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Lisey's Story

Lisey's Story (Unabridged)

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Lisey's Story

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Mare Winningham
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About this listen

Includes an Exclusive Interview with Stephen King and Apple TV+

Perhaps Stephen King's most personal and powerful novel and audiobook, LISEY'S STORY is a beautifully textured suspense narrative about the wellsprings of creativity, the temptations of madness and the secret language of love. Read by Mare Winningham.

Every marriage has two hearts, one light and one dark.

Lisey knew it when she first fell for Scott. And now he's dead, she knows it for sure.

Lisey was the light to Scott Landon's dark for twenty-five years. As his wife, only she saw the truth behind the public face of the famous author - that he was a haunted man whose bestselling novels were based on a terrifying reality.

Now Scott has gone, Lisey wants to lock herself away with her memories. But the fans have other ideas. And when the sinister threats begin, Lisey realises that, just as Scott depended on her strength - her light - to live, so she will have to draw on his darkness to survive.

©2006 Stephen King (P)2006 Simon and Schuster Audio Genre Fiction Horror Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Romance Romantic Suspense Supernatural Thriller & Suspense Tie-in Scary Paranormal Marriage Suspense Exciting Heartfelt Emotionally Gripping Fiction

Critic reviews

"Seriously creepy stories are more frightening heard than read. Your eye can skim the page, minimising the effect of the nasty bits, but such horrors become aqonisingly long and drawn out when narrated unabridged. Unabridged listening is the only way to do jsutice to the style and skill of such masters of the macabre as Stephen King." (The Times)

"Stephen King at his finest...a dazzling novel." (Nicholas Sparks)

"In Lisey's Story, Stephen King makes bold, brilliant use of his satanic storytelling gift, his angelic ear for language and, above all, his incomparable ability to find the epic in the ordinary." (Michael Chabon)

"Lisey's Story is bright and brilliant. It's dark and desperate. While I'll always consider The Shining, my first ride on King's wild Tilt-A-Whirl, a gorgeous, bloody jewel, I found, on this latest ride, a treasure box heaped with dazzling gems. A few of them have sharp, hungry teeth." (Nora Roberts)
All stars
Most relevant  

Would you try another book written by Stephen King or narrated by Mare Winningham?

Based on this book, I wouldn't read another King. Thankfully, I've read many of his other books so realise this is probably his blip rather than his regular output. Mare Winningham gives a great performance reading this book but cannot save it from being a dull story.

Has Lisey's Story put you off other books in this genre?

No. I have read other works by Stephen King and can clearly see this is the exception rather than the norm.

Which character – as performed by Mare Winningham – was your favourite?

They were all pretty dull but Winningham managed to put some life into all of them. I guess Lisey would be my favourite but her story and character left me wanting something more.

Did Lisey's Story inspire you to do anything?

After giving up twice on reading it before deciding to persevere just so I can claim I've read all his books, I guess it inspired me to read something else.

Any additional comments?

If anyone is wanting to read Stephen King's work, please leave this book as either one of the last ones or in the middle. If you read this first, you'd have avoided his other work like the plague. I'd recommend "The Stand" or "It" as a solid first book. Maybe "Skeleton Crew" or "Four Past Midnight" if you don't want to commit to a large novel or just want to try small nibbles.

Don't get me wrong, the story is solid but, compared to his other works, the characters are weak, the basic premise is a rehashing of "Rose Madder" which is significantly better and the 'married language' like replacing f**k with smuck starts off quaint but becomes tedious and annoying very quickly. More so when it's on practically every page. Do yourselves a favour and read one of his better works which, after reading this, is any of them.

Definitely King's worst

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Being new to Audible, but not to Stephen King, I thought I would try out this title. It is not as sinister as other titles and I have to say that I was addicted! Over recent years my reading tastes have mellowed dramatically and I had moved away from Stephen King but now I am back with a vengeance! This story is so easy to fall into, well crafted, intricate and beautifully read leaving me in tears on more than one occasion. Highly recommended!! Bool, the end!

Fantastic!

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I absolutely love this story! Great narration too. It's a slow burner but definitely worth a listen!

wonderful

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Beautiful reading of a brilliant story. Warm, genuine and tragic. On of King’s best. Highly recommended.

So very good

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Struggled at first because not listened to a female narrator before, didn't detract from a brilliant story, she nailed it.

Great story

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You never know where he is going with stories and I find myself thinking of this parts of the day when at work etc. It's slow to start but then u understand why and me being prob a bit like s King it's just my cup of tea. Think I would be the same as lisey if I had lost someone and it's got that dark sense of humour between the lines that I love with him. It's set in Maine. Going to Maine is on my bucket list. It's a good book and u have to think and know s King to understand it all. I love it

It's

Love s King

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An excellent story, superbly narrated. I don't think I would have enjoyed it so much if I had read it - having a skilled narrator really makes the story come alive. The book is, of course, written in part in the narrative style, which could make it a tedious read if the reader wasn't familiar with American accents and idioms. This way, you have an engrossing tale and 18 hours of enjoyment!

Good narration +good story = excellent audiobook!

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I liked this book - a very absorbing and moving tale and exemplifying Stephen King's gift for telling a story with a lot a good characters. My only minor beef is that I thought the book too long. Narration takes a bit of getting used to, but in the end the narrator held the book together for me and she does a first class job.

Not Stephen King's best, but well worth listening to nonetheless.

Not vintage Stephen King but still very good

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This was for me, one of the best audiobooks I've heard. Boo'ya Moon (Scott's mysterious and dangerous other world) and Mare Winningham are a fine combination. She reads the book with colour and flare, really bringing the central characters to life, and I suspect that listening to this is a much better experience than actually reading the story in page form, as much of it is told in Lisey and Scott's 'personal couple language' which works so well in this medium with Winningham's talent as a narrator.

Plot wise, it may not be for everyone, it's not fast paced, but the enjoyment is in the details around the main story for a change. It's been criticized for being overly longwinded, and this is true, but I didn't mind as there's a always a fascination to lead you on in Winningham's capable hands. Her voice was perfect for Lisey I felt.

King describes this as one of his most personal and favourite writes, understandable as it could be almost about himself, his own muse, intriguing.

One of the best

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I love SK books, listened to many over the years. This one is slow and just meanders through. I think there were two moments of brief tension....just did not grip me like his others.

Slow and long winded.....

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