Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Carrie by Stephen King

44 reviews

stormwise's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

4.0

I'd like to have words with whoever penned the tag line featured on my copy of this book. "Trust her and she will lead you into a nightmare" - if the 'she' in question is intended to be Carrie, and I can't see any reason why that wouldn't be the intention the way this cover is laid out, then it's incredibly misleading! 
At no point does Carrie ever abuse a position of trust to harm anyone; it's everyone else who abuses her trust, ultimately leading to the horrific climax of this novel. 

It's always exciting to experience a famous piece of media for the first time - you know what happens but you don't know HOW. I'm yet to watch any film adaptation of Carrie so this was my first foray into the story, armed only with the knowledge of the iconic prom scene. 

King uses an epistolary structure, weaving excerpts from news reports, scientific studies and personal accounts into the narrative, foreshadowing the horror to come - somewhat ironically, considering how widely known the story now is almost 50 years later. I still enjoyed how the tension was built leading up to the climax and it was an effective way of showing the impact of Carrie's actions. 

As for Carrie White herself...I can't see her as a villain.

Subjected to the controlling abuse of her mother, the bullying of her peers and the indifference of the other adults in her life, she is a victim of neglect and cruelty. The overtures of kindness made by Sue, Tommy and Miss Desjardin are too little, too late. Carrie's awareness of her treatment was particularly heartbreaking: "I don't like to be tricked. Do You People think you can just go on tricking me forever?" she says to Tommy, desperately trying to defend herself from further pain. It's bittersweet that it is as she begins to trust her classmates and enjoy herself that the worst betrayal at all occurs. Not gonna lie, I'd probably go on a murderous rampage too!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Child death, Rape, Child abuse, Violence, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Bullying, Body shaming, and Blood

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Miscarriage

arqueervist's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

Minor: Animal death and Sexual content

lucimolri's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Chupito cada vez que se diga "bultos cochinos". Es lo primero que leo de Stephen King y la verdad es que me ha gustado mucho, no se me ha hecho nada denso. Lo único que me incomoda, son las descripciones de los personajes femeninos, ya que las sexualiza mucho (y son menores, por lo que incómodo x1000).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Violence

ahalexont's review

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, and Violence