Dolores Claiborne is my hero.

And Stephen King is officially forgiven for all the times he’s under-edited his work. The man is truly a genius, and this book serves as a testament to that fact.

Seriously, I just returned home from a grueling 13-hour road trip from New Mexico to Missouri, yet those hours seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. I was completely engrossed in this audiobook from start to finish. Frances Sternhagen's narration was simply outstanding. Her pitch-perfect accent breathed life into a monologue that I can only imagine would be challenging to fully appreciate in print, given how frustrating it can be to read dialect.

"Misery" has always held a special place as my favorite King novel. However, this book comes in a very close second.

Wow. Just, wow! It's an absolute masterpiece that left me in awe.

Wow, this was an amazing book!
Dolores Claiborne is at the police station because they want to question her about the death of her employer, Vera Donovan.
Dolores claims that she has no guilt regarding her death and begins to tell her life story. It mainly focuses on the small circle in which she lives. Her husband Joe, who is more drunk than sober and has no steady job, her children: Selena, a growing ten-year-old girl who is looked at by her father with more than ordinary interest; Joe Junior, who is constantly bullied by his father because he is a gentle boy and a bookworm, and Little Pete, the youngest, who looks up to his father and tries to imitate him, both in gestures and words, which comes across as rather vulgar.
Meanwhile, Dolores works her fingers to the bone as a housekeeper for the rich Vera. Vera also has her own family problems, which Dolores discovers later. However, she works there for many years and continues to take care of Vera even when she is severely demented and very needy.
And Joe... there comes a point when Dolores can no longer tolerate Joe's behavior. She tells the police very frankly what has happened.

The story has no chapters. In fact, it is just one long monologue of Dolores. But that's also why it's so hard to put the book down. There is really never a good moment to take a break. Dolores just keeps going and going, and that's why as a reader, you also want to keep reading and reading. The character development of the main characters is also very good. Just a top-notch book!

Dolores Claiborne is an incredibly fresh and distinct novel within Stephen King's ridiculously extensive collection of works.

It is narrated not only in the first person but as a continuous flow of dialogue by the eponymous Dolores Claiborne herself.

Dolores is seated in front of two police officers, and she asserts with confidence that she did not kill her boss, a wealthy local woman for whom she has worked as a cleaner for decades.

That boss took a fall down the stairs, and Dolores was the only one present to witness it. But she insists she didn't do it.

However, she did kill her husband several years ago, and to that, she will gladly admit.

This is the complete story of how and why she committed one murder, as well as how she is, in fact, innocent of the murder she is currently on trial for.

And all of this unfolds on the page without any chapter breaks, as Dolores lays her soul bare.

My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/all-stephen-k...

Emotionally charged and suspenseful! This book takes the reader on a thrilling journey as it is narrated by Dolores Claiborne. In its entirety, it is Dolores's confession. However, it is not a confession to the crime she has been suspected of committing. Instead, it is for another murder that nobody even knew had taken place. The story unfolds with Dolores revealing the secrets and events that led to this hidden act. As the reader delves deeper into her words, they are drawn into a web of mystery and intrigue. The emotions are palpable, as Dolores's voice comes through clearly, filled with pain, regret, and perhaps a hint of justification. The suspense builds with each passing page, leaving the reader on the edge of their seat, eager to discover the full truth behind this unexpected confession.

This is more of an OK than a good book for me.

What kind of book is this and why did I choose to try this one among the many written by Stephen King? First of all, it's not a paranormal or horror book. Instead, it's a psychological thriller.

Dolores Claiborne is a 65-year-old outspoken and opinionated widow who works as a housekeeper for Vera Donovan, a wealthy resident of a small island community in Maine. She started working for Vera in 1949. Now, in 1992, Vera has died and some suspect Dolores of murdering her. When the postman rang the doorbell, Dolores opened the door and he saw Vera sprawled lifeless and bloody on the floor with a marble rolling pin nearby. Vera was old, demented, and confined to a wheelchair, so it doesn't look good for Dolores. The next day, things get worse when Vera's attorney informs Dolores that she is to inherit millions from Vera. You might think this is good news, but think again. It makes her look even more guilty! What does she do? In the afternoon of the same day, she goes to the police and confesses everything. The transcript of her "statement" is this book, which explains why it reads like a monologue.

Suspected of one murder, Dolores confesses to another. She not only talks about her life as Vera's housekeeper but also reveals how and why she murdered her husband almost 30 years ago. But this doesn't make sense to me. Why would she confess now? I was looking for a reason, but all I could come up with was that she knew how Vera was haunted by misdeeds similar to her own. Still, it doesn't seem logical. And her ability to recall every detail of the events 30 years ago is also questionable. She gives a minute-by-minute account and goes off on tangents, which makes the story lose credibility.

The end is fictional. Dolores is willed millions and gives it all away to charity. Another problem is that while I liked the grumbling friendship between Dolores and Vera, it's hard to believe that Vera didn't understand Dolores well enough to know that she wouldn't want her money. What kind of friendship is that?

The monologue is presented in a gimmicky way, with short interruptions for pouring water and whiskey. The moments of suspense, like someone climbing up a well, are overdone and not very scary. I laughed instead of being scared.

I don't find the book very credible, except for the fact that Dolores was determined to do what she thought was best for her children. The narration by Frances Sternhagen, however, is excellent. She gives Dolores a perfect voice and her performance is worthy of five stars. It was her narration that initially drew me into the book, but as I got further in, the lack of credibility became a problem.

********************

The Green Mile 4 stars

Dolores Claiborne 2 stars

Ok. One thing in advance: Those who have a problem with "cruder" language should rather pick another King book.

Dolores, at any rate, doesn't mince words and speaks in a way that everyone on the island understands.

After all, she is just giving a witness statement in front of the assembled police force.

The book is the typed version of this confession.

And that means: no chapters. No paragraphs.

It is a flow.

An impressive story. Uncomfortable but great as told by King. (1/3 read)

Conclusion.

Wow. I have really rarely read such a well-rounded novel by King.

The story, with all its twists and turns, was already known to me beforehand thanks to the excellent movie adaptation, but how King ends the novel here, which stylistic devices he has used here, all that only became clear to me on the last 50 pages.

An insanely great novel that will keep me occupied for a long time (and makes me curious about "The Game"!)

King Fun Facts.

References to The Game, Shawshank Redemption (PinUp) and the town of Derry, Maine (It)

Normally, I have a great penchant for listening to SK's books in audio form. However, as this particular one was shorter than his typical novels, I made the choice to go for the Kindle version instead. I anticipated that it might be rather difficult to get through, but to my pleasant surprise, it proved to be quite captivating. Even though I haven't watched the movie, I did catch a glimpse of the trailer for Misery. And I must say, Katie seems to be the perfect embodiment of the image that pops into my mind while I'm reading this book. It delves deep into some rather dark and disturbing topics, yet it is incredibly gripping and intriguing. Interestingly enough, a Mother's love appears to be the underlying theme for my reading outcomes this month!

What to say about Dolores Claiborne...

Well, she was a complex character. She might have been a murderer, but she was also a caring mother, and sometimes a woman can embody all these contradictions.

Dolores was a hardworking, overburdened, and underappreciated woman. She did her utmost to provide for her children despite her husband's selfishness. Over the course of her life, Dolores lost a great deal, almost losing herself in the process. She was first held captive by the presence of her husband and later by his memory. In this novel, King shows us how she manages to free herself.

The opening of the novel reveals that Dolores is the sole caretaker of a woman named Vera Donovan. Unfortunately for Dolores, Vera has died in a suspicious manner, and Dolores appears guiltier than sin in the eyes of the townsfolk of Little Tall Island. It has long been whispered that Dolores killed her husband, Joe St. George. No one really cared much that she got away with it because he was known to be abusive. In the collective subconscious of the town, they decided to ignore her guilt due to their own; perhaps they recognized their complicity in seeing the signs of abuse and doing nothing. But this time is different. Vera was a harmless old woman.

The people of Little Tall won't let Dolores get away with this again. This is the day of her reckoning.

What follows is Dolores's confession – but not the confession of Vera's murder. Instead, Dolores leads us through the dark waters of her family's past, navigating the mysteries of marriage and the bondage of memory. This confession is also a rebirth – it is a chance for Dolores to reclaim her name and regain her life. Beyond the startling ties of her family, this novel also explores the unusual relationship between Vera and Dolores and the circumstances that bind them.

This novel is almost entirely a suspense thriller. It does have elements of horror sprinkled throughout, but they are mostly human scares – although there are some supernatural elements as well. This novel is scary because it could be real. It could happen. Things like this occur every day. I work in mental health, and the number of children I have taken care of who have been sexually abused specifically by someone they should be able to trust is astonishing.

This isn't supposed to be a comfortable read because the themes presented here are very real for many readers. This novel could be triggering for some. But for others, it could be like Dolores is speaking directly to them.

SK has said in interviews about this book that it goes “in.” He's said that his books are divided into two categories, those that go “out” and those that go “in”. I think what he means is that this book is psychological and emotional. The horrors in Dolores are not supernatural – they are not the boogeyman in the closet or the monster under the bed. The horrors here are the real monsters of flesh and blood forever etched in your memory; it's the abusive partner or the criminal parent, it's the moments when you were truly afraid of another human – of what they could do – or maybe it's the moment when you were afraid of what you could do. This work goes “in” in the way it makes you feel, the memories it evokes.

Structure

At the beginning of my copy of Dolores Claiborne is a foreword that touches on the connection between Gerald's Game and Dolores. The eclipse that occurs in these two works happens to fall over two opposite portions of Maine, casting both Dark Score Lake and Little Tall Island in darkness. In that darkness, two people come face to face with real evil, and in their moments of terror, they see each other. Over miles and miles of land, two people who will never meet find each other and know that the other is in more than just physical darkness; they are in a totality of their own.

This section is wonderful and serves as a precursor to the novel. It is the last page break for the next 300 plus pages.

Dolores Claiborne is written in a fast-paced narrative style reminiscent of something SK tried in Cujo. There are no chapter breaks, page breaks, or even changes in character perspective. The entire story is a monologue narrated by Dolores as she is being interrogated by two officers, Frank and Andy, and a lovely stenographer named Nancy.

Because of the conversational style, everything is written in a singular island dialect that is very particular to Dolores and, at times, very cumbersome to read, especially in the beginning. Over time, it becomes easier to understand, and while I didn't personally enjoy it, it did bring the character to life. I think this would be a great audiobook.

The novel ends with a section titled “Scrap Book,” which is really just snippets from news articles. It serves as an epilogue and gives readers an idea of how the characters are doing after the revelations Dolores makes in her confession. The ending of the novel is the weakest part of the work, in my opinion. Not because of how it ends but because of how it is written.

History

Dolores Claiborne was published in 1992, not long after Gerald's Game. Dolores and Gerald's Game were meant to be different sides of the same thematic coin, bound under the cover of a novel tentatively titled “In The Path of The Eclipse.” It made sense, as both feature two women irreparably bound by the events that befall them on the night of a once-in-a-lifetime lunar eclipse. Both feature women who have been taken advantage of by men who should have been their protectors. Both feature women held fast to the wreckage of their memories and nearly drowned by them.

It was the best-selling novel in 1982. Overall, this one did better than its sister story, Gerald's Game.

In my edition of Dolores Claiborne, SK dedicated the work to his mother. This is a touching choice, as Dolores is a hardworking woman, essentially fulfilling the role of both mom and dad for her children, much in the way SK's own mother probably raised him.

Characters

I was going to say that this book is character dominant, but I think it would be more accurate to say it is relationship dominant. This is not one of SK's works like It or The Stand with a large cast of characters. This story is focused on one family.

Dolores is the main character, and hers is a voice we don't often hear in SK's fiction (or fiction of this kind in general). We see her relationship with her daughter become strained, and we get to see her struggle to save Selena's life. We watch her relationship with her husband disintegrate. We watch Vera and Dolores struggle for dominance.

Themes

This is one of King's shorter works, and yet it doesn't feel underwritten. It is packed with so many critical themes, all connected by the stand that Dolores makes during the eclipse and later in the interrogation room. The actual eclipse is a metaphor for an eclipsed life, and I held my breath as I waited to see if Dolores would free herself from the darkness.

On Overcoming Personal Demons & Emotional Bondage

All of the female characters in this book carry dark secrets. This work explores how they overcome those traumas and how they free themselves from emotional bondage. Vera has her own secrets that she takes with her to the grave. Selena confides in her mother but ultimately is held hostage by nightmares long into her adult life – she never marries, turns to alcohol, and is unable to face the town where she was raised. Dolores confronts her demons head-on and is imprisoned by their memory until she tells her truth. They lie to themselves and to each other. All of these characters deal with their shame in their own ways, and we learn that lying only sows pain. It is the truth that sets Dolores free.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse

This is the driving force of the novel. If these things hadn't happened to the characters, there wouldn't be a story. Dolores is a harrowing study of domestic violence and sexual abuse. SK does a remarkable job of painting these delicate topics in the tones they deserve. It doesn't feel cringeworthy; instead, it feels like SK really took the time to enter these women's minds and feel the emotions they must have felt.

Struggles with Alcoholism and Addiction

One of the most haunting scenes in the novel for me involves Joe and his request for a final drink.

On Time and Memory:

Through Vera's story, we see how in old age, people regress to childhood. We also see how the older these characters get, the more they look back on life, seeing their regrets and mistakes. We see how memory is tainted by the passage of time and sometimes swallowed up by it. SK ruminates on how the past affects us and the way we reflect on our youth when we are older.

Two of my favorite quotes:

“Time’s a reach, too, you know, just like the one that lies between the islands and the mainland, but the only ferry that can cross it is memory, and that’s like a ghost-ship–– if you want it to disappear, after awhile it will.”

“I don’t guess any of us here know what it is to be that old, and to have devils after you you can’t explain, even to yourself.”

While not the primary focus, the physical and mental toll of caregiving is illustrated really well through scenes with Dolores and Vera.

There's a lot in this book about falling down things.

Wells, bad habits, stairs, the passage of time, depression, you name it. The image of someone falling down or the threat of falling is prominent in this work. (Joe and the well, Vera and the stairs, Selena falling over the ferry railing, etc)

“I have digged a pit for mine enemies, and am fallen into it myself.”

Family/Motherhood /Marriage

I think I've talked enough about this, so I'll just leave this quote that is one of the best in the novel

“But it’s natural enough, as long as you remember that the inside and outside of a marriage aren’t usually much alike. What I'm gonna tell you now was on the inside of ours, and until today I always thought it would stay there.”

This tells you all you need to know.

On gender roles, gender inequality, generational inequalities, and a great comment on feminism

This is the most feminist book I’ve read of SK's to date. I don't typically curse in my reviews, but the significance of the word bitch is at the heart of this story. It isn't used here in a disparaging way; the characters in this work own the word and give it a new power that only they harness. It's a word that's been hurled at them by men in their lives as a curse, and instead of a curse, they wear it with honor. Dolores and Vera are two strong women who have been hardened by a society that did not protect them from evil men.

Dolores will only take so much shit before she gives it right back (SK literally emphasizes this with the shit scenes at the beginning of the book that I really didn't understand the full importance of until the book was over and I was looking back over my notes)

Facing the truth and the importance of facing yourself

There is an overwhelming connection to water

Veras children - the island - references to time as a sea - major scenes occurring near water or near an absence of water (the well), dolores's repeated requests for something to drink.

One of my favorite quotes:

“her eyes so drowned in her own tears that they swam like rocks when you look down and see em in a stream.”

And finally, and perhaps most importantly, this work is about making a stand.

SK writes about this idea of making a stand in a lot of his works, and I think it is so evident here with Dolores. Her tale is common: She’s an ordinary woman subject to her generation and gender. She's expected to take abuse but not expected to fight back. Her husband beats her, and no one bats an eye – instead, they stare and gossip about what she did to deserve it. In this book, Dolores takes a stand against her husband, but the subtext is that she’s taking a stand against the patriarchy. She’s taking a stand against a generation devoid of strong women and a society oversaturated with controlling men, against a world filled with drivel about how women can't do what men can, against a world where men can take, and take and take until women have nothing left. This story is about Dolores taking back HER power, HER truth, and as it says in the synopsis – her name. With this unburdening, she takes back her birth name and gives the St. George name its final burial. She baptizes herself in truth and escapes the darkness that plagues her.

Conclusion

3.5 stars

Dolores is painful and honest in the face of a lifetime of lies. It felt like I was being led through a web of family secrets and coaxed onwards by a foul-mouthed grandmother.

I enjoyed spending time with Dolores, but I didn't love it in the way I've loved some of King's other works. This was a hard book to read, with difficult topics that hit home for me.

It serves as a reminder that you don't always know what's going on in someone's family life, small town gossip isn't always accurate, and you shouldn't judge others until you've judged yourself.

I think that SK did a phenomenal job of writing from this perspective, but at times his voice did seep through and take me out of the story (looking at you, Atropos.. This doesn't seem like something Dolores would know, but SK sure would.)

I do think I will reread this someday, probably after I read Gerald’s Game.

I wouldn't recommend this for children. This story has too many grown-up themes, it is violent, and besides the abuse in it – many younger readers simply would not be interested in Dolores's story. There is no real action for quite a while.

I'd love to write a whole essay on the contrasts and comparisons of Dolores Claiborne & Geralds Game - the generational differences and expectations of married women, the abuse dynamic and what happens in the brain, memory distortion... oh me oh my.

Connections

Gerald's Game- Dolores and Jessie Burlingame are connected through the eclipse. Jessie is the main character in Gerald's Game. Selena St. George & Jessie are connected through the abuse they both suffer. They are all locked in their own labyrinths and have to find a way out.

'Salem's Lot - Jerusalem's’ Lot is mentioned in passing by Dolores

The Dead Zone - Vera and Frank are names used in TDZ

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption- Andy is a name used in this work, and Shawshank prison is mentioned in the novel.

11/22/63 - passing references to JFK’s upcoming assassination as the eclipse and Joe’s murder occur in 1963.

Cujo - lack of chapter breaks, writing style is similar (though I think where Cujo failed with this style, Dolores succeeds)

The Body- Writing style is first person the entire time.

Storm of the Century– same setting as Dolores Claiborne, Little Tall Island

Short story The Reach, King has called this a precursor for Dolores Claiborne.

Thematic connections - a lot of SK’s stories deal with traumatic abuse within intimate relationships and the family unit. Addiction is also prominent.

Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/R5lROdTLUvc

My favorite Stephen King? I think yes. If I had read this without any context, I would never have believed it was Stephen King. This is completely different from his normal format. All the main characters are women, and they are all strong, intelligent, powerful, forward-thinking badasses. The feminism in this book is truly elite, y'all. And it's written by King? I'm shaking. I feel like he is capable of this kind of storytelling and character development, but is expected to write white male protagonists because that's what his readers want. Which is really sad to me. Because this book is phenomenal, yet no one talks about it.

THIS IS THE BEST AUDIOBOOK I'VE EVER LISTENED TO! Hands down. It is all told as a statement to the police. You can hear the chair squeaking on the linoleum. You can hear her getting closer and farther away from the mic. You can hear her open a drawer, close it, pour Jim Beam in a glass, and you can hear her drink it. It's like a play. You would believe that it's really happening and you're hearing this woman's story from her own mouth, but you just happened to be looking away. Or if you close your eyes and put on headphones, you're transported.

I can't wait to watch the movie. I absolutely loved this and highly recommend the audio for this book!

When a friend of mine posted that she wanted to sell her copy on the Facebook page for exchanges and sales of used books, I rushed to get it. I had wanted to read it for a long time but thought I already had so many unread King books and put it back on the bookstore shelf. It didn't disappoint me. It made me believe even more in King's ability to write a good, contemporary book with a female protagonist.

And what a woman is Dolores? An unlucky woman who married a brute who, aside from looking like an American version of Oreste Makris, also beat her. Of course, he did many other things too, but you'll find out if you decide to read it. Forced to accept this situation, thinking that perhaps all marriages should be like this, she raises her three children, working hard for the rich Vera Donovan, for whose death Dolores is at the island's police department.

That's how the book starts, which is a continuous text, without chapters. You could call it a lyrical "epic" or a confession, written in the way our character speaks, that is, it is written in the local dialect, which gives it charm and makes reading it not difficult at all. Without dialogues or other characters popping up deep into the mind and soul of our protagonist, and for this reason, you end up loving her - despite all the things that happen in her life - and you see with your own eyes how difficult it is to survive if you're not a bitch. Because, as the rich and mysterious Vera says: Sometimes the only thing a woman can do to survive is to become a bitch.

King's ability to write such good female characters still amazes me. I wonder what a good companion he would be since he can get so amazingly into the mind of a woman, and not just a bad woman. He has sketched a character who, although many tried to break her, stood up straight and fought with dignity. She endured and accepted her fate many times without whining about it and was forced to make some tough decisions.

When I think about this story, the word "authentic" comes to my mind. I had the time to read a story that made me feel as if I were reading the biography of a real person, and I think this is something that every writer should try to achieve.

The book also has references to Gerald's Game. Give it a chance, and it won't disappoint you. King's fans always have it on their favorite list. It doesn't contain elements of horror or the supernatural.

Story 4.5 stars**

This story has received an impressive 4.5 stars. It likely contains engaging情节, well-developed characters, and a captivating narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The story might explore various themes, such as love, friendship, adventure, or mystery, and offer a unique perspective or experience to the readers. With its high rating, it is clear that this story has made a positive impact on many who have read it.

Audio 4.5 stars**

The audio version of this story also merits a 4.5-star rating. The audio production likely features high-quality sound, clear narration, and appropriate background music or sound effects that enhance the listening experience. The narrator's performance might bring the story to life, adding depth and emotion to the characters and events. Whether listened to during a commute, while exercising, or simply while relaxing at home, the audio version of this story is sure to provide an enjoyable and immersive experience.

Narrator \\n  Frances Sternhagen\\n

The narrator of this story is Frances Sternhagen. With her extensive experience and talent, she is likely to deliver a captivating and engaging performance. Her voice might have a unique quality that suits the tone and style of the story, and she might be able to bring out the nuances and emotions of the characters with great skill. Frances Sternhagen's narration is sure to be one of the highlights of this audio story, adding an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the overall experience.

Widowed housemaid Dolores Claiborne makes a fateful decision to walk into the police station and make a confession.

This simple act sets in motion a powerful look back at the various chapters of her life, filled with both rare highs and predominantly numerous lows.

The novel is a great work of suspense, made even more innovative by its detailed and deep exploration of the relationship between two formidable women. They often find themselves living under conditions of extreme duress, which adds an extra layer of complexity and drama to their story.

In addition, it is worth noting that the movie adaptation of this book is a must-see. Kathy Bates delivers another superb performance, bringing the characters and the story to life in a truly captivating way.

Overall, this novel and its movie adaptation deserve a rating of 8 out of 12.