought.

this is one that i saw the movie before i read, and now every time i read it its kathy bates i see in my head, i think it works great though, she really fit the role in my head lol

[Decanus]

Loved the book so much, that as soon as I finished it I immediately bought the dvd, and will be watching that once it arrives. I saw it once a long time ago before reading the book, so I think I will appreciate it more this time, knowing how much had to be adapted into a drama piece from a first person narration.