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

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. Can we light diya with sunflower oil? No, do not use sunflower oil for lighting diya. Can I use cooking oil to light diya? No, you should not use cooking oil to light diya. Which oil to use for daily diya? Use sesame or gingelly oil for daily diya. What to burn in a diya? Use ghee or sesame oil or mustard oil. Can we put coconut oil in diya? Yes, you can put coconut oil in diya. Which deepam oil is best for poo...

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. Cultivating the attitude 'Everything is Divine Prasad', which embodies Prasada Bhakti , is a good way to minimise negative thoughts with regard to one's way of worship.  When we light the lamp in our homes, imagine you are sending out divine love to the world.  When you burn the incense stick, imagine you are burning away all negative karma within each family member and offering it before your Ishta Devata. [READ: How To Light Deepam at Home and  Why Malayalis Light Nilavilaku ]                                                     [Image by Sachin Yadav @ Pixabay] What Happens When A Diya Goes Off? Many consider it as a 'bad omen'. For a devotee who worships Ishta Devata, everything represents Divine Gra...

Saree Woes 2

Our earlier discussion on Saree Woes really perked up my spirits. A big thanks to all of you for pepping me up. Okay, here's the good news. There was an unexpected late night party that I had to attend in Gurgaon. To be honest, I haven't had the time or energy to attend any such parties after Adi was born. I was sure I wouldn't have the confidence to make conversation with the glitterati, let alone feel confident to carry off wearing a saree. This is one of those parties where you have to be dressed very formally. Well, at the end of a working woman's day, you hardly feel ready to attend one of these parties looking like a moron, right? So, with very little preparation and very few hours left, I called on all the gods in Heaven to help me look a little younger and prettier since I don't have the magic to look young all on my own. Although I was tempted to wear one of my awesome Kancheevaram treasures, I knew it would be very difficult to drape it without any h...

How To Light Diya: Big Mistakes To Avoid

Wondering how to properly light a diya? What are some common mistakes to avoid while lighting diya at home? As a child, I used to watch my grandmother light the Nilavilakku or the traditional lamp at home. Back then, I didn't understand its deeper significance. [READ: Why Malayalis Light Nilavilakku ] Lighting a diya or a lamp embodies our inner journey from darkness to light. T he transition represents a deep metaphysical truth: the triumph of light over darkness. Are you lighting your diyas wrong? Use these tips! [Source: Pexels.com] How To Properly Light A Diya At Home 1. Never place your diya or lamp on the floor to light it in your pooja room. Keep a Thaali/Plate under it. You can keep a small brass plate under the lamp. Don't use that Thaali/Plate for any other purpose once you use it for this purpose. 2. Don't put your diya or lamp in any place where it is not clean earlier. Before you place the diya or lamp, make sure ...

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...