Friday 28 October 2011

Halloween book review: Carrie by Stephen King

Title: Carrie
Author: Stephen King
Source: *Er... Nina, where did you get this book from?* Nina's Edit: Won from Comacalm
Published: October 2006
Publisher: Hodder paperback
Length:  235 pages
Warnings: Profanity, sexual intercourse, gore
Summary from StephenKing.com:The story of misfit high-school girl, Carrie White, who gradually discovers that she has telekinetic powers. Repressed by a domineering, ultra-religious mother and tormented by her peers at school, her efforts to fit in lead to a dramatic confrontation during the senior prom
Review: Carrietta White has the power of telekinesis. But after a traumatic experience in the girl’s shower room, all Carrie wants is to be normal. It doesn't seem like that’s ever going to happen with the all the school’s bullies after her and an upbringing from Margaret White, Carrie’s extremely religious mother who believes everyone to be sinners and likes to lock in a prayer cupboard. When Susan Snell organises Carrie a date with Tommy to the prom, Carrie finally has a chance to fit in. But that prom is the last that (most) of the partygoers will ever go to…
Stephen King is a brilliant author. I love the way he drops hints in the form of articles and book extracts about the black prom. Slowly he builds up a wide view from all parties involved (apart from Tommy. It would have been better if we knew what Tommy was thinking). Carrie and Sue were fleshed brilliantly. I don’t really like Sue Snell and felt no sympathy for her. I’m rather impressed by this because it means that she was fleshed out so well that people will get very different views about her. I thought that Carrie was a great character but the rest were on the shallow side. Tommy was either really simple or really strange, Desjardin needed a reality check and that Chris and Billy were a bit thin because their motives weren’t strong. The guy who put himself in the police station when he gets drunk is very clever. All drunks should do this.
I adore the plotline. It’s a twist on the classic high school bullies plot which leads to the untimely and brutal death of many people. What’s not to love? It starts with the famous shower scene where Carrie has her first period and thinks she's bleeding to death. I can't believe King tried to throw it away. The middle though, was slightly lacking. Things were happening during this part but it didn't seem to match the depth of start. The black prom that I was looking forward to was too... distant? in it's narration. It didn't capture the horror the characters felt and couldn't justify the reason why it (would) hit America harder that Kennedy's assassination. Even so the feelings of Carrie White ere intriguing and I like how everyone can hear her thoughts when she snaps.
Rating: Strength 4


This is also part of the Halloween giveaway. I just broke my computer and so Nina had to fill in for me yesterday.

10 comments:

  1. This is an old, but good one. It's actually one of his that I could read.

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  2. this is one of the books that i already read by stephen king

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  3. A perfect Halloween book! Creepy oh so creepy. King has a way of making the questionable seem plausible. Who knows what mysteries lay beneath our skins?

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  4. My favorite Stephen King novel! And the movie was great too!

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  5. I love this book. I especially love the court documents that he orchestrated. It's awesome.

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  6. You know I watched the movie but I really haven't read many of his books because everytime I try I find him to be too wordy and descriptive. Do you feel that way or is it just the right amount for you?

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  7. I never read the book Great review I do like the movie! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. @latishajean Thank you! I haven't watched the movie yet but it seems good.
    @deanna Me too!
    @Pabkins I thought it was alright. Compared to the classics I've read recently.
    @Isolabella I like the court documents too.
    @hopkinsontiffany I haven't read any other Stephen King but I'm looking forward to reading the rest after this
    @Rinni's Playground He really does. It's amazing what we're capable of already but hope that someone out there who can do the impossible is exicting. Our love of magic and the paranormal is what makes us who we are.
    @Black Wolf Did you like it?
    @Andrea I like this one a lot.

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  9. This is one of the few Stephen King books I have not attempted to read. It has been one of those books that I think about but never get a chance to read.

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Thanks for taking time to read this!
Comments are much loved.
Nina xxx

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