If you're expecting a classic horror story, look elsewhere. It's basically about an old guy who finds himself unable to sleep, and the strange (very, very strange!) consequences of his insomnia. It requires time at the start to fully set the scene. Some say this is too long, I think it is just right. I became totally absorbed in the book and the lives of the characters. I love the way Stephen King is so descriptive, it makes everything in the book seem so real and believeable. How does he think of these things? Pure genius!