by Stephen King
read by John Slattery

Since Stephen King is as much an institution as a writer, I should clarify where I stand on HIM before addressing this audiobook specifically. I have always been a fan of his writing. The Stand is one of my favorite books ever, and I’ve enjoyed nearly everything I’ve read by him on some level. I do not find his writing scary. For me, he’s all about the internal dialogue of key characters. And that’s why most of the movies based on his books have been so unsatisfying. They go for the horror, for the external stuff…which is nothing more than the context in which the story occurs. For me, his talent is for revealing what’s going on inside their heads…not good topics to try to communicate on screen.

Duma Key is the story of Edgar Freemantle, a multimillionaire who’s made his fortune in the contracting business. A crane accident has taken his right arm and scrambled his brain. On the advice of his doctor, he relocates to the Florida Keys and takes up painting…to take his mind off his rage issues and depression. What follows is a story of friendship and discovery that’s very satisfying. But, wait…who wrote this again? Ah, yes…Stephen King. So it must be a supernatural thriller with a healthy dose of gore thrown in, right? Well, of course.
However, I think this is one of King’s most mature stories to date. His touch is gentler. His characters are richer…much more sane, much less psychotic. He still handles words with amazing deftness and paints remarkable word pictures. And he relies less on the frenetic insertion of cultural references. They’re there…but it’s not as ping-pongy as much of his other work. Many reviews and articles have referred to the fact that King himself suffered a near-fatal injury some years back, and that that has fueled this particular work…the anger, the slow recuperation, the depression. Probably so. And probably, he’s figured out by now that he has nothing left to prove. I just noticed a much gentler tone here…and it suits him well.
Prepare to enjoy this story…these characters…and this story that traces back nearly a hundred years. Freemantle finds that he can influence reality thru his painting. It’s an interesting device, not unlike the Ted Dekker device of writing in ancient blank books to create reality. But it’s only one element, not the whole story. It could have gotten silly if Freemantle sat madly painting for the entire story…trying to make the boogey-man go away. Instead, it’s simply a doorway to another world…a world inhabited by a young girl and her family, and a sinister entity who threatens to destroy them all…in the past and in the present.
The audiobook is read by John Slattery. This the first thing I’ve heard him read, but hopefully not the last. He’s one of the most unaffected readers I’ve ever heard. A gentle touch…almost transparent. Comfortably bringing the characters to life. I’ve never heard anyone better. He sets the pace and never lets go. It’s very difficult to maintain that kind of consistency over such a long period (21 hrs). Two big thumbs up for this guy!