Misery: A Novel

This book will have you shaking, sweating, holding your breath, and everything in between. Incredible atmosphere, perfect attention to detail, and, as always, the most memorable characters. Be a Do-Be!

I've read this book multiple times over the years, and it never fails to both crack me up (I have a somewhat demented sense of humor, I suppose 😋) and provide a lovely hit of nostalgia (I think the first time I read it I was like 13-14, now I'm a 36-y/o crypt-keeper lol). Definitely would recommend, especially for Stephen King fans (tho I feel like anyone in that category has almost surely read it already).

This was my second King Novel and I really enjoyed it. I'm noticing that his writing is unique, as he has a way of skillfully building tension and setting up the characters. In other words, he takes his time lol. The book opens up with Paul Sheldon in and out of consciousness after being rescued by a very deranged Annie Wilkes, following a horrific car crash. Immediately the tone of the book takes on an atmosphere of dread and foreboding, as readers get a sense of how unstable Annie really is. It did take a while for things to pick up but in that time, the level of unease I felt throughout the book was palpable. The unpredictability and instability of Annie, made for one of the most unhinged and unsettling books I've ever read. As a reader I was completely transported into this story and felt like I was right there in the room with these characters. I really enjoyed Paul's inner dialogue and the inclusion of the actual Misery story. I was completely unprepared for just how sharp of a turn this book would actually take. I'm not complaining though. Every discovery that was made about Annie, added to the overwhelming sense of dread and doom as you realize just what this woman is capable of. The scenes of torture and murder were really executed well; they had just enough descriptions without it being too gory or gruesome. The ending was brilliantly crafted and the build up to it was phenomenal as well. The only reason I'm not rating 5 stars, is because some parts seemed to be drawn out a little too much. However, as mentioned before, this seems to be a thing with King and you either love it or hate it. Overall, a seriously enjoyable thriller read and, I will be exploring more of his work.

Thank you Scribner for releasing a properly designed Stephen King book that actually has some of the personality and vibe and charm of the vintage classics. Sure, the "faux wear" is a little much, maybe, but compared to the menagerie of incredibly lame-o Stephen King books covers and jackets saturating the market, this one is a clear winner, as are the others in this set. This is probably the best one, and might actually be the overall best cover/book design that Misery has seen, hands down. The book is also sturdy and well manufacturer, with a spine that won't easily break and a decent, high quality feel. And then there's the content, of course -- one of King's best tightly-focused suspense novels. This is the version to get, of those presently available. Enjoy!

This is a terrifying story about obsession and fandom, and it is very good. It stands out a bit from earlier Stephen King books, in that it doesn't really have any supernatural elements or monsters in it. Other than a human one, of course.

The condition of this book far exceeded my expectations! Very clean, no dog ears, no writing anywhere, even the dust cover is immaculate. Very much looking forward to starting it today- I've read a lot of Stephen King, but somehow Misery had escaped me.

Great story, but has many differences than you might expect. Still, worth reading to get the basis of the movie

WHAT. A. RIDE! This book is INTENSE! The first half is a bit of a slow build but when you think things can’t get any worse….oh they doodily-do! The second-half is worth the wait though as it ramps up the tension to 11. I’ve never read a book that left my heart racing like this did. What it did well: 👍Mood & Tone - The book pulls you along through the emotions that Paul is experiencing. King has such a way of describing scenes that I found myself almost living through the unease of Annie’s kindness and the horror/fear of her cruelty along with Paul. Whenever I put the book down to take a break I’d notice the tension in my shoulders and this gnawing sense of claustrophobia and fear in my mind. When a book can make me FEEL like that, it’s a good one. 👍Characters - Paul is a solid protagonist. He’s realistic and you can see and understand how his responses to his predicament change over time. You’re rooting for him the whole way but in the times when he feels hopeless, you truly can’t blame him. Annie….she’s horrific. I think she may be one of my favorite villains of any story I’ve read. 👍Really interesting insights into the writing process. Since Paul is a writer, we learn quite a bit about his writing process and how he thinks. I can’t help but assume that these nuggets are pretty candid pieces of King’s own experience writing. 👍It’s a great, albeit dark, exploration of abuse and trauma. Paul goes through hell and I think it’s incredibly powerful to see how the abuse he endures effects him. Too many stories about torture are 1. committed by men and 2. upon women. So turning that trope on its head was refreshing, especially since it didn’t lean on Paul being ‘wimpy’ or less manly to justify how he ‘let this happen to him’. 👍It knew when to end. It didn’t feel like it dragged on any longer than it needed to. Suspense and tension cannot be built up and maintained forever and the plot knew just the right moment to swing for the fences. What it could have done better: 👎I wish there was more backstory about Paul; who he was, what his life was like. You do get a sense of him over time and you learn little things about him here and there but he feels lacking in depth compared to other Stephen King protagonists. 👎I wasn’t the biggest fan of the pages-long passages from the book Paul is writing. I don’t think they should have been removed necessarily (they make sense to the narrative) but I still kinda dreaded slogging through them. If you’re a fan of King’s writing and want a good, tense, knuckle-biter of a story. Misery is the book for you. Even if you’re not a constant reader, I would honestly recommend this book as a great chance to see why he is the KING of horror.

Ainda não li muitos livros do Stephen King, mas esse com certeza vai ficar entre os meus favoritos. É um thriller de tirar o fôlego, que prende do começo ao fim e te faz virar página atrás de página. As personagens são muito bem construídas e desenvolvidas, os segredos de cada uma delas sendo aos poucos revelados. Também há cenas de revirar o estômago, então se prepare. Ah, e se você viu o filme e gostou, leia o livro. É infinitamente melhor. O filme não é nada perto do que o King fez com essa história.

My favourite book I’ve ever read. Simply sensational.

El libro es excelente y llegó en muy buen estado. Lamentablemente las fotos del producto lo enseñan como un ejemplar firmado y por lo tanto de colección. No viene firmado. No hay valor añadido a poseer una de las mejores novelas de King.

is nice

This is the story of a psychotic fan Annie Wilkes and her maddom in her horror castle where she’s held the famous Paul Sheldon, her favorite author, captive, but he’s more like a slave-turned-victim of her depression-induced insanity. Paul has killed Misery, the protagonist of his best-selling novel and Annie didn’t like it at all. The price she is going to make him pay, is one he can has never imagined, and before long, Paul will wish he hadn’t created Misery Chastain at all. The plot is thick with wickedness and cruelty, and there are times you flinch from the atrocities of the ruthless psycho captor, Annie. It is easy to see how someone would go to any extent to get something they truly love; in this case, it is the brining back to life the protagonist of Sheldon’s novel – Misery Chastain. This book is one big misery that drags the reader into a whirlpool of fear-led pity for Sheldon, and teeth-grinding hatred for Annie. It is astonishing to follow how despite being a nurse, Annie is bereft of compassion and quick at turning her anger into nerve-chilling violence. While Paul is caught in her jaws desperate for an escape, Annie will leave no room for rescue attempts and quite efficiently wipes off every roadblock in her way; including cops. Fooling oneself is much easier than accepting the bitter truth, and Paul does get antsy for crossing that fatal line in Anna’s coup several times causing him to lose his feet; in one instance. That particular event was quite heartbreaking as even though the misery of everyone’s life in the story starts to ebb, you know the disappointment is here to stay. The other side of the coin is the novel Paul is writing for Annie, his ‘NUMBER ONE FAN’. Now those parts are actually really good as King has sprinkled some novel-writing tips and facts that’s a godsend for every living writer. It also consists of many quotes that will motivate writers to keep pursuing the passion. I know I benefitted much from them. And so will any aspiring writer learning the art. This book is unlike anything you’ve read from King yet. Obviously the writing is impeccable. The plot is flawless. And even if this isn’t horror upfront, boy, you tell me if Annie Wilkes doesn’t scare you in the dark. She is the kind of character who takes more credit than is due, and dominates your mind like a nightmare you’ll want to forget. I realise I’m all praises for this book, but let me not forget to tell that there were parts that felt irrelevant like some of Paul’s introspective narrations, dragging the reader into his past. I had to skim through those because all I wanted was to be at the heart of the actual story. In the end, it is hard to believe what a person is capable of doing; whether it is about survival or ending it all. And both Annie and Paul are in a tug of war, where no matter which side wins, it is a catastrophe leading to a million miseries. Finally, Misery is a classic King novel with its crazy twists and turns that are loaded with anxieties turned into disappointments, admiration turned into obsession, intelligence turned into savagery, and everything amalgamating perfectly to give you a story that will rock your core. Have you read ‘Misery’? How did you like it? Share your thoughts in comments below.