Skip to main content

Lisey's Story

Though i have read many books of different writers especially books by Stephen King, his novel 'Lisey's Story' fascinated me in a strange way. For once, Stephen King author defied my imagination as I couldnt visualize where the story plot is headed to yet every page posed a challenge and my curiosity as a reader made me want to make sense of the strangest terms that are used as intimate expressions of language such as 'blood bool' and 'babyluv' and many more. Writing books seemed to come naturally to the author.

In this novel, two hidden worlds are explored, one is the private life of a recently assassinated best-selling writer, as seen from the perspective of his widow. The second relates to imaginative landscape that is part of the reality the writer is believed to have experienced in his childhood and related it to his wife,Lisey.

Lisey is hounded after his death not just by memories but by academics, dangerously obsessed fans, and fame-struck people who just wont let her heal in peace as she sorts through her husband's numerous papers.

Her discovery of his parallel, fantasy world Boo'ya Moon is one that bafffled my understanding yet i longed to understand more of this fabled, terrorized land that Scott the deceased author sought his healing from.

It takes some time for a reader like me to understand where the story is heading to although many critics do state that this reads like a biographer's novel. It's not a straight forward kind of novel in which you can guess what is happening and what is likely to happen towards the end.

In no other Western writer's novel, the profound experience and eccentricity that a widow experiences has been so subtly and powerfully documented as she realizes that much as she wished she had met some ordinary computer engineer guy than an eccentric writer who used eccentric words, the widow finds herself unable to accept widowhood,the loss of a shared married life. In several places, the novel is chilling but its a book that defies predictability, explores new horizons of the fantasy world that may be alive in most of our sub conscious minds. I am nearing the end of this novel but i dont want to the novel to end because Lisey's life and pain and weaknesses have been travelling with me in most of my leisure hours. I have felt Lisey's confusion and trembled for her safety....i cant believe that at the end of it, the novel is over and Lisey herself is gone.

P.S. Click here to read something more interesting in New York Times: http://http://readingroom.blogs.nytimes.com/

Comments

Most LOVED Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being bor...

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are auspicious for lighting at home. On Fridays, it is considered auspicious to use ghee in a silver lamp. When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. What is the purpose of lighting a diya? Light dispels darkness. When we light a diya, we bring light into our hopes and positive energy in our personal spaces. Nothing is more beautiful than Light. At what time should we light diya today? Every morning at sunrise and every evening before or at sunset. An ideal time would be to light the diya at least half an hour before sunset. Can we light diya after 12 PM? In ...

Does something bad happen if the diya goes off?

Is it bad if a diya goes off? This is a frequently asked question among people who light the evening lamp or diya regularly in their puja room.  [READ: How To Light Deepam at Home and  Why Malayalis Light Nilavilaku ]                                                     [Image by Sachin Yadav @ Pixabay] Why Did My Lamp Suddenly Turn Off? Where there is faith, there should be no scope for fear - this is Bhagawan Krishna's message to Arjun on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.  That represents strength of Bhakti. [READ: Bhakti: Meera's Greatest Wealth] Consider another example in the tradition of Bhakti.  When Prahlada, a young lad, is targeted by his own father, he remains calm under every situation. When he is thrown into the sea, the wise lad is reminded that the sea is the abode of Shriman Narayana. [ READ: Amazing Stories of Lord Shiva ] H...

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. [ Let's Connect on Facebook ] As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. The most essential factor is unwavering focus and concentration when you light the lamp every eve...

What is Agjak? Korea’s Viral Peach Dessert

What is Agjak? Turns out it is Korea's most talked about dessert right now.  Looks tempting and sounds like a poetic expression, doesn't it? Well, it looks yummy! [READ: Where to Eat in Kochi , Korean Instant Noodle Consumption ]                      [ Agjak - This is an AI-inspired image for Petals! Blog ] Yes, it caught my fancy too when I was reading about it.  Typically, the word 'Hangwa' is used as a general term when we refer to Korean confectionery. But this latest sensational dessert called Agjak seems like visual poetry on a platter! Let me confess, I don't have a sweet tooth as such. I rarely open up mithai boxes which come in for Diwali but I love sharing it with friends who come over. However, when I travel or eat out, I like to experiment with unique desserts.                                  [ Agjak - This is an AI-inspired i...