I read this book in almost one day.

If you're an audiobook enthusiast, I highly recommend the audiobook version of this particular one.

The book is filled with a lot of dialect, and the narrator did an outstanding job of nailing it.

The entire story unfolds as Dolores Claiborne is being interrogated for the death of her wealthy boss. However, instead, she confesses to killing her husband during an eclipse several years earlier.

There is some excellent production work where you can hear details like coffee being poured and other small things. This really enhanced the immersive experience.

This was a great and quick read, and Dolores is a truly remarkable character.

It's quite evident that this book has connections to Gerald's Game, and it's quite different from a typical King book. It offers a unique and engaging storyline that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

The use of dialect and the detailed production in the audiobook version add an extra layer of authenticity and enjoyment to the reading/listening experience.

Overall, it's a must-read for fans of Stephen King and those who enjoy a good mystery with a touch of the unexpected.

Siempre me sorprende la forma - o formas - que tiene Stephen King de narrar sus historias. Es asombroso cómo logra envolver a los lectores en mundos tan fascinantes y aterradores. En esta ocasión, es la protagonista de la historia quien nos cuenta absolutamente todo, desde su punto de vista claro y directo. Aunque la narración en primer persona no es nada especial en sí misma, lo que llama la atención es que está contada como si fuera una conversación, pero nunca escuchamos o leemos a sus interlocutores.

Aunque no sepamos qué es lo que dicen los otros, ni se nos muestre nada desde su punto de vista, lo que sí queda claro es que Dolores nos cuenta la verdad. Su "monólogo" es tan sincero y convincente que no deja lugar a dudas. Dolores, la protagonista, me ha parecido una mujer super valiente y fuerte. Me encanta lo directa que es, cómo no se muerde la lengua y dice lo que piensa sin rodeos. También me ha parecido una persona muy buena, una madre que ama profundamente a sus hijos y haría cualquier cosa por mantenerlos a salvo, incluso de quien se supone que no debería tener que hacerlo.

Mencionar que su relación con Vera es fascinante, aunque no sé si en el buen sentido o en el malo. La historia no tiene ese tinte de terror que tienen muchas de las obras de King, pero sí que hay ciertas cosas que dan miedo. Sobre todo, lo que hacen es que tu ira homicida crezca a medida que avanzas en la lectura. No quiero contar nada más porque creo que es una historia en la que es mejor introducirse sin saber nada. Solo quiero mencionar cierto pozo de pesadilla que seguramente te marcará.

Dolores Claiborne, a neighbor of Little Tall Island, will find herself immersed in a police investigation. Vera Donovan, the woman for whom she has worked as a cleaner and caregiver for over 30 years, has died under strange circumstances, and the police consider her the main suspect. The story will take place during Dolores' interrogation, and through a monologue, she will tell us the story of her life to try to prove her innocence.

Undoubtedly, the best thing about this novel is the character of Dolores. Clearly one of King's strongest and best-developed female characters, along with others like Annie Wilkes, Beverly Marsh, or Carrie. The character is so powerful that although the book is a long monologue, without chapters and without breaks, it never gets boring and is very engaging.

We die-hard King fans know that this gentleman loves to add filler to his stories, but in this case, the narrative power of the character is so strong that at no point does it seem like there is any padding. It never gets boring.

So what's the catch? Well, what usually happens with King almost always - a lot of build-up throughout the novel, only to lose steam at the end. I was expecting a much more impactful ending and at the level of the rest of the novel. But it was weak and not very intense. This man is wonderful, but he has trouble achieving powerful endings.

That said, I liked it more than Gerald's Game, which I read last year and was eager to give a try to Dolores Claiborne, since both arise from the same event and coexist in some way, which I won't say. I really like that about King, feeling that everything exists in the same universe.

Just read the Wikipedia summary.

It's exactly as boring as one might expect, but at least it won't consume 9 hours of your precious time.

If you're considering listening to the audiobook, well, just shoot yourself.

Once again, it offers the same uninteresting experience, but much, much quicker.

Anyway, this gets zero stars from me.

Good riddance, Stephen.

*Buddy read with Alka who LOVED it?????*

I really don't understand how Alka could have loved this.

Maybe it's a matter of personal taste, but for me, it was a total waste of time.

The story was dull, the characters were unappealing, and the writing style was lackluster.

I would not recommend this to anyone.

King has come up with something rather unusual - a book without chapters and almost no dialogues.

4☆

The translation was good and the story itself was interesting. However, reading the "confession" of the main character throughout the entire book was a bit straining for me. Nevertheless, the plot was okay.

Overall, I would recommend this book. It offers a unique reading experience that might appeal to those who are looking for something different.

Although the lack of chapters and dialogues might take some getting used to, the story manages to hold the reader's attention and keep them engaged until the end.

If you're willing to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, this book could be a great choice.

What limits can a woman push beyond to safeguard herself, yet above all for the welfare of her children? Or perhaps more precisely, at what juncture does a woman's life transform into a ceaseless battle for survival due to a husband who commences to disrupt her and her children's lives? To find out, one must peruse this magnificent tale, where intrigue and suspense intertwine, compelling you not to put the book down until the very end. As Dolores begins to disclose several events in her life that are interconnected and lead to the inevitable trajectory of a crime that makes your hair stand on end.

To place them in context, the story situates us before an interrogation in which a woman relates her life to three individuals; it is divided into two acts. On one hand, the job she obtained with Vera Donovan, a heartless and exasperating woman towards her employees. And on the other hand, the dreadful life she shares with her husband, Joe St. George, and her three beloved children. Both characters are connected as the death of Mrs. Donovan and the death of Dolores' husband are what have drawn attention to her, raising the question of whether she is innocent or directly implicated in both events.

The essence of this story is that the narration is extremely intimate, as we delve into the recesses of Dolores' mind and all that she has to say about Vera, her husband, and the impact they had on her life, to the extent of significantly influencing a large portion of her decisions and actions in the future, for better or for worse. It is a sort of monologue in which only she participates throughout the book.

I was racing through it again in three days. King simply describes people so well and builds up tension without being just plot-driven. He already poses fundamental questions, because Dolores and Vera pay a high price.

Stephen King has an extraordinary talent for creating vivid and relatable characters. In this story, Dolores and Vera are brought to life in a way that makes the reader truly care about them. Their experiences and the choices they make add depth and complexity to the narrative.

The build-up of tension is masterfully done. King knows exactly how to keep the reader on the edge of their seat, anticipation rising with each page turn. It's not just about the events that unfold, but the emotions and inner turmoil of the characters that drive the story forward.

Moreover, the fundamental questions that King poses make the story even more thought-provoking. We are forced to consider the consequences of our actions and the sacrifices we may have to make. Dolores and Vera's high price serves as a reminder that life is often full of difficult choices.

Overall, this is yet another example of King's brilliance as a writer. His ability to combine engaging characters, intense tension, and profound themes makes for a truly captivating read.

"An accident... is sometimes an unhappy woman's best friend."

Five stars for Stephen King's Dolores Claiborne! I've been gradually making my way through King's extensive catalog. I chose to read Dolores Claiborne for two reasons. Firstly, I had liked the 1995 movie version starring Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Secondly, the story features a total solar eclipse, which we just experienced last year.

However, I was completely unprepared for how amazing the dialogue was, how sharp and witty the character of Dolores would be, and how thrilling the beats of the novel were, even though I had a vague recollection of the movie plot. I quickly became so engrossed in the book that I abandoned all my other plans for the day and just kept reading. And reading. I even stayed up past my bedtime, eager to reach the end.

One of the things I most valued in this book was how skillfully King had written the female characters, especially Dolores and Vera. These women had strength and vitality. They were fully developed individuals with their own independent minds. They were truly interesting to read about.

A few months ago, I read novels by three bestselling male authors: Harlan Coben, John Grisham, and John le Carré. Reading their books one after another, I was struck by how stereotypically some of the women were written. They were often portrayed as weaklings, breaking down in tears and hiding in a corner while the men stomped off to solve problems. When the women weren't crying, the men were ogling their asses or fantasizing about having sex with them. Or the men were irritated by the women's nagging, complaining about their moods and neuroses, or how they got in the way when "real work" needed to be done. I was really irritated and disgusted when I noticed this. Granted, the le Carré book had been written in the 1960s, but the Coben and Grisham novels were 2017 publications. Come on, guys! Let's move beyond the Mad Men era and give women more to do than just strut around in tight pants and cry in the corner.

While chatting about these gender stereotypes in novels, one friend said he thought Stephen King wrote women fairly well. And he was right. Dolores Claiborne restored my faith in male writers. I'll continue to read King's books, but I may take a break from the others for a while.

Notes

*I just watched the movie version for the first time in 20 years, and it still holds up well. What's interesting to me is how differently the book tells the same story compared to the screenplay. In the novel, Dolores tells her story in a long confessional conversation to investigators, so it's all from her voice and perspective. In the movie, the screenwriters introduced the character of the daughter, Selena, which added another dimension and perspective to the story. This is why I love comparing the source material to the movie adaptation - it's fascinating to see how the writers approach the story in different ways.

**I want to clarify that I'm not condemning every book or female character that Grisham & Coben have written. The two novels I read last fall that included some irritating stereotypes were Coben's Don't Let Go and Grisham's The Rooster Bar. In both cases, the women who seemed like caricatures weren't the main characters, but there were several scenes that made me cringe. Both of those men publish a lot of books, and I've read other novels by them that included women who were portrayed with more complexity. It's possible that the writers were under a tight deadline and the easiest thing to do was to fall back on silly stereotypes rather than create a more nuanced character. This experience has made me pay closer attention to how male authors write about women.

Favorite Quotes

"I understood something else, too - that one kiss didn't change a thing. Anyone can give a kiss, after all; a kiss was how Judas Iscariot showed the Romans which one was Jesus."

"In those days I still believed the love of a man for a woman and a woman for a man was stronger than the love of drinkin and hell-raisin - that love would eventually rise to the top like cream in a bottle of milk. I learned better over the next ten years. The world’s a sorry schoolroom sometimes, ain’t it?"

"He was a coward at heart, you see, although I never said the word out loud to him - not then and not ever. Doing that's about the most dangerous thing a person can do, I think, because a coward is more afraid of being discovered than he is of anything else, even dying."

"Sometimes you have to be a high-riding bitch to survive. Sometimes, being a bitch is all a woman has to hang on to."

\\n  There's no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids.\\n

This quote by Stephen King is possibly my favorite.

While Dolores Claiborne may not have the magnificently detailed and epic plot of, for example, 11/22/63, it more than makes up for it in the realm of characterization. Dolores is an absolutely fabulous and highly relatable anti-heroine.

This book tells the story of one woman's life. It delves into her hard work, her unwavering perseverance, the difficult situations she endured, and ultimately, the revenge she pursued. We are informed right from the start that Dolores killed her husband, but the journey of understanding why and how she did it had me completely engrossed, unable to turn the pages fast enough. Additionally, we know that she is being questioned in relation to the death of her long-time employer. The story of Vera, and the complex relationship Dolores has with her, unfolds alongside Dolores' own family troubles.

I experienced a wide range of powerful emotions while reading this. There was anger at the injustices Dolores faced, frustration with the circumstances she had to deal with, sadness for the hardships she endured, and even a bit of fear at the unknown. I kept reading, constantly in search of one more emotion: relief. You'll have to read all the way to the end to find out if we ever get that much-needed relief.

▪️4,5▪️
Reading together with the beloved Phaedra!

In this world, there are times when it seems all doom and dark outside. The gloom pervades, and it feels as if there is no hope in sight. But then, there is you, alone inside. You have the crucial task of first making a light. It's not an easy feat. You have to dig deep within yourself, find that spark, and nurture it into a flame. And once the light is made, you have to tend to it carefully. You can't let it go out easily. You have to be strong, resilient, and yes, sometimes you have to be a bitch. Because in the face of all that darkness, you have to be unwavering in your determination to keep that light shining bright.

The words "Sometimes you have to be a high riding bitch to survive, sometimes, being a bitch is all a woman has to hang on to." really set the tone for this captivating story. I was completely enthralled by the way the book began with our protagonist, Dolores, confessing to the police about the murder of her husband. Despite this rather dark opening, I had the distinct feeling that I was sitting in a cozy living room, being served tea both literally and figuratively, as an old woman told a long, compelling, and grisly story. As Dolores shared her tale with her audience, the narrative grew darker, but there was still an abundance of wit and humor throughout. It was truly a remarkable combination. I found myself completely charmed by Dolores and her story. In fact, I can't help but think that I want to be this woman when I grow up. She is a force to be reckoned with, and her story is one that will stay with me for a long time. All. The. Stars.

**Original Article**:
The importance of recycling cannot be emphasized enough. It helps reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and protect the environment. By recycling, we can also save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Everyone should do their part to recycle and make a positive impact on the planet.

**Expanded Article**:

The importance of recycling simply cannot be overemphasized.

Recycling plays a crucial role in reducing waste. When we recycle, we divert materials from landfills, which helps to conserve valuable landfill space.

Moreover, it is a key means of conserving natural resources. For example, recycling paper can save trees, while recycling metal can reduce the need to mine new ores.

Protecting the environment is another significant benefit of recycling. By reducing waste and conserving resources, we are lessening the strain on the environment and helping to maintain its delicate balance.

In addition, recycling can also lead to energy savings. It often requires less energy to recycle materials than to produce new ones from scratch.

This, in turn, helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Finally, it is essential that everyone does their part to recycle. Whether it's separating recyclables at home, participating in community recycling programs, or supporting businesses that prioritize recycling, every little bit counts.

By working together, we can make a positive impact on the planet and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.