Rating: 
Summary: Enough already!
Review: Why waste words? King's Insomnia wasted enough already. If you're an incurable King fan, and will read anything he dishes out, then go ahead and buy it. Just be aware that this book is an agenda with a weak plot wrapped around it. Not since "Tommyknockers" has King been so thoroughly absorbed in peddling his tired liberal slop.
Rating: 
Summary: Best and Worst
Review: Of all the many modern authors that write today, few are more frequently typified than Stephen King. To his critics, he is a windbag with a tendency to bloat who's far too much in love with the sound of his own voice to keep his length under control. To his fans, he is a masterful storyteller with a talent for creating lively, organic characters. Both of those poles of King appear in this book, and both to almost as great an extreme as I can remember from any of his previous writing.Let's start with the good. The characters in this book are wonderful. While I certainly don't believe that he captures the essence of old age at all (these folks are almost as active as the ridiculous old people they have on television commercials these days), since I don't see the age of the protagonist and his cohorts as being critical to the plot, I'm inclined to disregard that gaping oversight in light of the masterful treatment that he gives all of the characters who people this book. King's typical narrative voice is also present here, lending the novel a familiar tone that most readers should be able to fall in with quickly and comfortably. The bad. This book is big. Very big. About two hundred pages too big, truth be told. The thing about the criticism of King's inability to control his bloat is that it's right, and in no other work outside of It is it more apparent than in this one. Not nearly enough happens in this book to mandate the amount of time you're going to spend reading it. By allowing the length to spiral out of control, he only makes it that much less accessible to the action-oriented horror base of his audience. King also drops a lot of brand names here--another frequent criticism. I personally don't care. You might. In one notable deviation from King's excellent treatment of his characters, his shallow, somewhat misogynistic understanding of the female psyche rears its ugly head. I'm not a hundred percent on this, but I'm pretty sure that there's no connection between battered women and lesbianism, as King implies. Most importantly, there's a deep element of this book that is utterly and completely unaccessible to anybody who is not at least passingly familiar with King's magnum opus--the Dark Tower. Indeed, I would wager that if you haven't read at least the first three books in the series, you're going to be completely lummoxed when it comes to understanding why some of the characters do what they do, or what's going on at all. Insomnia was penned during a period of Steve's career when he was unable to write a Dark Tower book, even though he wanted to, and that frustrated desire led him, in this case, to write a book that is so intensely mired in that world's mythology that it's nigh on incomprehensible to those not in the know. I am, so I didn't have a problem. In fact, I'd say that any Dark Tower fan probably needs to read the book precisely for that reason. Other, less familiar readers WILL have problems, however. On the whole, while I personally have some affection for this book, I can't give it my unconditional recommendation. Steven King has written many great pieces that anybody can read (Desperation, Hearts in Atlantis), but this is not one of them. While King fans will find a lot to like, anybody who's not already fimrly entrenched as a King enthusiast should probably stick to one of his more accessible books.
Rating:
Summary: A good read that I couldn't put down.
Review: I really do not understand why so many people have given this book such negative reviews. The main character is lovable and easy to identify with although part of the senior community, this story drew me and kept me turning the pages. The story has so many things to contiplate, growing old, abortion rights,woman's rights, and how we handle death. For king fans it is easy to pick out refrences to some of his other works, especially the tie in to the Dark Tower series. Unlike others I found this a quick read, often finding myself compelled to read just one more page, but unable to stop there.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating...Imaginative...Insightful Characterization
Review: I read the hardback version 2 years ago, and have just finished the cassette book tape of this fascinating book. I have read almost everything King/Bachman has written, and it never ceases to amaze me how true-to-life his characters are no matter how bizarre the plot. King's descriptions of the elderly Ralph and Lois and the intensity of the feelings in all other characters in the book are part of what draws you into the plot. Some may find it too wordy, but I think that this gives you the feeling that "you are there". Part of my fascination with "Insomnia" is how well King portrays how evil some people can really be with or without the help from the "supernatural". The humanness of his characters in this as well as his other books is what makes his work stand out. I found the constant suspense extremely enjoyable. I've been told that I have nightmares because I read too much Stephen King. Well, I guess I'll always have nightmares then, if that is what it takes to continue to read his novels. I hope his next books will be as interesting and suspenseful as this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Story - Not Exactly Horror
Review: I just loved Insomnia! I have read it 3 times, with the last time this past week. Like It and Needful Things this book draws me to it when I have not yet gotten a new book to read. I think people didn't like this book because it went on and on and nothing really considered "Horror" happens. The book has a lot to do with the supernatural though. I feel it challenges you to think more than a book like Salem's Lot. I thought the characters were wonderful. I love the way he makes references to things and people from It. I really feel like Derry is a real place and I know the people that live there. I would recommend this book to anybody who doesn't mind reading the groundwork of a good story. Besides, what kind of Stephen King novel doesn't run on a little bit; isn't that what keeps us coming back?
Rating:
Summary: Second time around was much better
Review: This has to be one of King's most misunderstood and underappreciated works. When I first read this in 1994, I was in my early twenties and didn't really connect with the older characters of this book. Now in my thirties, and not being as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I recently dusted off my hardcover and re-read this. In my opinion this has to rank among the best King has done. Do not be fooled into thinking there is a lengthy diatribe about the abortion issue. King populates both sides of the argument with good and bad people. If anything, King's message is probably "leave it alone" which I guess can be interpreted that he supports women's choice, but he really doesn't browbeat his opinions through his book (unlike say Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code). I do think you have to be of a certain age to connect with the characters. Younger readers may not appreciate all the nuances regarding growing old that King conveys in this book. More importantly, though, my second reading has made me realize how connected this book is with The Dark Tower series King is finishing this year. This might well be considered an ancillary Dark Tower book, as The Talisman, Black House, The Stand and now 'Salem's Lot (for Father Callahan) are. Give this book a read. It isn't horror per se, as most of King's books aren't in the strictest definition of the horror genre. It is a well written book populated with characters you will care about for the duration of the book (and after!).
Rating:
Summary: Not his best.
Review: Long, drawn out, and at times plain boring, this ranks as one of the very few King books I've regretted buying. It's not horror, suspence, drama... anything that you would typically look for in a King book can't be found in this, other than a handful of quasi-interesting characters.
Rating: 
Summary: 600 pages of politics
Review: This was King's worst novel to date. I would advise you to read it only if you are interested in 600 pages of shameless political diatribe disguised as fiction. Forget the plot summary on the book's inside cover--this book is one long rant on abortion, and that's it. If you are pro-life (as I am), you will be particularly offended at King's disgusting portrayal of pro-lifers as homicidal terrorists who will stop at nothing to kill those who disagree with them, as well as his equally disgusting portrayal of pro-choicers as loving, caring, compassionate human beings that are morally disgusted at the thought of murder (as long as the victim isn't a fetus). Bottom line, read one of King's earlier books, like Salem's Lot or The Shining. At least King knew enough back then to keep his idiotic politics out of his writing.
Rating:
Summary: Insomnia: Twisting the boundaries between dream and reality
Review: Stephen King's novel Insomnia is a "colorful" and gripping tale that has readers wondering what will come next. Ralph Roberts and his lady friend go on slightly lengthy journey into the limits of reality to help save their town of Derry, Maine. During the spell of torturing insomnia, Ralph and his friend must deal with Purpose, life, death, and Random in order to bring sanity back into their crazy lives. Although a little slow in the beginning and end, this story will keep you turning pages and thanking Stephen King for his brilliance.
Rating:
Summary: The Dark Tower is in Here
Review: This is one of King's BEST "stories". The master story teller of our time is at his best here creating visible characters and worlds - the King pin at his best. Any fiction fan, and especially any King fan -like me - who doesn't love this book is loosing their edge. I've read the hard back and listened to the audio book 3 times. The audio veresion is super. For you Dark Tower series fans - like me - the Crimson King and company is here also. And, if i'm not mistaken, Jake is here too. I think he is perhaps the young artist saved by Ralph Roberts, he's drawing the tower and Roland. Sneaky, another King twist just like in Heart's in Atlantis and Black House.
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