This particular story is not among my absolute favorites.

However, it is next in line to be read as part of my goal to go through all of King's stories in the order of their release.

It's not a completely terrible read, but it's important to note that King has penned many much better stories throughout his career.

Perhaps this one just didn't quite reach the same level of excellence that some of his other works have achieved.

Nonetheless, I'm still looking forward to seeing what else King has to offer as I continue on this reading journey.

Maybe this story will grow on me with further reflection, or perhaps it will serve as a stepping stone to something even more amazing in the King canon.

Only time will tell, but for now, I'll move forward with my reading plan and see where it takes me.

This is the lowest rating I've ever given a Stephen King book. I've always heard negative comments about Gerald's Game, but I decided to read it before the movie comes out later this year.

Overall, the story was good and entertaining. It was different from what I expected. The premise of a woman handcuffed to a bed and left alone in a remote cabin was definitely interesting.

However, I feel it was just too drawn out and overboard. A lot of parts started to take too long to develop or seemed repetitive. For example, the internal monologues of the main character went on and on, and at times, it felt like I was reading the same thoughts over and over again. I think if this book was trimmed in half and read as a novella like The Body or The Shawshank Redemption, then it would have been a winner. Unfortunately, I think Mr. King was trying to pull more out of this story than was really necessary, which made it a bad read for me.

I do look forward to the movie, as I believe they won't have time to dive into the unnecessary details and will just show the plot, which is good in its own right. I'm curious to see how they will adapt the story and bring it to life on the big screen.

Sometimes it truly takes a great deal of courage to write about a particular thing, doesn't it? To bring that thing out from the far corner of your mind and present it on the screen.

This was, without a doubt, the most fucked up book I've ever read. So of course I loved it.


For some inexplicable reason, I approached this book with the preconceived notion that I wasn't going to like it. Jessie, our main protagonist, is handcuffed to a bed and rendered immobile. That doesn't sound overly exciting, does it? Well, I was mistaken.

I initially thought that the entire novel would revolve around Jessie's attempts to escape, and that it would be a dragged-out and dull affair. But, boy, was I ever wrong! This book was anything but boring. And while I wouldn't classify it as scary, it is indeed creepy and disturbing. I had the distinct feeling that I was in the room with her, and that truly freaked me out.

Also, Jessie (our main character, as I previously mentioned) is definitely not one of the most likable characters, at least in the beginning. However, as the story unfolds, I found myself liking her more and more, and hoping that she would somehow manage to save herself.

But this book is definitely not for everyone. There are scenes that actually made me feel queasy, and I had to put the book down and take a few deep breaths.

And somewhere in the middle, I thought that the story would take a supernatural turn, but thank goodness it didn't. I adored the entire ending, and I wouldn't change a thing. It wrapped up the story perfectly.

If you're a fan of King, give this book a chance. It's different from his other works, but in my opinion, it's just as good.

PIÙ CHE GIOCO, PRESA IN GIRO

The starting point is interesting and shows promise. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold up at all. It's an idea for a story that shouldn't go beyond a few dozen pages. Instead, King stretches it out extensively, and this Italian edition makes everything worse. 300 densely packed pages make reading a chore. The translation is abysmal, and the cover is dreadful. I imagine the choice to expand a story like this beyond measure is due to commercial reasons. The novel sells while the single story doesn't. But the narration suffers a great deal. There are endless repetitions, situations stretched to the point of being implausible and unbearable. An inner voice that is very exterior, in fact, talks too much and in an irritating way. An off-voice that is always on, continuing to play with words. The result is a crude novel bordering on vulgarity, drawn out and boring - certainly not worthy of the many compliments paid to Stephen King. I decided to read it despite my limited interest and lack of sympathy for King because Ammaniti mentioned it in a recent interview as a starting point for his latest "Io e te", from which I think I will now stay away (which I later did). Since yesterday, the film has been available on Netflix. It is a more than dignified work that ennobles King's lousy novel, offering a hundred minutes of thriller with a touch of horror. Carla Gugino is good and beautiful, and it's really not clear why she has such an underwhelming career. Almost the same can be said for Bruce Greenwood, who exceeded my expectations. And the dog is also good.

This isn't a ground-breaking book.

I can't tell you precisely what about it I loved.

It's extremely gory, with vivid and graphic descriptions that are truly disturbing.

However, it totally appealed to my sense of horror and fear.

In fact, now that I reflect on it, this book might be part of the reason that I developed an OCD.

Every night, I had to check all the doors and windows compulsively.

And when I'd wake up in the middle of the night, I was firmly convinced that there was someone lurking in the house.

But hey, if a book has the power to weave its way into your head like that, it must signify something, right????

Perhaps it shows the profound impact that a well-written work of horror can have on a person's psyche.

Even though it caused me some distress, it also made me realize the potency of the written word to evoke such intense emotions.

Maybe that's the true essence of a great book, regardless of whether it's ground-breaking or not.

Easily the worst King book I have read. It was a truly painful experience from start to finish. There were so many aspects that really annoyed me. The main character, for one, did absolutely nothing for me. In fact, she was rather annoying and I simply didn't care what happened to her. It was hard to feel any connection or sympathy towards her.

The writing in this book is all over the place. In his previous work, Needful Things, King had an obsession with writing down all of the thoughts of the characters constantly. I couldn't stand that, and here he takes it even further by adding multiple voices in the head of the main character. The whole aspect is irritating from the very moment it occurs. It makes the story feel convoluted and confusing.

Finally, the ending is also stupid. It's infuriating how weak the conclusion is. I never want to think about it again. King said that the early nineties was a difficult time for him, that nothing "stuck". Well, I'm inclined to agree. With the exception of The Wastelands, the decade has, at least so far, been pretty painful. I'm so glad I finished Gerald's Game. I feel like I've survived a terrible ordeal. Anyway, I'm looking forward to my next King book, Dolores Claiborne. I'm hoping it will be a much better read and redeem King's reputation in my eyes.

This was a truly challenging one to rate.

I'm settling on 3 stars, yet I'm not entirely certain if it truly merits that score. My emotions regarding this book were in a complete turmoil. At the commencement of the book, I was overcome with boredom and a lack of interest. However, around 100 pages in, I became utterly addicted. But as the story progressed towards the end, it once again lost its momentum.

So, I'm awarding Gerald's Game 3 stars, yet I don't have a great sense of satisfaction about it.

Gerald's Game is perhaps one of the most divisive Stephen King novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading. The reviews are all over the spectrum, and after reading it, that makes perfect sense because I too felt a jumble of emotions while reading it. Without revealing too much, Gerald's Game is about a woman whose sex game with her husband takes a disastrous turn. To truly tell you what Gerald's Game is all about, I'd have to conceal this entire review as one massive spoiler. What I will say is to imagine being compelled to confront your most deeply hidden secrets with no means of suppressing them.

I can't recommend it because I still don't know how I truly feel about it.

A Book For All Seasons: Discover a book with a name in its title.

Ultimate Summer Reading Challenge: Read a book from the bottom of your TBR pile.

Jessie thought,

If I had a few more voices, we could have a goddam bridge tournament in here. She had run just as fast as her legs could carry her. Jessie Mahout Burlingame, also known as The Amazing Gingerbread Girl, the last wonder of a dubious age, survivor of the day the sun had gone out, was now handcuffed to the bed and able to run no more.

She was also discovering something else. Giving in to those simple physical needs could be an inexpressible relief. It was a strange realization for her, in this confined and desperate situation. The world outside had changed drastically, and here she was, confined to a bed, yet finding a strange kind of comfort in the most basic of human needs.

Jessie's mind raced with thoughts of what could have been, of the life she once had before all this chaos. But for now, she had to focus on the present and try to make the best of her circumstances.

This is the first King novel that I truly did not like.

It was so incredibly LONG! I mean, seriously, how long can one read about this woman in these cuffs?

I have to admit, I wasn't completely unspooked. There were definitely some moments that sent shivers down my spine.

However, to be honest with you, the scenes involving children were just way too graphic for my taste.

I simply couldn't handle listening to those descriptions.

It's not that I don't appreciate King's writing style or his ability to create a sense of horror, but this particular aspect of the novel was just not for me at all.

Maybe others will find it captivating and thrilling, but for me, it was a bit of a disappointment.

I guess everyone has different preferences when it comes to reading material, and this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Oh well, there are plenty of other King novels out there that I'm sure I'll enjoy more.

A psychological thriller by Stephen King was published in 1992.

It is a disturbing work that earns 4 stars.

The question is, how much tension can be created with just one character on a bed in a single room? The short answer is 'if it's Stephen King, a great deal'.

Jessie and Gerald have been married for twenty years, and to say their sex life has become routine is an understatement. At least, that's the case for Gerald, and he decides it's time to add some spice. He has a plan and phones Jessie from work, asking her to go with him to their summer house for a bit of spicy sex. It's out of season, so there won't be anyone around to interrupt their adventure.

Gerald's plan involves handcuffing Jessie to the bed while he has his way with her. At first, Jessie agrees, but as she lies almost naked and handcuffed to the bed, she realizes the whole thing is too demeaning and tells Gerald enough is enough. However, Gerald thinks this is all part of her role-playing and continues regardless.

In frustration, Jessie kicks Gerald, hitting his nuts and chest. Gerald falls to the floor, gasping for breath and turning very pale. After screaming at him for half an hour and getting no answer, Jessie realizes Gerald could be dead.

Now, Jessie is sure Gerald is dead, she is naked and handcuffed to the bed, and there's no one around for miles.

It's time for some introspection.

Jessie has never felt so destitute and vulnerable as she does right now.

Inside her head, there is a reservoir of horrible experiences that she refuses to voice or share with anyone. But against her will, voices start to invade her thoughts, and a lifetime of suppressed emotional trauma comes pouring out.

Apart from confronting all her past demons, Jessie's need to escape the inescapable will keep you turning the pages.

The fact that so much tension can be generated from so few characters is quite a feat and is simply Stephen King at his best.

This, along with Lisey's Story, is my least favourite SK's novel.

The story mainly involves Jesse being handcuffed to a bed after her husband suddenly drops dead. First, there is the intense hunger and thirst that plagues her. Then, the hallucinations start to set in, along with the eerie feeling of someone watching her.

It is extremely challenging to have a story with essentially just one character, and unfortunately, this one failed to grab my interest or hold my attention.

The book contains some rather nasty themes, so it is not suitable for the faint of heart.

Towards the end, it did drag a bit, and I felt that it should have concluded sooner. Overall, I would rate it 2 out of 5.

Perhaps if the pacing had been better or the character development more engaging, it could have been a more enjoyable read. However, as it stands, it simply did not meet my expectations.

DNF 33%

Trust me, I really made a sincere attempt. I was determined to get through whatever it was that I had started. However, after putting in a significant amount of effort, I still found myself at a point where I had to give up.
(I then decided to watch a movie instead, and it turned out to be an excellent choice! The movie was engaging and entertaining, providing a much-needed break from my previous attempt. So, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, stuck and unable to progress, I highly recommend tuning in to Netflix. It can be a great way to save some time and still have an enjoyable experience.)