false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166254298m/10625.jpg 10625 43 More of a mystery than a horror novel, <I>Dolores Claiborne</I> contains only the briefest glances at the supernatural. The novel presents Stephen King as a writer experimenting with style and narrative, time and perspective. Fans looking for a skin-crawling, page-turning fright or an undead bloodbath will be disappointed, but a patient reader willing to savor King's leisurely study of character and island life will find many rewards. And all of this is not to say that the book is without suspense.<p> The story unfolds in one continuous chapter, told in the first person by the cranky, 65-year-old housekeeper, Dolores, who is explaining to police officers and a stenographer how and why she killed her husband, Joe, 30 years ago. At the same time, in her rambling monologue, she insists that she did <I>not</I> kill her longtime employer, Vera Donovan--notwithstanding what the residents of Little Tall Island may be whispering. Joe was a drinker, and, as Dolores gradually argues, he deserved to die for the horrifying crimes he committed against his family. But Vera, despite her cantankerous disposition as a lady governing her decaying estate with her precise rules about even the most mundane household chore ("Six pins! Remember to use six pins! Don't you let the wind blow my good sheets down to the corner of the yard!"), was a good woman--or at least not an evil one. She was the woman who hired the young Dolores and kept her on even after Dolores got pregnant again. Dolores cleaned and cared for her even as the old matron faded into senility.<p> <I>Dolores Claiborne</I> is a rich novel that recalls the regionalist writing of the turn of the century. It is a fine place for a skeptical newcomer--put off by King's reputation for outright terror--to start. And for fans, it is a book that offers new insights into an author who's an old favorite. <I>--Patrick O'Kelley</I> 6560478 book 1992 Dolores Claiborne total:10644|5:88|4:152|3:158|2:61|1:13| 10644 37120 12357 201 5 3 false false Mon Jul 07 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 07 17:04:39 -0700 2008 Mon Jul 07 17:10:58 -0700 2008
I initially found myself extremely annoyed by the lack of chapter breaks. This is my problem, really, not King's, because I don't have the self control to stop readi...more...]]> 5 2 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002 Fri Feb 15 17:12:09 -0800 2008 Sat Feb 16 22:24:11 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 2 false false Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003 Wed Jun 11 15:46:01 -0700 2008 Wed Jun 11 15:49:59 -0700 2008 more...]]> 1 1 false false Sun Apr 20 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Tue Apr 22 03:01:16 -0700 2008 Tue Apr 22 03:01:16 -0700 2008 more...]]> 5 2 false false Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2006 Mon May 05 18:16:00 -0700 2008 Mon May 05 18:20:04 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 1 false false Wed Jul 16 23:40:48 -0700 2008 Thu Jul 17 19:12:44 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Thu Jan 22 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Wed Jan 21 05:54:11 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 23 06:14:13 -0800 2009 2 more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Apr 26 19:45:08 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 26 19:51:14 -0700 2009
The novel is about a woman named Dolores Claiborne. She is the widow of Joe St. George and live-in caretaker of an elderly woman named Vera Donovan. She has come to the police st...more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Dec 18 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sun Dec 14 21:05:43 -0800 2008 Sat Dec 27 20:29:32 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Thu Jul 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Jul 18 09:56:53 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 23 08:18:18 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 03 23:40:40 -0800 2009 Sat Jul 25 23:27:23 -0700 2009 Once
The novel starts off with Dolores Claiborne an old widow in the police intorrogation being accused for murdering her wealthy employer. S...more...]]> 5 0 false false Sun Jul 26 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Aug 28 10:47:09 -0700 2008 Sun Jul 26 13:24:02 -0700 2009
I fail to understand for the life of me how anyone could give this book less than 4 stars (if not 5). All I can think of is that those people have either rushed the book (which is easi...more...]]> 4 0 false false Sat Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Aug 12 12:04:47 -0700 2009 Sat Aug 15 12:32:16 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Nov 12 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sun Nov 02 06:17:28 -0800 2008 Wed Dec 03 18:33:11 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Wed Dec 31 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Thu Jul 16 10:35:11 -0700 2009 Thu Jul 16 10:35:44 -0700 2009
One of King's psychological (as opposed to supernatural) horror stories. Entire book is a confession by Dolores, entirely in her voice. I liked this more than I thought I was going to. I think King does...more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri May 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 13 00:38:58 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 13 01:13:04 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2002 Mon Nov 24 07:55:12 -0800 2008 Mon Nov 24 07:55:12 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 0 false false Mon May 25 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 10 10:32:52 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 10 10:38:26 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Dec 11 15:22:05 -0800 2008 Thu Dec 11 15:23:21 -0800 2008 Great understanding of women psychology with their peristance, patience, mental strengh and cold sophistication few man could compete.
Gives genuine feeling of connection and sympathy to the character....]]> 4 0 false false Mon Jul 20 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 30 08:14:40 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 09:01:39 -0700 2009 more...]]> http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=10625