Jessica's Review: Duma Key by Stephen King

I finished this book weeks ago, but I just couldn't quite figure out how I felt about it. I’ve read several Stephen King books some I liked, some I loved, and some I just couldn't get into. To be quite honest, if I had not gotten Duma Keyfrom the library and had only 2 weeks (kept it an extra week despite late fees) to finish it, I think I would have set it aside.

In Duma Key, Edgar Freemantle is a man seemingly on top of the world with his own business and good family. His life almost comes to an end when he is in a horrific accident while at his construction business. He loses his right arm, badly injures his right leg, and extensive head trauma. Not only does he have to learn to do everything all over, he becomes depressed and has trouble remembering simple words. In one of Edgar’s bad moments (one he doesn’t remember), he almost chokes his wife to death.

Edgar’s wife can’t take anymore and files for divorce before he can fully recover from him numerous injuries. This is too much for him to handle and he contemplates suicide but doesn’t want to hurt his two daughters. His psychiatrist suggests he moves away to get a change of scenery. He ends up on Duma Key in Florida where he realizes his talent of painting. But these are no ordinary paintings, Duma Key is no ordinary island, and the people on it have no ordinary past. Is it the island that is drawing them to it? Read to find out.

So, that’s what the book is basically about. I’ve read some other reviews that equate this book with early Stephen King, but I just didn’t feel that way. I’ve been disappointed in the past few Stephen King books including Cell and Lisey's Story. Maybe I’m just over Stephen King… I hope not.

What did you think of Duma Key?