One Sentence Summary
Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep follows Danny Torrance as he confronts his childhood demons while protecting a young girl with similar Shining powers from a tribe of murderous paranormals.
Book Genre
Doctor Sleep is a horror/thriller novel written by Stephen King.
Main Topic of the Book
Doctor Sleep explores the power of trauma and fear, its impact on people, and captures the horror of addiction as Danny Torrance attempts to come to terms with the Shining forces from his past.
Key Ideas
- The struggle between darkness and light – both internally and externally
- The never-ending cycle of addiction
- The power of community and love in overcoming monsters
Main Parts of the Book & Short Summary
Doctor Sleep begins with the introduction of Dan Torrance, the troubled son of Jack Torrance from the classic horror novel The Shining. Dan, now in his forties, is a recovering alcoholic who is trying to live a peaceful life in a small New England town. He soon discovers that he still possesses the shining powers he had as a child and finds himself helping a young girl, Abra Stone, who has similar abilities. The two of them soon become embroiled in a conflict with a cult of immortal paranormal beings, referred to as the “True Knot”, who feed off of children with the Shining. The novel follows Dan as he and Abra band together with the help of some local allies to battle the forces of darkness and protect Abra from the True Knot. Ultimately, they make the ultimate sacrifice to defeat the evil and restore balance to the world.
Key Takeaways
- The power of courage and conviction can prevail over evil
- We can only overcome our traumatic pasts when we accept and understand our fears on a deep level
- The power of friendship and community can help us work through our biggest challenges
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Stephen King is one of the world’s most successful and popular horror & suspense authors. He wrote Doctor Sleep as a sequel to his timeless classic, The Shining. He has written countless books, many of which have been adapted into movies or TV shows. He has won numerous awards including the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Awards, the Hugo Award and the Locus Award.
Target Audience
Doctor Sleep is best suited for adult readers, particularly those who enjoy horror and suspense stories.
Publisher & First Publication Date
Doctor Sleep was first published in 2013 by Scribner and is now available in many formats as well as an audiobook.