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Dolores Claiborne
 
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Dolores Claiborne (Paperback)

by Stephen King (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
Price: £7.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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  • This item: Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Hodder Paperback; New edition edition (28 Oct 1993)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0450588866
  • ISBN-13: 978-0450588860
  • Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 11.1 x 2.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 45,543 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #10 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > K > King, Stephen > Dark Tower Series
    #11 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > K > King, Stephen > Complete List
    #31 in  Books > Horror > Authors > Authors, A-Z > S > Stephen, King

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
More of a mystery than a horror novel, Dolores Claiborne contains only the briefest glances at the supernatural. The novel presents Stephen King as a writer experimenting with style and narrative, time and perspective. Fans looking for a skin-crawling, page-turning fright or an undead bloodbath will be disappointed, but a patient reader willing to savour King's leisurely study of character and island life will find many rewards. And all of this is not to say that the book is without suspense.

The story unfolds in one continuous chapter, told in the first person by the cranky, 65-year-old housekeeper, Dolores, who is explaining to police officers and a stenographer how and why she killed her husband, Joe, 30 years ago. At the same time, in her rambling monologue, she insists that she did not kill her longtime employer, Vera Donovan--notwithstanding what the residents of Little Tall Island may be whispering. Joe was a drinker, and, as Dolores gradually argues, he deserved to die for the horrifying crimes he committed against his family. But Vera, despite her cantankerous disposition as a lady governing her decaying estate with her precise rules about even the most mundane household chore ("Six pins! Remember to use six pins! Don't you let the wind blow my good sheets down to the corner of the yard!"), was a good woman--or at least not an evil one. She was the woman who hired the young Dolores and kept her on even after Dolores got pregnant again. Dolores cleaned and cared for her even as the old matron faded into senility.

Dolores Claiborne is a rich novel that recalls the regionalist writing of the turn of the century. It is a fine place for a sceptical newcomer--put off by King's reputation for outright terror--to start. And for fans, it is a book that offers new insights into an author who's an old favourite. --Patrick O'Kelley

Review
'A svelte and compelling masterpiece ! It is not just a powerful book, it is a beautiful book ! Only a novelist of the very first rank could combine comedy and tragedy so judiciously ! It is an exciting change of gear and a very fine book has resulted' -- Sunday Telegraph '! the climax of Dolores's confession ! is one of his most accomplished and macabre set-pieces, a homicidal-rhapsody-in-bluechh ! Its message touches a nerve that has been raw since man first walked on two legs' -- The Sunday Times 'An incredibly gifted writer, whose writing, like Truman Capote's, is so fluid that you often forget that you're reading' -- Guardian

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!, 2 Oct 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Dolores Claiborne (Hardcover)
As a King fan of too many years, I have no qualms in saying this is my favourite King book so far. It feels like a long, short-story if you get me. It has more of the feeling of the excellent 'The Body' than of 'The Stand' where the main tale is all, and there are no sub-plots.

It is told in an unusual way that is at first hard to get into. But once you have, you can really feel the character of Delores as the story develops. Her pain and suffering are your pain and suffering. You want her to come out of this well. And does she? Well, read it. You won't be disappointed.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars VERY HUMAN. Charming, yet, thrilling, 23 Feb 1999
By A Customer
A few more stars are needed to rate this book, five are not enough. This book is one of the most compelling I have read. If you think all King can give you is gruesom and out of this world think again and give it a try. It is a very touching story that dances between abuse, molestation, betrayal, FRIENDSHIP and LOVE. Shows the extremes a mother can go for her children even if they do not know it, it is LOVE what she is giving without expecting anything as reward. Also, it give us the true value of friendship even when it is between to strange humans as are Dolores and Vera. It takes humans to extremes that we all could get too before we realize it. When you think you have figure it all, surprise you have not. It keeps you thinking and wondering for a while after you are done reading. Trully a master piece.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing from the start..., 10 May 2002
By A Customer

This novel is fantastic! After over a decade of reading Stephen King in sporadic bursts I finally decided to read the entire back catalogue back-to-back. Delores Claiborne never appealed to me before, as I prefer something with at least a brushing of the supernatural, but I thought I'd read it out of a desire for completeness. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise!

As I'm sure many Stephen King readers are aware, his books can sometimes take a couple of hundred pages to draw you into the story, before getting to 'the meat' of the tale. However, after 3 pages of Delores I couldn't put it down. One of the reasons for this is the fantastic narrative style employed, which introduces the lead character as much by her mannerisms of speech as anything else.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars pushing boundries
Usually stephen king likes to do something different with his books, and dolores claiborne is no different. Read more
Published 2 months ago by T. Brown

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book
First Steven King novel i ever read, as i found it in the charity shop for very cheap, i was expecting something supernatural, even though there wasn't i loved it. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Woodlandweasel

4.0 out of 5 stars Definate good read
I'm not sure what it is about this book but I liked it, it has lots of little twists in it. I love the whole revenge on the husband factor of it and how affectionate she could be,... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2006 by F. Vowles

3.0 out of 5 stars Quite a good book
As a newcomer to King, I was expecting this book to be spine-chilling and creepy. It actually turned out to be more of a sociological country crime novel. Read more
Published on 6 May 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
What an unusual book, but one that is full of pathos and hidden meaning. The way that this book tackles issues in the earthy way that we all would, is counterpoint to the strange... Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2000

3.0 out of 5 stars Not one of his best
I have only just started reading Stephen King,but I found this book hard to absorb. The first book that I ever read of his was The Shining and I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars Eerie and disturbing
This book is masterfully written by King who continutes to prove his brilliant writing skills. Though this book is not outwardly scary it is, in many places, very disturbing... Read more
Published on 20 April 2000

1.0 out of 5 stars NOT one of the best
I have read almost all of SK's novels, and this is not one of his best. He is best at writing nailbiting horror stories and this is certainly not that type of book. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars If you think that Stephen King only writes horror your wrong
I lent this book out twice and never got it back. Each time I buy a new copy and I read it again. It is a story about real people. I really emphathise with the characters. Read more
Published on 9 Dec 1999 by NextRead

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching story about mother and daughter
With relatively little violence and bad language and plenty character-based narration, this is my favourite King novel. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 1999

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