Duma Key

[Becky]

And, K-chan, isn't Slattery WONDERFUL?? I never wanted the book to end, but I wanted to know what happened so badly!

[Rachel]

My only problem with Duma Key is when I reread it,it makes me wanna reread Lisey's Story. The book about marriage and the book about divorce back to back. And aren't there similar images in both books?

[Kandice]

Becky wrote: "And, K-chan, isn't Slattery WONDERFUL?? I never wanted the book to end, but I wanted to know what happened so badly!"

Yep. I told you, I listened to him read

Exit A A Novel which is not a very good book, but certainly became one in Slatter's voice. That's a lot of vocal talent!

[Kandice]

Rachel wrote: "My only problem with Duma Key is when I reread it,it makes me wanna reread Lisey's Story. The book about marriage and the book about divorce back to back. And aren't there similar images in both bo..."


I agree. I saw Lisey's Story as a love letter to Tabitha, and thanks to other behind the scene people. I'm sure it's not a piece of cake being in "THE MAN'S" life.

I saw Duma, almost as a nod to them helping him get over his addictions. Of course, mostly Tabby, but others too. Like he was broken, and they helped fix him, put him back together...whatever, so he could continue to do what he was built to do.

[Becky]

Hmm... I think that Duma is also a reflection on King's personal inner fears...


**************SPOILER***************


The death of one of his children... That his art (writing) could turn bad and betray him... That his wife wouldn't stick by him when he needed her most...

************************************

[Kandice]

Yes, I mean those things too, but also that she HAS stuck by him through a lot of crap. His kids ARE okay, and maybe this is letting them know how detryed he would feel if they weren't. God forbid his art turn bad!!!! I shudder to think.

I think we should call you Deep Thought instead of Becky! You insightful thing, you;)

[Becky]

Ack! Please don't... It's a fluke, an anomaly... But I do love Douglas Adams... NO! It's not right. LOL

[Kandice]

Wait until you're...42!!!!!

[Becky]

We would ALL be screwed if King's art turned bad the way it did in the book. *shudder* It was nice knowing you all.

[LinBee]

Becky wrote: "We would ALL be screwed if King's art turned bad the way it did in the book. *shudder* It was nice knowing you all. "

Hear, hear! Talk about nightmares...

[Rachel]

LinBee wrote: "Becky wrote: "We would ALL be screwed if King's art turned bad the way it did in the book. *shudder* It was nice knowing you all. "

Hear, hear! Talk about nightmares..."

I hope i'd be part of the 1% with a great enough immune system to ward off the superflu...then left to fight the zombies...crazy nurse...Crimson King...ahhh the possibilities.

[LinBee]

Rachel wrote: "I hope i'd be part of the 1% with a great enough immune system to ward off the superflu...then left to fight the zombies...crazy nurse...Crimson King...ahhh the possibilities."

I was just picturing if all of them came true at once. We'd have Long Walks, the superflu, clowns in the sewers, heavy mists everywhere, people going back and forth to Boo'ya Moon, Zombies raging. Not to mention you wouldn't want to go near any small towns for fear of aliens and weird devil stores....

Ah, what a world...

[Rachel]

Ok so I can't remember who recommended Duma Key on audio first (narrowed it down to Kandice or Becky)but it is awesome. The second time i physically read this book I got inspired to go buy a sketch book cuz i was looking to get back into a hobby and i used to draw when i was little. I never found time to crack open the sketchbook. Now i'm listening to it on audio and drawing which totally relaxes me. This scaring anyone else? :)

[Kandice]

I think we've both audio-ed it, Rachel, so it oculd have been both of us. It was excellent! I thought I loved reading it, but listening was even better. Whenever I heard "Libbett's frog wiff teef" I would just get the willies!

[Becky]

Oh, it is so good, isn't it? I took it off of my MP3 player because it was so large, but I wanted to keep it on in case I wanted to listen again. John Slattery's voice is absolutely perfect.

[Kandice]

Slattery is a brilliant reader. I listened to him read Exit A, and I could tell I would not have kept reading the book, or even have liked it, but I listened to the whole thing because Slattery made me want to. (Not Swofford!)

[Becky]

I wish Slattery had read The Shining. I just couldn't get into that one on audio, even though I know you loved Campbell Scott. I think his voice was just too, deep and slow and ominous. Even though that is an ominous book, it just distracted me.

[Becky]

I WILL try it again though. I think I may just have not been in the right mood. :)

[Rachel]

I love Slattery's voice and he does a great Minnesotan accent when he has to! I keep reminding myself as I listen to it at night that it gets dark and scary, creeps up on you. Then I can't sleep.

[Becky]

Rachel wrote: "I love Slattery's voice and he does a great Minnesotan accent when he has to! I keep reminding myself as I listen to it at night that it gets dark and scary, creeps up on you. Then I can't sleep."

Yes, Duma is definitely a creepy book, and Slattery conveys that so perfectly. I found myself with goosebumps quite a few times.

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Anyone reading a long this month? There were 4 threads started on Duma Key... so I posted them all under the monthly book but closed 3 of them so we could keep the conversations in one thread. I posted them here though so people could read what they say... Happy Reading!

[Stacie]

Actually, I just finished it yesterday- it took me a day and a half to read because it was hard for me to put it down (until I looked up, discovered it was dark and that I was alone in the house anyway, LOL). I was going to wait until it was officially October to start discussing it though ;)

[Aaron]

Stacie wrote: "I was going to wait until it was officially October to start discussing it though"

I just picked it up today, knowing it was basically October. I've been meaning to reread Duma Key - read it about six months ago - and I'm instantly reabsorbed. King has been so strong the past few years!

[Kandice]

I am audio-ing it. I just started today. Having said that, I read it when it first came out, and have audio-ed it before, but I am going to try to keep my posts relevant to the part I am listening to now.

The beginning is so good. I love the way he refers to Wireman before he has been introduced. Also, how can you not just love his youngest daughter Illy? She seems so sweet and tender-hearted.

[Chris , The Hardcase]

I liked it quite a bit. I actually read it shortly after it came out.

[Kandice]

Rob wrote: "How many Duma Key threads does one group need?"

As many as we can support;)

[Becky]

I wish I could find time to fit in the audio of this again... I will just have to go by memory. It was SO good though. I loved it!

[Cindy]

Just picked up a nice hard copy from The Strand for $9. Psyched. Gonna go start on this one.

[Becky]

I saw the hardcover edition at the thrift store the other day. It was in perfect condition, and it would have been like $5, but I didn't get it.

It's just so HUGE in hardcover. I'm not that strong. O_o

[Kandice]

This morning on my first commute (3 kids, 3 schools) I got a little past Gandalf's death. I hate that whole scene, but when he scarfs the chopped meat...that's when things start to get creepy.

My favorite image from this book came up for the first time, too. "Frog wiff teef". I have no idea why, but that just gives me chills.

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Rob wrote: "How many Duma Key threads does one group need?"

Some of those threads were created before I was a moderator. Now I am all about organization!

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Stacie wrote: "Actually, I just finished it yesterday- it took me a day and a half to read because it was hard for me to put it down (until I looked up, discovered it was dark and that I was alone in the house an..."

Good to know it is a fast read.... the hard back looks daunting!

[Becky]

Angie wrote: "Rob wrote: "How many Duma Key threads does one group need?"

Some of those threads were created before I was a moderator. Now I am all about organization! "

Who was mod before you? I thought that you created this group!

[[deleted user]]

Becky wrote: "I saw the hardcover edition at the thrift store the other day. It was in perfect condition, and it would have been like $5, but I didn't get it.

It's just so HUGE in hardcover. I'm not that str..."

I'm w/You Becky... I always go for paperbacks. They're SO much easier on my hands.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

"Black is the absence of light, but white is the absence of memory, the color of can't remember."
-from the very first page of Duma Key, How To Draw A Picture (I)

[[deleted user]]

I can't remember either ;)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

I was reading chapter one, "My Other Life", last night and came to the following passage:
"It was the song about the poor woman who turns out her pretty daughter as a prostitute. It was 'Fancy,' by Reba McEntire."

I'm a Country Music listener and I have this song on CD - since reading about it, I can't get the song out my head. Here are some of the lyrics:

Mama dabbed a little bit of perfume on my neck
And she kissed my cheek
Then I saw the tears wellin up in her troubled eyes
When she started to speak
She looked at a pitiful shack
And then she looked at me and took a ragged breath
She said your pas run off and Im real sick
And the babys gonna starve to death

She handed me a heart shaped locket that said
To thine own self be true
And I shivered as I watched a roach crawl across
The tow of my high heel shoe
It sounded like somebody else that was talkin
Askin mama what do I do
She said just be nice to the gentlemen fancy
And theyll be nice to you

She said heres your chance fancy dont let me down
Heres your one chance fancy dont let me down
Lord forgive me for what I do, but if you want out
Well its up to you
Now dont let me down you better start movin uptown

Well, that was the last time I saw my ma
The night I left that rickety shack
The welfare people came and took the baby
Mama died and I aint been back

But the wheels of fate had started to turn
And for me there was no way out
And it wasnt very long til I knew exactly
What my mamas been talkin about

I knew what I had to do but I made myself this solemn vow
That is gonna be a lady someday
Though I dont know when or how
I couldnt see spending the rest of my life
With my head hung down in shame you know
I might have been born just plain white trash
But fancy was my name

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

Always wrote: "I can't remember either ;)"

I should have stated where that quote came from - I'll go back and edit my post right now :-) are you reading Duma Key?

[[deleted user]]

Dustin wrote: "Always wrote: "I can't remember either ;)"

I should have stated where that quote came from - I'll go back and edit my post right now :-) are you reading Duma Key?"

I will be getting to it within the next few days when things are less hectic around the place...

[Benjamin]

Thought the point or book clubs was to ask questioins about the story,not a slobberfest about the book or shit that has nothing to do with the book. Guess I was wrong.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

Hi Benjamin - I'm reading Duma Key in October - this is my first Monthly Read since joining the Stephen King group. I'm only on chapter 2 - I don't really have any questions about the book right now but I did share a couple of quotes.

I hope by sharing the lyrics to Reba's song "Fancy", I wasn't adding to the "slobberfest" :-) Reba does play a significant role in the story as least as far as I've read and I thought other group members who aren't familiar with the song (which was mentioned in Duma Key) might like to know they lyrics.

Anyway, I'm reading and trying to participate in the group discussion. This is only my second King book and I'm loving Duma Key.

[Becky]

I think the point of discussing a book is to discuss it, in any way that it is relevant to the reader.

What exactly do you mean by "slobberfest", by the way? Are "book clubs" (which this is not, technically, as it is a "Fan Club") not allowed to express their feelings about the great books they've read?

I guess I'm a little confused here. Benjamin, perhaps you could clarify what you think is irrelevant to the conversation.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

Becky wrote: "I think the point of discussing a book is to discuss it, in any way that it is relevant to the reader...

I agree, Becky - I think people participate in different ways as they read the book.

I think Benjamin called this a book club because Angie titled this particular thread "Duma Key - October Book Club Pick".

[Becky]

*shrug* Yeah... It doesn't really make a difference. Just semantics. But, I'm just not really in the mood for antagonizing people today.

There's nothing wrong with what you posted. I remember thinking about the implications of the song when I listened to Duma originally, and thought that it was an interesting reference.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

Becky, Good :-) I may be sharing more quotes as I read along - certain phrases/passages just stand out to me. I'm participating this month in the monthly read in the Dean Koontz group also - these are my first group reads.

I've already got my nominations in for the November Stephen King book and I'll be voting! I think this is a great way to cover the books of favorite authors and get opinions/insights from people who are reading the same book.

[Becky]

Dustin wrote: "Becky, Good :-) I may be sharing more quotes as I read along - certain phrases/passages just stand out to me. "

Cool... Just make sure to mark any spoilers. :)

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

:-) will do

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Benjamin wrote: "Thought the point or book clubs was to ask questioins about the story,not a slobberfest about the book or shit that has nothing to do with the book. Guess I was wrong."

That's what discussing the story is all about! Our conversations here are all over the place yes I admit it. But that is one thing that is great about King. He gets you thinking about life. Please everyone feel free to discuss whatever comes to mind when reading this book. And I love that you included quotes! I believe each member's reaction to the book is relevant to the book discussion. I like that Dustin included the song lyrics! I didn't know them and am glad to read them.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

I don't even know if "Fancy" was part of the "shit" Benjamin was referring to - we may never know - unless he clarifies with another post.

I did find it interesting though that when I clicked on his name to see what other comments he has made in the Stephen King Fans group, I came up with nada - except this complaint.

[Becky]

Two complaints now...