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Dan Schwent's Reviews > Misery
Misery
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To celebrate completing a novel, writer Paul Sheldon goes on a champagne-fueled drive in the Rocky mountains. He winds up in a near fatal car crash, but never fear. He's rescued by Annie Wilkes, his #1 fan...
I watched the film version of Misery in those antediluvian days before Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, hell, before the Internet, and decided to finally read the novel when it showed up on my BookGorilla email one day. It was $2.99 very well spent.
Misery is a tale of obsession, addiction, and obsession. I wrote "obsession" twice but it's a such a big theme I thought it was justified. Annie Wilkes is obsessed with her favorite series of books starring Misery Chastain, written by that dirty birdie Paul Sheldon. Paul is obsessed with finishing the book Annie has demanded of him and probably addicted to writing. Also to codeine.
I've said it before but I'll say it again. If Stephen King wasn't addicted to scaring the bodily fluids out of people, he'd be a literary writer of some renown. The guy can flat out write. Just because he cranks out a best seller more often than most of us go to the dentist doesn't mean he's the real deal.
The scariest horror stories are the ones that could actually happen and Misery is one of those. Who among us hasn't had visions of being held captive when driving through a remote locale? Annie is so much more than the scene-chewing maniac she could have been. She has dimension and believes she's in the right, which is the mark of a great villain. Her background is very fleshed out and my heart sank as I learned her past along with Paul. How the hell was he going to escape that monster?
Paul's journey is painful, both to him and to the reader, thanks to King's skill. I had to make sure my foot was still attached a couple times. Annie puts him through hell and he finally gives her a taste of her own medicine but the ending is far from happily ever after.
As is usually the case, the book was a notch better than the movie. I've been easy with the 5's this year but I'll give this one a cockadoodie 5 out of 5 stars just the same.
I watched the film version of Misery in those antediluvian days before Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, hell, before the Internet, and decided to finally read the novel when it showed up on my BookGorilla email one day. It was $2.99 very well spent.
Misery is a tale of obsession, addiction, and obsession. I wrote "obsession" twice but it's a such a big theme I thought it was justified. Annie Wilkes is obsessed with her favorite series of books starring Misery Chastain, written by that dirty birdie Paul Sheldon. Paul is obsessed with finishing the book Annie has demanded of him and probably addicted to writing. Also to codeine.
I've said it before but I'll say it again. If Stephen King wasn't addicted to scaring the bodily fluids out of people, he'd be a literary writer of some renown. The guy can flat out write. Just because he cranks out a best seller more often than most of us go to the dentist doesn't mean he's the real deal.
The scariest horror stories are the ones that could actually happen and Misery is one of those. Who among us hasn't had visions of being held captive when driving through a remote locale? Annie is so much more than the scene-chewing maniac she could have been. She has dimension and believes she's in the right, which is the mark of a great villain. Her background is very fleshed out and my heart sank as I learned her past along with Paul. How the hell was he going to escape that monster?
Paul's journey is painful, both to him and to the reader, thanks to King's skill. I had to make sure my foot was still attached a couple times. Annie puts him through hell and he finally gives her a taste of her own medicine but the ending is far from happily ever after.
As is usually the case, the book was a notch better than the movie. I've been easy with the 5's this year but I'll give this one a cockadoodie 5 out of 5 stars just the same.
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Reading Progress
May 16, 2016
–
Started Reading
May 16, 2016
– Shelved
May 16, 2016
–
2.0%
May 16, 2016
–
3.0%
May 16, 2016
–
4.0%
May 17, 2016
–
7.0%
May 17, 2016
–
25.0%
May 17, 2016
–
66.0%
May 18, 2016
–
82.0%
May 18, 2016
– Shelved as:
2016
May 18, 2016
–
Finished Reading
July 15, 2016
– Shelved as:
2016-books
September 6, 2018
– Shelved as:
pants-shittingly-awesome
Comments Showing 1-33 of 33 (33 new)
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message 1:
by
Richard
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
May 18, 2016 10:13AM
Heavens to Betsey! What a great review!
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Richard wrote: "Heavens to Betsey! What a great review!"Thanks, mister man!
You're the greatest reviewer ever. Come over to my house.
Tamahome wrote: "You're the greatest reviewer ever. Come over to my house."I'll stay as long as the supply of books and painkillers hold.
Dan wrote: "Richard wrote: "Heavens to Betsey! What a great review!"Thanks, mister man!"
Oh you fooler!
Great review, Dan! Had this on my TBR for way too long already.
Councillor wrote: "Great review, Dan! Had this on my TBR for way too long already."Thanks!
Nice review, Dan. One of my favorites by King and this is one of the better ones translated into a movie.
Wayne wrote: "Spot on."Thanks! I really want to read another King or two now.
Fab review, Dan. This one is right up there at the top of the tree. 'Cockadoodie stars', hee hee.
I really need to re-read all these, especially after reading your review.
I have been reading through Steven Kings books and..I thought well I watched the movie..and I started "IT" but got stuck. I think I will try this one! "Lisey's Story" is kinda weird but your review made me think of it and I loved it.
If you give IT another chance, I hope you enjoy it. I've never read Lisey's Story but I'll probably wind up reading it at some point.
I was planning on doing a Stephen king reread next year but your review has me wanting to start a bit earlier.
Stefanie wrote: "I was planning on doing a Stephen king reread next year but your review has me wanting to start a bit earlier."Do it now! I'm rereading On Writing and 'Salem's Lot as we speak!
This was a pretty good read. Great review, Dan!
Amber wrote: "This was a pretty good read. Great review, Dan!"Thanks!
Yay, glad you enjoyed it as much as I'd hoped you would. It's definitely a good one.
Erin (Paperbackstash) *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Yay, glad you enjoyed it as much as I'd hoped you would. It's definitely a good one."I wish I would have read this years ago.
Tamahome wrote: "What's the other 4?"
I'd also like to know this.
This is actually the true story of my life with Stephen King....
Stepheny wrote: "This is actually the true story of my life with Stephen King...."Get him to write another Dark Tower book before you hack his other foot off!
Dan wrote: "Stepheny wrote: "This is actually the true story of my life with Stephen King...."Get him to write another Dark Tower book before you hack his other foot off!"
Trust me, I've been trying. I've got him in my basement now... He's not doing so great. I told him... write the Fall of Gilead or an Eddie Dean story and I'll let you go...
Edward wrote: "Tamahome wrote: "What's the other 4?"PET SEMATARY, REVIVAL, THE SHINING, and 'SALEM'S LOT. Oddly enough, my favorite King book (IT) isn't on that short list, due to one scene I thought could have..."
Ed:
(view spoiler)
Edward wrote: "Yessir, it would be."I figured. That would be the only thing I'd ding It for.
Your choices are interesting, Edward. If I had to say 5 perfect books of King's they would be: IT, the Shining, the Drawing of the Three, Wind Through the Keyhole and either The Green Mile for a full novel or Different Seasons for a short story collection. Those are the ones that have stood out the very most to me and meant the most to me.
My favorite five (that aren't anthologies or novellas) would probably be IT, Firestarter, Cujo, Misery and Pet Semetary. It's hard to keep it to five ...
(Another) very nice review. I'm not a huge Stephen King fan, but this is my second-favorite among the books of his that I have read. And I really liked the movie adaptation.
My friend Scott doesn't like PET SEMATARY. He thinks pets should stay dead.
Just finished reading it tonight after starting it three days ago, and my GOD what an incredible book. I definitely agree with the double checking that your foot was still there. And thumb. Great review!
