Monday, April 15, 2013

Misery - Book Review

     Misery was not only the first Stephen King novel I read, it was also the first novel I ever read.  I was grounded to my room, so I went to my High Schools library and found this gem on the paperback rack.  I was instantly hooked and became a King fan for life.
     The story of Misery revolves around the character, novelist Paul Sheldon.  Paul writes romance novels centering around the character Misery Chastain but, he wants to write novels of more substance and is delivering his final novel in the Misery Chastain series to his publisher in which he kills off his character, freeing him to pursue other interests.  
     On the way, however, he has a terrible car accident and is rescued by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes, who nurses Paul back to health at her home.  But, when Annie finds Paul's latest manuscript, and discovers Paul's plans to kill off her favorite character, she demands he writes a new book that brings her beloved Misery back to life.
     This novel is, in my opinion, a masterpiece of psychological horror, and a classic.  Stephen King brings the characters of Paul and Annie to life in a way that has you reading at a frantic pace, captivated by the drama, and the horrors that Paul experiences while under Annie's care.  I could not put this book down, and have re-read it many times.  It is a great novel that everyone should read at least once.

6 comments:

  1. I remember hearing about this novel, never read it myself. Sounds gruesome. Especially the part at the end.


    Sonia Lal

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  2. I could only read this novel once and couldn't even watch the movie knowing what happens. I just hated Annie too much. But I love Stephen King :)

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    1. The movie version is actually really good. Kathy Bates won the Oscar for her role of Annie Wilkes.

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  3. I haven't read the book before because I always felt it would be too scary but you've convinced me to read it.

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