Lisey's Story

Published: 2006

Lisey's Story (2006) follows Lisey Landon, widow of famous novelist Scott Landon, as she finally confronts the reality of her husband's death two years earlier. While sorting through Scott's papers, Lisey is stalked by an unstable academic obsessed with accessing Scott's unpublished works, forcing her to revisit her memories of their marriage. Through flashbacks, Lisey recalls Scott's troubled childhood with an abusive father and mentally ill brother, his ability to travel to a magical world called Boo'ya Moon where inspiration and danger coexist, and the dark family legacy that haunted him. As external threats intensify, Lisey must fully embrace the magical knowledge Scott shared with her to protect herself and preserve his legacy. King has repeatedly identified this novel as his personal favorite among his works, inspired by his return home from hospitalization in 1999 to find his wife Tabitha rearranging his office and realizing what she might face after his death. The novel received some of King's strongest reviews, with critics praising its emotional depth, complex structure, and literary ambitions. It won the Bram Stoker Award and the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. Unlike most King adaptations, the 2021 limited series was written entirely by King himself, maintaining his personal connection to the material. For readers, Lisey's Story stands as one of King's most personal and emotionally resonant works, exploring the private language of long-term relationships and the secrets shared between spouses. The novel's portrait of the writing process—both its inspirational and destructive aspects—offers insight into King's own creative experience. Its examination of grief, memory, and the lasting bonds of love represents King at his most introspective, using supernatural elements to illuminate deeply human experiences. The novel's nonlinear structure, moving fluidly between past and present, memory and reality, showcases King's literary craftsmanship beyond genre constraints.

Themes

• Marriage
• Grief
• Writing
• Mental illness
• Family secrets

Adaptations

• 2021 Apple TV+ limited series (screenplay by King himself)

Collector Notes

King has repeatedly cited this as his personal favorite among his works. Inspired by his return from hospitalization in 1999 and thoughts about what his wife might face after his death.