murphyandhislaw

reading list

Lisey's Story

Stephen King

published: 2006, read: 1/18/25
527 pages, genre: Horror
rating: 6.917/10, normalized: 6.574/10
-0.306σ worse than average
-0.182σ or -0.147/10 worse than average in Horror genre
-0.434σ or -0.371/10 worse than average by Stephen King
Recommended by: Banks G.

The first two thirds or so of the book were pretty enjoyable, but in true King fashion the falling action failed to captivate me. The premise is of a woman remembering supressed trauma shared with her by her husband was well done. And the nature of the trauma as well was both relatable (insofar as it was a real thing), but the blend with a hereditary possession added a level of spookiness that elevated to plot.

Unfortunately, I don't think the antagonist was very well developed, and the dreamland ex machina conclusion wasn't really significant.

Wait for the wind to change

related

ReadAuthorTitlePagesPublishedGenreRatingRating'TagsRecommended by
1/18/25Stephen KingLisey's Story5272006Horror6.9176.574
Banks G.
1/7/25William Peter BlattyThe Exorcist3401971Horror8.0007.778
possession
Dad
12/10/24Stephen KingMisery4321987Horror6.6006.222
Dad
7/7/24Stephen KingPet Sematary5601983Horror8.7508.611
Dad
6/30/24Stephen KingCarrie2121974Horror8.0007.778
Dad
6/10/24M. R. JamesOh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad251904Horror6.7506.389
referenced
Chabon
2/19/24Stephen KingBag of Bones6071998Horror6.6256.250
John B.
5/23/23Stephen KingFour Past Midnight9602004Horror7.0006.667
John B.
5/23/23Stephen KingThe Langoliers3041990Horror7.0006.667
John B.
12/12/22Stephen KingSkeleton Crew5121985Horror8.0007.778
7/13/22Stephen KingThe Outsider5762018Horror6.5006.111
6/23/22Stephen KingIf It Bleeds4482020Horror6.5006.111
1/20/22Stephen KingThe Apt Pupil2241998Horror6.0005.556
Jack M.
4/9/19Stephen KingFull Dark, No Stars3682010Horror8.0007.778
Dad
5/27/25Hubert Selby Jr.Last Exit to Brooklyn3201964Fiction8.7088.565
referenced
King
4/15/25David Foster WallaceThe Pale King6362011Fiction7.7507.500
referenced
1/28/25Stephen King11/22/638492011Historical Fiction8.0007.778
Grandma
8/30/24David CrowThe Pale-faced Lie3422019Biography8.0007.778
"I will not become my father"
Crow
6/24/22Stephen KingLater2562021Thriller6.5006.111
6/13/22Stephen KingThe Institute5762019Fiction6.5006.111
6/12/19Stephen KingThe Stand11531978Fiction8.5008.333
Dad
4/13/19Stephen KingThe Long Walk3841979Thriller8.5008.333
Dad
10/31/26Steven L. PeckA Short Stay in Hell1102012Horror7.3507.056
1/5/26Brian EvensonA Collapse of Horses2202016Horror6.7506.389
Ben Roth
4/16/25Blake ButlerUxa.Gov3562024Horror4.5003.889
3/2/25Cassandra KhawThe Salt Grows Heavy1122023Horror7.6507.389
3/1/25Iain ReidI'm Thinking of Ending Things2562016Horror7.2506.944
1/11/25Felix BlackwellStolen Tongues3202017Horror6.7506.389
1/9/25Brett Easton EllisAmerican Psycho3991991Horror7.7507.500
10/29/24Sarah MossGhost Wall1452018Horror7.5007.222
10/26/24Tanya PellCicada1662024Horror6.5006.111
9/29/24Joe HillHeart Shaped Box4022000Horror6.7506.389
9/27/24Josh MalermanIncidents Around the House3852024Horror6.7506.389
9/19/24Gus MorenoThis Thing Between us1492021Horror6.1255.694
8/9/24John LanganThe Fisherman2632016Horror7.8337.593
2/9/24Richard BachmanRage2111977Horror7.3757.083
12/4/23Agustina BazterricaTender is the Flesh2242017Horror6.5006.111
Jessika
7/13/23Christopher BeuhlmanBetween Two Fires4362012Horror6.8136.458
Nick W.
7/6/23Dan SimmonsCarrion Comfort8021989Horror8.5638.403
10/9/16Harlan EllisonI Have No Mouth and I Must Scream1631967Horror7.2506.944
10/9/16Charlotte StetsonThe Yellow Wallpaper291892Horror6.5006.111