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jaedia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Only lost points because the random mid-sentence thought brackets were very off-putting, occasionally would switch scenes with absolutely no indication towards doing so, and the numerous references to racist caricatures (while yes, a result of the time period) were unnecessary and gross. I'm aware these kinds of things come up in King's early books but they very much do affect my ratings.
Otherwise, enjoyed the reading experience immensely.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Blood, Death of parent, Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Animal death, Death, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Rape
Moderate: Alcohol, Abandonment, Ableism, Antisemitism, and Body shaming
sylvester749's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, Death, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Body shaming, Child abuse, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Violence, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Bullying
Moderate: Rape, Car accident, Sexism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Sexual content
Minor: Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Grief
macabrebookwitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Murder, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Rape, Death of parent, Mental illness, Gore, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Religious bigotry, Child abuse, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Toxic relationship, and Animal death
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Abortion, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
zakcebulski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Well, I finally got there! I finally read the King book that started it all, and while I thought the book was very well done, I don't know that I enjoyed it- let me explain.
I think that King's first outing novel was very well done. The story follows 16 year old Carietta "Carrie" White- a girl who cannot catch a fucking break.
Carrie is a girl who deals with so much bullshit day in and out. This is not limited to bullying at the hands of her high school peers, but, with religious mania stemming from her mother's pathological following of her Christian faith.
Carrie also holds a secret- telekinesis (TK in the book)- which she will later use to full effect to get revenge on all of those who have wronged her (and even those who didn't).
Now, I would be utterly shocked if anyone did not know about the ending of Carrie specifically the Prom Night sequence. I knew about the prom sequence, but, I did not know that Carrie ends up destroying damn near the entire town of Chamberline, Maine. This is like the ending of another one of King's books.
Prior to this, however, the narrative follows Carrie through the struggles of life as she is constantly put down upon by people for no fucking reason. I found it interesting that by in large the story is pretty simple. It is a narrative following the life of a bullied girl. Gradually, there are interspersed vignettes from lab reports, police interviews and books discussing the events of "The Black Prom" and Carrie White. I thought that this was a very smart addition by King as he was able to pepper in foreshadowing while still building a sense of elation. Very well done.
Eventually one of her classmates- Sue Snell, who, feeling guilty for some particularly horrific bullying- the shower scene- convinces her boyfriend to take Carrie to prom. It is at this point where the reader falls into a sense of near glee for Carrie when it seems that things are finally starting to turn around for her.
But, a vindictive bully- Chris Hargensen and others decide to play a prank on Carrie where when she is crowned prom queen with her date- Tommy- pig's blood will be dropped on them. This act of bullying, this "prank" is one step too far for Carrie who unleashes her full TK powers and ends up not only decimating the school, but, levelling much of the town and killing in excess of 440 people.
This is obviously horrific, and I think that it is an interesting play by King where he writes Carrie to be so sympathetic and nearing pathetic, and switches her on a dime to be abhorrent, and deserving of zero sympathy.
I will say that people like Billy and Chris- I didn't have a great deal of sadness for them.
One of the most interesting points of the book to me is the relationship with Carrie's mom- Margaret and her relationship with Carrie due to her religious beliefs. Margaret is pathologically devout, considering most things to be sinful. It is later revealed that Carrie was a result of a marital rape from her drunken father, which Margaret enjoyed. I think that though this is sickening to read about, it is a very interesting character defining moment, as it illustrates why Margaret harbors such a vicious scorn toward her daughter.
After reading many of King's later works it is interesting to read his first book and to see all of the tropes and see the progression of his writing style.
I think that I would have liked this book more should more of the characters been more fleshed out. At the end of the day it was Carrie, Margaret and Sue that were the most in depth characters. I found people like Billy and Chris to be very one-dimensional, and ultimately not very believable as evil characters.
I thought that this book was truly heartbreaking as someone who was truly innocent is pushed and razed to the point where they become something truly profane and evil. I thought that the emotions which King was able to conjure up when Carrie gets asked to prom and when she is voted as Queen were some of the higher highs I have experienced reading one of his books. His ability to take that positive momentum and turn it on a dime to be truly hellacious is astounding.
I am truly glad that King continued writing. This book is a clear illustration, to me, of the potential which King had even in his first book.
Long live the King.
Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Confinement, Death, Violence, Car accident, Child death, Child abuse, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
jem_carstairs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Additionally, there were a few passages I felt belonged on r/menwritingwomen
All that said, I did enjoy Carrie - it was a good introduction to Stephen King - and I probably will go on to read more by him.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Bullying, Death, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent, Religious bigotry, and Sexual assault
Minor: Rape and Sexual content
egbarnes19's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, and Sexual content
emmaopaline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Bullying, and Child abuse
kimseokjinschild's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
💫 Felt character emotions and could resonate in terms of bullying.
💫 Easy to read
📈 Lost interest sometimes
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
autisticmisabel's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Misogyny, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Excrement, Alcohol, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Rape, Car accident, and Sexual content
Minor: Chronic illness and Toxic relationship
eva_rebolledo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Bullying, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Blood
Moderate: Death
Minor: Animal death, Abortion, Death of parent, Alcohol, Miscarriage, and Rape