Eine interessante Geschichte mit einer erfrischenden Perspektive bietet dieses Buch. Allerdings war ich etwas gestört von den fehlenden Kapiteln. Als Kapitelleser stellte dies für mich eine mittelschwere Herausforderung dar. Zumindest hätte ich mir ein oder zwei Absätze zwischen den Teilen gewünscht, aber leider fehlen diese auch. Gefühlt leicht erschlagen vom Text, war es immer etwas unbefriedigend, mitten im Text zu stoppen und das Buch beiseite zu legen. Der darauf folgende Wiedereinstieg war dementsprechend auch nicht einfach. Ich musste immer ein wenig Zeit brauchen, um wieder in der Geschichte zu sein.

Aber wenn man sich einmal in der Geschichte befindet, lässt sie einen auch nicht mehr so schnell los. Im Grunde handelt es sich bei diesem Buch um einen einzigen Monolog. Dolores sitzt im Verhörraum und erzählt ihre Lebensgeschichte, und es ist fast so, als würde man ihr selbst gegenüber sitzen und zuhören. Dies ist sehr gut gemacht und zieht den Leser sofort in die Geschichte hinein.

Was die Charaktere angeht, glänzt King hier einmal wieder. Dolores ist ein großartiger Charakter. Man schließt diese Frau sofort in sein Herz und verzeiht ihr irgendwie alles, egal wie schlimm ihre Taten auch sein mögen. Ihre Geschichte ist fesselnd und man begleitet sie mit Spannung durch ihre Lebensereignisse.

Dolores Claiborne

Although it shares a time frame and some plot elements with its predecessor, “Gerald's Game”, “Dolores Claiborne” is absolutely unique in King's canon. From the first page, we are aware that things are not typical. The entire novel is told in an unbroken first-person monologue as Dolores relates the events that led to her recent arrest. Vera Donovan, the woman for whom Dolores has worked most of her life, has died, and Dolores is accused of murder. To clear her name, Dolores has decided to tell the story of the fateful events that took place during the total solar eclipse of July 1963.

Dolores' long narrative bounces back and forth between time frames, from the early 1960s to the present, detailing the secret stories of her terrible marriage and her employment with Vera Donovan. Unlike “It”, these twin stories do not have the benefit of chapter jumps or balanced italics, relying completely on King's narrative skills to keep things coherent and fluid. We come to understand Dolores' abusive relationship with her husband and why she endured it for so long. In a less successful novel, her husband Joe St. George could have appeared as nothing more than a caricature. The many levels of abuse he heaps on Dolores and her children (physical, emotional, sexual, psychological, and even financial) could have potentially turned him into a monstrous behemoth, which would have been to the detriment of the book. King wisely develops Joe enough to make him human, and terrible enough for readers to understand Dolores' drastic decisions.

As in “Gerald's Game”, there is a family situation that is a central element. Dolores discovers terrible things her husband has done, and her awareness of the radical change in her daughter's behavior and her determination to discover what has triggered it highlight her ingenuity. Although we see this from Dolores' point of view, we also perceive the pain and confusion of her daughter Selena. Although this is not her story, Selena St. George is well realized. Dolores has a plan to stop enduring her husband's abuse towards her and her children, and it is here that King runs the greatest risk of allowing his message to overshadow the story. While there is some discussion of gender inequality, King never allows these statements to become generalized. Dolores' story remains unique and personal, keeping us grounded and interested without revealing the author's intention.

The events that take place during the same eclipse we see in “Gerald's Game” are as close as “Dolores Claiborne” comes to being a traditional horror novel. The change from day to night is unsettling, amplifying the realism throughout the rest of the novel into something almost supernatural. Dolores' voice is key to the success of the novel. King endows her with a dirty mouth and a colloquial speech as peculiar as it is entertaining. By putting the entire book in her language, King colors each page with Dolores' energetic personality. It is this voice, more than any other element, that drives the novel forward, making “Dolores Claiborne” one of King's fastest-paced novels.

It is a testament to King's writing that Dolores' time with the sick Vera Donovan is as convincing as the tragic details of her marriage. In a direct narrative, the peculiarities and terrors of Vera's personality could have become frustrating. Seen through Dolores' eyes, and in contrast to her marriage, they are more understandable and absorbing. Like all the other secondary characters in the novel, Vera shows herself to be human, with a fierce determination to live independently that colors all aspects of her life.

Here as elsewhere, the feminist nuances of “Dolores Claiborne” work subtly, woven into the subtext of the novel with such skill that they never become obvious. “Dolores Claiborne” does not speak in black and white terms. Dolores herself is a complex character more than capable of carrying her own novel. Beyond the character, Dolores is an incredible mix of voice, dialect, rhythm, and tone. Apparently unconnected sequences scattered throughout the narrative fit perfectly into a cohesive whole at the end, each mystery resolved and explained subtly and astutely.

“Dolores Claiborne” is an ambitious novel with enough energy and freshness to be considered a masterpiece among King's extensive canon. It is a very enjoyable story, completely engaging and, ultimately, convincing about the hard journey of a woman's soul.

Full review without spoilers on my YouTube channel ➡ Maponto Lee

“I'm not making an enemy; I'm keepin' one.” This powerful statement is part of Dolores Claiborne's monologue as she is being accused of the murder of Vera Donovan, an elderly woman she had been taking care of for years. And this is how the story of her life begins to unfold. Her words are rapid, sometimes filled with anger that makes you feel close to her, and at other times it makes you angry. Here, Stephen King follows a rather different writing technique than what we are used to, but he still manages to be flawless. It may not be one of my favorite works of the author as it wasn't quite to my taste, but still, you can't ignore how peculiarly he has placed the character of Dolores and how slowly but surely he reveals the mystery in the plot between the present and the past!

“Sometimes you have to be a high riding bitch to survive, sometimes, being a bitch is all a woman has to hang on to.” This quote further emphasizes the complex and strong nature of Dolores Claiborne. She has had to endure a lot in her life, and this has made her into the person she is. King does an excellent job of exploring her character and the events that have shaped her. The story is full of twists and turns, and you never quite know what is going to happen next. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

I don't think I've ever experienced such a drastic "about-face" in my feelings while reading a book as I did with this one.

Just 50 pages in, I was on the verge of giving up and setting this book aside. However, 50 pages later, I found myself completely captivated and devoured the remaining pages with great enthusiasm.

This book is truly excellent. It tells a story that is both powerful and, in a way, haunting. Unlike the typical SK novels that often have overt terror elements, this one is subtly frightening.

Nevertheless, it is palpably potent and resonant. The character of Dolores is simply amazing. She adds a unique charm and depth to the story, making it all the more engaging and unforgettable.

Overall, this book has left a deep impression on me and I would highly recommend it to others.

I’m not an overly enthusiastic fan of Stephen King, but Dolores Claiborne really appealed to me. Previously, I had only read three of his works to understand what others saw in him. I have to say that I liked his psychological version the most. Despite being regarded as a horror writer, he is actually a very good observer of life. He is not especially prophetic or revealing, but just good. He also seems to have the ability to create a vivid atmosphere of the time and place he describes. To me, a picture of reality, even if distorted, along with an unspecified sense of growing horror enhanced by a carefully chosen setting, whether it's a desolate off-season hotel, a solitary house on an island, or just an amusement park, is enough to maintain the suspense and keep me engaged. Don't misunderstand me; I don't mind some supernatural elements now and then, but I don't need any zombies, vampires, and such.

The novel is written in the form of a monologue by the title protagonist. Oh my, Dolores is really a fast talker. She goes to the police station because after the death of Vera Donovan, her former employer who was lately a demented person under her care, she seems to be the natural suspect. And so her confession about her life begins. She throws out words like a machine gun, and at times she is aggravatingly digressive, but the language she uses sounds very real. Sometimes she is full of understanding and compassion, and then again she is frustrated and on the verge of committing a murder, at least verbally. Her talk is chaotic, with the events of the last days intertwined with facts from several decades ago. She tells us about that old witch Vera and her own marriage. And all this is done almost in one breath.

I don't know King's style and writing technique very well, but I think this kind of narration is not typical for him. But it worked for me. Giving the floor to Dolores and letting her pour out her heart, anger, and fear. The picture that emerges from her talking is not a pretty one. Dolores had such a terrible life. As I was reading, I was truly curious about how she managed to survive in such an unfriendly world. I didn't care that she killed her despicable husband; it's hardly a spoiler since Dolores admits it in her first words. I was interested in how she managed to get away lightly. I wanted to know how she dealt with her children afterwards. I was also interested in her relationship with Vera Donovan because before the latter turned into a demented harpy, she was, well, a harpy but a very smart one with a razor-sharp mind, yet her life wasn't all that great either.

I found the character of Dolores well-written, neither too exaggerated nor an inept poor thing. She is a real woman, flesh and blood, always ready to jump down someone's throat and fight anyone who wants to hurt her children. And I think this is the strength of this book. I don't believe in vampires or other creatures, but evil and bad people are a completely different matter. For even as I am writing these words, somewhere there is a villain hurting a child. All in all, I found this to be a very decent read and a quite successful encounter with an author who is not really my favorite.

3.5/5

I truly loved this one.

Dolores Claiborne has now become a favorite character of mine!

Some people claim that this work was so different from King's typical style. And indeed, it was in the sense that it didn't fall into the major horror, supernatural, or tense genres.

However, when it came to the characters, it was definitely King.

King has an extraordinary talent for creating characters, and this was one of the best character studies I've ever had the pleasure of reading!

The way he developed Dolores Claiborne was simply outstanding.

Her personality, her motives, and her struggles were all so vividly portrayed that I felt as if I knew her personally.

It was a masterful piece of writing that left a lasting impression on me.

So, well done, Stephen King!

If someone had predicted that by the end of the year I would be reading my third Stephen King book, I would have just laughed. I don't know if he's really my favorite author, and I don't dare to admit to being scared - maybe I really don't need all those horrors in my life anymore. And yet, there's such a wealth of works from which to choose that it seems impossible. And still, when there's a King ambassador by your side, it's hard to say no. And I'm very glad I didn't - the author has become one of the best discoveries of these years, and I feel the fear, which I kind of embrace after a while. And it doesn't always have to be blood or other gross things - I realized that the most effective horror for me is just... people.

This book contains a novel and a story, the first of which is "Dolores Claiborne". Once again, I was convinced that King is an absolute master at creating, piece by piece, portraits of complex, imperfect, wonderful people. His characters are convincing, they don't allow you to doubt them and force you to understand them as best as possible, even if at first it seems impossible. Dolores' story is a story about suffering. About regaining control. About saving the family. About the search for justice when no one else can guarantee you that safety and truth and you have to take it into your own hands. About a mother's love, sometimes making you fight tooth and nail for what you want to protect. It's as if we were listening to a close friend confessing while sitting next to her. She doesn't dramatize and doesn't play the victim, she's calm, ironic and teaching. By intertwining the fates of two women, so different and yet so memorable and painful, King lets you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the story and in every step, in the captivating story, creating horror here only with the portraits of the characters, their thoughts and consequences.

The second work, "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption", is probably known to many because of the very well-known film. But even finding the story in its original form, reading it on paper, was no less moving. It is filled with hope, friendship and understanding - things that are rarely talked about when the topic is about prison. However, the author manages to combine the brutality of reality with humanity, while also commenting on the shortcomings of the prison as an institution, the essence of the court process, the (im)possibility of prison rehabilitation and the established and unchanging attitude towards them since the verdict was announced. It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong. There's so much packed into these hundred pages that it's hard to even count, the story is filled with no frills and even knowing how it will end, it still takes your breath away.

Undoubtedly, two of the best Stephen King works to read. For now. Short in their volume, but perfectly composed, not rushed and not stretched, convincing and incredibly sensitive, even if at first glance they seem dark. In the coming years, I will continue to get to know more - having dived in and having more confidence in the authorship that, obviously, has something to offer to every taste.

4.5 Stars

Stephen King has written a distinct book that is presented as a monologue. In fact, it is a confession to the police about a whole chaotic and captivating life.

At the beginning, this novel is a bit dense. However, once you catch the rhythm, I believe you won't be able to put it down until you finish it. Dolores is one of the best characters that King has created, and Vera is a perfect "companion" for her.

Seriously, friends! What a great book this has been! It is one of those that really generates that feeling of empathy and affection in you.

Highly recommended for SK readers.

Audiobook – Narrated by Frances Sternhagen – Excellent Narration.

This story of Dolores Claiborne, written as one chapter, begins with her being suspected of murdering her wealthy employer. However, during a long night in a police interview, she confesses to a different crime - murdering her husband 30 years ago. As she tells her story, we are taken back in time. She reveals details about the woman she worked for and is suspected of killing, her marriage to a violent and abusive husband, and her life on Little Tall Island.

I have read the book several times over the years and this is my second listening of the audio. Each time, I seem to enjoy it more. It is different from what we usually expect from Stephen King, but like all his books, it features wonderfully rich and diverse characters. Frances Sternhagen does a great job of bringing Dolores to life - a strong, gutsy, often foul-mouthed but compassionate woman.

CONNECTIONS, COINCIDENCES and CHESTNUTS:

Dolores Claiborne and Gerald’s Game were written in tandem and were intended to be a two-volume set called In the Path of the Eclipse. There are also many references to other places and characters in the Stephen King universe, such as Little Tall Island, Derry, and the University of Maine in Orono. Additionally, there are some interesting connections to real people and events, such as the mention of Rita Hayworth and the reference to a poem by Philip Freneau.

Oh my. I truly loved this book.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting to have such a strong liking for it at all. As a matter of fact, at the beginning, I was quite put off by the constant abuse of language. However, I decided to stay with it because Dolores reminded me of someone dear to me long ago.

I was completely reeled in by Dolores and her confession. This book had me laughing out loud on several occasions, and at the same time, I also felt a great deal of empathy for Dolores. As the story progressed, she was peeled like an onion, layer by layer, revealing her true self. That is something that Stephen King does wonderfully well with his characters. He has this amazing ability to bring them to life and make us care about them deeply.

I also loved the little tidbits of information that he doled out in his descriptive strokes. It added so much depth and richness to the story. I really enjoy his writing. He is such a master at this craft.

So, without a doubt, I give this book 5 stars because I REALLY enjoyed every single page of it.

You know that saying, “the world is your oyster?”

Well, there are at least two things wrong with it. Firstly, as long as you believe the world is your oyster, you will suffer perpetually. Secondly, we would all be better off, as a society, if we would learn this saying instead: “The world is not your vagina.”

Let's say it together, friends: The world is not your vagina.

Vaginas hold a great allure to heterosexual men. They are to the average hetero man what the holy grail was to the crusaders: a small, elusive, sacred treasure where men believe prayers may be answered. Most men will do almost anything to get close to a vagina. They'll flatter the owner, fill her belly with extravagant food and wine, and even tell the vagina itself that it's the prettiest. Sometimes they'll even dance before it.

This is exactly what Joe St. George did to Dolores Claiborne in 1945. He danced close to her at the senior prom, filled her ears with words of love and praise, flirted delicately, and repeatedly initiated foreplay until she surrendered. Before they knew it, she was pregnant. Even though Dolores knew Joe was a dud by then, it was 1945 and her only option was marriage. Three children and two full-time jobs later, Joe reaches out to grab Dolores's breast and concludes, “floppy and flat as a pancake. Your cunt's even worse. Christ, you ain't thirty-five yet and fuckin you's like fuckin a mudpuddle.”

Wow. I never wanted a protagonist to kill her fictional husband more. I couldn't wait to find out how she did it. This is no spoiler alert. We know from the first pages that Dolores is out to prove she didn't kill her employer, Vera Donovan, and in doing so, confesses to the murder of her husband 30 years prior.

Turns out, Dolores's “mudpuddle” vagina didn't please Joe anymore. Some men have a bad habit of seeking out newer, tighter vaginas, sometimes even of daughters, nieces, neighbor girls, and more. Some men just really need to die, and I can't imagine too many female readers thinking Joe St. George isn't one of them. (By the way, Mr. King created a clever twist with the names.)

This novel is far from perfect. It has sloppy plot points and an inconsistent struggle with Dolores's “Voice.” But it got to me. Dolores's drudgery, her daily life without tenderness, comfort, or joy, is a testament to human determination. There's also a motif of women being “bitches” that I struggled with and was intrigued by. Vera and Dolores are called “bitches” and “cunts” by others, and they even refer to themselves that way. Vera explains to Dolores that “Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto.”

Funny, I didn't view either woman as a “bitch” or a murderess. I viewed them both as survivors. We owners of vaginas need to remember that we are the keepers of the light and the vessels for new life. Only worthy crusaders should be allowed to plea their cases. And to all women reading this review: MAKE ALL MEN PROVE THEMSELVES WORTHY TO BE WITH SOMEONE AS PRECIOUS AS YOU.

Well, it's good for her. She has achieved something, which is great. However, there is one aspect that could have been better. The unneeded use of the n word twice is really quite unnecessary. It just doesn't add anything positive to the situation. In fact, it can be quite offensive and hurtful to many people. We should always be more careful with our language and avoid using such inappropriate words. But whatever, perhaps she didn't realize the impact of her words at that moment. Maybe she will learn from this and be more cautious in the future. Overall, while it's good for her in some ways, the use of those words does leave a bit of a sour taste.