I would like to think that thoughts of writing more books and finishing his magnum opus helped to keep him engaged with “the real world”, and provided a source of healing for him when he needed it the most.Įnter the novel, Duma Key. I am also sure that, like most other artists, King needs his art to stay engaged, especially after the horrific accident that nearly claimed his life. He is an artist, and much needed warmth in our world. The art of Stephen King has been making my world brighter for the past 25 years, and I imagine that he has been brightening the worlds of many, many other folks as well. We may appear to be escaping, but really, we do it so that we can stay engaged with “the real world.” And art, of any kind (literature, paintings, comic books, you name it), is just one of the few things that makes “the real world” just a little less cold.Īnd one those things that makes our world a little less could is…wait for it…ĭon’t be surprised, it is this blog, after all. And I imagine that is true for most creative people. Kept me in the land of the living when it seemed nothing else would. Once again, art healed me when I was at my most broken. The tears came, but it was cathartic and I needed it. The irony was not lost on me, reminding me once again that coincidence had been cancelled. The next night, I finished a woodburning piece with the phrase “Stand and be true” included on it. This was one of the most agonizing decisions that I had to make, and I questioned it constantly, never sure that I was doing the right thing, even though I saw the gratitude in her eyes at the very end. Recently, I had to euthanize my poor 15 year old dog Igloo, who had been my best friend for about the same length of time. Kept me from feeling completely worthless after I finally left my ex (yes, the same one), and going out of my mind with loneliness. Kept me from losing my mind when my ex had legal troubles of the worst kind, and that was all he would talk about, day in and day out. So I guess I am a little obsessed… this guy might understand something about that…īut art has kept me. I am always drawing, painting, woodburning, glass etching… It is one of my favorite forms of expression. Anyone who knows me knows that art is extremely important to me.

Duma key book review