Misery - Stephen King
Ah, the first Stephen King novel I've ever read, and as always, my favorite. This book holds a special place in my heart because it features King's scariest monster of all, an obsessed fan. The book begins with famous author Paul Sheldon, who's just written his latest novel, crashing off the side of a mountain due to a snow storm. But worry not, he's saved by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes. This is where the book turns sour, in a good way. Let us first look at the character of Annie Wilkes. Any reader would gush over meeting their favorite authors. And we all have fantasies in which we play the big, strong hero. Combine those two wishes and anyone on Earth would feel like they were in heaven. We'd gush and fawn and be all a flutter, which is exactly how Annie is portrayed...at first. Things very quickly take a dark turn, and we get to see Annie for who she really is. She's obsessed, she's needy, she's emotional, and she's off her rocker. Her brain is scarier than any ghost story I've ever read, because it's so very real, and so very true. This could happen to anyone with delusions, this could be your neighbor, this could be your family. She's just an unhinged woman with a sadistic side for those who do not obey her, and do not fit into what her mind perceives as "proper" and "picture perfect".
Now, I won't spoil the book, but Paul is stuck with her, and we watch as their relationship goes from doting fan, to murderous captor. She's dangerous because she's human, and she has no guilt (in fact she often blames Paul for the terrible things she does because "he made her") for the punishments she inflicts on others. Her story runs deep, not ending at just a fan gone crazy, and as we dive deeper and deeper into the confines of her twisted brain, we see what the true terror is. Annie is a child throwing a tantrum in the body of an evil, torturous woman who is convinced she is all that's right with the world. She has a delusion that she is perfect, and the world is flawed, and she isn't afraid to correct it. The book itself is well written, the writing flows and doesn't stumble over itself. You feel genuinely uncomfortable around and for the characters, and a small part of you doesn't want to turn the page because you know what's coming next. It keeps you interested, keeps you on your toes, and at the end you're screaming for a good ending because everything in the book so far has been so wrapped with evil you're drowning in it and you just need that ONE second to breathe. But of course, King doesn't give you that second to breathe, not until he's drained all the hope out of you.
All in all, I give Misery 5/5 stars.
Ah, the first Stephen King novel I've ever read, and as always, my favorite. This book holds a special place in my heart because it features King's scariest monster of all, an obsessed fan. The book begins with famous author Paul Sheldon, who's just written his latest novel, crashing off the side of a mountain due to a snow storm. But worry not, he's saved by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes. This is where the book turns sour, in a good way. Let us first look at the character of Annie Wilkes. Any reader would gush over meeting their favorite authors. And we all have fantasies in which we play the big, strong hero. Combine those two wishes and anyone on Earth would feel like they were in heaven. We'd gush and fawn and be all a flutter, which is exactly how Annie is portrayed...at first. Things very quickly take a dark turn, and we get to see Annie for who she really is. She's obsessed, she's needy, she's emotional, and she's off her rocker. Her brain is scarier than any ghost story I've ever read, because it's so very real, and so very true. This could happen to anyone with delusions, this could be your neighbor, this could be your family. She's just an unhinged woman with a sadistic side for those who do not obey her, and do not fit into what her mind perceives as "proper" and "picture perfect".
Now, I won't spoil the book, but Paul is stuck with her, and we watch as their relationship goes from doting fan, to murderous captor. She's dangerous because she's human, and she has no guilt (in fact she often blames Paul for the terrible things she does because "he made her") for the punishments she inflicts on others. Her story runs deep, not ending at just a fan gone crazy, and as we dive deeper and deeper into the confines of her twisted brain, we see what the true terror is. Annie is a child throwing a tantrum in the body of an evil, torturous woman who is convinced she is all that's right with the world. She has a delusion that she is perfect, and the world is flawed, and she isn't afraid to correct it. The book itself is well written, the writing flows and doesn't stumble over itself. You feel genuinely uncomfortable around and for the characters, and a small part of you doesn't want to turn the page because you know what's coming next. It keeps you interested, keeps you on your toes, and at the end you're screaming for a good ending because everything in the book so far has been so wrapped with evil you're drowning in it and you just need that ONE second to breathe. But of course, King doesn't give you that second to breathe, not until he's drained all the hope out of you.
All in all, I give Misery 5/5 stars.
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