Book Review: Misery by Stephen King

Misery

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Misery 〰️

I don't think a Stephen King book had me as invested as this one did. I've read many of his books, but this one kept me on the edge of my seat. King is able to write with excellent tension. For a story that takes place mostly in one room, King kept it fresh and interesting to keep readers invested.

I also love that there was a story within a story and that we got to read some of the Misery novels that Paul was writing. I will say, however, that there wasn't much Misery in a book that is supposed to be about her. I mean, it fits with what Paul had to write in order to keep Annie happy, but it felt like Misery was an afterthought in her own novel, especially as it seemed like it should have been all about her return.

Still, this was one of King's best works I've read. Annie is such a stand-out villain. She's not an over-the-top Disney villain but a very believable character with clear motives. She is an excellent manipulator and gaslighter, yet you can sympathize with her, all while wanting her to get what's coming for all the horror she's done.

And for Paul, you can also relate to him. He'll do anything he can to survive the horrible situation he's in. King was able to describe Paul's pain so vividly that I, too, felt as though my legs were mangled. (Though maybe that was because of my sitting position). Still, I don't know if I would have had the dedication to write a whole new novel, even under such duress. I hope his PTSD isn't the end of him! He survived so much.

If you are looking to get into King's books, this is an excellent gateway into his works. Loved it from start to finish, and I can't recommend it enough.

Book Review: Under the Dome by Stephen King

Under the Dome

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Under the Dome 〰️

I read this book back when it first came out. Well, maybe not when it came out. I got the book because I saw the show, and I loved the show, so I picked up the book. It's been years since I've read this book, so it was basically like reading it for the first time since my memory forgot most of the events. (I also don't remember much of the show, but I do recall that a lot was changed in the show.)

I enjoyed this book my first read, but I know for a fact I was more invested in this second read and that I loved it even more. I don't even mind that it was aliens all along. What I did feel, however, was so much sadness in this read. So many characters, good and bad, died pretty horrible deaths. Even the characters we were meant to hate, like Big Jim, died horrifically. We spent a lot of time with so many characters and this whole plot about corrupt politicians, drug deals, and just random people, that, in the end, it almost didn't matter. So few survived. Everything Big Jim did was in vain (which, good, he's the villain, but also he caused most of the disasters inside the dome). Almost everything everyone did was in vain. But hey, sometimes that's life, I guess. At least some survived.

I also feel King's writing style was slightly different than his other works. You can still read it and for sure know it's his style. His writing style is very distinct. But it still reads a bit differently. It's not a bad thing; I just want to mention it. I appreciate all the time he took to build lives and backgrounds for so many characters. Even characters only appearing for a sentence seemed to have life and distinct personalities. Love that. I applaud King for pulling it all together. And though we spent around the first 20% of the book just dealing with people and what they were doing when the dome fell, he didn't make it boring or repetitive.

I love King's work, and this one is one of my favourites. It's a long read and a bit of a downer with all the deaths, but I think it's an excellent read. It shows people's true nature when it comes to an unnatural disaster like the dome.

Original rating: 4 stars. Original review:

This book was excellent, though it did have a few flaws. (Of which the show fixed). Things like how electronics worked when the dome fell. In the show, everything stopped working because the dome cut all the power lines, which makes sense. Not in the book.

Also, I didn't care for the ending. For a book with such a great premise, the fact that it was aliens just threw me off. Still, it was a good read.

Book Review: Firestarter by Stephen King

Firestarter

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Firestarter 〰️

Actual rating 4.5/5

So I actually saw the movie (remake) first before I read the book. I really enjoyed this book, but I may have enjoyed the movie a bit more because of the changes they made. I won't go into detail stating all the changes, changes between books and screenplays are necessary, but I think the remake improved upon the story. (With the exception that they added a scene where Charlie has to kill a cat she hurt, and that made me ugly cry on the plane. Thankfully, no cats were harmed in the book. Other animals were, but I'm very sensitive when it comes to cats).

The story was engaging and piqued my curiosity from the beginning. I did feel like it dragged a little in the middle once Charlie and Andy spent months locked in The Shop. But the first half of the book and the climax and ending were perfect.

Some of the stories didn't age well, and I wonder if King was a woman if he'd be cancelled for his thoughts on casual racism and homophobic slurs that he always uses. I know many writers (mostly female) who have been called out and cancelled for less, but because King is, well, a king of writing, he gets away with it. Granted, I haven't read much of his more recent works, so I don't know if he's changed. And if he has, great. But people love bringing up the past and cancelling them for it even if they did change. (Which, if they changed, shouldn't that count for something?)

Aside from that, King really knows his stuff. He's an excellent writer and storyteller, and there's a reason we love his books so much we turn almost all of them into movies and even later remake those same movies. This story is a classic, and I loved it. The characters were unique. The storytelling enthralling. The pacing, for the most part, is perfect. All in all, a really enjoyable read. A great addition to anyone's Stephen King collection.