Oh my gosh. So good! I bought this book for a quarter, and it was the best darn quarter I ever spent! What would be a pretty boring subject in most writers' hands is a true page turner in King's.

It's full of psychological and physical tension throughout. There are some majorly gross scenes and creepy ones that make you want to sleep with your light on!

The majority of the book (about 3/4) focuses on one woman. After her husband dies in a sex game she no longer wanted to participate in, she's chained to a bed. She kicks him away, causing an unanticipated heart attack and leaving her all alone. She spends the rest of her time trying to free herself. Unfortunately, they were at their summer cabin during the off season, so there's no one around to hear her screams for help.

A lot of the book is spent in flashbacks to her earlier life, which breaks up the monotony. There are some disturbing ones with her father during an eclipse. She "hears" different voices in her head, with different views of her life, battling against each other. She seems to be "loosing it" in her desperate situation.

Then a starving dog shows up, and King proves his ability to write the thoughts and emotions of dogs. Also, he writes the emotions of abused women perfectly, as he does in other books like Rose Madder and Dolores Claiborne.

Finally, an extremely creepy man with a bag of bones shows up. He's been watching her. I won't spoil how she finally frees herself or the last bit of terror she has to overcome. All I can say is that King is incredibly genius to write such a great and captivating read starting with the simple idea of a woman chained to a bed. This is a wonderfully unique psychological/horror book that's one of his best and most underrated, in my opinion.

I still enjoyed it on this reread. However, I do agree with my previous review that the ending goes on unnecessarily. I was truly amazed at how much of the book was left after a certain point.

Regarding Jaubert as a villain, I'm not quite sure what to make of him. I'm also questioning if he's really necessary. I'm planning on rewatching the movie and closely observing what changes were made and the reasons behind them.

4.5

Gerald's Game really took me by surprise. I'm not sure what I was anticipating. I knew it was essentially a one-character novel where a woman handcuffed to the bed has to deal with the external pressures of finding a way out of her situation. But it also delved into the internal issues and memories she had been repressing for decades. Right from the start, one of the few things I didn't like about the story was the ending. It seemed to stretch out needlessly and explain things that, as the reader, I didn't think required an explanation. It was very close to being a five-star book for me if it hadn't been for those last couple of chapters.

There were so many aspects of this book that were done right. The body horror elements actually made me feel a bit dizzy. I adored the dream sequences and the voices in Jessie's head that represented different parts of her. I thought King did an excellent job with the traumatic event she endured as a child. We get hints of it in the beginning and pretty much know what happened. But when Jessie really delves into what occurred and brings in her new adult perspective, it's such a painful memory. It's presented in a way that all of her reactions made sense to me. How she was manipulated into feeling the way she did and believing it was something she couldn't tell anyone. This was a fantastic story that truly gave me everything I desired from a character study. I highly recommend it!

TW: sexual abuse of a child, marital rape

Let me set the scene for you here.

A husband, a wife, a secluded cabin in Maine, a bed, and a pair of handcuffs.

You could probably guess where this is going; I thought I did, but this single-location thriller is an incredibly enthralling read that only the master of suspense could provide.

Jess, the main character, is left chained to the bed after a not-so-hot and heavy session with her husband.

They left a note with the family on when to expect them back, but maybe there's more to it.

Maybe they wanted to keep their kinky getaway a secret, or maybe this was all planned as something much more sinister.

Our main character is put through the ringer in this novel.

Not only is she coming full circle with her past, but she witnesses some pretty hairy things in the room as well.

As Jess tries to escape from her perilous position, she is struck with flashbacks and ominous voices.

These give us insight into her past and current psyche, which is troubled, as you can imagine coming from King.

Each chapter ratchets up the tension to a surprising conclusion.

One more thing to note is that Jessie is constantly worried about a glass of ice water leaving rings and water spots on the nightstand.

The only other thing to mention is that this book contains Stephen King's usual knack for humor, poetic moments, strong-willed characterizations, and depravity.

So if you're in the mood for a single-location thriller, this one might be up your alley.

The music, book, and movie references rounded out the story in a satisfying way.

I felt so bad for Jess. She sure is a scrappy survivor.

The ending was incredible. I did not see it coming whatsoever.

What Stephen King book should I read next???

The soundtrack includes "The Joker" by Steve Miller Band, "I Want You" by Marvin Gaye, "Happy Together" by The Turtles, and "These Boots are Made For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra.

The rating is 3.5 out of 5.

CAUTION! IF YOU HAVE ANXIETY, DON'T DARE OPEN THE FIRST PAGE.

Women alone in the dark are like open doors... and if they cry out for help, who knows what dread things may answer.

I truly have no idea what I anticipated when I delved into this novel. But, goddamn!!! Stephen King has done it once more. I had goosebumps, was constantly looking over my shoulder, even in a well-lit room, and yes, I was scared shitless. At times, I questioned whether continuing with the book was a good idea for my own mental health. And when a book has such an effect on you, it's one hell of a good book.

The remarkable thing about Stephen King is that he manages to penetrate your mind, tap into your worst fears, and magnify them a millionfold. I will always pick up his books because HE IS FUCKING KING!!!!!

If you have already delved into any work penned by the maestro of terror, Stephen King, you are bound to have an inkling of just how thrilling and intense this particular title will prove to be.

To be sure, in certain sections, the descriptions of objects, places, and characters can seem rather repetitive. However, this serves a purpose. It provides a form of feedback that ensures you don't overlook even the tiniest of details as you progress through the reading.

This way, you can continue on your literary journey without experiencing any sort of confusion or setback. In fact, it acts as an excellent springboard, a good start if you will, to delve deeper into his other captivating titles.

Whether you're a die-hard King fan or a newcomer to his world of horror and suspense, this title holds the promise of an unforgettable reading experience.

I had a rather ambivalent attitude towards this book. On one hand, I equally liked and equally disliked it. The story, in its essence, was not bad at all. It delved into the complex theme of a troubled marriage and how the past can have a profound impact on people's lives. However, there were certain aspects that just didn't work for me.

One of my main issues was that I simply couldn't get attached to the characters. This lack of connection often pulled me out of the story, making it difficult for me to fully immerse myself. Although it was a relatively quick read, it failed to truly fascinate me.

As a horror novel, it did manage to be scary at times. But from my perspective, the real horror lies in making the story feel realistic. Unfortunately, towards the end of the book, the events didn't feel quite right. They seemed stretched and rather contrived, lacking the authenticity that would have made the horror more palpable.

Despite these drawbacks, it was still an interesting read with some shocking twists and points. However, it was clear that this book wasn't exactly tailored to my personal taste or preferences.

The regularity with which Stephen King writes 3 plus, 4 and 5 star books is truly staggering. It's almost as if he has a magical formula that allows him to consistently produce works of such high quality. What surprised me the most about Gerald's Game, however, is that after all these years, Mr. King chose this book to really spit in the face of horror.

This book commences with a solid, voyeuristic 4 star plot. We are immediately drawn into the story, eager to see what will unfold. As we move into the middle of the book, it's like a hungry dog looking for its next meal. We are sniffing around for clues of what may happen next and how we would react. The 3 plus/4 star writing pulls us in so deeply that it's no longer just voyeuristic. It becomes the next moment in our own reality.

Just when I thought it was over, the final few chapters of this book take the plot up a notch. It's like a sudden twist that leaves you breathless. And I'm not going to give you the slightest of clues. Let's just say that it earns its 5 stars and has become my all-time favorite Stephen King novel.

Stephen King is undoubtedly an extraordinary writer. His imagination knows no bounds. Although he always claims that he has been pigeonholed into a certain genre, the truth is that I rather believe he loves writing about that twisted part of human beings.

The story of this book is incredibly oppressive. Jessie and Gerald go away for a weekend to a countryside house to spend some time together and also try out some sexual games. So, Gerald handcuffs Jessie to the bed and, without going into details, Gerald dies and Jessie is left handcuffed to the bed with no possibility of anyone hearing her, coming to look for her, and unable to move.

The story is a masterpiece not only because of the plot I just described, but also because of everything that goes on in Jessie's head, all her retrospectives, her anguish, her fear, her panic, her terror, her self-defense mechanisms, and this eternal monologue that Jessie has during the process and everything that happens to her. From around 35% of the book, there is a break in the story, in the narrative rhythm, and even in the atmosphere created around the events. From the first to the last page, this book is absolutely brilliant.

But beyond the story, we have Stephen King's pen. The way he has created the atmosphere makes you feel the anguish. In fact, it has been very difficult for me to read this book because of that. I had trouble continuing because it really suffocated me. I had abandoned it for that reason on one occasion, and on this second chance, I wouldn't say I wanted to abandon it, but it was difficult for me to have to swallow the pill of anguish.

Now, the genius doesn't stop at the way he recreates that atmosphere, but also the way King changes the rhythm, the atmosphere, and even the narrative style as the story progresses. Just as Jessie evolves in the story, so does King with his narrative style. Where there was suffocation and anguish, now there is fear and panic. Where there was fear, now there is calm, and then the narrative rhythm accelerates to fall back into a decline and end in calm.

It has truly been fascinating to walk this path with Stephen King. It is difficult for me to express in words the great literary intelligence I have seen in this book, which, as I have said, goes much beyond a simple story.

The ending was completely unexpected for me. Of course, I liked it, and I also really liked the character of Jessie, who is so complex.

It was fascinating to read this book, both for the story and for the way this literary genius changes and adapts to his own story.

Stephen King's ability to create murky, oppressive, and extremely dark situations is undeniable.

Although I must admit that at first, I felt overwhelmed when seeing all the pages (nearly 500) of Jessie's mental ramblings that lay ahead of me.

At times, what she described was interesting and even suffocating, but there were moments when I felt the story wasn't advancing, like stagnant water that couldn't be reduced.

It started very well, with Jessie and Gerald arriving at that secluded cabin, especially in the off-season with the consequent sense of solitude it brings, with the purpose of spicing up their marriage with a few sexual games that we already know how they end just by reading the synopsis.

But from such an apparently simple plot, King comes and turns everything upside down, making you experience the protagonist's misfortune firsthand.

I felt a lot of oppression.

And desperation, both for the story and also (let's be honest) for the fluency, or rather, the lack of it.

It wasn't until we started reading flashbacks of Jessie's past that things began to improve. It's from here (around the middle of the novel) that my interest increased. And those brushstrokes he gives us of a specific event that occurred in her preadolescence managed to capture my attention and make the reading much more fluid.

The information is given to us bit by bit to keep us glued to its pages until we know what happened in her past, during an eclipse

Situations like this are ones that I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy. After a series of very unsuccessful sex games, you're left handcuffed to the bed while your husband lies on the floor, dead from a heart attack. The bed is one of those where your hands can't move much. The phone or keys are too far away. There's not even a living soul in the surroundings, so you can scream as much as you want. And here begins your test of the will to survive.

It's not easy to find ways to keep a work, whose action takes place in such a claustrophobically small space, not only engaging but also one from which it's hard to tear oneself away. S. King here proves that he is a master in his field. By jumping from the present to the past, highlighting the dirtiest, proudest, most cowardly, and most deeply hidden thoughts of the main character, he maneuvers through the pages slowly but surely. You won't find quick action here (try to free yourself quickly from those handcuffs), but believe me, there's no shortage of impact, stinging fear, and unpleasant feelings. The simplest tasks become insurmountable, and when victory is achieved or defeat is accepted - they are so hyperbolized that when reading, I didn't even realize that I had become so engrossed in the book as the main character had become in the hope of staying alive. There were moments when I was holding my breath and not moving, sometimes I had to put the book aside because I felt that I was just too tense. Otherwise, while reading the book quite calmly here, I was talking to myself, and I was scared and crying. Maybe more proof is needed that this journey is not for the faint of heart, but for those who are looking for something new and have a vivid enough imagination to be able to surrender to King's created story.

The author again amazes with his ability to subtly, empathetically, and truly present trauma. He avoids clichés and shows an alternative, a suppressed established norm, and changes the perspective of viewing so that the situation can be seen anew. The scariest horror, as is often the case, here does not arise from the traditionally spine-chilling scenes (although you will find that here too, I might add), but from grief, guilt, and years of suffering. Using a unique idea and implementing it uncompromisingly, King shows from what dark, unexpected, and even unfindable places within oneself sometimes the desire to fight for one's life arises. And what the consequences of that are. And finally, it talks about the fact that this is still his, the man's, Gerald's game. Because he set the rules, and she obeyed. She held the ace up her sleeve, held the anger, the sting. What happens when all that finally explodes within her?

This really is the King book I like least.

The characters in this book seem rather flat and lack depth. They don't have the kind of complexity and charm that would make me truly engage with them.

The setting is also not very appealing. It doesn't create a vivid and immersive world that can draw me in and make me feel as if I'm a part of it.

And the game itself, which is supposed to be the main focus, fails to capture my interest. It lacks excitement and innovation, and feels rather dull and repetitive.

Overall, I have never been enthusiastic about this one. It just doesn't have the qualities that I look for in a great book.

Some nightmares never completely ended.

Jessie and Gerald Burlingame journey to their holiday home by the lake in Maine for an afternoon of certain activities. However, the situation rapidly changes when Gerald suddenly drops dead from a heart attack, leaving Jessie handcuffed to the bed. Jessie is then left to confront all of her worst fears as the voices in her head take over.

As someone with a relatively short attention span, the concept of one character being trapped in a single location for almost the entire novel didn't necessarily thrill me. I truly thought I'd have difficulties. Nevertheless, I must praise King for penning such a tense, nail-biting, exhausting, and unputdownable story. This book occupied my thoughts and gave me nightmares. For the first time since Pet Sematary, my blood actually ran cold while reading a book. I really adored this book. As I finished it, I even thought, "This is now one of my top Kings." But in hindsight, it might just squeeze into the top 10.

Gerald's Game is not for everyone. Some people might actually find it dull, and others might become upset by the difficult themes described in explicit detail, such as sexual abuse. It's undoubtedly an uncomfortable read, but I almost feel that one needs to endure that to fully understand Jessie. It's also extremely gory at times, which, for a hardened horror fan like myself, is something I truly enjoy. However, I know not everyone will share the same sentiment. It's strange because although I loved this book, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to everyone.

My favorite aspect of this book was Jessie, who has quickly risen to become one of my favorite King characters. She is brave, strong, and resilient. What she endured during her childhood is simply one of the most horrific things I've ever read about in any novel. I loved her references to how she would no longer be under the control of any man, following what she suffered at the hands of her father and how she was treated during her marriage. Jessie is AWESOME. I was rooting for her throughout and am literally in awe of her survival instincts. I, on the other hand, would have just lain there and accepted death for sure. King does an excellent job of presenting her character development throughout the novel.

A lot of people on Instagram were eager for my opinions on the ending of Gerald's Game, and here it is. I thought it was brilliant. It actually makes Jessie's experience even more terrifying for me. I won't go into too much more detail as I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but it was horrifyingly amazing, and I'm a big fan.

So, yes, it's awkward to really love a book and yet still feel slightly hesitant about recommending it to people. But if it sounds like the kind of book you'd enjoy, go for it! I honestly thought I wouldn't be a fan, and I've been proven wrong. Now I get to watch the adaptation on Netflix and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm sure I'll have some opinions on that soon too. Do you even need to ask? - 5 stars out of 5 from me!