Lisey's story too close for comfort

[LisaFromBorders]

It wasn't the first time Kings work has made me cry, it won't be the last time he makes me cry (if I re-read the green mile for instance)(Percy sux) and I am in awe of his ability to draw a world from a simple encounter with a scarred girl who reminded him of a young tabby, and set such an insightful and moving story there. Man's got more imagination than one body should have to hold

[adamdean]

Lisey's Story came to me as a gift from my soon to be wife, and I saw in it many elements of a life we wish to have together. As you might imagine there's also plenty we'd rather skip, but you take what you can get.

I read Lisey two years ago, and now I'm re-reading it with my wife (her first time). As I remembered, it's a haunting, mournful, bittersweet love story. It's becoming part of our shared history. Part of our own language.

Usually I try to say something about the method or content of a piece rather than simply stating my reaction to it, but I find that Lisey's Story has become so much a part of my life and my view of love that to review it critically would be like analyzing the relationship of my own parents.

It is fundamental.

Without it, everything that follows is changed.

[lwillen]

I haven't read a book for pleasure in quite awhile, too long awhile. My favourite book to date was The Stand but Lisey's Story spoke to me on several fronts so it is a favourite as well, but equal...like loving two of your children the same.
Apart from the name thing (my brother called me 'Lis' when I was young), my favourite colour is yellow, my favourite alcoholic beverage is Mike's Hard Lemonade, and the intimacy of having your own private language with close friends and relatives, I find the references to Boo'ya Moon and the travel experience interesting. I practice Shamanism (without psychedelics , which is dangerous because you need to be in absolute control of your faculties to endure returning or whatever else you might experience ); the journey experience is remarkably similar.
As for the comments on grief...I own a business that assists people with final affairs after they lose a loved one. There is a haze that they experience and it can last quite awhile...there is no set schedule on grief or what to expect or when to expect it. Time is experienced differently...past, present, and future seem to happen at the same time. What's most interesting is how people say 'sorry for your loss' for years to come. Eventually it becomes 'I'm sorry to hear that' which eventually, after many more years, becomes a polite smile. However, for those who do grieve this book offers a great ending...there does come a time of closure which means that you don't forget the person but you aren't consumed by an undefinable pain perpetually.

I'll end this post on a brighter note, a little humour I smiled when I read the reference to Mike's Hard Lemonade because for the longest time I didn't know it was available in the States (I'm in Canada). Many years ago I was in a chat room and it was the morning after a very robust party. I asked those in the chat room if any of them had a sure-fire remedy for hang-over because I had had a few too many Mikes the night before. The first response I received was from a man who sympathized and said he understood because he had kissed his best friend's wife the night before. I realized he didn't understand what I meant by 'Mikes', I had mistakenly assumed it would be understood, probably because of the hang-over.
My wish to all readers is that they find at least one SK story that speaks to them in a way that is almost intimate and makes them smile, despite the little horrors that seep through the cracks and make your heart feel like you had one too many chocolate-covered coffee beans!

[Roseasharn]

I loved this one. I remember buying it, actually. I passed it by on a remainders shelf several times before actually picking it up. For whatever reason, it just did not seem appealing to me, every single time I picked it up, I put it back down.
When I finally set back down to read it...
There were parts of this story that knocked me back on my butt from a standing position, metaphorically, of course.
And the big one was the blood bools. and the Bad-Gunky.
I don't know if anyone else who has or has had problems with cutting had this same reaction to reading about this, but I froze.
And I sobbed.
Several times.
I know, or at least, I'm pretty sure that this wasn't intentional on the part of SK.
"Scooter, if you want to be righteous, you better let that bad-gunky out..."
I thought, when I read that line in particular, "Jesus, could King have reached into my head and pulled my own demon out any more clearly?"
It was a difficult read, but worth it.

I love this book. I haven't reread it yet, but eventually I will. It was a great book and I can give it a high recommendation.

[pike747]

Finished it last night - incredible read. I've never shed a tear while reading but I wasn't far off at the end of this one.

I often shed tears while reading. Tears of joy far more often than any others. The joy when an author reaches me inside where I live and I realize I am not so alone. I love when a book gets me to laugh out loud and cry, sometimes at the same time!

[Travisisdead]

I have to say this is one of my favorites. Along with Pet Sematary. The characters and details in Lisey's Story stayed with me for a LONG time after reading. Which means, I have to wait a while longer before I can read it again, so I will forget some of the stuff. The way Mr. King develops characters is amazing.

[~Ally~]

[QUOTE=LauraJo;325603]I challenge anybody to read it and not fall in love with Scott just a little bit![/QUOTE

Yup I fell for him, a bit more than a little.
I would probably be happy to be stuck in Booya Moon with him.
I kinda dig the odd and eccentric guys! It's my downfall.

[jalexbrown]

Lisey's Story is going to be my next read, I do believe. I started it a while back and finished about 100 pages (back when I was in my ADHD phase and nothing could hold my attention), but now that I've gotten over that, I want to go back and give it a serious chance. I've heard it regarded as King's favorite and most personal of his works, but to be honest, that's not very much a driving force behind my decision to want to read it; I want to read it, because, coming off of Under the Dome, I think it'll be a nice change of pace and direction, and it'll keep the reading fresh and interesting. Reading, much like writing, is all about keeping it fresh and relevant. One great way to do that is by changing up styles and pacing and themes to keep you on your toes.

[GNTLGNT]

It took me a couple of readings to really "get it", and I'm still not sure I have it completely down-but it is a truly wonderful story of love and loss and how we can hate aspects of our partners but still love them with all our hearts living or dead-that's what makes us such a special species. I don't think I've truly figured out the "shrouded ones" at the pool or what the "Long Boy" represents, but I keep mulling it all over...