Insomnia Book Review by Stephen King (WITH SPOILERS!!)

[@peteharper2687]

Stephen King is one of my favourite authors and Insonmia is my favourite book by him. In quite a number of his stories, children are the main characters and I love that, fear for childrens safety almost cripples me. In this the main person is past the age of retirement at 70 and he's amasing, I just love Ralf Roberts. The little green man character was an embodiment of Maturin, or Gan from the Dark Tower.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Hey, it's awesome to hear that Insomnia is your favorite King book! You're spot on about how King often focuses on kids in peril, so it's a cool switch-up to have a retiree like Ralph as the main character. Makes you realize that bravery and heroics don't have an age limit, right? Ooh, interesting take on the little green man being an embodiment of Maturin or Gan from the Dark Tower. That adds another layer to think about!

[@dannyletcher5873]

I'm a lunatic because I loved the music in the audiobook lmao! Great review!

[@r.babylon2885]

I havent seen anyone else mention this, so the little doctors' names are the names of the three fates, with Atropos being the representative of future.

[@bamrainey]

Oh, you are so right about Patrick Danville! So right😄 About the Dark Tower ending... I'm not gonna say anything, of course, but I think the ending was perfect. One of my King's favorites. But there is chance you'll consider it a prank😅 I hope not, though. The ending with Rick Astley would've been awesome as well.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Oh man, now you've got me super curious about that Dark Tower ending. If you think it's perfect, it's gotta be worth the journey. But a prank, huh? Now you've got me wondering... and a little bit scared lol.

[@trptguy23]

Oh this poor man

[@justinpolarek7796]

Amazing review as always! Thank you for brining up the audiobook music because that was so jarring and unnecessary! I listen a lot on my commute to work and the random discordant noises in between really took me out of it, in some cases the music would start while the narrator was still reading and I would not be able to hear the last 10 seconds of the scene. Besides that I thoroughly enjoyed Insomnia! I cant wait for the Rose Madder review, I just finished it earlier this week, it was the first book that made me genuinely scared and got my heart racing!

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Hey, thanks for the kind words! Oh man, that audiobook music was something else, right? Totally get you on how it messed with the experience, especially during a commute when you're really trying to get lost in the story. Sounds like it Rose Madder really spooked you, so now I'm even more intrigued to check it out I've already started and one of the characters is... NUTS!

[@Its_Art3mis]

This is the first Stephen kings book i read and i loved it!, i cant wait to read the dark tower. I was, indeed, very confused sometimes about some characters but it didn't stop me from feeling the story. Personally, i love that part where Cloto and Láquesis (idk what they're names are in English) have that long conversation with Ralph and Lois in the hospital

[@skunke2290]

I can be honest and say that I really didn’t like Insomnia. It felt like this was King on every form of crack available. It was too weird for me and this might be an unpopular opinion but I really didn’t like Lois. I loved Ralph and the majority of the cast but I really couldn’t care about Lois. The best part of the book was in my opinion when Roland was mentioned xD Great video as always and I’m looking forward to seeing what you think about Rose Madder :)

[@PaperbackJourneys]

I actually think that your opinion might be a popular one. Of course, as with any book, you see the reviews that say “This was my favourite Stephen King book of all time!” But those are few and far between. This one doesn’t seem to appear on many top ten lists. With that said… neither does Rose Madder 😰. Thanks so much for commenting.

[@MrJaycrow30]

This book and The Talisman are my favs! Have you read The Necroscope series by Brian Lumley? By far the best vampires ever! Love your reviews, cheers from Canada!

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Yeah I thought Insomnia was okay but it wasn't my favourite. So far that's been IT, The Stand and Salem's Lot I think. Thanks so much for your comment. Glad you enjoy the reviews.

[@mmmoynihan]

Fantastic review as always. If you want an idea of what it’s like to experience Insomnia without reading the Dark Tower I can tell you. Back in my teens in the 90’s was when I started reading King. I’d started with Needful Things and The Stand and got hooked. I binged the King books available in my local library, both tower adjacent like It and Salem’s Lot, and non-Tower books like Carrie, the Shining and Cujo. But I didn’t read any of the actual Dark Tower books. Don’t know why. Maybe it was because I wasn’t much of a fantasy reader at that point. Maybe I didn’t much care for starting a series that I couldn’t finish, which was certainly the case back in the mid ‘90’s. Or maybe I just hadn’t gotten around to it. Whatever the reason, when I read Insomnia, just after it’s release, I hadn’t read any of the Dark Tower, and Insomnia was the book that made me think “Y’know what, I’m good for Stephen King books for now” and moved on to Clive Barker and James Herbert (what can I say, I was a teenage boy, horror was my jam). It wasn’t too befuddling and a non-Tower reader, no more than King is normally anyway. I was aware that the Tower and Roland existed, but I just thought of the Crimson King as kind of a lesser cousin to Pennywise not some major multiversal antagonist. The book just felt all over the place. It seemed like he had a great setting and set up but didn’t really know where to go with it. I did like the characters probably more than you did yourself, and I enjoyed coming back to Derry. I thought the town divided over reproductive rights was a great backdrop for the story, it seemed very outlandish when I read it in the 90’s, weirdly it seems more plausible in the 2020’s. However the surreal elements with the doctors, and Ralph and Lois’s abilities along with the Crimson King felt like a step too far. Oh and the green man really sucked. I revisited it many years later when I did my Dark Tower journey, I probably got it more, but I didn’t like it much better. Oh and when I revisited it I did the audiobook too! I like listening to audiobooks in bed whilst drifting off to sleep and the number of night’s I sat bold upright when those musical interludes started is beyond counting! Ironically the audiobook of Insomnia gave me Insomnia. F*** those musical interludes!

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Haha, thanks for sharing your journey with Stephen King's works-that's a pretty epic reading list! I totally get where you're coming from about not jumping into the Dark Tower series right away. Series can be a big commitment, especially when you're not sure you'll vibe with the genre. It's cool to hear your perspective on Insomnia as a non-Tower reader. That's a fresh way to look at it, thinking of the Crimson King as a "lesser cousin to Pennywise." 😂 I'm glad you had a soft spot for the characters and the setting, even if the surreal elements felt a bit extra. And man, you hit the nail on the head with Derry's political backdrop feeling more relevant today. The audiobook giving you insomnia is just... wow, the irony. Those musical interludes should come with a warning label or something, right? It's always awesome hearing your take. Can't wait to see what you think of the next review! I'm a bit of a fan of James Herbert. I was much more of a Herbert reader growing up than a King fan. I think that's because he's my dad's favourite.

[@sixty9lives]

Another great review. Since I just did the whole extended reading (ahem listening) again since you started your journey, I love hearing your opinions first time through. This book made a lot more sense to me the second time I listened to it. I agree with your thoughts with the whole review including the whole out of nowhere extremely odd and loud music intervals. This book however in my opinion is critical to the Dark Tower extended series. You should skip Rose Matter IMO as far as the extended Dark Tower series it has very little tie in, but it was a decent book on its own. Hahaha be careful of the Rick Roll.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Hey, thanks for the kind words and for sharing your own experience with the book! It's so cool that you've been revisiting the series alongside my reviews. I've heard from a few people now that Insomnia makes more sense on a second read-or listen, in our case. I'm curious about your take on Rose Madder. I've got a few folks really looking forward to that review, but I'll definitely keep in mind what you said about its limited tie-in to the Dark Tower universe. Maybe it'll be more of a standalone experience for me.

[@owenpolanich1462]

I loved that scene of ralph seeing the doctors through his window it reminded me of rear window it was super cool

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Great comparison! Yeah it was exactly like that. Really spooky with him all alone and witnessing something without them knowing he's watching them. Very atmospheric.

[@rodgilley-writer]

Great detail in this review! I haven't read many of Stephen King's books. I'm a fan, but I am so limited in time (most of his books are thick). I don't know what books are in the Dark Tower series. Seems this book should be avoided by someone like me, I'd have no idea what is going on. "I don't know anybody." I wonder if you know how huge your statement is. Social media (lets be honest, your friendships there are overall, pretty shallow) has totally replaced real-life friends for the majority of people. In my lifespan, I have watched it happen. People just don't really connect like they used to. There's a lot of cool stuff in our present, but also a lot of cool stuff lost to the past. Indeed, your videos are entertaining. I really like that they inspire one to think as well. Very well done!!!

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Hey, thanks for the awesome feedback! I totally get you on the time commitment for King's books-some of them are like doorstops! If you're not deep into the Dark Tower universe, Insomnia might feel like you jumped into the deep end without a life vest, so maybe starting with some shorter King works would be better for you. Your point about social connections in the age of social media really hits home. It's something I think about a lot, especially when discussing themes in books that touch on human relationships. You're right, we've gained a lot with technology, but some important things have slipped away. Super glad to hear you find the videos both entertaining and thought-provoking. That's always the goal! Can't wait to hear what you think of future reviews!

[@rodgilley-writer]

@@PaperbackJourneys Sincerely, I look forward to future videos! You do a great job on these!!!!

[@dustywaynemusic6297]

This was one of the first King books I read nearly 20 years ago, I hadn't read IT yet and only The Gunslinger as far as The Dark Tower goes. I remember enjoying it but forgot most of it. It was much better this time around especially reading right after IT, seeing another side of Derry.

[@JoeHodgin]

So happy someone shared the same experience with the audiobook as I did.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

It was crazy right??? What was it with the music? I noticed it in a Joe Hill audiobook too. Heart Shaped Box. Just nuts!

[@JoeHodgin]

@@PaperbackJourneyshonestly a ton of King’s audiobooks around that time period had horribly mixed music in it. The short story collection with 1408 was so annoying. Especially that story in particular, i just remember the most annoying saxophone over and over 😂

[@OrlandoOrtiz570]

A book I know I'll never read, so thanks for this review.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Haha! Yeah it wasn’t one of my favourites from Stephen King. Hopefully this will give you the gist of it.

[@OrlandoOrtiz570]

Oh wow.... I just got to the part where you mention the 3 "characters". Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos are the names of the 3 Sisters of Fate from Greek mythology. If memory serves, Clotho creates the Thread of Life, Lachesis measures the Thread and Atropos cuts the Thread with her scissors.

[@Whyteroze28]

​@@OrlandoOrtiz570Was just coming to see if someone had clarified this...

[@amandakucsera]

I may barely recall the green man…I really have to reread it 😂 but also reminds me of the little green guy from serial experiments lain

[@derekroberts6654]

One of my favorite King books. I hope someday they make a movie of it but they’ll have to retitle it not to get it confused with that other movie with Robin Williams and Al Pacino.. I always imagined Ralph Roberts being played by Sam Neil (“Jurassic Park”) and Sigourney Weaver (“Aliens” and “Ghostbusters”) as Lois…

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Oh that's funny! I pictured them as Tom Hanks and Sally Field which I know is funny because they were mother and son in Forest Gump but it's just how I saw them. I'd love to see a movie adaptation. I wonder what they'd do with all the Crimson King stuff though without the Dark Tower tie in?

[@jeanfish7]

Little doctors of Illaria was weird too

[@RemingtonHinshaw-zi1jx]

This was one of the coolest yet strangest books I’ve read … also very good read BUT didn’t see the necessity to read it as part of TDT extended series reading list …. Or at least only a few chapters need to be read to continue the journey to the Dark Tower.. if you disagree PLEASE comment - I am not opposed to changing my mind when a valid argument is proposed. Thanks!!

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Yeah those last few pages are really what makes it important right? Also... it's the first time we encounter TCK! 😈

[@amandakucsera]

I’ve never read the dark tower series and insomnia is one of the few Stephan king books I have read..so now I’m very interested as this was my favorite book of his out of the few I read 😂

[@amandakucsera]

I think the amazement of the book is you don’t have to understand the dark tower parts.. we may get a perspective more like Ralph’s and less like Stephan kings when reading the book? Since Ralph knows what Stephan king wrote to know, we know what Stephan king has wrote. But viewing it like Ralph almost makes me feel like Ralph, and not like a reader. My favorite old man.

[@amandakucsera]

Yea yea auto correct hates Stephen’s name but I’m not changing it now

[@zachtindell7751]

my first stephen king book listened on audible lol it was an experience

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Haha! Yeah man, I actually think the narrator was pretty good. He had that nice "old man" voice, but the music was a crazy creative choice.

[@Michael-iw3ek]

One of the very few Stephen King books I can't finish, I find it super annoying somehow. I've read most everything of his except his late "works" and a handful of those that I just can't get through.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Yeah it was a bit of a struggle at points honestly. I liked it, don't get me wrong, but it's not one of my favourite Stephen King books.

[@Mike-n6u9t]

O man I hope you do a dark towel review

[@miriamrowlands]

Dark towels are great as they don't show the dirt! 5/5

[@cilanthropetunia]

I really wish I had as close knit community as Ralph too. Millennials have it rough in that way.

[@PaperbackJourneys]

We have to be the loneliest generation! The great thing is that this is a fun community we get to take part in. Thanks for commenting. 😃

[@jeanfish7]

Oh, the power of a pencil eraser:)

[@jeanfish7]

The ending of Dark Tower is interesting

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Yeah it's something!! I just finished it recently.

[@bjoeeernnestor6016]

You get to meet him in the gunslinger!

[@RadicalNomad97]

Your prediction of the ending of the dark tower wasn’t to far off 😂 .

[@PaperbackJourneys]

Yeah not bad ay? hahaha!

[@amandakucsera]

LACK E IS I think is how the other good doctor pronounced I believe

[@forrestfrogg]

I thought the green man was his roommate...

[@r3lativ]

It's very annoying to me that Stephen King decided to introduce critical characters from the Dark Tower series in such a bad and boring book.