""Lisey's Story," is a romance, celebrating the enduring love between Scott Landon, a wealthy and celebrated author (much like King himself) and his wife of 25 years, Lisey.
When the story begins, Lisey is a middle-aged widow, unable to clean out her late husband's office because she's still in mourning over Scott's untimely death two years earlier. Then two almost simultaneous events occur: First her sister Amanda becomes so depressed she must be hospitalized, and the onus is on Lisey to take care of the details. When she begins to make arrangements, she discovers that before he died, Scott had made provisions for Amanda at a nearby facility, as if he'd known she'd have a breakdown. At the same time, Lisey is being stalked by one of Scott's rabid fans. When she refuses to acquiesce to the demands of the stranger, whose name is Dooley, he becomes increasingly menacing, such as putting a dead cat in her mailbox.
The novel also reveals key incidents in the past, such as how Scott and Lisey met, and details about Scott's childhood. Scott had an older brother, Paul, whom he revered, but when Paul becomes another in a long line of Landons to become insane, Scott's life is changed. The only things that keep him on an even keel are his ability to channel self-destructive impulses into his writing and Lisey's abiding love for him. In fact, Scott trusts Lisey so much that just before they marry, he teleports them both to a special place he goes when depressed. While there is beauty in this place, called Boo'ya Moon, during daylight hours, and its waters have curative powers, it's dangerous after sunset, and towards the end of their joint visit there, they sense menacing forces lying in wait.
Ten years into their marriage, Scott is shot by a crazed fan and is able to survive only by going to Boo'ya Moon to be healed. Fast forward to the present, with Lisey realizing that to be rid of Dooley, she'll have to return to this strange kingdom. Once there, she'll have to kill Dooley and leave his body there, but this time Scott won't be there to keep her safe.
Lisey manages to teleport Amanda, whom she hopes will help her, Dooley, and herself to this magical place. Because it's daylight, she feels relatively safe. Lisey is also confident she has the upper hand, since she's familiar with the terrain and Dooley has never been there before. Nevertheless, Dooley proves to be a formidable opponent who keeps after his prey until the approach of dusk, when menacing forces begin to emerge from the shadows."
Elana Starr, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of Lisey's Story
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- part earth & part fantasy world
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- exploring a wondrous planet or phenomena
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- search for identity/new understanding
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- wealthy
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- unemployed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
Intelligence
- Dumb
Setting
Terrain
- Forests
Earth setting:
- current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Not Earth, in Solar System?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- very explicit references to deaths and torture
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- descript of kissing
- descript of touching personal anatomy
- licking
- actual description of sex
- description of breasts
- descript. of private male anat.
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
