Gruesome! Review Of My First Horror Book.

in Hive Book Clublast year (edited)

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For years, I have touted my adoration for all things horror. However, as my passion for the genre has grown, I've found myself limiting my consumption to horror movies alone. But this year, I made the decision to break that pattern by reading a horror novel that was recommended to me by a devout fan of the genre. I can confidently say that this book had a profound impact on me, it shifted my perception and sparked an insatiable curiosity to delve deeper and explore other horror genre authors.

"Misery" is a standalone novel, a psychological horror written by the legendary Stephen King, that was first published in 1987. It is a gripping tale of suspense and horror, spanning 370 pages. The novel tells the story of a successful romance novelist who is kidnapped and held captive by an obsessive fan. The novel was later adapted into a feature film directed by Rob Reiner in 1990, which was a commercial success. I have yet to see the movie adaptation as I want to preserve my recollection of this novel, in case the movie adaptation fails to live up to my expectations.

Little About The Author.

Stephen King is an American author, known for his horror, fantasy, and science fiction novels. He was born in Portland, Maine in 1947 and began writing at an early age. He has written over 60 novels and 200 short stories, and many of his works have been adapted into films, television shows, and comic books. Some of his most famous works include "Salem's Lot," "The Shining," "It," "The Stand," "It," "The Dark Tower" series, and "Doctor Sleep." King is widely considered to be one of the most popular and influential horror and suspense authors of all time, and his work continues to be read and enjoyed by people of all ages around the world.

Little About The Synopsis Of the Book.

The book follows the story of Paul Sheldon, a successful romance novelist who is the author of a series of historical romance novels featuring a character named Misery Chastain. After finishing the last book of the series, Paul is involved in a car accident and is rescued by a nurse named Annie Wilkes. Paul soon discovers that Annie is not just his rescuer but his "number one fan" and worst nightmare.

Annie takes Paul to her remote home, where she forces him to rewrite his latest novel to her liking and subjects him to physical and psychological abuse, including breaking his legs and drugging him. Annie became both his jailer, muse and finally the ultimate critic. She punishes his incompetence by cutting off pieces of him. She did this when Paul is found to be investigating the farmhouse while Annie is out, Annie decides that he needs to be punished, so she cuts his foot off with an ax and seara the injury with a blow torch.

The story continues with the twisted relationship between Paul and Annie as he tries to escape and she becomes more and more obsessed with him, and his Misery series. Will Paul escape from the clutches of Annie? Will karma catch up with Annie?

Characters Of The Book.

This book features a number of well-developed characters, but the two main characters are Paul Sheldon and Annie Wilkes.

Paul Sheldon,is a successful romance novelist who is the author of a series of historical romance novels featuring a character named Misery Chastain. He is a man who is not only struggling with his physical injuries but also with his mental and emotional state as he is kidnapped and held captive by his "number one fan" Annie Wilkes. He is a man who is determined to escape but also has moments of weakness and hopelessness as he becomes more and more dependent on his captor.

Annie Wilkes' is the main antagonist of the story, a nurse and Paul Sheldon's "number one fan" who rescues him from a car accident. Annie is a complex character who is initially portrayed as a kind and nurturing person, but as the story progresses, her true nature is revealed. She is a deranged, obsessive, and delusional person who is willing to go to great lengths to keep her favorite character alive, even if it means hurting Paul. She is also a skilled manipulator who is able to control Paul's actions and thoughts through her abuse and threats.

The novel also features several secondary characters, such as Sheldon's agent and friend, Marcia Sindell, who tries to find him, and Sheldon's friend and fellow author, John "Johnny" Marinville, who helps Sheldon to overcome his addiction to pills and alcohol, and to find a way out of his captivity.

In total, characters in the novel are well-developed and play a crucial role in driving the story forward. The dynamic relationship between Paul and Annie is particularly compelling, as it shifts and evolves throughout the course of the novel.

Themes Explored In The Book.

The themes explored in this book were all thought-provoking in which we have the theme of Obsession. The theme ranged from Paul's obsession with his writing and his character Misery, to Annie's obsession with Paul and his work. The novel shows how obsession can lead to dangerous and destructive behavior, as well as the lengths that people will go to in order to fulfill their desires.

Then we have the theme of creativity and the power of storytelling. The novel explores the idea that art and storytelling can have a powerful influence on people's lives. Paul's writing is a source of both inspiration and torment for him, and the novel also shows how the power of storytelling can be used for both good and evil.

Lastly, the book explores the theme of trauma and recovery as Paul Sheldon is kidnapped and held captive by Annie Wilkes, and the physical and psychological abuse he suffers. It shows how a person can be affected by trauma, and how it can take time and effort to recover from it.

My Review, Rating and Recommendations.

Misery" by Stephen King is a gripping and terrifying novel that is expertly crafted to build suspense and tension throughout the story, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end. The characters in the novel are well-developed and complex, particularly the main characters of Paul Sheldon and Annie Wilkes. Their dynamic and evolution throughout the story adds depth to the story. It is also a masterful exploration of the human psyche and the dangers of obsession. It offers a chilling portrayal of a deranged fan and the lengths she will go to keep her favorite character alive. All the themes were all thought-provoking and let's not forget King's writing style which is engaging, descriptive, and evocative, making the story come alive in the reader's mind in a gripping way.

I noticed negatives or can I say flaws about the book which is slow pacing. I find the pacing of the novel to be slow, especially in the beginning as the story is being set up which I think might not be a flaw for other readers but for me it was, it almost discouraged me from continuing further. Also, I didn't get a satisfying ending because I felt that it was rushed or not satisfying enough. Apart from these flaws, the book was an amazing and engrossing experience for me.

Rating this book, I give it 4. 5 out 5 stars and I would recommend this book to lovers of horror and psychological thriller. This book is a must read if you want to experience the power and creativity of storytelling.

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One of the best three adaptations of any Stephen King book is the movie Misery of 1990. Great psychological thriller.

Yes, indeed it is. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I appreciate it.

The book is excellent. The movie has a different feel than the book (as usual), but it's a very good cockadoodle movie that will scare your rootie-patooties.

Ah! You have convinced me! 😂 I will check out the movie and see for myself. Love scary movies at night when it's all quiet😌. Thank you so much for your feedback. It was helpful. I appreciate your comment here. !CTP


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