Bag of Bones or Duma Key?

**rvialet** · October 26th, 2009

I've been thinking about starting one of these books. They both seem VERY similar in terms of theme. I was wondering which of the two people consider the best and that might influence my decision for which one to read first.

Bag of Bones seemed like it would be the most interesting, but then I discovered that there were a lot of Duma Key fans that really love the book.

Being Stephen King books, I'm sure both of them are amazing. But I wonder which is the better book:

Which one has the best characters?
Which story is the most engaging?
Which one is scarier?

**JRM** · October 27th, 2009

Wow. I can't wait to check out Duma Key if it's very similar to Bag of Bones in terms of theme. I absolutely loved Bag of Bones. Can't say anything about Duma Key, as I have yet to read it.

**rvialet** · October 27th, 2009

The similarity is just something I'm suspecting just by reading both synopses: After a tragedy strikes, a man relocates and tries to find happiness again by sinking themselves into their art. They get involved with people in the area and drama ensues courtesy of Stephen King.

I know that's probably very general and I may be wrong about the similarities. I'd love to hear more about what people think of both books. Glad to here you loved Bag of Bones.

**Bryan James** · October 27th, 2009

'Duma Key' is a better book, but 'Bag of Bones' is more "Reader Friendly."

**Doc Wilson** · October 27th, 2009

I think Duma Key has it over Bag of Bones in all of your categories.

**Chelle71** · October 28th, 2009

I don't think either of them are scary...Bag of Bones is great. Duma Key is like old SK work...very cool. Read them both but i would go BAg of Bones first!

**tracie** · October 28th, 2009

weel to tell you the truth i can't remember bag of bones i'll have to get my hardback down off the shelf and read it again but duma key still sticks out like a sore thumb a brilliant book very easy to read and understand

**fredo** · October 28th, 2009

They are both great reads. Do 'em all, I always say.

**Jake Featherston** · October 28th, 2009

I personally think Bag of Bones is a better novel than Duma Key.

**Doc Wilson** · October 28th, 2009

I hadn't noticed that they were thematically similar before you mentioned it, but as I thought about it, they are there, but only at the abstract level. That is, they both have male protagonists who are dealing with loss, and both have relocated. Both have to deal with supernatural challenges in the new place.

But there the similarity ends, and the stories are very different in their particulars. Both are well worth reading, and Duma Key definitely does not feel like a rehash of B of B.