Middle of the pack King book, for me.

"There is no bitch on earth like a mother frightened for her kids." If the book were to be distilled down into one sentence, this would do it justice. King was indeed attempting something different and unique with the narration here. He stepped out of his comfort zone, and in true King fashion, he managed to pull it off. However, I did find it a bit challenging to read at times, albeit briefly. This might be due to my unfamiliarity with the Claiborne-esque first-person narration. It was a bit dicey, choppy, and didn't always flow smoothly. But I attribute this more to Claiborne's voice rather than King's writing.

The story, unfortunately, didn't captivate me as much as I expected. It lacked the usual pull and tension that King's stories typically possess. The outcome was quite predictable, leaving me underwhelmed when it unfolded as I anticipated. The soft and sweet ending failed to evoke any real teary-eyed emotion in me.

Claiborne herself was okay, but I actually preferred the secondary characters, especially her daughter, husband, and Vera. I wished there was more exploration of these characters as I believe getting to know them better would have made me more invested in the story.

The big question that looms is: Is Dolores Claiborne guilty, or was she simply doing what any mother would do? The book has a similar feel to "A Time to Kill" with a comparable outcome. It seems to raise moral questions about whether murder is excusable when seeking revenge to protect oneself or one's family.

There was also the recurring motif of the Solar Eclipse, which I'm sure was meant to symbolize something significant but got overshadowed by the more crucial aspects of the story.

Truth be told, I was mainly looking forward to finishing this novel so I could move on to another King book. Onward!

The Stephen King Goodreads Discussion Group is embarking on a comprehensive re-read of his works, starting from the very beginning and going all the way to the end. It has been a considerable time since I truly immersed myself in Uncle Stevie's captivating world. However, with a reading rate of one book per month, I am fully committed. My objective is to read and review each one with the utmost honesty and reflection that I am capable of providing.

Background – “Dolores Claiborne” was first published in November 1992 in hardcover by Viking Press and was dedicated to his mother, Ruth Pillsbury King. In terms of length, I believe it is one of King's shorter novels. My Kindle and my oversized paperback both list it as 316 pages.

Plotline – A short description would be: “Women committing murder…”. A more detailed account is that this is the story of Dolores Claiborne and her day of reckoning. Dolores is a 65-year-old widow who has endured a hard life serving everyone else but herself. She resides on Little Tall Island, Maine and works as a maid for the wealthy and elderly Vera Donovan. When the book commences, Dolores finds herself a suspect in the murder of Vera. As she comes in for police questioning, she tells her story. It's not just any ordinary statement; it's her account of how the past has led to the present. Her confession spans thirty years of her life, including the breakdown of her marriage, the death of her husband, and her unique relationship with her employer, Vera. As she shares her confession, the strange and unusual bond between Dolores and Vera creates a connection that binds them together in an unbelievable web of love and murder.

Thoughts and Reflections – For me, this was one of King's most psychologically engaging stories that I have had the pleasure of reading. When I first started it, it took me some time to connect with Dolores' voice for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the first 40 – 50 pages were dedicated to introducing Dolores and Vera and establishing the foundation of their relationship. It felt somewhat slow, and I struggled to understand why they were behaving the way they did towards each other. Secondly, the story is told as a monologue by Dolores in the form of a legal transcript (and includes many digressive comments). However, once Dolores shifted the focus of her story from Vera to her husband, Joe, everything seemed to fall into place, and the story gained momentum. King found his rhythm, and Dolores' voice became irresistible in a painful and empathetic way that demanded your full attention. Dolores is a flawed yet sympathetic character that you can't help but fall in reader love with and become immersed in her journey. You become emotionally invested in her psychological and physical battles with Joe, as well as her twisted but enduring symbiotic relationship with Vera over time.

I found this book to be about two women竭尽全力 to protect their families and children. Their sacrifices were personal, haunting, and came at a huge cost to their psyches and sanity. Their very souls carry those losses with them throughout the rest of their lives in a Shakespearian, ghostly manner that leaves permanent scars. This was an unforgettable read that will remain in the recesses of my mind for a long time.

Other Notes – This book was originally intended to be a companion piece to another King novel, “Gerald's Game,” which was published six months earlier in May 1992. The books were supposed to deal with two women suffering in personal moments of crisis while both were caught in an eclipse. However, by the time the books were published, the connecting themes were less emphasized than anticipated. The style and delivery of this novel are different in several ways. It is narrated by the title character, Dolores, from start to finish. There are no breaks in the story - no chapters or other section breaks. It is told in one uninterrupted and continuous narrative, which gives the reader the feeling of listening to the testimony of a legal transcription. The novel was adapted into a 1995 movie starring Kathy Bates as Dolores and Jennifer Jason Leigh as her daughter, Selena.

Overall – This was a psychological, gothic, and literary thriller. It reminded me of a Shakespearian tragedy with elements of a William Faulkner southern Yoknapatawpha County novel. It brought new meaning to sacrifice, especially that of a mother who is pushed to extremes. For me, Dolores Claiborne is one of the most unique and captivating characters King has ever created. Her story is powerful and will stay with me for a long time.

This wasn't a typical thriller, but rather a really well-presented process taking place in the mind of a woman pushed to the extreme.

It delved deep into the psychological turmoil and inner struggles that she was experiencing. The story unfolded in a way that kept the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly wondering what would happen next.

The author did an excellent job of描绘 the woman's emotions and thoughts, making it easy for the reader to empathize with her.

Overall, it was a captivating and engaging read that offered a unique perspective on the human psyche.

The rating of 3.5/5 indicates that it was a good book, but perhaps not quite a masterpiece.

Nevertheless, it was definitely worth reading for those interested in psychological thrillers.

I feel that it is quite appropriate to leave a review at this moment, even though I am still in the process of reading the book. This is my second encounter with the book since I purchased it upon its release and also after having watched the film.

This is a psychological thriller rather than a horror novel. However, it is truly as excellent as I recalled. It stands out uniquely in the King cannon as it is told more or less in the first-person narrative. That is, Dolores is sharing her story, a story that you quickly become engrossed in. Another interesting aspect is that there are no chapters. Instead, it is a continuous dialogue throughout (although you can easily identify sections where you can pause and put the book down).

The book is completely unputdownable and gripping from start to finish, with touches of rather humorous and somewhat over-the-top language. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly eager to know what will happen next.

Before becoming a constant reader, I was a constant viewer, eagerly obtaining as many of his film adaptations on video as possible.

Dolores Claiborne was one of the movies that I watched repeatedly in the 90's. It's a bit strange that it has taken until now for me to finally read the book.

I firmly believe that this is one of King's underappreciated classics!

Perhaps Kathy Bates' portrayal is so deeply ingrained in this character that as the events are narrated by Claiborne herself, I can truly hear her voice.

King crafts such powerful characters, and her determination to stand up against the abusive Joe makes for one of the best he has ever written.

While there are no real supernatural elements that are synonymous with his work, the true horror lies in uncovering the true extent of how evil the person living under your own roof can truly be.

I also have a great affection for the monologue approach. Somehow, it makes the story feel even more real and terrifying.

I have really liked it a lot. It is truly amazing.

This thing or experience has left a deep impression on me. The details, the charm, everything about it has attracted me.

It's like a shining star in my life, bringing me joy and excitement.

I can't help but praise it and share my feelings with others.

It's not just something ordinary, but something that stands out and makes a difference.

I will always remember how much I liked it and cherish this wonderful memory.

This story had similar vibes to Rose Madder, a book that I absolutely adored.

However, when it came to this particular work by King, it unfortunately fell a bit flat for me.

The anticipation was high, given my love for Rose Madder and my overall admiration for King's writing.

But perhaps my expectations were set too high.

There were elements that seemed to lack the same depth and impact that I had come to expect from King's masterpieces.

Nonetheless, I still have a great deal of respect for King as an author and will continue to explore his other works in the hope of finding that same magic that made Rose Madder so special to me.

Maybe this was just a bit of an off-chance for him, and there are many more amazing stories yet to come.

Dolores Claiborne finds herself at the police station, forced to clear herself of the death of Vera Donovan, an elderly invalid lady for whom Dolores had been the governess for many years.

Thus begins for Dolores a long confession, so long that Stephen King has written a book with more than 250 pages; a confession that never stops: it is always she, Dolores, who is speaking. The police do not ask questions, or rather, sometimes they do, but we hear them through the woman's mouth. And it is a confession that never stops in the most literal sense of the term because the book is not even divided into chapters and there are no empty spaces between one paragraph and the next.

Because Dolores needed it, she needed to get out all those words that she had always seen herself forced to keep to herself. Because Dolores must not only talk about Vera Donovan, but also about her husband and his death, which happened on the same day as the total eclipse, thirty years ago.

It doesn't often happen to me to read the plot of the books I read, but that of Dolores Claiborne came to my attention and I immediately noticed the eclipse. A tragic event, like the death of a person, happening on the same day as the eclipse. I couldn't help but immediately think of Stephen King's previous book, Gerald's Game, because also in that story on the day of the total eclipse a tragic event had occurred. This eclipse must have particularly struck King, I thought. Maybe so. Or maybe King used a particular event like the eclipse, he used this phenomenon, to write two almost complementary books.

The long monologue not only allows us to discover what happened to Vera Donovan and Dolores' husband, but it allows us to discover her, Dolores Claiborne, her life and her thoughts as a woman.

[…] she had thought of taking something of hers and running away from home. She saw it as a way to get out of it. But running away doesn't solve your problems if the harm that has been done to you is too great, because wherever you run, you always carry your head and heart with you […]

That Stephen King in his novels gives life to strong, independent, enterprising female characters, almost heroines, is clear. But I think that with Dolores Claiborne he has outdone himself. When I read this novel all the time I thought that wow, a man, I repeat, a man, has managed to get so well in tune with a woman and give her a voice, also managing to give a voice to all those women who have lived or are living the same situation, the same life as Dolores. I find it admirable because it is not easy, not at all. There is a risk of falling into the cliché, there is a risk of stereotyping even more, there is a risk of creating a caricature. And King instead managed very well.

And I don't say it because I love him as a writer, if one of his books doesn't like me you know that I have no problem saying that it's rubbish. I say it because I was almost moved at some moments for how he managed to sketch Dolores so well. So well as to make her become real, concrete, there, in front of me. I felt Dolores, I felt her voice, her stubbornness, her intelligence, her sometimes outburst way of expressing herself. King very often creates such deep characters that they seem to come out of his pen (or from the keys) and assume a concrete existence, made of skin, bones, veins, cartilage, muscles, platelets, blood cells and everything necessary to have their own life.

As for the references to his other books, as I mentioned at the beginning, I cannot fail to mention Gerald's Game, which seems a complete novel to this one. It mentions the now famous Shawshank prison, the setting of the first story in the collection Different Seasons and Derry, a town known mainly for It.

Dolores Claiborne does not strike for plot twists and does not have horror content, but only the existence of a character like Dolores is more than enough to make this book a great book.

Stephen King is not just a master of horror. In fact, I'm starting to understand that he writes some truly excellent books that don't belong to that category at all. And this one is a prime example.

The story is about a woman in the 1960s, a time when women's options were severely limited. Dolores decides she's had enough of her no-good husband. When he strikes her in the kidneys, she nearly kills him, but he seems to have learned his lesson about hitting his wife. However, when Dolores sees what he's doing to her kids, that's the final straw.

As Dolores says, "everything I did, I did for love... the love a natural mother feels for her children. That's the strongest love there is in the world, and it's the deadliest. There's no bitch in the world like a mother frightened for her kids."

Vera is the old woman whose house Dolores cleans. Vera's husband died in an accident. Or did he? "An accident is sometimes an unhappy woman's best friend." Vera and Dolores form an unlikely bond. They're two women from completely different backgrounds who see something familiar in each other. "Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto." In the end, Dolores is investigated for Vera's suspected murder. The irony is palpable.

The book is written as Dolores' narration of her story, told to the police. There are no chapters or shifts in perspective, which gives the story a sense of immediacy and intimacy.

This is an interesting and engaging story about what women might do when they're pushed to the brink. It's a great example of a non-horror book by Stephen King that showcases his versatility as a writer.

What an outstanding book! The style, the characters, and the plot are all of utter greatness.

Written unconventionally, Dolores Claiborne is an account or a sort of a monologue confession of the titular character. She reveals her involvement in the death of a wealthy old woman named Vera Donovan, for whom she worked. Along the way, we get to know about Dolores' life. Her complex relationship with her employer, filled with both love and hate. Her failed marriage to an alcoholic and sickening husband. And most importantly, her unconditional love for her children.

This book is simply a story about motherhood and the lengths a mother will go to protect her children. Dolores is such a strong and captivating character. Stephen King has perfectly brought her to life realistically. She has this unique trait of being tough on the outside but a loving and caring mother on the inside.

It's important to note that I read this book as an audiobook. The narration was excellent. However, this might mean that other people could find this book boring and quite difficult to read as it is a continuous chunk without breaks or chapters. The book is a confession or a testament of Dolores, frequently alternating between the past and the present. I highly recommend the audio version.

Overall, I adored this book. King is truly a master of writing suspense and creating engaging characters. Once I started reading, I was completely enthralled by the character, which made me eager to turn every page.

Neither Dolores Claiborne nor that bitch Vera Donovan are ever short of words, and I really shouldn't be either. Poignant, that's one adjective to describe it. Hilarious, another, although the tears in my eyes weren't from laughter. I don't typically cry over books, I promise, but these two incredibly well-crafted women have such a complex and intimate relationship that it seems impossible not to feel something when the bond between them is suddenly broken. That scene on the stairs - damn it!

Dolores has a lot in common with the narrator of "What Was She Thinking? Notes on a Scandal" by Zoë Heller. However, while Barbara Covett is truly mean with her clever remarks, Dolores simply says things as they are, using the most vivid language possible. Dolores’s narration is absolutely spot-on - does anyone else get Ottessa Moshfegh vibes? - and I am in awe of this particular book by Stephen King.

*I didn't read this as a Stephen King fan, which is where some people seem to have a problem with it. It's not like everything else he's written, and perhaps that's why I loved it so much.

It amuses me, a little bit, that the first Stephen King novel I ever read was the one least sunk in the supernatural.

I don't think I was truly aware, really, of how much of Stephen King's work was ingrained in our pop culture when I first picked this up from my grandmother's book pile during a "camping trip" when I was around twelve years old. I have always hated camping, but as a child, your interests in such matters mean far less to your parents. Regardless, camping with my grandparents actually meant hanging out with them in their tiny RV in a park filled with other elderly people in RVs. It was just me and a bunch of 65+ couples. That was the so-called "dream."

So naturally, I read anything and everything I could get my hands on to fend off a never-ending stream of good-natured yet incredibly boring conversations. Ta-da! (This was also the summer I discovered my grandmother had a penchant for smutty bodice rippers, but that's another story.)

There was something about the setup of Dolores Claiborne that immediately drew me in, though King's effortless prose also deserves credit. The confessional style was not unfamiliar to me, although I had not yet really delved into my current interest in crime novels. One of my favorite childhood series, The Animorphs, was also written as if revealing secrets to the audience with increasing tension and maturity of content. Completely different in tone and genre, but ultimately similar (in my mind, anyway).

One very specific thing I remember about this novel over fifteen years later is Dolores' youthful fascination with her future husband's forehead. Why? God only knows - the laws of attraction remain a mystery to me even at the advanced age of twenty-nine.

And when [Joe] asked me to the Junior-Senior Prom, I said yes, and I got my chance to touch his forehead, and it was every bit as smooth as it looked... Accourse I found m'self touchin a lot more than just his forehead before too many more weeks had passed and that was where I made my mistake.

And down the rabbit hole we go.