Lisey's Story: A Novel: Amazon.ca: Stephen King: Books

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Since his first novel was published in 1974, Stephen King has stretched the boundaries of the written word, not only bringing horror to new heights, but trying his hand at nearly every possible genre, including children's books, graphic novels, serial novels, literary fiction, nonfiction, westerns, fantasy, and even e-books (remember The Plant?). With Lisey's Story, once again King is trying something different. Lisey's Story is as much a romance as it is a supernatural thriller--but don't let us convince you. Who better to tell readers if King has written a romantic thriller than Nora Roberts? We asked Nora to read Lisey's Story and give us her take. Check out her review below. --Daphne Durham

Guest Reviewer: Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, who also writes under the pseudonym J.D. Robb, is the author of way too many bestselling books to name here (over 150!), but some of our favorites include: Angel's Fall, Born in Death, Blue Smoke, and The Reef.

Stephen King hooked me about three decades ago with that sharply faceted, blood-stained jewel, The Shining. Through the years he's bumped my gooses with kiddie vampires, tingled my spine with beloved pets gone rabid, justified my personal fear of clowns and made me think twice about my cell phone. I've always considered The Stand--a long-time favorite--a towering tour de force, and have owed its author a debt as this was the first novel I could convince my older son to read from cover to cover.

But with Lisey's Story, King has accomplished one more feat. He broke my heart.

Lisey's Story is, at its core, a love story--heart-wrenching, passionate, terrifying and tender. It is the multi-layered and expertly crafted tale of a twenty-five year marriage, and a widow's journey through grief, through discovery and--this is King, after all--through a nightmare scape of the ordinary and extraordinary. Through Lisey's mind and heart, the reader is pulled into the intimacies of her marriage to bestselling novelist Scott Landon, and through her we come to know this complicated, troubled and heroic man.

Two years after his death, Lisey sorts through her husband's papers and her own shrouded memories. Following the clues Scott left her and her own instincts, she embarks on a journey that risks both her life and her sanity. She will face Scott's demons as well as her own, traveling into the past and into Boo'ya Moon, the seductive and terrifying world he'd shown her. There lives the power to heal, and the power to destroy.

Lisey Landon is a richly wrought character of charm and complexity, of realized inner strength and redoubtable humor. As the central figure she drives the story, and the story is so vividly textured, the reader will draw in the perfumed air of Boo'ya Moon, will see the sunlight flood through the windows of the Scott's studio--or the night press against them. Her voice will be clear in your ear as you experience the fear and the wonder. If your heart doesn't hitch at the demons she faces in this world and the other, if it doesn't thrill at her courage and endurance, you're going to need to check with a cardiologist, first chance.

Lisey's Story is bright and brilliant. It's dark and desperate. While I'll always consider The Shining, my first ride on King's wild Tilt-A-Whirl, a gorgeous, bloody jewel, I found, on this latest ride, a treasure box heaped with dazzling gems.

A few of them have sharp, hungry teeth. --Nora Roberts

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

King's latest bid for literary respectability is read by acclaimed actress Winningham, best known for her Oscar-nominated performance in Georgia. Winningham glazes King's novel in multiple coats of Southern honey, her voice shimmering with an old-fashioned glow for the tale of Lisey Landon, wife of acclaimed novelist Scott Landon, and her effort to discover the source of her husband's inspiration after his death. Winningham is a good fit for King in a less terror-filled mood, capturing the book's blend of the sentimental and the comic. The narrative is ushered in and out by the strains of Ryan Adams's "When the Stars Go Blue," and King reads his own afterword, where he details the sources of his own inspiration, carefully distancing himself and his loved ones from the characters in his book while making it clear that, like Scott Landon, he must dive deep into his subconscious and into the pool of literary history, to find inspiration.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfyingly Stephen July 25 2008

By Samantha TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

I find that I either love Stephen King's books or want to throw them, but they never leave me feeling neutral, that's for sure. I loved this one, but wanted to throw it for the first 50 pages, because it seemed poorly edited. I actually suspected a ghost writer because there were faux pas that Stephen just knows better than to make (e.g. referring to Lisey's sister as Amanda, Mandy and Manda in the space of a page, and not in diaglogue where it's more appropriate, and there were some jarring tense changes). But after that 50 page mark, it either improved or I didn't care because the story got mighty interesting. This book got better and better as it moved along. I could have taken a little less of Boo'ya Moon, but every visit there did advance the story, and the reality/unreality of the place is forever imprinted on my brain. The final visit revealed the last pieces of the puzzle (although we didn't really know there was a puzzle), but I wish it had been handled differently because the story felt over by then. I also had a hard time with reading the name Lisey ("rhymes with Cee Cee") as it is a pet name vs. nickname, and not one I'm familiar with for Lisa, so for much of the book, I corrected myself every time I said "Lyzee" in my head. Nevertheless, it is an excellent read. With these little issues I've discussed addressed, though, it may have been a 5 star novel.

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5.0 out of 5 stars The best of Stephen King Nov 2 2006

By Judy

Format:Hardcover

Lisey's Story is definitely destined to go down as one of King' top ten best books. The story, the characters and the writing are all way above the average. I was sorry to see it end. It is of the same memorable quality as King's TommyKnockers (an older Stephen King that is another favorite) and Delores Claiborne (don't be discouraged by the movie...the book is definitely worth reading). King's exceptional wit comes through in all of these books. And from other authors I would highly recommend The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and Enchanted by Nancy Madore.

5.0 out of 5 stars Adventures in the Dark Forest Mar 6 2012

By Ila France Porcher TOP 1000 REVIEWER

I found Lisey's Story to be one of Stephen King's more beautiful works, a love story rich in imagery that takes you away to another world, where adventures in the dark forest reach an unprecedented peak.

This other world felt, to me, like a brilliant projection of the subconsious mind--an analogy to the way a creative person might experience the muse or the mysterious source of art.

Its a book to read for pure pleasure, and to cherish the feeling of what real and tender romantic love between two people can be.