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A review by adperfectamconsilium
Carrie by Stephen King
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
The release of the 50th Anniversary Edition was the motivation to choose this novel. I've read many King novels but until now I'd not read Carrie.
Wow! An outstanding debut.
From a tale of high school bullying, isolation, loneliness and mental anguish through to a blood-soaked, fireball of a revenge horror this is a real thrill ride.
The opening is not what you expect from a debut or any novel come to that. Teenage Carrie being bullied in the school showers in a scene with flowing menstrual blood.
The incident triggers Carrie on many levels including an increase in her (until then mainly dormant) telekinetic abilities and some telepathy as she increasingly picks up thoughts of others.
If school life is hard for her then home life is much worse. Being brought up alone with her mother who is a domineering religious fanatic. A character to love to hate.
In her own way she's as much a villain as Carrie's main school tormentor, Chris, and Chris' boyfriend, high-school dropout, Billy.
The novel cleverly constricted with sections of prose interrupted by excerpts from an academic study which looks at the aftermath of the 'Carrie White Incident' and the scientific possibilities of TK, along with news reports, book excerpts and court transcripts.
There have been books using techniques like this in recent years, particularly including social media posts and emails, but Stephen King was doing this fifty years ago!
I really felt for Carrie throughout the novel. She just wants to be loved. An unexpected invitation to the prom and rebellion against her mum make you wish for a happy ending but we know what is coming. A dream will turn into a nightmare. A town will lose its soul. And there will be blood. Buckets of blood.
Wow! An outstanding debut.
From a tale of high school bullying, isolation, loneliness and mental anguish through to a blood-soaked, fireball of a revenge horror this is a real thrill ride.
The opening is not what you expect from a debut or any novel come to that. Teenage Carrie being bullied in the school showers in a scene with flowing menstrual blood.
The incident triggers Carrie on many levels including an increase in her (until then mainly dormant) telekinetic abilities and some telepathy as she increasingly picks up thoughts of others.
If school life is hard for her then home life is much worse. Being brought up alone with her mother who is a domineering religious fanatic. A character to love to hate.
In her own way she's as much a villain as Carrie's main school tormentor, Chris, and Chris' boyfriend, high-school dropout, Billy.
The novel cleverly constricted with sections of prose interrupted by excerpts from an academic study which looks at the aftermath of the 'Carrie White Incident' and the scientific possibilities of TK, along with news reports, book excerpts and court transcripts.
There have been books using techniques like this in recent years, particularly including social media posts and emails, but Stephen King was doing this fifty years ago!
I really felt for Carrie throughout the novel. She just wants to be loved. An unexpected invitation to the prom and rebellion against her mum make you wish for a happy ending but we know what is coming. A dream will turn into a nightmare. A town will lose its soul. And there will be blood. Buckets of blood.