Is Misery Under Rated

[Big-Pink]

One of my favourite Stephen King books but i dont many who feel the same way. I love the way how Annie was portrayed as evil yet funny. Probably one of my favourite bits was when she threw the soup and the wall then blamed Paul.

I might be bias as it was the first King book i read and ive only read 5 but aside from Duma Key this was by far my favourite, what does everyone else think?

[aptpupil]

Big-Pink

I agree. It takes a real writing talent to invent a story where so much of the activity takes place at one isolated location and involves only two characters.

The characterisation, the interplay and the dialogue has to be very high quality to make it compulsive reading. I'm a novelist on a small scale myself, and frankly I'd be afraid to write within such limitations.

Hats off to SK for that one.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Yes, I agree, and I think it's illuminating that Misery was originally intended to be Richard Bachman's 'break-through' novel.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Big-Pink]

Big-Pink

I agree. It takes a real writing talent to invent a story where so much of the activity takes place at one isolated location and involves only two characters.

The characterisation, the interplay and the dialogue has to be very high quality to make it compulsive reading. I'm a novelist on a small scale myself, and frankly I'd be afraid to write within such limitations.

Hats off to SK for that one.

Exactly, to keep the whole book interesting for what is mainly a story that is taking place in one room takes real talent. The idea of also writing a book in a book was great as well. The way he wrote Misery in the book was maybe showing who he writes in real life?

[Noelani]

One of my favourite Stephen King books but i dont many who feel the same way. I love the way how Annie was portrayed as evil yet funny. Probably one of my favourite bits was when she threw the soup and the wall then blamed Paul.


I totally agree, one of King's best stories! Annie is one of my favorite characters in a novel. So darn crazy! I think it's underrated, by anyone who doesn't have it on their top list, but then again, everyone I know loves the story.

[Haunted]

One of my favourite Stephen King books but i dont many who feel the same way. I love the way how Annie was portrayed as evil yet funny. Probably one of my favourite bits was when she threw the soup and the wall then blamed Paul.

I might be bias as it was the first King book i read and ive only read 5 but aside from Duma Key this was by far my favourite, what does everyone else think?

I think we all remember our 'first' with a special fondness.:biggrin2: But I think we can all say that Misery was extraordinary in its concept and execution.

[jackson992]

I love Misery and never knew it was underrated.

[Bryan James]

My only problem with 'Misery' is that I saw the movie way before reading the book.

That whole pre-conceived notion sort of thing we humans have....

Annie was still spot on, either way.

BJS

[S Mcleod]

I agree one hundred percent. Misery is maybe the second or so Best thing King wrote.
The book despite taking place almost completely in a farm house. Is in no way boring.
And maybe best of all, There is No reference to the dark tower. It gets to be it's Own story. And not trapped and ruined by the DT like many other books.
-S Mcleod

[OhmyGod!]

Yeah, I love the book too!

And the weird thing is...I think Annie's REALLY scary. Stephen King did such a realistic job on her...even the funny bits made her more realistic. The whole situation is such a nightmare to get trapped in. And the weirdest part of the book is in my eyes...somewhere (somewhere really in the back of my head) I felt sorry for Annie...maybe that's the most scariest part of the book.

[the_padded_cell]

Someone mentioned the soup earlier. However I was both amused and frightened when Paul throws the Ashtray through the window to attract the policeman's attention. Annie kills him with the mower and then casually hands Paul the ashtray through the broken window...

One of my faves!

[Dallas Riley]

Hi,

Yes, I agree, and I think it's illuminating that Misery was originally intended to be Richard Bachman's 'break-through' novel.

Long days and pleasant nights

Ill be mentioning that in my presentation. thanks.

[devious1]

i don't know if i'd say it is underrated, especially after reading the comments posted here... seems it's rated rather high by his fans... it was my forst SK read as well, fantastic book, great movie... as for Misery being originally meant as a Bachman book... if it had been released under the Bachman name he might as well have just wrote "It's really me guys! Steve!" on the cover... that is an SK book through and through... it wouldn't have fooled anybody lol.

[TheHardcase]

My only problem with 'Misery' is that I saw the movie way before reading the book.

I make a point of avoiding this practice with pretty much all of SK's books. Personally, I found the character of Annie horrific. I know too many people who have the unique talent -- if you want to call it that -- whose personality can turn on a dime from loving/caring to red-faced with hysteria.

Although, now that I think of it, loving and caring was something of a stretch for Annie Wilkes. But she was good at faking it.

[Robert DeSoto]

wow! this was my first SK book too, i really liked it, i didn't think it was bad at all, kind of funny actually

[smooth operator]

Hi,

Yes, I agree, and I think it's illuminating that Misery was originally intended to be Richard Bachman's 'break-through' novel.

Long days and pleasant nights

Well, that explains a lot about the style he used.
I happen to really love this book. It was an amazing example of the difference between fan and fanatic, between love and obsession, between avid and psychotic. Annie Wilkes is one of the best characters SK ever wrote.

[tillyn]

Annie was such a strong and vividly written character how could we not remember that story. I think it was one of my favorite SK books to read.

[Bluey Lunger]

And maybe best of all, There is No reference to the dark tower. It gets to be it's Own story. And not trapped and ruined by the DT like many other books.
-S Mcleod

don't want to spoil future reads for you s mcleod, but being a dt junkie, i felt the need to arrive...she'll be driving six white horses when she comes, she'll be driving six white horses, she'll be driving six white horses when she comes!

yeah, but...maybe annie's laughing place is a kind of going todash, territories, booya moon, something, sorta like audrey wyler in regulators, mohonk mountain. and there's the date of annie's arrest, july 19th, announced by both the denver post and the rocky mountain news. and there's that thing from the sidewinder gazette, nov 19th, 1984, when the hikers found the mutilated and partly dismembered remains of the young man. and there's one point where paul puts his hand against the windowpane and feels a bubble of cold like a dome around the window....ooooo! future connections mayhap?:eyebrow:

[Bluey Lunger]

annie also brings paul his keflex pill at one point in the story. ref. my last post and there's a point (chap 37 if it matters) where paul asks annie, 'see what a Do-Bee I am?' sorta kinda just like jack mort aka the pusher whose secret for success both at work and at play is 'be ready be prepared be a do-bee.' all sorts of dt connections. :upside:

[Shann]

One of my favourite Stephen King books but i dont many who feel the same way. I love the way how Annie was portrayed as evil yet funny. Probably one of my favourite bits was when she threw the soup and the wall then blamed Paul.

I might be bias as it was the first King book i read and ive only read 5 but aside from Duma Key this was by far my favourite, what does everyone else think?

I love Misery i have read it like some much that i am already on my 5 copy of the book. I loved how Annie was portrayed and also the movie is my favorite movie from Stephen King but i wish they had more of the book in the movie because Annie IMO was more crazy in the book then in the movie

[Sawney Beane]

It´s a great book.But "evil yet funny"???Evil yet sick more like¡¡:biggrin2:.Funny??.Would you say that to her?:"oh,Annie you´re funny...".Annie:"what do you mean, you mean the way I talk? What?" Big-Pink:"Just..you know...you´re funny" Annie:"You mean, let me understand this cause, you know maybe it's me, I'm a little f***ed up maybe, but I'm funny how? I mean ,funny like I'm a clown?, I amuse you? I make you laugh?, I'm here to f**ing amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny???".

[LadyHitchhiker]

Misery was an excellent book and definitely underrated.

[rose key]

Misery is one of my favorites. It's one of the books I've recommened (and loaned) to first time readers. The fact that it all takes place in one room, and yet there is so much action and entertainment is amazing. There were also many points I laughed out loud, like: "You must think Annie's in a real poopie-doopie mood today, Paul!" She had her own language when it came to adjectives, did she not?
And the ashtray scene? Edge of your seat, white knuckled excitment.

[delores 74]

It´s a great book.But "evil yet funny"???Evil yet sick more like¡¡:biggrin2:.Funny??.Would you say that to her?:"oh,Annie you´re funny...".Annie:"what do you mean, you mean the way I talk? What?" Big-Pink:"Just..you know...you´re funny" Annie:"You mean, let me understand this cause, you know maybe it's me, I'm a little f***ed up maybe, but I'm funny how? I mean ,funny like I'm a clown?, I amuse you? I make you laugh?, I'm here to f**ing amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny???".

LOL!!!! I LOVE GOODFELLAS!!!!
Anyway, Misery is definitely one of my favorites. I remember reading it the first time and being scared out of my wits for Paul. When he escapes the room and is trying to get back in before Annie comes in, my heart was racing and I was breathing hard. Sure sign of a great book.

[CorruptGoat0079]

I just finished Misery three days ago and have let it sit while I digested the story. I doubt that I will state anything that has not already been said, but I loved the novel. I quite literally could not put Misery down for the last hundred fifty pages.

Even after I read 'On Writing, a Memoir of the Craft' where SK states that he did not realize Paul Sheldon would be as resourceful as he turned out to be, I still believed that he was a dead man. I truly saw no way for him to survive, even after he escaped Annie's house I thought she would kill him.

People I have spoken with who only watched the movie give mixed reviews, but I could not see anyone who could read Misery and not be terrified for Paul Sheldon and for their own sanity.

[adrianmarley]

I think Misery is one of SK's best books. It's tightly written and incredibly suspenseful. It was the book that got me back into Stephen King after I had stopped reading him.

Annie Wilkes is a great creation and the book highlights many of King's strengths as a writer: his command of language and how a book with only two main characters can keep you on the edge of your seat for so long.

I also suspect that King makes some interesting points on the nature of fame and on how obsessed some fans can be. It's also a powerful piece on the nature of writing and what it means to be a writer. It may not be autobiographical but I think there's a grain of truth in this book with regards to how King feels towards his own fame and, indeed, the trappings of the fame.

All in all, I think Misery is one of the best books he's ever written and I don't understand why it's not lauded more.

[jchanic]

I don't think it's praised more by King fans because a lot of them feel it reflects the way King feels about HIS fans and that makes them feel unsettled. I don't agree.

John

[The Outsider]

This is definitely one of my more liked king novels, and I really enjoyed-and was horrified by- the character of Annie. And the ending, in my opinion, was a great solution and a perfect way for Annie to go down.

Can anyone say irony?

[wall of fog]

Watching the movie again the summer before last I realized what a great detective story it is! Like Murders of the Rue Morgue. This creepy old house used against him, finding clues step by step, the traces the police look for outside. I would love to know more about the good guy sheriff idea with the white cowboy hat.

[Mary Beth]

Although The Stand will probably always be my favorite King novel, I think Misery is his finest work. I just love it and cannot wait to hit it on my re-read schedule. It's simply brilliantly constructed and it's so darn....sly.

I love how he plays his readers and uses the Annie/Paul relationship as a fun house mirror for any reader/author relationship.

I love the technique of weaving in Misery's story and how skillfully he manages to change voice so effectively. There's so much vivid imagery in this novel, as well. I think it can be a fair criticism of King's works that they can be wordy, bloated and/or obscure. But this book ducks all that and is almost perfection.

[rev. rick]

Misery is also one of my faves. I love the way Annie i writen. you just dont see evil and funny together often.

[DancingCorpse]

This novel is one of my favourites too, it's ridiculously easy to pick up and start and you don't put it down again for a long time. That is a testament to King's talent in itself, that such a cramped, confined setting with only two substantial characters, can present such a compelling tale. This is further proof that King is not - and never has been - simply a slightly talented horror hack as too many people claim without evidence or any interest in his work to back such a claim up. I point them in the direction of this novel as Exhibit A :D The psychological aspects of horror are always more frightening than anything we can make up, that's why Misery and Annie Wilkes works so well.