It was a sunny, warmish day—unusual for early October. I unzipped the flap on the canopy, climbed onto the lawn chair and slipped into Stephen King’s world.
Insomnia was published in 1994. Well before the creation of
the new genre—Baby Boomer Lit. But there’s no doubt this book belongs in this
genre. King writes frankly about growing old and the moment of death.
‘ “The approach of almost every death which serves the
Purpose takes a course with which we are very familiar. The auras of those who
will die Purposeful deaths turns gray as time of finishing approaches. This
gray deepens steadily to black. [The moment of death gives] release to those
who suffer, peace to those in terror, rest to those who cannot find rest.’ (p.
396)
The senior citizens that people King’s book aren’t feeble
and ineffectual. No, on the contrary, they fall in love, have sex and live
dynamic, engaged lives.
Ralph Roberts is vulnerable—having just lost his wife—and so
is a sympathetic character. He’s an every man which makes him easily relatable.
‘As that summer became fall, and as that fall darkened down
toward Carolyn’s final winter, Ralph’s thoughts were occupied more and more by
the deathwatch, which seemed to tick louder and louder even as it slowed down.
But he had no trouble sleeping.
That came later.’ (p. 35)
With the skill of a master, King takes time to develop his
story. He uses the first forty pages of Insomnia to develop his characters,
build intrigue and establish the world in which his story is set.
Completely engrossed in the book right up and including the
bittersweet ending, I only paused briefly to note interesting observations ….
‘ “All lives are different. All of them matter or none
matter.” ‘ (p. 577)
and acknowledge exceptionally well-written passages….
‘[L]ooked a few sandwiches shy of a picnic.’ (p. 144)
‘The light which did manage to find its way in here seemed
to fall dead on the floor, and the corners were full of shadows.’ (p. 185)
‘He could feel the
killer’s aura which surrounded this place pressing in on him, trying to smother
him like a plastic dry-cleaning bag.’ (p. 501)
Insomnia has an old-fashioned charm, full of quaint sayings
like:
‘Peek not through a keyhole, lest ye be vexed.’ (p. 384)
‘ “Looks like it’s shank’s pony the rest of the way up the
hill.” ‘ (p. 463)
And as always happens to me when I read Stephen King’s
prose, I was inspired to write…
***
Next post: An interview with author Susan Schoenberger
