Firstly, to read a Stephen King novel in an afternoon it is clearly not one of his door-stoppers. At less than 250 pages, I found it concise, engaging and thoroughly satisfying. And for me a great introduction to Stephen King.
The story is told in a continuous chapterless narrative by Dolores as she makes a statement, at the local police station, pertaining to the sudden death of her elderly employer. Dolores describes events, not only leading up to the death of the old lady for whom she has kept house for thirty years, but dark secrets from her own past, that shaped not only her life, but the lives of her children. I am not going to say more because much of the enjoyment is in the surprising and wonderful plotting, except to say that the story takes place on a little island off the Maine coast where Dolores has lived all her life. And I really admired King's ability to create two, sympathetic, strong and completely believable female characters, who pretty much carry this story. The novel is a wonderful mixture of sensitive human drama and, what I assume to be, some of King's signature spine tingling effects and creepiness. I loved it.
I will definitely be giving more of Stephen King's novels a go. Has anyone read Dolores Claiborne? And what are others' favourites by King?
