I just finished reading Lisey’s Story by Stephen King. Before I get into details, I have to say, that King is one of my all-time favorite authors. Needless to say, I was very eager to get my hands on Lisey’s Story, as it was just recently published in Finland (late 2008 I think). My dear mother was kind enough to buy it for me as a Christmas present, so thanks mom! Anyway, I find it really strange, how many people seem to really dislike King, even hate his books. Most of my friends, for example, belong to this group. On the other hand, his novels are bestsellers on a regular basis. Lisey’s story is no exception, and I’m sure, that it will once again divide the public.

The novel is oddly (for King that is) described as a love story and that it sure seems to be. It’s not exactly conventional, as the story begins when the other part of the relationship has been dead for quite some time. And of course, like in most of King’s novels, the supernatural is present. I think that is the biggest single factor that alienates people from King. The supernatural. But there is another side to that as well. Why I love King, has almost nothing to do with supernatural, or even horror. It’s about imagination and stories. Stories well told. If you think alike, Lisey’s Story is definitely for you. It’s celebration of imagination.

To be honest, I had great difficulties when I first started to read the novel. I wasn’t quite sure if I liked the story or not, and there were some strange made-up words that didn’t feel right, as it made the story feel somewhat childish, though that was intentional as it turned out later. I’m sure, that many will not give the story a chance and quit reading before they reach even the middle point. I’m glad I struggled on, because Lisey’s Story turned out be one the best novels, King has written in a long time. There are some horror elements in it, but mostly it’s focused on feelings such as love and loss. It’s a beautiful story of a man and a woman, about sanity and insanity, about facing your fears, and most of all; it’s a study of imagination.

SOWISA, Strap On Whenever It Seems Appropriate, is one the tiny things that I will surely remember from Lisey’s Story for years to come. It’s something that Scott Landon, the deceased husband of Lisey used to say to her, to babyluv. Scott and Lisey had a language of their own, and as a reader you begin to understand it better and better as the story proceeds. At the same time you are dwelled deeper and deeper to the mind of Scott and Lisey, and the theme of the novel becomes more obvious. What is the source of imagination and how close it is to insanity?

I loved this book. I will surely use it to measure people, but I fear many won’t like it at all. Those who will, I think I feel close to. If they like Lisey’s Story, they probably share the same longing, the same thrill about imagination.