Well I finally fiished Duma Key.I had a break about halfway through.I LOVED it. It reminded me of  Stephen King Old School style.I was definatly more into the second half of the book than I was the first but I really enjoyed the whole book! I don't want to give anything away so I'm sorry if this is vague ;) but I sure am glad to see that ole Stevie still has a few monsters in his closet that are not human.And of course I was thrilled that he mentioned the show LOST in his book.It was only a nod but that's good enough for me.

 I recenetly subscribed to Entertainment magazine(my son was selling subscripts) and I never knew that Stephen King was a back page regular.Now when I get my mags every week I immediatly flip to the back to see if he is the writer that week:) His atricles are always enjoyable and always make me chuckle.

Stacy

I absolutely LOVED this book!!!  I don't want to say anything to ruin the book either, so I will just say, one of his best. I could not put it down. Stephen never fails to amaze me.

Christa

When it comes to horror, he is the best. I have found no one else who has that dark of an imagination. He has a gift!

I'm with you, this was an awesome read for sure! It blows me away that one person can keep cranking out terrific stories over and over- he's bottomless! Would like to see it as a movie!

I really enjoyed it. I haven't read a Stephen King since I was about 13 years old.

I liked the geographic connections as well. My son goes to Roger Williams in R.I. and his second choice was Bradenton. Minor, but I thought that was neat.

When I saw the book was 609 pages, I thought it would take awhile to delve into, but that wasn't the case. I couldn't put it down and finished it in 2 nights. I might have to read Rose Madder next in the hopes it will be as good.

It's so nice to hear I'm not the only one who thought this book was brilliant.  I was beginning to think no one else liked it. 

Hi,

I just finished Duma key too-I Loved it. Stephen is an interesting author to me because some of his books I hate. FOr instance Cell and Lisey's story I only read about 5 pages of each and then had to stop because I thought they were horribly written. Other books I remember for decades because they are written so well. Those would be The Stand, Green Mile and now Duma key.

What did you think of the end? I am not quite sure I understand the salt in the bathtub thing? Do you think this would be a good movie? I do.

Cathie

I just finished and I loved it too. Does anyone know if he has anything else in the works? It seems like the retirement from writing thing isn't sticking for Mr. King ;)

He has a collection of short stories coming out  on 11/11/08. It is called Just After Sunset.   If you want to add it to your wish list the isbn # is    9781416584087

Ellen D. You definatly need to read Rose Madder. It's absolutely one of my favorite King books ever. For me it's right up there with It, The Stand and The Shining. Brilliant! 

I finised it tonight. I liked the way everything wrapped up at the end. One of his best recent books!

I enjoyed Duma Key, as well. I would agree that this one is more old-school King. I haven't read another book of his that I liked as well since Bag of Bones (which is a great read). I would also recommend Rose Madder, I enjoyed that one as well.

I just got word today of the title  (apparently out since May) of King's supposedly final book. Right now he is well past 1100 pages and aims to make the novel 1800 pages in length. It seems that this novel will reflect the idea of the Crucible or the Mist (though King states Needful Things) in that the characters are cut off from society and must now deal with the situation as well as each other. The story was attempted twice in previous decades under the titles "Cannibals" and "Under the Dome," but King felt that he wasnt ready to take on a project this large.

Look out for King's final (and largest) novel due to be released late 2009 - early 2010.

from another forum

I just finished Duma Key a little while ago, and really liked it.  I'm sure King has had his flops, but so far I've not come across any.  Nothing will match the Stand, IMO, but Duma Key was a great haunted island story.  I loved the art angle and I'm a huge sucker for Southern gothic.  Also it got me to brush up on my Spanish.  I have Needful Things, Pet Sematary and The Gunslinger on my TBR as the next King books I have to get through, but I'm trying to space them out.  I've read about that book Under the Dome, and it sounds good, but I really hope its not his last (I somehow doubt it will be).

I finally got around to reading Duma Key! I thought it was great and finished it in 3 nights... Now even my non-reading Hubby has started it. It will probably take him 3 months hehe :)

I loved Duma Key also.  I am a Stephen King freak!  I loved the Cell & Lisey's story,although it took me awhile to get into that one.  I try to read one of Kings, then either a charlaine harris or dean koontz to level myself before delving into another king.  Only King book I didn't care for was Needful Things, figured that one out after the first chapter.

I can't believe that my opinion differs so greatly from the ones here.  I just managed to finish it after weeks of putting it down and forcing myself to pick up again and I found it ok, but nowhere near the brilliant writing style of his early career.  I found the book  too long (by abut 200 pages)  and with too much repetitive dialogue.  I did enjoy the final chapters, but I almost didn't get there.

Don't get me wrong - I'm still a huge King fan.  I discovered him way back in the 70s and he is the only writer that I wrote a fan letter to after reading Salem's Lot and was thrilled when he responded.  I have it framed and it is one of my most treasured possessions - but I don't feel this book can hold a candle to his earlier work. 

I never thought I would like Stephen King's books, but a friend at work gave it to me so I decided to try it. Once I started I couldn't stop I read it in 2 days. I loved this book I just added it to my bookshelf so someone else can enjoy. I plan to try Bag of Bones next.

Dumas Key really blew me away, I loved the setting and the characters and just like other readers said: Back to the Old King.

Of course I know most of the places he describes, since I live in the state right next to Maine.

There was a time when he lost me: I hated the Dream catcher and Desperation.

Still I have all of his books including the Newest One : Under the Dome.

My new favorites are aside from his early classics:  Lisey's Story, From a Buick 8, Bag of Bones, Insomnia, Green Mile, Tommyknockers and of course Dumas Key.

The King Rocks!