If this had come from a new, no-name author, no publisher would have touched it. The story is ridiculous and utterly unconvincing; I liked the idea of an elderly protagonist, but other than that the novel was simply boring. I'm a big fan of King's earlier novels, but the books he wrote in the 90s have been just one disappointment after the other, and this one takes the cake. Please Mr King, even if you are THE bestest-selling author around, PLEASE let someone edit your books. Do your fans a favor and give them readable, enjoyable books. And how about putting some heart back into your stories? They need a little breath of fresh air, and so do your readers.