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Stephen King’s Insomnia surprised me in the best way. I went in expecting a fairly straightforward horror story, but it turned into something much stranger and more ambitious. Ralph’s sleeplessness starts off feeling uncomfortably real—King captures that foggy, irritable, slightly surreal feeling of being overtired so well that I could practically feel my own eyelids twitching. As the story widens into something more cosmic, it keeps that grounded, human core, which is what makes it work.
What I really enjoyed was the sense of place. Derry has that familiar King vibe: a town that seems ordinary on the surface but feels subtly off, like it’s holding its breath. The details of Ralph’s day-to-day routine, his neighbours, the quiet grief he’s carrying—they give the whole book a warm, lived-in quality that contrasts nicely with the stranger elements creeping in around the edges.
The pacing does wander here and there. There were moments when I felt the story lingered longer than it needed to, especially in the middle, but even then, I didn’t mind too much because the characters are engaging. Ralph is easy to root for—stubborn, thoughtful, and more fragile than he wants to admit. His friendship with Lois is one of the highlights, bringing a gentle, unexpected sweetness into a story full of unease.
By the time it reaches its climax, the book has built up a surprising emotional weight. The ending hit harder than I expected, tying everything together in a way that felt both strange and oddly moving.
Overall, Insomnia is a weird, atmospheric, and unexpectedly heartfelt read. It’s not King’s fastest or most traditional horror, but it’s memorable, imaginative, and full of moments that stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. A solid four-star experience.
Gareth Ellis - Author 