"DOLORES, PONEKAD JE POTREBNO BITI GADURA DA BI PREŽIVJELA"Prošlo je više od godinu dana kada sam se zadnji puta družio s imaginacijom velikog gospodina Kinga, tako da je bilo vrijeme da ponovno zavirim u njegov uvrnuti mozak. Kao i uvijek, nisam se prevario jer sam dobio jednu vrlo dobru priču o disfunkcionalnoj obitelji, koja nema fantastičnih elemenata pa time spada u, kako ja to volim reći, obična Kingova djela.Radnja započinje kada se glavna protagonistica Dolores sprema ispričati svoju priču policiji s obzirom na nesretni slučaj koji se dogodio. Bit će to poprilično detaljna i dugačka priča u kojoj će Dolores podijeliti s njima/nama cijeli svoj život i svako svoje razmišljanje koje ju je nagnalo na svaki bitan postupak u životu. Knjigu možemo protumačiti kao oblik ispovijedi gdje će Dolores izreći tajne, koje je držala u sebi godinama. Dolores je fantastično okrakterizirana, baš onako kako King to zna napraviti i definitivno se može reći da predstavlja jednu snažnu ženu, a posebno mi se svidjelo kako vidimo i njenu negativnu stranu dobivajući na uvjerljivosti. Svaki njen potez čitatelj će razumjeti, shvati će njezinu patnju i suosjećat s njom kad ispriča tajne koje nitko ne bi trebao čuti, od kojih su neke toliko jezive da je ponekad teško uopće na njih pomisliti. Da, King je opet uspio metodom šoka iznenaditi čitatelja i sasvim obične ljude postaviti u krajnje neobične situacije.King koristi zanimljivu simboliku smještajem radnje u vrijeme potpune pomrčine Sunce, jer će upravo za vrijeme nje Dolores, kako King to i sam u predgovoru kaže, izroniti iz tame. Tame koja obuhvaća teme poput fizičkog i psihičkog zlostavljanja, relativiziranje nasilja kao preodgoja, patrijarharnosti, bračnih problema, ljubomore, incesta, mentaliteta malog mjesta i mnoge druge.Moram spomenuti lik Vere Donovan, odnosno dobro situirane gospođe za koju Dolores radi desetljećima kao domaćica. Veru upoznajemo kao zlobu i dementnu staricu kojoj je glavni cilj napakostiti sluškinjama koje zaposli, no s vremenom uviđamo zanimljiv odnos između nje i Dolores koji je bio površinski hladan, ali pun poštovanja i razumijevanja. Zanimljiv da je, uz dva tako snažna ženska lika od kojih oba imaju naglašenu tamnu stranu, King ovaj roman posvetio svojoj majci. Moram priznati da mi se to nekako ne uklapa s likovima pa ako netko ima objašnjenje neka ga slobodno napiše. Da li zbog teškog života Dolores i bezuvjetne brige za svoju djecu?Da kažem ponešto i o zamjerkama same knjige, izdvojile su se dvije koje zapravo i objašnjavaju gdje se izgubila jedna zvjezdica u ocjeni. Najveća zamjerka knjizi je njezina duljina, odnosno dojma sam da je King mogao ovu priču zaključiti na manje stranica od 250 koliko ih ima moje izdanje i da je ovo mogla biti jedna od priča u njegovim popularnim zbirkama poput Godišnjih doba ili Mrkli mrak, bez zvijezda koje sam prethodno čitao i recenzirao. S druge strane, upravo priča 1922. iz posljednje spomenute zbirke i ova dijele neke sličnosti i oko tematike i oko same radnje (hint: bunar). Istina da je ova knjiga izašla gotovo 20 godine prije spomenute priče, a s obzirom na Kingovu spisateljsku plodnost ne smijemo mu to uzeti za preveliko zlo. I treća primjedba je opća predvidljivost same radnje. Radnja skrene u zanimljive smjerove i događaje i njezino nelinearno pripovijedanje unosi dašak zanimljivosti, ali neke glavne događaja koji će Dolores prezentirati dobivamo servirane odmah na prvim stranicama priče s obzirom da Dolores svoju priču zapravo cijelo vrijeme detaljno prepričava. Općenito nisam fan takve pripovjedačke mehanike jer ubija napetost. I moram priznati da je zanimljivo bilo čitati knjigu bez poglavlja, ne sjećam se kad sam zadnjih put čitao nešto što je bilo toliko dugačko a nije imalo apsolutno nikakvo fizičko odvajanje napisanog.Nadam se da dojam pisane recenzije nije ispao da sam razočaran pročitanim, jer to definitivno nije tako. Prvih 150 strana sam uživao u nadmudrivanju Dolores i Vere i njihovom odnosu na granici sadizma, ali nakon toga mi je postalo predvidljivo jer je centralni događaj romana vrlo jasno naznačen pa moram priznati da sam u tom dijelu nešto manje uživao. Kad se sve uzme u obzir nisam požalio što sam uzeo ovu knjigu u ruke jer je King majstor koje god se tematike primi, zbog toga konačna ocjena čvrstih 4/5.IZDVOJENI CITATI„Nema te sile na nebu ni na zemlji koja bi ljude spriječila u tome da misle najgore što mogu o nekome.“„Najzanimljivije što netko može učiniti u ovoj provincijskoj pustoši je da iznenada umre.“ „Na što nalikuje bilo koji brak? Mislim da se svi međusobno razlikuju, ali da nema niti jednog među njima koji je onakav kakav izgleda izvana.“UKRATKO O FILMSKOJ ADAPTACIJIOd sada ću osvrte i usporedbe s filmskim adaptacijama postavljati u odvojenom dijelu da ne spoilam film ukoliko netko nije gledao, a i ovako mi je jednostavnije upotpunit recenziju nakon nekog vremena s filmom, serijom ili u kojeg god mediju će adaptirati knjigu.Filmska verzija doživjela je znatne izmjene u samom načinu odvijanja radnje. Dolores više ne priča radnju u policijskoj postaji, već ju kroz flashbackove likova proživljavamo kroz njen odnos s kćeri Selenom koja ima značajnu ulogu u filmu. Kroz knjigu Dolores objašnjava odnos s kćeri kroz mučna razdoblja njihovog obiteljskog života, dok njen odnos u sadašnjosti, odnosno u trenutku dok priča životnu priču u policijskoj postaji uopće nije dotaknut. U filmu imamo priliku vidjeti reakciju odrasle Selene, koja dolazi po majku točno u trenutku kada započinje knjiga i od tuda cijela ta priča u sadašnjosti dobiva značajne izmjene u odnosu na knjigu. Svidio mi se taj jedan obrnuti pristup jer je zadržao mističnost, a radnja je fokusiranija na odnos Dolores i Selene daleko više nego u knjizi, ali cijeli taj dio je pretjeran s negiranje istine od strane Selene dok zanimljiviji dijelovi postaju spomenuti flashbackovi koji zauzimaju polovicu filma, dok oni zapravo čine cijelu knjigu. S druge strane zanimljiv odnos između Dolores i Vere je pao u drugi plan tako da je film zapravo svojevrsna dopuna iz drugog kuta samoj knjizi.U konačnici film mi se svidio, definitivno je zanimljiva adaptacija i iako je drugačija od same knjige u nekim dijelovima, pogotovo u prisutnosti Selene, film jako dobro može funkcionirati samostalno kao dobra drama s odlično izabranim glumicama za likove Dolores i Vere.
Audiobook – Narrated by Frances Sternhagen – Excellent Narration.Written as one chapter, this is the story of Dolores Claiborne who is suspected of murdering her wealthy employer.Instead, during one long night, in a police interview, she confesses to murdering her husband 30 years ago.The story goes back in time as she tells about the woman she worked for and is suspected of killing, about her marriage and her violent and abusive husband, and her life on Little Tall Island. I’ve read the book on a number of occasions over the years, and this is the second listening of the audio, and I seem to enjoy it more each time.Different than what we usually expect from Stephen King, but where it is the same, as with all his books, are the wonderfully rich, diverse characters that he introduces us to.I don’t particularly enjoy female narrators but Frances Sternhagen does a great job bringing to life this strong, gutsy, often foul mouthed but compassionate woman.***CONNECTIONS, COINCIDENCES and CHESTNUTS:Dolores Claiborne and Gerald’s Game were written in tandem and were intended to be a two-volume set called In the Path of the Eclipse. To me, that would have made more sense than two stand-alone books with such a tenuous connection.“I thought of that little girl again, the one I told you about before, and all at once I saw her just as clear as day. She was down on her knees, too, lookin under her bed, and I thought, “She's so unhappy, and she smells that same smell. The one that's like pennies and oysters. Only it didn't come from the well; it has something to do with her father.” She’s speaking of Jessie (Gerald’s Game)***Little Tall Island (The Storm of the Century, Home Delivery)Derry mentionedThe Reach (The Reach, Home Delivery)The Outer Islands (Home Delivery)Ellsworth (Home Delivery)The Island Princess (Home Delivery)Fudgy’s Tavern (Home Delivery)University of Maine in Orono (IT, Pet Semetery, The Tommyknockers, Gerald’s Game)Machias (Home Delivery)New Gloucester (Hearts in Atlantis) Also, Stephen King’s mother worked for a time as a housekeeper at Pineland, a mental institution in the town of New Gloucester.Jonesport (The Reach) mentioned.Amusing: http://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/17/new...Shawshank State Prison (Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, The Body, IT, The Sun Dog, Blaze, Bag of Bones, Under The Dome, 11/22/63) Big Clock Solitaire – Lloyd Henreid (The Stand) was cheating at Big Clock Solitaire in the Cub Bar.My Pretty Pony - While being questioned by Dr. McAuliffe about her husband's death, Dolores thinks to herself, "One, my-pretty-pony...two, my-pretty-pony...three, my-pretty-pony," to give herself time before answering the questions. Stephen King wrote a short story called My Pretty Pony, collected in Nightmares and Dreamscapes. It is also a Dollar Baby short film.Selena St George (Home Delivery)Dolores Claiborne (The Storm of the Century)Rita Hayworth, the actress, rates a mention.Atropos (Insomnia) possesses Gage Creed’s sneaker.Frank Proulx shares his surname with Mrs Proulx (Dedication) and also Annie Proulx, an author whose books, Close Range: Wyoming Stories and The Shipping News, made it to King’s List of 96 Books For Aspiring Writers To Read.Dr Freneau shares his surname with Irma and Tansy Freneau (Black House) and also with Philip Freneau, an American poet, who wrote a poem called “The Indian Burial Ground.” Interesting.
What do You think about Dolores Claiborne (1993)?
Without spoiling any of the points in Dolores Claiborne, I'd like to jump right in to why I love this book so much. First, it should be noted this book is connected -albeit slightly- to Gerald's Game. They're totally different books and stories, though there is a thread of connectivity there which is nice, but not necessary to make Dolores Claiborne great. Second, D.C. is written totally from Dolores' perspective. You hear only her voice, only her side of the story. Her voice, however, is so authentic and riveting, you forget this is another novel by the prolific writer Stephen King and think you're sitting across the table, listening to this woman's story. That alone, in my opinion, is what makes this entire novel so amazing. Forget the plot lines, the story arc, the climax. It's all about this woman and how you just trust her and understand where she is coming from, where she has been and the road she takes you down. That ability is the single greatest aspect of Dolores Claiborne. Easy reading is damn hard writing, indeed. Last, the story itself is a page-turner. From the get-go, when Dolores is talking to detectives about her former employer and says, "She was always a bitch, but she was a special kind of bitch that day." That quote may not be correct, I'll have to look it up and it is late. But damn, I sure like Dolores.
—D. VonThaer
Unlike most King novels I believe, this does not include anything supernatural. It is an interesting story told by the title character in the form of an unbroken monologue. A hard-working abused mother of one, Dolores starts her story where she is being accused of the murder of her long time, aged wealthy employer Vera Donovan, with suspicions also about the disappearance of Dolores' no good sleaze bag husband.There are some great lines in this book, as Dolores and Vera's working relationship morphs into a deep intuitive friendship and a kind of inter-dependency. The book has a climax in the form of a solar eclipse when the residents and visitors of the island are all but entirely absorbed in the natural phenomena. Some people however, have other business to attend to..This book is moving, suspenseful and funny, in a dark kind of way.Quotes from book:Vera Donovan: "Sometimes you have to be a high-riding bitch to survive. Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hang onto."Dolores: (when Vera refuses to have her incontinence diaper changed) "What do you want to do- marinate in it?"The book was made into a very credible film, with the fantastic Kathy Bates, and Jennifer Jason-Leigh as her daughter, with the usual digressions from plot a la Hollywood. I don't think the integrity of the story suffered though.
—Clare Bear
I listened to the audio version of this book when it first came out and thought it was brilliant. I don't think I've ever heard a better performance in an audio book. Frances Sternahagen does such a terrific job bringing the story to life. Earlier this week, I read the book, and reading it enabled me to better appreciate the amazing writing and storytelling. There are no sections or chapters. The entire story is the title character explaining to the police that although she might have killed her husband years ago (and why) she did not kill her employer the day before.If you are a fan of Stephen King's horror, you might not enjoy Dolores Claiborne, for while there are chilling moments, it's not a horror story. But this is one of my favorites of his. The writing is incredible and so are the characters. There is lots of humor and there is anguish and shame and regret and the fierce desire to go forward despite terrible circumstances and do what needs to be done to make things bearable.My review cannot do the story justice. Great book!
—R.E. Chambliss
