Stephen King Takes a Trip to "Duma Key:" A Review of His Latest Novel

Ever since Stephen King was hit by a van driven by a man named Brian Smith and nearly killed, the idea of people being involved in near-fatal accident has been a theme that has recurred many times in his books. In each case, there are some similarities between what happened with him and what happens with the characters in his book. While the details may be different, some of the aspects of his healing show up. This is also true in his latest book, entitled "Duma Key."

The story centers around a man named Edgar Freemantle. He is a contractor and builder of large buildings in Minnesota. One day, while on a job site, a crane backs into his truck. He is pinned inside and nearly dies. He suffers from severe brain damage, has his hip and leg seriously damaged and he loses his right arm. Whe he awakens he finds that he cannot quite remember all of the right words to things when attempting to have a conversation with his family.

"Sit in the char," he will say, instead of "chair." He discovers, rather quickly, that he also has explosive moments of blind rage. The most extreme cases of this end with him committing acts of violence, such as attempting to choke his wife, Pam. Soon, his marriage is on the rocks and he is wondering if he should just kill himself.

His friend asks him to remember something other than building buildings that made him happy. Edgar remembers that he used to like to draw. His friend suggests he leave Minnesota, get far away, and take up that hobby again. Edgar does some research and finds a huge, pink, house located on an obscure and nearly empty Flordia Key named, you guessed it, Duma Key.