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Showing posts with label 100/100. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 100/100. Show all posts

Watchers Review

Dean Koontz, American, Animals, Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Ghost, Hard Science, Horror, Literature, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Watchers

Published: February 1987
Author: Dean Koontz
Genre: American, Animals, Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Ghost, Hard Science, Horror, Literature, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Dean Koontz wrote the thriller Science Fiction Watchers. Watchers, along with Strangers, Lightning, and Midnight, are credited with launching Koontz's career as a best-selling novelist. The novel is a fast-paced adventure set in the 1980s, before mobile phones, the Internet, or caller ID, and when phone books and public payphones were the standards. 

It is not continuous action. There are portions where the key characters, both protagonists and villains, are developed in-depth. The two antagonists are genuinely terrifying pieces of work. One is a professional assassin who has an unhealthy idea that by murdering people, he may achieve immortality, while the other is a genetic abomination designed to kill. Mr. Koontz takes so much time fleshing them out that the reader is on edge even before the climax.

Despite the mutant murdering so many people, the author does such a superb job that I felt sorry for it. The amazing dog Einstein was the actual thrill for me. I was more worried about the dog's survival than about the people. 

Mr. Koontz presents extremely horrific scenes that some readers may find excessive. The genetic organism is called "The Outsider," and it not only has a telepathic link to Einstein, but it is also obsessed with murdering the dog. Only at the end of the book will you realize why the novel is titled 'Watchers.'

Watchers by Dean Koontz is another of my all-time favorite books. I've read this story countless times over the years, and every time I enjoy it more! I bought the paperback, hardback, kindle, and audio edition of the book to ensure that I always had it ready to read, and I always buy all forms of a book that I enjoy or if I like the author, as I often state. When I saw the option to purchase an E-book copy, I leaped at it. 

What can I write about this gripping story? Beautiful story! Unbelievable and terrifying storyline! As you read from one terrible event to the next, your heart will race!

The Outsider is a terrifying nightmare monster. It destroys mirrors wherever it goes because it despises its own reflection.

These two items were produced by the military as possible weapons, and The Outsider despises Einstein and wishes to destroy him at any cost.

And this is the story's fundamental premise: The Outsider is seeking Einstein, and Einstein is trying to hide and avoid capture by the Government, the Military, or The Outsider.

There are various other components to the plot as well, including Travis's life, Nora's history, and her connection with Streck.

In varying degrees, the book covers a wide range of distinct characteristics of good and evil, or good and terrible.

Can the hero and heroine, as well as the book's star, a beautiful, clever dog, withstand an incredible terrible extraterrestrial opponent and a horrible, vicious human enemy? 

I can only highly recommend reading this story! In my opinion, it is one of Dean Koontz's greatest works, if not his best. 

A delightfully terrifying, emotional, insightful, amusing, and enthralling novel whose characters will tug at your heartstrings and stay with you for the rest of your life! 

Einstein, sometimes known as Fur Face, is the most memorable fictional dog I've ever met. 

Everything Koontz writes in his afterword is accurate since I've had the same talks about Watchers with my fellow readers, many of whom are now going to go back and reread it. 

This is vintage Koontz at his finest! And if wishes were horses, there would be a sequel eventually!

You may think that the following few words of this review are about the movie adaptation of this book, but that is not the case. The book is excellent and highly recommended, but the movie is just that, a movie, and you will understand what I mean after reading the following...

This book has inspired four films, all of which are based on the tale. The first was filmed with the star as a teenager (in the novel, the male is an adult in his 30s), a teenage female friend, and the dog. I definitely advise you to read the book!

The book inspired a series of low-budget horror films.

-1- Watchers (1988)

-2- Watchers II (1990)

-3- Watchers III (1994)

-4- Watchers Reborn (1998)

I saw these movies, and while they are not a true adaptation of the book, they are nonetheless enjoyable to watch if you want to relax or pass the time. 

Travis is a sixteen-year-old youngster in the film adaption, while Nora is his mother. The Outsider is called OXCOM, and Vince Nasco is changed with NSO agents seeking for the monster. Travis has a girlfriend called Tracey as well. 

I discovered a few links for these movies, but I felt they were untrustworthy for more than a few individuals, so I'll put them here as soon as I find suitable links or if someone can supply me with decent ones. 

The film does not do the book credit and does not contain the plot as it is written! Worse, the following two remakes of this fantastic narrative strayed so far from the book's plot that the filmmakers should be ashamed to have named those films after such a brilliant book. 

SO, if you see a movie named "Watchers" with the author Dean Koontz's name on it, be advised that the film does not mirror the genuine tale in the book!


Final Thoughts

One of the most adored tales I've ever read. Watchers was by far my favorite of all the books in which I enjoyed several of the stories since they had heart. I've always wanted an intelligent dog named after Albert Einstein.

The story of the watcher pierced my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I was hoping that the movies they created would accurately depict the plot, but I believe none of the attempts came close. But, alas, no. So Einstein will live on fondly in my mind.

From Travis, the primary character, to Einstein, the major purpose of the tale, there is some amazing character work in this book (Einstein is easily one of the best characters in the book). Characters like Streck, on the other hand, are written with amazing depth and thought, making them extraordinarily well thought out and intriguing characters in the plot.

Nora is maybe the finest character in the entire novel. She has a lovely and caring personality, and Koontz does an excellent job of portraying her. She is an interesting and complex character, believable in her problems with marital abuse and also in her interactions with Travis and Einstein. 

The Outsider is another fascinating figure, as you attempt to view the world through its dark eyes and darker heart, with its hate and contempt for everything, nonetheless, you can see why it feels this way.

This is an epic thriller that, despite its age, demonstrates how clever Koontz was even back then. This is an excellent read that you will enjoy regardless of genre.

Even before Michael Crichton's 1990 book 'Jurassic Park,' Mr. Koontz used 1987 'Watchers' as a springboard to address science's moral restrictions and the future of recombinant DNA. 

He also discusses the significance of vaccinating pets and the contentious subject of employing animals in scientific study. In the Afterword, the author remarked that 'Watchers' was his best-received novel. If the supporters are also dog lovers, I can see why. It's a solid, simple journey.

I could go on and on about DNA restructuring or tweaking DNA for research and modification to solve some genetic abnormalities in people, such as death, which is encoded in our genetics, or DNA and we must remove this time bomb that causes us to age. 

The same is true for cloning; we can clone our best minds and combine them with the use of DNA and genetic research, and even control it all, but the problem is fake morality, which is causing humanity to suffer for the benefit of a few who know that if we win this war, the rule of a few will be over. 

I simply wanted to add the preceding few paragraphs since the issue in this book is the same, but I believe we can use all of these divine technologies for the good of mankind while still controlling evil corporations and nations from utilizing them against us, the people of the entire planet. In simple words this book is really, really, really hundred percent recommended.


Synopsis

“A “superior thriller”(Oakland Press) about a man, a dog, and a terrifying threat that could only have come from the imagination of #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz—nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read.

On his thirty-sixth birthday, Travis Cornell hikes into the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. But his path is soon blocked by a bedraggled Golden Retriever who will let him go no further into the dark woods.

That morning, Travis had been desperate to find some happiness in his lonely, seemingly cursed life. What he finds is a dog of alarming intelligence that soon leads him into a relentless storm of mankind’s darkest creation...”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Best Book, Dog Lovers, Edge Of Your Seat, Ever Read, Highly Recommend, Koontz At His Best, Koontz Books, Must Read, Page Turner, Stephen King, Travis And Nora


Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

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Phantoms (1998) (R)

The Servants Of Twilight (1991) (R)

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Different Seasons Review

Stephen King, American, Classic, Coming Of Age, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Psychic, Psychological, Shape Shifter, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Werewolf, Witches, Wizard

Different Seasons

Published: 27, August 1982
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classic, Coming Of Age, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Psychic, Psychological, Shape Shifter, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Werewolf, Witches, Wizard

Check the summary of this book here:
Different Seasons Summary


The Review

Different Seasons is a compilation of four Stephen King short stories that are more dramatic in tone than the horror fiction for which he is well known. The four novellas are linked by finer points related to each of the four seasons. The collection is significant for the fact that virtually all of its novellas have been adapted into Hollywood films, one of which, The Shawshank Redemption, was nominated for Best Picture at the 1994 Academy Awards.

There is also a small afterword written by King on January 4, 1982, at the conclusion of the book. He explains why he hadn't previously submitted the novellas (Essentially, all four were written at different times.) for publication in it. 

Early in his career, his agents and editors voiced worry that he would be labeled as a horror writer. His horror works, on the other hand, proved to be highly popular, putting him in high demand as an author. 

Novellas that did not deal largely with the supernatural, on the other hand, were extremely difficult to publish since there was no mass market for straight fiction stories in the 25,000 to 35,000 word range.


This book's short tales are as follows:

01 - Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption
Subtitle: Hope Springs Eternal

This was an exciting and well-written story. The novella and the film are practically similar, with the novella having more details, as is almost typically the case with book versions. 

I loved both the film and the book, which is uncommon for me to appreciate both the film and the book. The book was turned into a film, The Shawshank Redemption, starring Tim Robbins as Andy and Morgan Freeman as Red, as well as a stage play of the same name. 

A gritty, dramatic jail story that had me riveted from beginning to finish. I really enjoy this type of storytelling because it seems like you're sitting with someone and listening to a story that keeps you captivated by the narrator's voice.

The film adaptation is widely regarded as one of the most reputable films of all time, having been nominated for seven Academy Awards at the 67th Academy Awards in 1995, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Freeman. In an interview, Morgan Freeman remarked that this novella is his favorite book.


02 - Apt Pupil
Subtitle: Summer of Corruption

Apt Pupil is divided into 30 chapters, many of which are represented by months. The novel takes place across four years in a fictional Southern California neighborhood named "Santo Donato," with most of the action taking place in the first year and the latter months. It's the only novella in Different Seasons that's told in the third person.

A connection to "Strawberry Spring," a short tale published in the King collection Night Shift, is mentioned, which isn't anything major but is nevertheless an Easter egg for the faithful fans.

Another similarity is the hotel room number 217, which is the same as the famed Overlook Hotel room in The Shining. 

Furthermore, in The Shining, Jack Torrance is working on a play with a character named Denker, which is the same name as Dussander's alter ego. 

As a result, some fans believe Apt Pupil is Torrance's play. In the afterword to Different Seasons, King recounts writing Apt Pupil right after The Shining, which might explain why it has such a direct link.

The tale differed from the film in that it was darker and had more violence, which was typical. I thought it was almost perfect, but not quite on the level of Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption, but it was still a fantastic book.

This is more in line with what we've come to expect from King. By no means a horror story, but rather a thriller; a psychological thriller. I couldn't exactly recall the narrative at first, but as I began to read, it all came flooding back to me. Because these are sick people, it might be difficult to read at times, but it is an extremely well-written read!


03 - The Body
Subtitle: Fall from Innocence

This is a coming-of-age narrative about four twelve-year-old boys who were searching for the body of a missing boy. It lacks the conclusion of the previous stories, it's a very well coming-of-age narrative with a lot of well-written language depicting childhood friendships, all situated in the heart of rural America.

This is the narrative that inspired the film Stand By Me. I enjoyed the film and the story. The plot clearly provides a lot more depth, and it departs significantly from the book in some areas.

The plot is, of course, fantastic, but it is quite lengthy and retrospective rather than action-packed. We are privy to the narrator's thoughts, and this is a work of literary coming of age. 

I'm pleased I read it again since it made me feel nostalgic and sorrowful. This tale includes links to the Stephen King world, with Sheriff Bannerman named multiple times, however, given it takes place in the 1950s, he is just a Constable at this point, and Shawshank Prison is now part of the canon, being mentioned twice.


04 - The Breathing Method
Subtitle: A Winter's Tale

This is a horrific story that comes closest to what we would anticipate from King in this collection. There is a lengthy prelude outlining a man's life and how his employer invites him to a club. 

Finally, the club has certain mystical properties that are never explored. The focus is on an engaging narrative recounted by a character in the story, which concludes with a great spooky twist. 

I'm not surprised there isn't a film for this one. The content just does not appear to be fit for adaptation into a film. But film adaptation may occur soon, however, there has been no further news regarding the project since 2019.


By the time this book came out, Stephen King had established himself as a master of genre fiction up to this point in his career, including the Bachman volumes, which, although not horror (in my mind,) are nevertheless diverse genres. 

With four novellas included in this book, King returns to straight fiction, offering some of his best work to date and demonstrating that he can write pure fiction and even literature.


Final Thoughts

First and foremost, you should not be comparing three of these novellas to Stephen King's more conventional tales. I think King is a wonderful writer, but there's a considerable difference between his horror stories and even his fantasy and this work, which I believe belongs more squarely in the area of literary fiction. 

Some of the tale and location features remind me of Richard Russo, who has a number of stories where the setting or town is nearly part of the action, and the coming of age sections remind me of many Tobias Wolff short stories.

I believe that all four novels in this collection deserve full points and recommendations, but one additional opinion is that the first Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption is deserving of that ranking, and makes the complete collection worthwhile to purchase. 

Overall, this is a brilliantly written book with a variety of topic matter and storytelling methods... Three of these pieces have been adapted into films, some of which have been nominated for Academy Awards, and the writing is both sharp and memorable.


Synopsis

“Includes the stories “The Body” and “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption”—set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine

A “hypnotic” (The New York Times Book Review) collection of four novellas—including the inspirations behind the films Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption—from Stephen King, bound together by the changing of seasons, each taking on the theme of a journey with strikingly different tones and characters.

This gripping collection begins with “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” in which an unjustly imprisoned convict seeks a strange and startling revenge—the basis for the Best Picture Academy Award-nominee The Shawshank Redemption.

Next is “Apt Pupil,” the inspiration for the film of the same name about top high school student Todd Bowden and his obsession with the dark and deadly past of an older man in town.

In “The Body,” four rambunctious young boys plunge through the façade of a small town and come face-to-face with life, death, and intimations of their own mortality. This novella became the movie Stand By Me.

Finally, a disgraced woman is determined to triumph over death in “The Breathing Method.”

“The wondrous readability of his work, as well as the instant sense of communication with his characters, are what make Stephen King the consummate storyteller that he is,” hailed the Houston Chronicle about Different Seasons.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Bob Gunton, Brad Renfro, Bruce Davison, Bryan Singer, Corey Feldman, Dead Body, Even Though, Frank Darabont, Hayworth And The Shawshank, Ian Mckellen, Morgan Freeman, Nazi War, Rita Hayworth, River Phoenix, Rob Reiner, Tim Robbins, War Criminal, Wil Wheaton


Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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Stand by Me (1986) (R)

Apt Pupil (1998) (R)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) (R)

Secret Window (1994) (PG-13)

The Langoliers (1994) (PG-13)

Under The Dome - Season 1 (2013) (13+)

Dreamcatcher (2003) (R)

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Bag of Bones Season 1 (2012) (13+)

Dolores Claiborne (1995) (R)

It (1990) (R)

It (2017) (R)

It Chapter Two (2019) (R)

Needful Things (1993) (R)

Desperation (2006) (16+)

Silver Bullet (1985) (R)

The Tommyknockers (1993) (M)

Christine (1983) (R)

The Dead Zone (1983) (R)

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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It Review

Stephen King, American, Coming Of Age, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Shape Shifter, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Werewolf

It

Published: 15, September 1986
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Coming Of Age, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Shape Shifter, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Werewolf

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's "It" is a terrifying horror tale. It was his 22nd novel and 17th written under his own name. The narrative follows the exploits of seven children as they are frightened by an evil creature that uses its victims' anxieties to conceal itself as it hunts its prey. To entice its favorite prey of young children, "It" takes the shape of Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

These lines are actually written at the end of the review, but I'm including them here because I just want to say that I wrote a lot of stuff, but I still feel like I need to add more, but it won't be enough, and another reason is simple: I'm afraid to reveal anything that might spoil the book for new readers, and even if you've seen the movies, remember that you only saw a fraction of the actual masterpiece. So I'm telling you right now that the book is incredible in every way and that I wholeheartedly recommend it.

For a long time, I wanted to write "It" review, but something always stopped me, and I stopped after a few lines until now, either because of my hatred for this character or the nostalgia this book and the kids in it bring me. 

But, at long last, I'm writing it, and I'm not sure if it's about how Stephen King wrote it; it's turning out exactly like I anticipated it would, and it's all about nostalgic memories.

The novel is told mostly in third-person omniscient form, with storylines rotating between two times. It explores themes that would later become King's mainstays, including the power of memory, childhood trauma and its repeating echoes in adulthood, the malevolence lying under the bucolic façade of the American small town, and the triumph of good over evil through mutual trust and sacrifice.

According to King, he originally had the idea for the narrative in 1978 and began writing it in 1981. In 1985, he finished writing the book. 

He also said that the title character was initially intended to be a troll, similar to the one in the children's fable "Three Billy Goats Gruff," but one who lived in the local sewage system rather than simply the region beneath one bridge. 

He also intended the plot to tie together the tales of youngsters and the people they grow up to be.

In 1987, the novel won the British Fantasy Award, and it was also nominated for the Locus and World Fantasy Awards. 

It was named the best-selling hardcover fiction book in the United States by Publishers Weekly in 1986. 

It was turned into a two-part miniseries directed by Tommy Lee Wallace in 1990, as well as a film duology directed by Andy Muschietti, with It Chapter One premiering in September 2017 and It Chapter Two in September 2019.

The first moment in the movie "It 1990" that has resonated with me is when a little boy is attempting to get his ship in the rain and is killed by the monster. 

I used to despise "It" so much that I became incredibly protective of my younger brother, beating the heck out of anyone who even touched him or even thought about threatening him. 

Basically, Stephen King wrote this devil so well that I will never forget him and others who were beaten by me will never forget me too, thanks to Stephen King's writing. 

The gore and scare tactics in the movie were toned down from the novel, but I was still sad and angry at the same time, and I couldn't get over the kid's death.

I started with the movie and then moved on to the heavy-duty book. It may be a marathon for many readers to finish this book, but it was only a few hundred pages above thousand for me, and I loved it, not "It." 

So, yes, I must warn casual readers that reading and actually finishing this book is a huge commitment to oneself, but I am confident that if you can finish it, it will stay in your mind for a long time.

When I read this book as a kid or a youngster of the same age as the losers' club, I could identify with the kids but not with the older version of them, but when I read it as an adult, I could connect with both age groups, and I must warn adult readers who are going to read it for the first or second time, be prepared for the nostalgia and flood of memories of those young times and friends and family. 

These feelings can be really powerful, and I believe Stephen King understood exactly what he was doing when he wrote the book and detailed descriptions of those children's lives and activities. 

I have a suggestion for you on this topic: whenever you feel nostalgic, phone your old school buddies because if you never left on a poor note, you can still be friends and chat to family members who you know are good; believe me, you and these people will like it.

This book is just stunning. This novel provided me with more than simply entertainment. It gave me hope and encouraged me to be more hopeful about my life. 

Of course, the "horror" sequences are actually revolting and horrifying, and they might cause nightmares. 

The major topic of the book, however, is about the specific talents and capabilities that children have that adults do not, and how we need to repair or seal the split that divides the kid (whom every one of us once was) from the adult (that we have become). 

To defeat "It," the grownups must recollect their childhoods in order to "glue the present to the past" and rediscover who they once were. 

It is about memory and transformation, and what makes each of us a "person" despite our constant transformations... for each human who grows to adulthood is a shape-shifter, just as "It" is a shape-shifter, and part of our power comes from this, but also from our twin abilities to remember and to forget and obliterate who we once were.

There is a section where something happens that can divide the readers, and new readers will understand what I mean when they read it because some will be disgusted and may think that Stephen King needs to go and get himself mentally evaluated, but for me and many others, it was a very clever metaphor he added for the next stage of life and no coming back plus unity and the doors that only open and have passage to one way.

I attempted to hide a lot of information in the previous few lines and used very few words to explain that portion, so just come back and read the lines after you read that point of the book and you'll understand what I stated in a few words as a riddle or jumbled words.

Final Thoughts

The writing is brilliant because Stephen King utilizes meanings themselves to create tales, braided almost smoothly into shades of context and colors of insinuation and occasionally vivid, clear splashes of emotion that startle you. 

After all, that's how it works in real life. And in doing so, King manages to normalize seemingly improbable features such as "It's" supernatural nature and the link "It" has with the town of Derry and its citizens. 

This may have occurred. It's entirely possible. And it's that esoteric horror that King skillfully wields. The ramifications and the options are endless.

This novel would not be the same without the Derry Interludes at the conclusion of each section. 

In my perspective, the interludes are what made the novel so horrifying. They recount all of the historical tragedies that have occurred in Derry and have mostly gone unnoticed and forgotten. 

This is where you can truly witness the actual wicked nature that It puts upon this community. I could read a whole novel based only on the history of Derry, Maine. It's both fascinating and terrifying.

It's true that Stephen King can ramble on and on when he gets going, and some readers enjoy it, but I know some don't so be advised that this book has some of those portions.

A couple of things will happen if this is your first time reading a Stephen King book. Specifically... 

The term "journey" best characterizes this work. You have no clue what you're getting yourself into if you buy this novel because of a homicidal clown.

This novel will terrify you, and you will be astounded by author's attention to detail in character interactions.

This is a fantastic book that everyone should read at least once in their lives.


Synopsis

“Stephen King’s terrifying, classic #1 New York Times bestseller, “a landmark in American literature” (Chicago Sun-Times)—about seven adults who return to their hometown to confront a nightmare they had first stumbled on as teenagers…an evil without a name: It.

Welcome to Derry, Maine. It’s a small city, a place as hauntingly familiar as your own hometown. Only in Derry the haunting is real.

They were seven teenagers when they first stumbled upon the horror. Now they are grown-up men and women who have gone out into the big world to gain success and happiness. But the promise they made twenty-eight years ago calls them reunite in the same place where, as teenagers, they battled an evil creature that preyed on the city’s children. Now, children are being murdered again and their repressed memories of that terrifying summer return as they prepare to once again battle the monster lurking in Derry’s sewers.

Readers of Stephen King know that Derry, Maine, is a place with a deep, dark hold on the author. It reappears in many of his books, including Bag of Bones, Hearts in Atlantis, and 11/22/63. But it all starts with It.

“Stephen King’s most mature work” (St. Petersburg Times), “It will overwhelm you…to be read in a well-lit room only” (Los Angeles Times).”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

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Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

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It (2017) (R)

It Chapter Two (2019) (R)

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Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

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The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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Misery Review

Stephen King, American, Classic, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Media Tie-In, Psychological, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller

Misery

Published: 8, June 1987
Author: Stephen King
Genre: American, Classic, Drama, Fiction, Horror, Literary, Literature, Media Tie-In, Psychological, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's novel Misery is a psychological horror thriller. The title of the novel has two meanings: it is the name of the major heroine in Paul's book series, and Stephen King described such an emotional condition when writing the novel. The plot of the story revolves around the relationship of its two major characters, romance author Paul Sheldon and his insane admirer Annie Wilkes. When Paul is gravely injured in a vehicle accident, Annie transports him to her house, where he receives care and pain medicine. Paul understands he is a prisoner and is obliged to cater to his captor's desires.

Misery received the first Bram Stoker Award for Novel in 1987 and was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1988. 

The story parallels Stephen King's own life as well as the study of celebrity and fan relationships. 

The novel, which debuted at number four on the New York Times bestseller list in 1987, was turned into a film directed by Rob Reiner in 1990 and a theatrical play starring Laurie Metcalf and Bruce Willis in 2015.

In his memoirs, Stephen King described the origin of Misery, claiming that the vision of Annie Wilkes came to him in a dream. 

The novel was supposed to be published under the alias Richard Bachman, but Stephen King's identity was uncovered before the book was published.

I've noticed Stephen King has a habit of creating a lot of his fictionalized works based on personal experience, and Misery appears to follow the trend. 

On TV, I was watching a biography about his life and career as an author. It was said that frenzied followers of his had a habit of bursting into his house, even while his wife Tabitha was alone. 

This prompted him to construct a fence around his Maine property so that admirers would not overstep their bounds. This, I believe, is where he got the concept for this novel.

If you've watched the film starring James Caan and Kathy Bates, you'll be familiar with some of the horrors that Paul Sheldon suffers while being kept hostage at a remote site in Colorado following an almost deadly automobile accident. 

However, the novel and which is true more often than not provides far more than the film. In the film, Annie Wilkes conducts a procedure on Paul known as "hobbling." She takes a small piece of wood, a sledgehammer, and... Well, if you know what happens, don't say anything, and I won't ruin the surprise either. However, those who have seen the film will tell you that it is far worse than what is depicted on screen if you can imagine that. 

Stephen King is unrivaled when it comes to characterization and steadily building tension. As cruel as Annie Wilkes is, the author has a strange ability to make the reader sympathize with Paul's tormentor, albeit only slightly. Annie appears to be a real person, not just a cardboard cutout thrown on the page for our entertainment, so I suppose that's true. 

While reading the book, I could picture Kathy Bates' face and hear her voice, which added to my enjoyment. Kathy Bates also won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her outstanding performance in 1990. 

One of the things I like about Stephen King's writings is how complex and interconnected his fictional universe of inhabitants is, and you never know what reference will be thrown in at random that will make you smile, and in many cases laugh out loud, and in this book, I smiled at something that was said about an old hotel called the Overlook, which, if you are a Stephen King fan and have read all of his books, you will recognize as the Overlook from The Shining.

The author is at his finest in this work. Here's a horror and torture story that may be occurring right next door. Instead of clowns, vampires, and superheroes wreaking havoc on a tiny town, a crazed lady wreaks havoc on a man's body and psyche. 

It's violent, disturbing, and unsettling since there are no supernatural components that allow the reader to console oneself by repeating, "It's just a ghost story! Or it is supernatural! 

Annie Wilkes may be following your every move, waiting for you to slide on a sheet of ice in your driveway so she can scoop you up and nurse you back to health. 

I don't dislike Stephen King's more creature-feature novels; I enjoy them. But, in the end, humans disturb me more than ghosts and goblins, and Annie Wilkes is one monster of a person.

In terms of film vs. novel debates, I try to avoid them and embrace both pieces for what they are. In this situation, if you've watched the film a dozen times and believe there won't be any shocks in the novel, you'd be wrong. 

There are just enough variances to make the novel feel as fresh as seeing the film for the first time. You also get the added benefit of Katy Bates' insane face gazing up at you from the pages below.

To summarize my straightforward response to this discussion, I believe that novels are nearly always superior to film adaptations.

This film was not as faithful to the text as one may assume. There are a lot of things taken out of the film that were in the book, and the crazy woman is a lot meaner and a pure sadist in the novel, but it was still a fantastic film. 

Pick up this gem and give it a go if you want my recommendation. And I am confident that after reading this book, you will never drive under the influence of alcohol in a blizzard.


Final Thoughts

This is a Stephen King classic in every sense of the word. Hopefully, you haven't seen the movie, so Kathy Bates isn't playing in your head as you read this book...it unfolds in Stephen King's typical style, with his fully realized narrative structure that drives the reader to an awakening that shifts your point of view on, well, everything that you've known up to this point, before jumping straight to the climax that only he could create. 

If you haven't read it yet and haven't seen the movie, it's far preferable to start with the book and then see the movie, as it will truly blow your mind.

I was going to give 95 points because of some stuff written by Paul Sheldon in the book (in the book) on Annie Wilkes' "request" and how ridiculous it felt, but then I realized the genius of Stephen King behind those lines because those aren't lines from Stephen King or Paul Sheldon, they're actually a request from a crazed fan with a crazed mind, so I changed the points to 100%, and the same goes for recommendations.


Synopsis

“The #1 New York Times bestseller about a famous novelist held hostage in a remote location by his “number one fan.” One of “Stephen King’s best…genuinely scary” (USA TODAY).

Bestselling novelist Paul Sheldon thinks he’s finally free of Misery Chastain. In a controversial career move, he’s just killed off the popular protagonist of his beloved romance series in favor of expanding his creative horizons. But such a change doesn’t come without consequences. After a near-fatal car accident in rural Colorado leaves his body broken, Paul finds himself at the mercy of the terrifying rescuer who’s nursing him back to health—his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes. Annie is very upset over what Paul did to Misery and demands that he find a way to bring her back by writing a new novel—his best yet, and one that’s all for her. After all, Paul has all the time in the world to do so as a prisoner in her isolated house...and Annie has some very persuasive and violent methods to get exactly what she wants...

“King at his best…a winner!” —The New York Times
“Unadulteratedly terrifying…frightening.” —Publishers Weekly
“Classic King…full of twists and turns and mounting suspense.” —The Boston Globe”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Andrew Scheinman, Annie Wilkes, Car Accident, Edge Of Your Seat, Ever Read, Fast Cars, Frances Sternhagen, Highly Recommend, James Caan, Jeffrey Stott, Kathy Bates, King At His Best, King Book, Misery Chastain, Number One Fan, Paul Sheldon, Richard Farnsworth, Rob Reiner, Steve Nicolaides


Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Misery (1990) (R)

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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Carrie Review

Stephen King, Classic, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Occult, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller

Carrie

Published: 5, April 1974
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Classic, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Occult, Psychological, Supernatural, Thriller

Check the summary of this book here:


The Review

Stephen King's Carrie is a gothic horror novel. It was his first novel to be published, with an initial print run of 30,000 copies. Set mostly in the then-future year of 1979, it centers around the title character Carrie White, a high school student who has no friends and is harassed and comes from an abusive religious family, who utilizes her newly acquired telekinetic skills to seek revenge on those who abuse her. In the process, she creates one of the town's biggest local disasters in its history.

Much of the novel is told through newspaper clippings, magazine articles, letters, and book excerpts about how Carrie ruined the imaginary town of Chamberlain, Maine, while getting revenge on her abusive classmates and her own mother, Margaret.

I'm freely discussing the tale because I don't think I'm ruining it by telling readers what the novel is about because the major beauty of this book is what and how stuff happens on the pages, which I'm not revealing.

Stephen King has stated that the piece is "raw and with a startling capacity to hurt and horrify."

Because of its brutality, swearing, underage sex, and poor perspective of religion, Carrie was one of the most often banned books in US schools in the 1990s.

I'm only including the link to the 1976 film version of Carrie since it's considered a landmark in the horror genre and one of the greatest cinematic adaptations of a Stephen King novel.

However, you may still view the others by following the same link and then scrolling down the page that loads. However, I strongly advise you to watch this version first before proceeding to any other version.

I've seen other adaptations and think this one is the closest to the book, and others aren't quite as good. Check out the link towards the bottom of the page for all additional important links to Stephen King's works and other film adaptations.

This may sound like an after-school special drama, but there is a mystery x element at work. Carrie has the capacity to manipulate items with her mind thanks to her telekinetic abilities.

She also appears to have some psychic abilities. As the story proceeds, her abilities get stronger and stronger. She also does a lot of practice to discover what she is capable of. 

Meanwhile, Carrie's school's bully leader, Christine Hargensen, is planning a terrible prom night prank for her.

A must-read for everyone who has ever been selected last in gym class, given a wedgie, been the object of a cruel and terrifying group joke, or just been tortured. 

It's awful every time Carrie's situation improves for a few hours just to have the rug pulled out from under her once more. 

You want her to have a chance, and it made my blood boil again and again because I wished I could assist her if she were a real person, as I had done with many other tormented children. 

Yes, I admit openly that in my school and college days, and even after that, I was the bully of bullies. I never hurt or bullied anyone, but if I found or saw a bully doing the bully thing, or found out that someone was being bullied, I was there to bully the bully, which is why I was respected and loved by everyone and feared by the bullies. 

My main goal was always to show the troubled kids that bullies are just cowards who take advantage of the system. In many locations, I was effective in inspiring bullied youngsters to be strong and fight back until the bullies stopped. 

I realize this is a book review, but the theme is bullies and what they do to damage an innocent mind, which is why there are so many school shootings these days. 

I wish I could assist all of the bullied individuals, and I urge everyone reading these words to be strong and stand up for one another, otherwise, the bullies will never stop. 

Just consider the worst-case scenario if you stand up for yourself and others. You will be expelled from school, sent to detention, or given a note for your parents; think about what happens when you complain about a bully: is he punished? No, nothing happens, so what's the big deal if you fight back? Consider the constant beatings, harassments, and embarrassments...what difference does it make if you get a few more punches? Simply be brave.

I think everyone understands what I'm saying, so let's get back to the review...

I try not to discuss religion because it is a personal matter that must be kept private for everyone. But there is something related to this subject in this novel, and it is a big part of what happens to Carrie. 

Carrie possessed the beaten-down; just get it over with the attitude of many people born into religious fundamentalist families. For someone with a fragile and innocent mind, it can be a very toxic environment. 

It is never religion that causes harm to people; rather, it is people who abuse religion and its teachings in order to harm others. Carrie's family was unquestionably fundamentalist as well as toxic. Despite the fact that she was left with only her mother.

Carrie may have been a completely normal child if her mother hadn't been terrible, causing her to be strange and picked on by other children. 

Carrie's abnormality, young girls' unbelievable brutality, and a boy's cruel and horrible behaviors are just a few of the factors that combine to turn everyone into a monstrosity. 

It's not quite horror for me; it's more Young Adult, thriller, and true retribution, but I thoroughly loved it.

Stephen King does an excellent job, especially for a first novel. He perfectly captures the plight of the bullied teen and the casual cruelty of youth. As a reader, I was struck by how well both male and female perspectives depicted bullying and meanness.

Final Thoughts

The book is a strong narrative of bullying in schools. Children may be vicious, as the reader will discover throughout the novel. 

Even today, as authorities strive to put a halt to cyberbullying, the message rings true. This is an absolute must-read for people of all age groups. 

Even though I feel it is not acceptable for children due to specific content that is only fit for adults, but it is vital to teach our children not to bully others and to confront and expose the bully if they are bullied.

The narrative as a whole is fantastic. Something the author excels at is combining the supernatural with human wickedness, and this story is heavy on the latter. 

While reading, you sense Carrie's agony and attempt to imagine what she is going through. Stephen King's trademark ability to write a wonderful narrative is all over this one, with settings, people, situations, and a finale that neatly ties everything together for a genuinely unforgettable read.

It's a true page-turner that's impossible to put down once you've started. The random extracts from newspapers, court hearings, and remarks about what happened to Carrie and her classmates make it feel so genuine as you read. 

Carrie is certainly one of Stephen King's best novels, and I'd suggest it to everyone who enjoys a good horror thriller.


Synopsis

“Stephen King's legendary debut, the bestselling smash hit that put him on the map as one of America's favorite writers

"Gory and horrifying. . . . You can't put it down." —Chicago Tribune

Unpopular at school and subjected to her mother's religious fanaticism at home, Carrie White does not have it easy. But while she may be picked on by her classmates, she has a gift she's kept secret since she was a little girl: she can move things with her mind. Doors lock. Candles fall. Her ability has been both a power and a problem. And when she finds herself the recipient of a sudden act of kindness, Carrie feels like she's finally been given a chance to be normal. She hopes that the nightmare of her classmates' vicious taunts is over . . . but an unexpected and cruel prank turns her gift into a weapon of horror so destructive that the town may never recover.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords

Amy Irving, Angela Bettis, Brian Depalm, Chloe Grace Moretz, David Carson, Even Though, Gabriella Wilde, High School, John Travolta, Julianne Moore, Kim Peirce, Kimberly Peirce, Margaret White, Nancy Allen, Patricia Clarkson, Pig Blood, Piper Laurie, Prom Night, Rene Sofer, Salems Lot, Sissy Spacek, Sue Snell, Tommy Ross, William Katt


Rating: 100/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

Carrie (1976) (R)

Firestarter (1984) (R)

Mr. Mercedes Season 01 (2017) (TV-MA)

Thinner (1996) (R)

The Running Man (1987) (R)

The Dark Half (1993) (R)

The Green Mile (1999) (16+)

Salem’s Lot (1979) (G)

Salem’s Lot: The Miniseries (2004) (NR)

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

Compare Kindle E-readers on one page

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Support with crypto coins/tokens: https://cointr.ee/namsu
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