Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of Insomnia

Insomnia
Insomnia
Author: Stephen King
ISBN-13: 9780785764830
ISBN-10: 0785764836
Publication Date: 10/1999
Pages: 663
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 28

3.6 stars, based on 28 ratings
Publisher: Rebound by Sagebrush
Book Type: School Library Binding
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

56 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Insomnia on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
I love SK, but this one should be called "The Cure for Insomnia"
reviewed Insomnia on + 46 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Great page-turner and surreal scenes. Ralph Roberts has insomnia. As it gets worse, he's seeing horrible things happening to people in his town. They are turning into demonic monsters. It's like he's dreaming, but he's wide awake! Is he going crazy or are these things really happening?
reviewed Insomnia on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
The story seemed to drag out for way too long. I am a 10-year Stephen King fan and an avid reader of all that he writes and I wasn't impressed at all with this book. The story is very difficult to get in to.
Moosie avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 16 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Ralph Roberts used to be an ordinary guy--until insomnia robbed him of sleep. Now he's no longer ordinary--he can see horrible things happening to the people of Derry, Maine. He can see how, one by one, they are turning into monsters straight from hell.
He'd like to call them nightmares, but he's wide-awake. He can't call himself crazy, because there is another person who sees these happenings, too. But even if seeing is believing, it still doesn't give him a clue of how to stop these deadly, demonic visions from coming true...
reviewed Insomnia on + 111 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
don't miss this one by the master of horror! i've read almost all of his, and this one was one of my favorites!
reviewed Insomnia on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of Stephen King's better books, in my opinion. While 'IT' was all set in the realm of childhood, 'Insomnia' is set in the realm of old age. I've read this book many times, and am now passing along for someone else to enjoy. Give it a try.
reviewed Insomnia on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Like any stephen king book it was great. very suspenseful.
Buttercupp avatar reviewed Insomnia on
Helpful Score: 2
Difficult to get into, but once you're into the book you're hooked.
reviewed Insomnia on + 59 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
If you like to love your main characters that you are reading about, then this is the book for you! Stephen King is unable to write characters that I don't feel something for, but the heroes in this book are even better than most of his other books. There is a lot of "creep" in here and the weirdness factor is off the charts. If you are the type who only wants to read about gore and killing, this is probably not going to be up your alley. For most people, however, it will have you thinking and wondering long after you are done reading.
dragonath avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This was one of my first Stephen King books, and I absolutely loved it! I was actually quite surprised at how fast I was thrown into the book as I was propelled through the pages. Very interesting outcome that I had not guessed on my own!
reviewed Insomnia on + 164 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Ralph Roberts is seeing some strange happenings in Derry, Maine. He sees auras around human beings that show him the horror threatening them. He sees a nice young research chemist like Ed Deepneau turn into a savage wife beater. He sees Charlie Pickering with blood in his eyes and a gleaming knife in his hand. And he sees three little bald doctors in the homes of the dying - and he begins to suspect who they really are. No wonder Ralph stays awake all night. You would, too.
reviewed Insomnia on + 517 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Ralph Roberts can't fall asleep but he is having nightmares and deadly visions while he is awake. Good book
reviewed Insomnia on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Long read...exciting and satisfying
Sunshine avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 142 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorite books by Stephen King! I really like most of his books but this one was really outstanding.
reviewed Insomnia on + 68 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Awesome and terrifying forces are a work in "Derry".
bookluver-in-sc avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 229 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Classic King. Good read. Strange like all his books.
reviewed Insomnia on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
As always, Mr. King does not fail to enthrall with his unusual imagination. I love what I read (about half or a little more) but as a college student I simply don't have time to read such lengthy books. I've been reading S.K. books for almost 30 years, and this book is as good as the first. :-D

This is the story of a man who, after losing his wife, begins to sleep less and less each night. As if this weren't bad enough, he also begins to "see things" but not like any of us would imagine. If you are a fan of imagination and suspense, then you will definately enjoy this page-turner.
reviewed Insomnia on + 118 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Ralph Roberts has a problem: He isn't sleeping so well these days. In fact he's hardly sleeping at all. Each morning the news conveyed by the bedroom clock is a little worse: 3:15...3:02...2:45...2:15. The books call it "premature waking". Ralph who is still learning to be a widower calls it a season in hell. He's begun to notice a strangeness in his familiar surroundings, to experience visual phoenomena that he can't quite believe are hallucinations. Soon Ralph thinks he won't be sleepng at all, and what then? Not so uncommon, you might say - but Ralph has lived his entire life in Derry, Maine - and Derry isn't like other places, as millions of Stephen King readers will testify to. They remember King's novel "It" also set in Derry, and know there's a mean streak running through this small New England city...
reviewed Insomnia on + 124 more book reviews
This was very cool. I could not put it down.
reviewed Insomnia on
This was really a great book. A little more wordy that I felt was needed (600+ pages) but then again it is a S.K. novel. But what really impressed me this time is that the novel had a very good ending. Usually I find S.K.'s endings not very well thought out, seeming like he runs out of things to write about or just got tired of writing, therefore...end it. But, this one I feel is different. Well worth the read all the way to the end.
reviewed Insomnia on
A little slow in the beginning get better as it goes.
reviewed Insomnia on + 73 more book reviews
Great book. I had to read it all in one weekend....
sdkelley avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 3 more book reviews
A bit more mature than King's earlier works. Wonderful read.
reviewed Insomnia on + 204 more book reviews
This has to be one of the worst books I have ever read by King. The way he usually defines characters to the point where we either love or hate them is not in this book. The characters are just annoying. The writing isn't even that good and the story is horrible. It took me forever to read this book and that isn't just because it is dreadfully long.
reviewed Insomnia on + 8 more book reviews
My husband liked it alot!!
reviewed Insomnia on + 7 more book reviews
Typical King. Great book.
bamacarla avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 12 more book reviews
I always enjoy it when authors throw you a curveball and tackle some of life's really difficult questions, and although this is definitely fiction, it made me think about some really tough existential problems. Next to "It", this is my second favorite SK book.
darktowerlady avatar reviewed Insomnia on
I am a diehard Stephen King fan and my obsession began with this book. It is the supernatural story of a man who has lost his wife and is about to embark on the greatest journey in his life. King has a knack for showing true human emotions and the characters in this book become your family. It is not your typical horror story, but there certainly is a great deal of suspense. I have read this book many times and love it more each time.
Side-note: If you are a Dark Tower fan then you should read this novel; it is highly tied in with Roland's journey and he even gets a mention toward the end. This is the book that inspired me to read the Dark Tower series and I'm so glad that I did!
reviewed Insomnia on + 3 more book reviews
this is one of stephen kings best books, it get you quick and really keeps you going to the end, a must read for any stephen king fan
reviewed Insomnia on + 21 more book reviews
A must read for Stephen King fans!
reviewed Insomnia on + 37 more book reviews
Wonderful book!
reviewed Insomnia on + 36 more book reviews
Need I say more. KING is always a great read!
reviewed Insomnia on + 33 more book reviews
Great Stephen King.
reviewed Insomnia on + 48 more book reviews
great book as usual
k9kutter64 avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 167 more book reviews
Tried to read this one but couldn't......
reviewed Insomnia on + 236 more book reviews
Ralph Roberts is seeing some strange happenings in dreary Maine. He sees auras around uman beings that show him the horror threatening them. He sees a nice young research chemist like Ed Deepneau turn into a savage wife beater. He sees Charlie Pickering with blood in his eyes and a gleaming knife in his hand. And he sees 3 little bald doctors in the homes of the dying-and he begins to suspect who they really are.

No wonder Ralfph stays awake all night. You would too.
reviewed Insomnia on + 14 more book reviews
Set in Derry Maine about an ordinary guy who sees deadly demonic visions due to his insomnia
reviewed Insomnia on + 4 more book reviews
I love Stephen King.....very good book!!!! No sci-fi junk like some of his newer stuff.
reviewed Insomnia on + 16 more book reviews
If you don't already have trouble sleeping, you won't be able to sleep again until you finish this book! Classic King, in all his glory!
reviewed Insomnia on + 391 more book reviews
True to the title you will be up ALL NIGHT
reviewed Insomnia on + 292 more book reviews
Kept me awake. lol. Joalice
reviewed Insomnia on + 8 more book reviews
Great book, classic Stephen King. Also, the cover on this book is different than shown here.
reviewed Insomnia on + 2 more book reviews
This is about a man who suffers from insomnia and thinks he is going crazy, but is he?
nap76 avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 124 more book reviews
good book
cmcl1974 avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 2 more book reviews
Loved it. Also makes a great addition to my collection.
missbe avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 14 more book reviews
Get's your attention right from the start
that70sgirl avatar reviewed Insomnia on
I've never read this in its entirety---just couldn't get into it; love S King, too.
Bkcrazee avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 388 more book reviews
Excellent Book
scifimom avatar reviewed Insomnia on + 48 more book reviews
a good king book
reviewed Insomnia on + 13 more book reviews
I rarely part with any of my Stephen King books, but I somehow happened to have an extra copy of Insomnia. As far as King books go, Insomnia was an enjoyable read, but not one of my favorites.
reviewed Insomnia on + 37 more book reviews
Loved it!!
reviewed Insomnia on + 5 more book reviews
A GREAT READ!! My book cover is different than the one shown..
reviewed Insomnia on + 57 more book reviews
First print paperback....Black with the bald doctor in the coat, hat and shoes with his back to you on a bench. Loved this book.
reviewed Insomnia on
The cover of my copy of Insomnia is different than the one pictured. My copy is the original paperback cover not the reissue shown. Book is in good condition.
reviewed Insomnia on + 5 more book reviews
This book is well loved, but is in good condition.
reviewed Insomnia on + 7 more book reviews
cover art is different