Should I stop reading it?

[Chuck]

Haven't read 'On Writing' so I'll add it to my increasing 'Books to Read' list. Thanks for your thoughts.

My favorite SK works? Has to be The Stand, It, The Dark Tower series, 11/22/63 and Under the Dome.

[Jon]

Loved 'Dance Macabre', which opened doors for my future reading. This book inspired me to read Harlan Ellison, Richard Matheson and Jack Finney, which has kept me entertained and frightened in my reading for many, many years. Have to thank Stephen King for that. Lisey's Story? Yes, forgettable. If I were asked which stories by Stephen King I can remember in detail many years after originally reading them, then Lisey's Story wouldn't figure. On the other hand, I've never forgotten Pet Sematary, The Shining, Misery, The Body, The Mist, Christine or ... The Duma Key. Yes, that last one was written many years after the others, but it's a real grower. The final section with the living doll was really creepy and unsettling.

[Angel]

I personally really loved it. But it's one of those books that some people find hard to read. It was hard for me to get into it, but once I did I adored it!

[Gordon]

I was listening to it through Audible and quit about 2/3s of the way through. The subject matter turned me completely off.

[Donna]

I loved Lisey's Story, but it isn't really a horror story. If a person goes into it expecting horror (and that shelf is where all of King's novels get placed, regardless of what they're about), they may be disappointed. There are supernatural events, but it is mostly a love story.

This was actually one of my favorite King books, maybe because I have been nearly widowed twice, and I felt a certain empathy for the main character. But if you are a third into it and not enjoying it, I don't hold out a lot of hope that you'll change your mind.

[Stepheny]

Patricia wrote: "Michael, you're right about Cell - it was exciting in the beginning. I just felt like it got weak after that. I just kept reading and waiting for something to happen and it kind of fell flat. Ha..."

There is still a hole in my old room at my parents' house from where I threw Tommyknockers across the room because the ending infuriated me so much... Talk about an excellent buildup to an unsatisfying ending!!

[Jessica]

I really enjoyed it! It is not like his other works, so that makes it differant and hard for some to read.

[Anny]

This book isn't exactly a horror book. Sure there's some scary part (the other world) but most of the time it's mystery (what happened to my husband?) and coping with loss (I think she went through all the stages, denial, anger, etc).

If you're looking for something like Pet Sematary, stop reading. If you're looking for palpable terror, read Under the Dome. If you just want an enjoyable read (the mystery is quite intriguing), go on reading.

[Jorge]

2007 I read around 150 pages and dropped it *yawn*
2010 Started all over and... today (June 2013) the bookmark its still on page 216

I can say I'm a huge SK fan. But this book is unreadable.

[Elizabeth]

I tried twice as well. Don't waste your time. Put it down now.

[Mweene]

This is easily the worst book ever written by SK. If you are a sucker for punishment like me, you will go on reading it until its predictable and anti-climactic end. if you are smart you will throw it out the window and look for something else to read.

[Barbara]

I couldn't get past the first 30 pages. This wasn't like Stephen King. In his other books, he kept me turning the pages until the very end. Lisey's Story was boring.

[Mare]

Michael wrote: "Patricia, say what you will about Cell, but you have to admit that it is one of the few King books that isn't slow in the beginning. By page 3 the poop has hit the fan and the story is moving righ..."

I disagree about "Tommyknockers." It was, at the time, somewhat different from what I was used to in King, and it took me quite a while to get into it. Once I did, however, it became one of my favorites. "Lisey's Story" took me even longer to get into, and although it turned out not to be terrible, and I'm glad I read it, I will probably never read it again.

[Mweene]

Agreed. Tommyknockers is fantastic. It's actually one of my favourite SK books and I have read it several times.

[Afh]

Stop! Read 11.22.63 you have not yet. Lisey' story is his worst books about writers. Can't stand it and Duma Key is almost as bad. dont waste time.

[Amanda K]

Chris wrote: "Sometimes the format can make all the difference. I started to read Lisey's Story and didn't really dig it. Several months later, though, I picked up it from the library in audiobook format and rea..."

Yep, me, too. Book was hard to get into, but audiobook made it easier to take in.

[Colleen]

This was definitely not a top fave - there's probably a ton load better that I should get to. And his newest novels look good too,

[Holly]

Yes, stop reading now. I wish I had never wasted my time reading the whole thing......I have learned my lesson....this was the last SK novel I finished. I still read and enjoy his short story collections and I will re-read his early novels; but any new book he publishes will not be on my to-read list.

[Frederick]

If you pay for it, read it. (My motto) That said you'll probably read the jacket a whole lot closer on your next buy.

[Afh]

You all must read "11/22/63" even if it wasn't the whole 50th anniversary thing. Lisy's Story was the worst. I read 100 pages and stopped cold. His books about authors are not the best.

[Frederick]

Agreed 11/22 was 10 times better than I'd expected it to be.

[Cassandra]

I started to read it, couldn't finish it. and I have never turned down a King book. I think the worst one for me was Under the Dome, or the girl who loved Tom Gordon. Under the dome was good..lame ending. and the girl that loved Tom Gordon was just boring as hell. I'm glad it was so short.

[Karyn]

Lisey's Story does definitely pick up, as layers of Lisey's relationship with her husband unfold and more is revealed about him. Still, my philosophy is that there are so many good books out there to luxuriate in, perhaps it's best to put this one down for now. You can always come back to it in a year or two. The book isn't going to disappear so shelve it for now and return to it at your leisure.

Happy reading!

[Nicole]

I tried to read it. I got over page 300 and I just gave up. I personally just didn't care any longer what was going to happen.

[Rico]

Chuck wrote: "I'm about 1/3 of the way through "Lisey's Story" and finding it extremely tough reading another page - Should I continue? Just can't quite get into it - This is a first for me after reading so many..."

I ran into precisely the same problem. In fact, it's the first book I've ever had to give up on. But had to be done.

[Cindy]

I actually got scared reading the book, because her situation "setting" is similar to the way I live. I put the book down for several months. A year or so later I finished it during a vacation. It was great reading on flights etc. I was so glad to finish it and enjoyed the story.

[Jim]

Yes, I agree, stick with it, it definitely gets better.

[GERALD]

as to "Lisey's Story" the author uses the word Smucking for the ......."f- word" at least 50 times in each 100 pages......"Bad gunky" refers to psychosis:the heart of the book....the author's books usually have a pet phrase that he repeats ad nauseum in each book...."no bounce no play---in Dreamcatcher etc.etc.to keep "Constant Readers" reading...here the Entire Book is one long "Schmoopy" laden baby talk extravaganza....."perfectly hughly" irritating.....torture on each and every page....stay away!!in droves!!!please!!!...BTW..I adore Stephen King and have read every word he has ever published........GIVE THIS A WIDE PASS. THANKS!

[Prakhar]

Go ahead. Don't give up on this one that easy. It's a great book. Think of it as an artistic piece of work. Keep up the holistic approach rather than focusing on individual events, and you will find the ending to be rewarding.

[Shannon]

The first few chapters are slow and very hard to follow, I agree. Being a King fan I knew to stick with it and of course he delivered, always does. It's a great book. An eerily touching story. If you're a "true" King fan you know to keep an open mind and just follow the bouncing ball and all will be well. That is why he is such an amazing writer, story teller...the King!