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Dolores Claiborne

stephen king dominique dill

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À Little Tall, on ne sais toujours pas exactement ce qui s'est passé il y a trente ans, et si l'accident qui, le jour de l'éclipse, a coûté la vie au mari de Dolores Claiborne était vraiment un accident...

Aujourd'hui, la vieille dame indigne est à nouveau soupçonnée : la riche et sénile Vera Donovan, dont elle est la gouvernante depuis des décennies, vient d'être découverte morte dans sa demeure.

Seul témoin et seule héritière, Dolores fait figure de coupable idéale. Elle n'a désormais plus le choix : elle doit passer aux aveux. Raconter les étranges phobies qui habitaient sa maîtresse, se souvenir de l'horreur qu'elle a vécu il y a trente ans. Dire toute la vérité : une vérité terrifiante.

324 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1,1992
Places
little tall island, 

This edition

Format
324 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published
November 6, 1996 by Pocket
ISBN
9782266047425
ASIN
2266047426
Language
French

More editions

About the author

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stephen king

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Stephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.

Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.

He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.

Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.

In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.

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Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
30(30%)
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39(39%)
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31(31%)
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
azhwi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Quizás su nombre me hacía crear otra personalidad en mi mente y no me llamaba mucho la atención este libro.

Pero ahora que lo he leído, tengo que convencer a todos de que este libro es MUY IMPORTANTE por las temáticas que aborda.

Está lleno de realidades que a menudo pasan desapercibidas.

Y que todos deberían leerlo.

No tiene divisiones y, sin embargo, no se me hizo lento ni pesado.

Está escrito a modo de monólogo y de una forma muy entretenida.

Lo tiene todo.

Algo de misterio y algo de humor.

Y da mucha importancia al machismo, para ser de 1993.

También aborda temas como la violencia laboral, doméstica, los abusos, de todo.

Es un libro que te hace reflexionar y que te muestra una parte de la sociedad que a veces preferimos no ver.

Y que, sin embargo, es fundamental conocer para poder hacer cambios y mejorar nuestro mundo.

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kyo_04
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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This book was truly a little gem.

I opted for a combination of reading and listening to the audiobook, and let me tell you, the narrator was absolutely fantastic.

What I believe makes this book stand out is its unique format. The story unfolds as Dolores gives her testimony to the police after her employer dies in her care.

At first, I wasn't entirely sure if I would like the structure of having one long chapter, but it was so incredibly compelling that it worked extremely well.

From the very beginning, I was drawn in by this woman's charming dialect and sharp wit. The question of how she could possibly have been accused of murder lingered in my mind, but she firmly declares that she will tell the whole story, and what follows is utterly riveting.

Although the book touches on a horrifying topic, it is not overly suspenseful or scary - just a little chilling at times. What's more, it is so realistic that it feels more like listening to a true story.

There is a great deal to be learned from Dolores Claiborne, mostly about the importance of being true to oneself.

Stephen King never fails to amaze me with the characters he creates, and I think so far, this may just be my favorite.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read.

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_themightye_
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I have had the pleasure of reading numerous Stephen King books, and this particular one stands out as one of the absolute best.

What makes it so remarkable is the unique narrative structure. The entire book is presented as a continuous monologue. There are no chapter breaks, no shifts to alternative points of view. It is simply Dolores Claiborne sharing her story and openly confessing her failures.

The two main characters, Dolores herself and Vera, are both self-proclaimed bitches, yet they are wonderfully fascinating individuals. Their complex personalities and the dynamics between them add depth and intrigue to the story.

Of course, the lack of chapters makes it extremely tempting to keep reading, often causing one to be late for everything else that one should be doing. This is especially true towards the end when the anticipation of finding out what will happen to Dolores becomes almost unbearable. Fortunately, there is a great epilogue that ties up all the loose ends and provides a satisfying conclusion.

I truly, truly loved this book. If you are a fan of King and have not yet read Dolores Claiborne, I highly recommend that you give it a try. You won't be disappointed.
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Swift37
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Another book by SK figures prominently in my ambitious plan to explore more of his literary works. I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook in Polish. The actress who read the book, Ms Budzisz-Krzyżanowska, is a renowned figure in the Polish theatre. Her narration was so captivating that it made me feel as if I was seated in a theatre, witnessing a masterful performance of a monologue on stage. While listening to her, I couldn't help but think that perhaps Mr King's book was translated into Polish specifically to be brought to life by Ms Budzisz-Krzyżanowska's interpretation.


This book is a classic, with domestic violence and personal tragedy serving as the driving forces behind the characters' actions. It's yet another SK book that I thoroughly enjoyed. The story unfolds in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly engaged with the characters and their struggles. SK's ability to create complex and believable characters is truly remarkable, and this book is no exception.

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Thaker69
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Wow, what an amazing story it is!

In the beginning, I really struggled to figure out what kind of setting it was and what was happening. However, once I managed to understand that, I immediately fell in love with this story.

I simply couldn't put the book down. I am truly glad that I have read it. The character building and development are excellent. It really makes the characters come alive and feel real.

Overall, the suspense building is great. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly wondering what will happen next. It makes the reading experience even more thrilling and engaging.

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Anemone97
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Dolores finds herself in the spotlight when her long-time employer is discovered dead. In her small island community, there have been persistent rumours that she killed her husband years ago. Now, in a darkly humorous tone, she decides to tell her story for the very first time. She peels back the layers and reveals every dark corner of her marriage, her life, and the events that took place both times someone close to her met a tragic end.


Stephen King, who doesn't often write in the first person, once again delivers a masterpiece. His books are always a unique blend of the dark and the funny, the light and the sad. Here, he is at his best, vividly describing the human condition in all its raw realism, hilarity, and grimness. This short book is a gem, and I can't help but wonder why I didn't pick it up sooner!


Edited to add: I recently watched the film adaptation, which features an impressive cast of great actors. Despite the few changes made to the story, it manages to retain the essential excellence of the book. As Dolores herself might say, "Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman’s got to hold on to.”


4.5 stars
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Silvertide
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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You know what is truly impressive? It's the way Stephen King crafts a story that can truly draw you in, make you empathize with his characters, and manage to do it time and time again in a fresh and novel way.

For those of you who still stubbornly refuse to read Stephen King simply because he writes scary and horrific stories, let me tell you that's not always the case. He writes about people in diverse situations and circumstances that they have to grapple with. This particular work is a 5-star read because it is masterfully executed.

In my experience, reading a book typically involves chapters or parts. However, this particular book lacks any of those. It is one long, continuous narrative. I initially thought that would be terrible. How would you know when to stop reading? Well, I suppose that could be a drawback for many. But for me, I just couldn't handle it. Thankfully, there is such a thing as audiobooks. Let me tell you, the narrator of this story is brilliant. Not only is her voice superb, but her pacing and style are phenomenal. I have really, really enjoyed listening to her over the past week and have truly savored the book because of her.

So, what is the book about? Well, it's about a 65-year-old woman named Dolores Claiborne who lives on Little Tall Island outside of Maine. She is married to a horrible man named Joe St. George. She works as a cleaning lady for Vera Donovan and continues to do so until the day Vera dies. Dolores has three children, and that's what the story is centered around. Those are the main characters. Dolores is being interrogated at the police station regarding a murder. She shares with us her tale of Little Tall. She tells the truth about what she knows and what she has witnessed. That's the gist of it.

With such a brief synopsis, how can I give it 5 stars? Because it is written that brilliantly. It's a character-driven piece, much like most of King's novels, and I really, really enjoyed it. Plus, it ties into Gerald's Game. And if you enjoy uncovering Easter eggs in King's books, you're going to get a real kick out of noticing this connection.
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jaded-eagle
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Una lunga chiacchierata si svolge, in cui Dolores Clairbone viene interrogata dallo sceriffo. Lei mette a nudo la sua vita dopo la morte di Vera Donovan, la ricca signora per cui ha lavorato da tantissimi anni. È interessante chiedersi se la volgarità e la sfacciataggine possano essere garanti di verità. In questa storia sentiamo solo la sua voce. Inizialmente, questa voce sembra essere comica, quasi una caricatura. Tuttavia, pagina dopo pagina, assume i toni drammatici di una vita veramente sofferta. Tutto ciò avviene sull’isola di Little Tally Island, davanti alla costa del Maine. Questo nome è emblematico per una storia dura, dove le colpe sono conti che sanno aspettare di essere saldati. Non dirò nulla di più perché questa storia merita di essere scoperta pagina per pagina. «Certe volte fare la carogna è tutto quello che resta a una donna.»

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