Is Carrie underrated?

[cwalrus]

Finished Carrie a while a go and really enjoyed it. I was expecting to not care for it too much even though the film is a favorite of mine. Whenever I speak to SK fans though, they always talk about Carrie as if it was the black sheep of the SK cannon, and I feel the complete opposite is true. It was a great read, and it was refreshing to get these different perspectives that were missing from the movie particularly Sue Snell's post Prom Night writing, other book excerpts, and transcripts from the White Commission hearings. These shifts in the narrative kept me interested a story that I pretty much felt I knew already from having seen the original film, which despite some changes was pretty loyal to the spirit of SK's story although I did appreciate the fact that SK let the gym teacher live instead of killing her with a basketball backboard, which was what i was expecting. I would have liked to have seen Ms. Desjardin's writings or testimony earlier since she was a survivor instead of the curt note to the principal that she would rather kill herself than teach again

Anyway, I just want to know why fans and even SK don't seem to think much of Carrie. It was SK's first and he would get better, but for a first novel, I was pretty impressed. Also, I'm not sure how much was written about TK before Carrie. I'm sure Carrie wasn't the first, but it doesn't strike me that TK was a popular plot device in novels before Carrie came along.

Now I think I'm ready to start reading Rage.

[Sheila Carlyle]

I'm w/you cwalrus, even though I first read it when I was 8 or 9, I still think "Carrie" was a fantastic first(published)novel effort, and it remains one of my all time favorites.

You're gonna love "Rage".
S.

[adrianmarley]

I don't think Carrie is underrated, but it is a first novel and, therefore, not as polished as subsequent novels. It does have some memorable moments: the infamous shower scene springs to mind, as does the oppressive atmosphere of Carrie's homelife.

[jackson992]

I agree that it is underrated and one of my favorite of his novels. I also enjoy reading the clippings and newspaper reports.

[lilredkdn]

I agree with adrianmarley. It was his first novel and doesn't have some of the finesse that he later develops. It is still an excellent novel. I, too, loved how the story was told from everyone else's point of view. I would love to see another story written in this way because it is truly one of a kind

[~Ally~]

Im with you guys..i think Carrie is a pretty cool story, certainly nothing to be ashamed of liking.
I think it definitely has some memorable scenes in it..and Carries mother is enough to strike the fear of God into anyone

[kisun]

Carrie is underrated, but for a reason. IMO, compared to his other works (The Dark Tower for instance) it falls short in comparison.

I hope you enjoy Rage. I was recently able to read it myself .

[SixPins]

No, I don't think it is. I have never been a big Carrie fan, but I loved the film adaptation. I hated the intervals of newspaper clippings in the novel. They really distracted me.

[Dark Reader]

Yes, if you read Carrie first then its brilliant, but like others have said if you read it after reading some of his newer books then it will seem like its written by someone else. I don't think Stephen really got into his stride until The Shining

[Undead Constant Reader]

When I began reading Carrie, I was expecting it to fall a bit short for the simple fact that it was Stephen King's first novel. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was very well written and by the end of the book, I was left wishing the book was longer. Are his later works better? Sure they are, but Carrie is not bad by any means. Plus it's not like Carrie was the first thing he ever wrote, it was just the first novel. Stephen King already had some short stories under his belt before he took on a novel.