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Duma Key
I just started the audiobook last night. While I am enjoying King's usual skill at building great characters, I find myself to be a bit put off by all the vulgarities contained within the first few chapters. The f-bomb must have been dropped at least 10 times by the end of chapter 3. I know I don't speak or think with such profane language as that and I have to believe that most others don't either (I hope not anyway). I don't mind the occasional cussword to make conversations in books seem more realistic, when it is appropriate, but using profanity just for the sake of profanity and using it far more than would be realistic is not only not beneficial to the story, but is actually detrimental. I find myself rolling my eyes when reading cussword after cussword and King seems to do this in much of his writing. SK is obviously a brilliant guy, but using so many cusswords in his writing tends to suggest the opposite, which is unfortunate. He could easily use an entertaining and more thoughtout word or phrase (which I think Koontz does very well, by the way) much of the time that he chooses to cop out with a cussword and I really wish he would start doing so, as I would enjoy his writing that much better. I am curious to know what others think about this, as this is obviously just my opinion.
I think that in some instances cusswords are very realistic. Edgar is going through alot with his recovery and his frustration at times is very great! If I were dealing with things like that, I'm sure I would slip with a cussword before I would rationally think out a more appropriate response. I agree at times it seems overdone, but I do think that sometimes it makes sense.
Hmm... I think I have to disagree with you on this one, Jason. Maybe it's because my dad was a sailor and I myself have a bit of a tendency to throw 4-letter words around, but I can't think of a single book in which I think that King's use of curse words is gratuitous, or just there because he couldn't think of another way to get the point across. I think cursing in books is a very fine line. Too much, and your characters look like trashy low-lifes, too little (when it's appropriate) and characters that should use it look too virtuous and innocent and unnatural.
I think that King's use of the language he chose in Duma was perfect, actually. You have to remember that in the beginning of the story, Edgar had just been nearly killed, and is trying to recover not only physically but mentally and emotionally, and that kind of life-altering event is bound to make people angry and irrational. He also had pretty serious head injuries, which can change people's personalities permanently, so he is dealing with that as well.
I myself had the feeling that this kind of anger and outburst behavior was not normal for him, and that he frightened himself by it, but was still almost unable to control it. That in itself would make me angry as well, because what I would want most after a traumatic event like that is for things to be normal again, and to have my life be as close to what it was as possible.
In addition to that, he's feeling betrayed by his wife's actions - she's hardly sympathetic to his problems.
I know what you mean that there are a lot of curse words in the beginning, but I don't think that they are there without good reason. Like I said before, I can't think of any of King's books that have gratuitous foul language without reason. Generally he uses the language to show instability (like with Ed Deepneau from Insomnia) or a kind of roughness or abuse, like with Jack's father from The Shining.
But that's just MY opinion. :)
Becky wrote: "Hmm... I think I have to disagree with you on this one, Jason. Maybe it's because my dad was a sailor and I myself have a bit of a tendency to throw 4-letter words around, but I can't think of a si..."Was your dad literally a sailor or did he just cuss like a proverbial sailor? :-)
Angie wrote: "While reading this book I really wish there was a way to see the pictures. Of course I can picture them in my head but I kinda wish they were also in the book... kinda like the illustrated Da vinci Code."I agree! Angie, I've noticed you've put lots of pictures on this group site - can you add any of the pictures (specifically the Dali ones) that are referenced in Duma Key? just curious because if anyone can do it - it's you. :-)
I'm holding out for Wrightson and Whelan in some future incarnation of the book. Even if it was just a pamphlet with some of "their" (meaning Elizabeth and Edgar) paintings and drawings, I'd pony up.
For whatever reason, it had stuck in my head that someone in an earlier post mentioned that there were some drawings in the book. I'm audio-ing it, so thought maybe I had forgotten. There are no drawings, (I checked) other than the wavy horizon line at the beginning.*phew!*
Awww! I thought YOU said there were. Darn. But, that's good though in a way, because now I won't feel bad about not buying the back-hernia-inducing hardcover.
Maybe it was YOUR post that made me think they were. That's too funny! Nope, It was bugging me and I checked a few minutes ago. I kept feeling I was missing something magical, but no such luck.
Well, with King's descriptions, you don't really need pictures, but I can't say I'd mind seeing them.
At least the ones of the pictures that Edgar paints.
I would rather see Elizabeth's if I HAD to choose. I can't imagine those smiles that extend past the faces actually looking like real art, but I'm pretty sure a great painter could show me how they would.
Well, yeah, sorry. I just meant I didn't want to see someone else's interpretation of the characters, just the art.
Oh! You meant the pictures as opposed to the characters. Yeah, me too.:)
I was wondering if anyone else was reminded of the Crimosn King's minions when Perse was described as having THREE holes in her face in Elizabeth's drawing. It was just a quick description, but what else would that third hole have been?
I thought it was supposed to be an eye. Like the Taheen in the CK's service have.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one that thought so!
No, I think I even put in my review that she reminded me strongly of him... like his consort maybe. But I don't want to give too much away.
Mod
That's disappointing. You're the first person I know that disliked the book. I loved it. Hmm.
The best "Picture" description in Duma Key is the one that he ends up giving his younger daughter. IMO
I could just completely see it and had to smile at the cuteness of it..
Anyone Else?
And as for the 'Pics' I just kept seeing something from the Night Gallery... That was Art... ;)
I could just completely see it and had to smile at the cuteness of it..
Anyone Else?
And as for the 'Pics' I just kept seeing something from the Night Gallery... That was Art... ;)
I like the idea of the one he gives his daughter as well. I can, very easily, imagine those tennis balls floatig alonside the detris washed up in the waves. I can even see them bobbing on their way in, which I wouldn't see in a picture.
I find that I have to agree with Becky --- Although I certainly wouldn't mind seeing some of the paintings from Duma Key, I think that it's an essential part of the tone of this book that these paintings are left to the readers' imagination.
I just thought it would be interesting to see the Dali ones he references. I swear I saw that tennis ball picture in the book! I guess the description was pretty good :-) So, I don't need to see the pics that Edgar painted - I'd just like to see the Dali ones - I guess I'll have to look em up if I really want to.
I'm sorry I haven't been listening to my audio. My plan was to listen to it while my kids were at school but I've kept my daughter home with a little cold so my listening time that I was planning on wasn't available. I'm hoping for tomorrow :-)
I remember seeing a canvas with a harpoon gun, a frog and tennis balls swelling out of it as if escaping, but it's not on my HB or my box for the audio. I know there are a lot of covers out there, for instance, mine doesn't have Duma Key written in the sand, but still...I know what you mean about being sure I've actually seen it!
Kandice wrote: "I was wondering if anyone else was reminded of the Crimosn King's minions when Perse was described as having THREE holes in her face in Elizabeth's drawing. It was just a quick description, but wha..."Yeah, that description of three holes in her face - I couldn't picture it, until I thought of a skull with hollow eyes and a hollow mouth. Weird.
I thought of the third hole as a third eye, only they were ALL empty.
Becky wrote: "I thought of the third hole as a third eye, only they were ALL empty. "That's what I was thinking as well.
Mod
It seems to me that many of the thoughts/feelings Edgar has expressed about his suffering from his accident may serve as a conduit for SK's own thoughts/feelings after being struck by the van. Has anyone else considered this possibility?
Absolutely! I was constantly drawing comparisons between King, Patrick Danville and Peter Rickman... I don't know how far you are in the story, and I don't want to give too much away, but suffice it to say that they are all "creators" in a way, through art, and they were all damaged and hurt and kind of "trapped" within themselves while they healed. I'm sorry if that's saying too much already. =\
Becky wrote: "Absolutely! I was constantly drawing comparisons between King, Patrick Danville and Peter Rickman... I don't know how far you are in the story, and I don't want to give too much away, but suffice i..."I'm not far enough to know about the other characters you mentioned, Becky, (I just started a couple days ago and am about finished with part 2), but I do not feel like anything was spoiled. I appreciate your insight into the matter.
The other characters she mentioned are from different King works, so you're safe there.:)I thought about how his situation and Edgar's were alike the entire time I read. With, of course, the exception of Pam, who I absolutely hated, as opposed to Tabby.
Right, sorry. I forget that people aren't inside my head with access to all of my wacky thought processes and character connections! LOL Peter Rickman is from Kingdom Hospital and Patrick Danville makes an appearance in both Insomnia and the Dark Tower series.
I couldn't remember where Rickman was from, but knew it was a television series, so said work instead of book.:)
Becky wrote: "Right, sorry. I forget that people aren't inside my head with access to all of my wacky thought processes and character connections! LOL Peter Rickman is from Kingdom Hospital and Patrick Danvi..."
Ah, okay. I saw some episodes of Kingdom Hospital and I did read Insomnia, but I cannot place those characters.
Mod
Chris wrote: "Peter Rickman is played by the guy that is Noah Bennett on Heroes....right?"Yes sir, he was. :D
Then what character was Patrick Danville in Insomnia, the pharmacist?
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I think I was over in Saudi Arabia when it first aired.
No... In Insomnia he was just a little boy with a scared mom and an abusive dad. He plays a bigger role in the Dark Tower series, or at least the last book.
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Chris wrote: "He didn't look right without his horn rimmed glasses....yeah, i'm a slacker...i didn't ever see Kingdom Hospital until last year....I think I was over in Saudi Arabia when it first aired."
He looked much younger in KH though too, if I recall correctly. I definitely need to get that on DVD.
I've never seen Heroes, so I just can't imagine him differently.
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Maybe two. One for Libbett's drawings, and one for Edgar's. My two favorites were Bernie Wrightson (who also did Cycle of the Werewolf) and Michael Whelan. King must have liked them too, because he used them twice each. (3 if you count COTW!)