Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Doctor Sleep Book Review

Happy Halloween to all! 

      In the spirit of this spooky holiday, I decided to dive into some of the scariest literature out there STEPHEN KING'S books. First up... Stephen King's latest novel Doctor Sleep.
Doctor Sleep is the sequel to The Shining. The Shining focuses primarily on Jack Torrance and his decent into madness and its affects on his family and those at the Overlook Hotel up until the night Jack Torrance went on a killing spree which left several dead. Jack’s son Daniel Torrance just a wee child at this time has never quite recovered from his stay at The Overlook Hotel at which time, he first discovered he had paranormal tendencies known as “the shining.”

       King’s Doctor Sleep chronicles the life of Dan Torrance as an adult. In the beginning of the novel a brief description is given of The Shining, and its aftermath with Dan still a young kid experiencing supernatural phenomena. Then, the focus quickly changes to Dan as an adult and the psychological and emotional turmoil “the shining” has caused him over the years. It is at this point that the reader is thrust into the life of Dan Torrance and it seems to be eerily similar to his father’s past. Dan is an alcoholic who uses drinking to numb his senses and “mask” the supernatural from weaving its way into his mind and clawing at his insides.
      King has crafted a psychological thriller for the masses and lovers of The Shining will not be disappointed in Doctor Sleep as the strangeness only becomes stranger with time.
Insanity ensues when King introduces the reader to the True Knot a group of middle-aged RV driving retiree’s looking for happiness on the open road. But don’t be fooled these people  may look normal on the outside, but they are nuts. They are part of a cult of sorts that feeds off the “steam” which leaves people’s bodies when they die, especially the “steam” of children. These people grow old and decrepit the longer they go without feeding on steam, so they are constantly searching for death and thriving on it, all the while trying to remain un-noticed in public. No one can know the secret they hide.
       All the while Dan has tried to live as normal a life as possible since his horrid experiences as a child. Dan has found himself an old folks home to work at and a nice AA group to help him conquer his alcoholism. However, just when things seem to be going better for Dan all hell breaks loose when he meets a young girl named Abra Stone who also has “the shining” and hers is especially bright. While Dan’s shining “powers” are strong, little Abra Stone’s is even stronger and their encounter/friendship brings Dan to the forefront of his fears of the supernatural as he faces them head-on for Abra’s sake.
      King’s novel is a kin to a maze with many exit signs but no escape. Readers can become lost, if not trapped, in the pages of this gripping novel unable to look away at the most grotesquely insane moments. Doctor Sleep while extremely dark and psychologically challenging for Dan as well as the reader, is a really witty-read with many characters vividly present in its pages each with their own quarks and role in the plot.
This novel is a wonderful follow-up to The Shining and further solidifies King’s abilities and eye for detail. The devil is in the details...
King continually leaves his un-bridled mark on the literary world as one of the most fantastically intelligent writers of his time. 
image from Google



Sunday, October 6, 2013

Sweater Weather!


Finally Fall

Thank goodness it's finally fall! My hometown is experiencing its first cold front of the year. And by cold front I really just mean cool front. I love cool weather it makes me feel so much better than the usual temps of 90-100. I love the cool crispness of the air, the chirping birds everywhere and most of all the sweaters I get to wear. Right now, I'm sitting in my living room in sweatpants and a long-sleeve shirt with my cup of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and my front door wide open so I can feel the fall. It's just wonderful!

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Daily Grind

This seemed fitting for today! I found this on Facebook after a post from the HBO show GIRLS. 
GIRLS is one of my favorite shows, not only is it extremely witty but it is chalk full of pure honesty. Lena Dunham is a wonderful writer. She is challenging society in its perception of what beautiful is and showing people that it is fine to just be yourself. You don't need to look like a supermodel to be beautiful and successful. Lena is a trailblazer for all twenty-somethings who are just trying to find there place in the world. I first started watching this show in college and I found it to be relatable then, but even more so now that I am a college graduate. 
I have been seeking a job in media PR/Film or Music for the last few months and it is so exhausting! I literally sit on the couch watching Netflix all day. Everyday I send out several resumes hoping someone will email me back with a job opportunity. While I have had some people email me back, I've never passed the initial interview. They always say come back in 3-5 years when you have some experience. It's like come on! I have to start somewhere to get that experience. I am a hard working individual who loves media and I just need someone to give me a chance to succeed. Most of all though, I really just want to leave the small town where I am currently living and spread my wings. "Magic Happens Outside Your Comfort Zone" I just need the opportunity to grow, work, meet new people and find that magic. So, I've been applying for a lot of jobs in NY which is extremely out of my comfort zone, but I think it would be a great change. Also the Knicks are there which is really cool! I love the NBA. NY seems like a good place to follow your dreams ~