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Review by Bobbi Reddix
The genre of horror is one that
has been somewhat overlooked within the past few years. As a fan of
all genres but having a first love for horror, I have found the
pickings to be slim, so I decided to go back and reread an old
favorite.
In Stephen King's "Insomnia,"
we are introduced to Ralph Roberts. He is a man entering the
twilight of his life, making an attempt to enjoy the years he has
left. All things considered, life is going well for Ralph, except
for one thing -- he isn't sleeping very well.
At first he attributes this to
the recent death of his wife and assumes that his sleep patterns
will eventually return to normal. He has also heard that the older
you get the less sleep you need. He decides that if his only
complaint is an hour or so less sleep per night, he can manage.
Eventually, as he awakens each
morning, he begins to notice the time on the clock. One morning he
awakens at 4 a.m., then 3:45… 3:30… 3… Poor Ralph realizes that at
the rate things are going, pretty soon he won't be sleeping at all.
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this review]
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 His friends and fellow citizens
of Derry, Maine, give him every home remedy under the sun, but to no
avail. He tries over-the-counter medications, crystals and different
sleeping patterns and has no luck.
When he begins to see strange
goings-on in his hometown, Ralph convinces himself that his last
hope is to go to the town doctor. The people have begun to have a
certain "glow" about them, an aura, and he can see it. This event is
strange to say the least, but things in Derry get even stranger when
the little bald men show up, and Ralph is the only person who can
see them…
"Insomnia" is definitely not a one-night read, but it is worth every
hour spent anxiously turning its 700-plus pages. In revisiting some
of Stephen King's earlier works, you remember what a good horror
book really is. The suspense is thrilling as once again we read of
an epic battle of good versus evil, and "Insomnia" will make you
wonder if this time, evil might actually win.
[Bobbi Reddix,
Lincoln
Public Library District] |
