One great story of suspense is Duma Key. Edgar Freemantle,
story’s protagonist, suffers a tragic accident, causing him to lose his memory,
as well as his right arm. Through the harsh struggles of rehabilitation, he
finds that what may be best for him is an escape; an escape to Duma Key, an
island off the coast of Florida filled with untouched earth and captivating
sunsets. But, as Edgar gets back in the swing of a “usual life” he finds that
his dreams, “special” paintings, and phantom arm pains are all somehow
connected to the increasingly mysterious island, and those who live there. But
something even deeper and darker is hidden within the island's past.
Personally, I thought was a a B-side esc. suspense novel.
This caused it to feel uncommonly unique yet pleasant to read, all the more.
The way to which the story builds feels natural, and also enjoyable. It's not
necessarily a slow start-off because the early rehabilitation events have you
build a connection with Edgar, allowing you to really get in and see what he
goes through. I've always felt that it's essential in a horror, suspense, or
scary novel for there to be a bond between the reader and protagonist, this
novel nails that exceptionally.
However, not every other character is fleshed out so well.
Some close characters to Edgar possess great detail, but others do not. A solid
example of a one of the most detailed secondary characters is Wireman, a
newfound friend of Edgar's when he visited Duma. He has a much more grim past
than his appearance would have you assume. But not all are given such detail,
leaving the cast of characters to feel as if a mixed bag, to say the least.
Aside from particular writing clichés, the story has a lot
to offer. As a breath of fresh air in the suspense scene, it's a must read. It
features one of the most understandable and "real" characters I've
ever encountered in books. The reveals that answer the story's many questions
are more than worth your time. Just know that the story isn't 10/10 flawless.
No comments:
Post a Comment