Successful author Paul Sheldon had a significant decision to make. He was tired of writing his popular romance series centered around Misery Chastain and wanted to venture into the realm of crime fiction. After pouring his heart and soul into the manuscript of his new crime novel, Paul, in a state of drunken elation, made a fateful choice. Instead of taking a flight back to New York City, he decided to drive. However, fate had other plans as a severe snowstorm was headed his way. The result was a disastrous car accident that left Paul in a critical condition.

On her way home from buying livestock feed, Annie Wilkes, who happened to be Paul's number one fan, came across the scene of the accident. Without hesitation, she rescued Paul and took him back to her remote home. There, she administered copious amounts of pain medication to him but refused to take him to the hospital despite his severely broken and mangled legs. Days passed, and Annie finally got her hands on the latest installment of the Misery Chastain series. But when she discovered that Paul had killed off her beloved Misery, she flew into a blind rage. She held Paul prisoner and forced him to write a new book that would bring Misery back to life.

I don't know how to accurately describe the emotions I'm experiencing right now. The closest I can come is to imagine what it would feel like to be run over by a truck and then dragged 5 kilometers down the road... but in a strange, almost perverse, good way. This novel is truly explosive, and there's no denying its power. The reason I believe this story is so captivating is because of its plausibility. The events narrated in the book could very well happen in real life, which makes it all the more disturbing. Stephen King has masterfully painted a deeply unsettling picture with his captivating characters. Their psychology is analyzed in such great depth throughout the course of the book that I felt as if I was completely inside their heads. This is precisely why I love Stephen King. No other author has the ability to transport me into the minds of the characters like he does. I loved every single second of this book. It's f'ing brilliant!

(2018 re-read)

(2012 review)
This year, I've been re-visiting some of my King All-star Team in the form of audiobooks. It has once again reminded me that Uncle Steve is The Man. No matter what "literary critics" like Harold Bloom say, King is one of the greatest storytellers of all time, in any language. Period. Of course, not everything he's written is pure gold. Given the vastness of his canon, that's to be expected. But even when I think King has produced something less than outstanding, I always sense that his heart is in the right place. In other words, King, unlike many other bestselling authors today, has an abundance of integrity. The words and the story always come first. Even after all these years, I truly believe he writes for the love of the craft, not for the next hefty paycheck (*cough* James Patterson *cough* whore).

I first read Misery when I was seventeen. I started it around eight o'clock in the evening and finished it at about four in the morning. My heart was pounding, my eyes were bleary, and I was afraid to open my closet door, fearing that Annie Wilkes was waiting there for me with an axe or chainsaw raised above her head. Whenever we're excited about a book, readers often say, "OMG, I couldn't put it down!" But we probably did, at least once, to go to work, have supper, put the kids to bed, or whatever. It's not meant to be a literal expression per se, though sometimes it is, and whoah to the power of a book that can hold you in its unyielding grip with such determination. That will make you stay up until the wee hours of the morning, even though you have work or school the next day, or breakfast to make for a screaming brood of little ones.

I couldn't put Misery down that first time. King has written some thrilling page-turners over the years, but the story of Paul Sheldon and his number one fan Annie Wilkes has to be the most captivating of them all. I guess you could classify this book as psychological suspense, since there are no supernatural elements introduced here, but for me, Misery will always be classic horror because I truly believe King's ultimate goal in writing it is to scare the crap out of us. And in this, he succeeds brilliantly. We're trapped in that room with Paul Sheldon. The desire to escape is overwhelming. You begin to understand how an animal can chew off its own leg. And Annie Wilkes? Has there ever been a literary creation that can make you lose control of your bladder so effectively? She still haunts my nightmares.

One of the things I love about Annie is that she's not just "crazy as a shit-house rat". King writes her with real depth and nuance. Like Paul, we can see who she might have been if the chemicals in her brain were balanced, or her childhood was different, or all the other factors that contribute to madness were absent. One of my favorite scenes in the novel is when Paul discovers Annie's "Memory Lane" scrapbook, a collection of all her murders. I love that single moment of pure, crystalline terror when Paul realizes what he's really up against. How deep her sickness really goes. How twisted her mind really is.

King not only does an amazing job of examining the sometimes deranged and twisted fan/creator relationship when a mental illness is introduced, but more significantly, the essence of the writing life. In Misery, King is able to infuse a lot of what he knows and believes about the craft and all the idiosyncrasies and challenges that come with it. Until he published On Writing, Misery was King's most passionate description of the strange and wonderful life of a fiction writer.

As always, the blessed relief of starting, a feeling that was like falling into a hole filled with bright light. As always, the glum knowledge that he would not write as well as he wanted to write. As always the terror of not being able to finish, of accelerating into a brick wall. As always, the marvelous joyful nervy feeling of journey begun.

I like to think one of my favorite passages is King's version of a big middle finger to the critics who have criticized him (and likely will continue to do so even after his death) as a hack:

There's a million things in this world I can't do. Couldn't hit a curve ball, even back in high school. Can't fix a leaky faucet. Can't roller-skate or make an F-chord on the guitar that sounds like anything but shit. I have tried to be married and couldn't do it either time. But if you want me to take you away, to scare you or involve you or make you cry or grin, yeah. I can. I can bring it to you and keep bringing it until you holler uncle. I am able. I CAN.

Can he ever. Am I right, Constant Readers? Can I get a witness?

When I listened to Gerald's Game a few months ago, I argued that it has a lot more in common with Misery than with the book it's always paired with, Dolores Claiborne. In my review for Gerald's Game, I wrote: "what King is really doing is looking at the human body under brutal physical duress... at the body in extremis and what humans are genetically programmed to do to survive and live another day."

Like Jessie Burlingame in Gerald's Game, Paul Sheldon is a miserable animal caught in a trap. While Paul has the indomitable Annie Wilkes to deal with, Jessie has her own issues, but it all amounts to the same thing in the end: "In telling Jessie's story, King uncovers all the nitty-gritty details of human physical suffering and the desperation of one woman's attempt to end it. How far is any one person willing to go to keep breathing? Stephen King knows pretty damn far. Just ask Paul Sheldon or Ray Garraty. Or the castaway in "Survivor Type" -- him most of all. King also knows that the human body has an amazing ability to endure trauma. It can withstand a lot -- so much so that the mind often breaks first."

Yes it does.

I'm going to end this review the same way I ended my review for Gerald's Game, with a quote from Bondama from the Stephen King Fans forum here on Goodreads. I keep coming back to this quote because I think it really captures what is so deeply disturbing and terrifying about both these novels. And what makes them so very hard to put down once you start. It goes:

straight to the oldest, reptilian part of the human brain: fight or flight -- but here, flight's out of the question. This is true horror -- helplessness.

This story is just crazy good!

It's a thrilling ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns that will leave you gasping for air.

And to top it off, there's a touch of psychotic sprinkles that add an extra layer of creepiness.

The characters are well-developed and complex, making it easy to get invested in their stories.

You'll find yourself rooting for the good guys and hating the bad guys with a passion.

The writing is excellent, with vivid descriptions that bring the scenes to life in your mind.

Overall, this is a must-read for anyone who loves a good thriller.

It's sure to keep you entertained and leave you wanting more.

Please don't come at me with your torches and pitch forks, but for me, this was just fine.

Honestly, we've all been there. We've all had that moment when we're so frustrated with our favorite writer that we imagine holding them prisoner and forcing them to write the exact book we want. But let's face it, that would be completely wrong! What kind of crazy people would we be if we did that? Well, in the case of Paul Sheldon, a best-selling author, he found himself in a rather nightmarish situation. After killing off the lead character in his popular romance/adventure series, he has a car accident and wakes up to find himself at the mercy of his self-proclaimed number one fan, Annie Wilkes. And Annie is not your average fan. She's more than a little crazy, and when she discovers that Paul killed off her beloved Misery, she demands that he write a new book bringing the character back. Held captive and tortured both physically and psychologically, Paul has little choice but to comply.

This book seems to have an almost prophetic quality when it comes to King's own career. At the time, he hadn't yet frustrated readers with long delays between books in his Dark Tower series, but he did manage to capture the self-righteous fury of a fan who feels cheated. It makes you wonder if King later worried that there was an Annie out there waiting to chain him to a typewriter. King also had his own physical trauma to deal with years later when he was hit by a car, but in this book, he makes you feel every agonizing moment that Paul experiences. Like Paul, King would have to find a way to overcome physical pain and use writing as a form of escape.

One of King's greatest strengths is his understanding of the power of a good story, and this plot allows him to really explore that. Annie's obsession with Misery is something that many readers can relate to, but what's truly fascinating is how Paul's need to tell the story becomes just as compelling as Annie's threats. The setup allows King to delve into the question of why we have such a strong desire to know what happens next and what makes a resolution satisfying or a cheat. I could argue that this is King's best book. He was at the height of his powers, and the simple two-person structure or good editing kept it at a reasonable length. In Annie Wilkes, he created a character who is worthy of being in the Villain's Hall of Fame, a figure who can be terrifying, tragic, and even humorous at times.

However, I wouldn't say it's my favorite King book. (That honor probably goes to The Stand or the last Dark Tower.) The reason for this is that King did such a good job of making us feel Paul's pain. While it makes sense for the plot, it can be a bit of a slog to read an entire book with a main character who is constantly in agony. It's necessary, but it also makes it a challenging read at times. So, while it's definitely among King's best, it's one that I haven't reread as many times as some of his others because it can be just too tough to get through. But if you're willing to grit your teeth and keep reading, it's a 5-star ride as Paul continues to write.

Wow! Just imagine experiencing a terrible car accident and then being rescued by your number one FAN!

A fan who turns out to be a complete lunatic. This book is truly gripping. An accomplished author finds himself in a rut and decides to kill off his main character. But then he is held prisoner by his number one fan. Many times he attempts to escape, only to be mutilated and left hobbled. He is coerced into writing his novel and is not allowed to finish off the character. He is drugged and tied to a bed. What a book indeed!

This story has also been made into a film starring Kathy Bates and James Caan. It's a good film, but in my opinion, it doesn't quite measure up to the book. I didn't give it five stars because King has written better works. However, most of his books are easily 4+ stars worthy

Reread this amazing piece.

Damn, I can never get over that one scene!!! She's bat sh•t crazy! It's truly a moment that sticks with you and makes you wonder about the depths of the character's psyche.

Happy Reading!

After delving into the pages of Pet Semetary, an intense longing surged within me to explore more of Stephen King's literary works. As I perused his extensive bibliography, Misery seemed to leap off the page and demand my attention. I had heard numerous rave reviews about it, and the very premise intrigued me deeply.

I have now completed reading Misery, and I am truly elated that I decided to pick up this book. It is indeed a masterpiece of craftsmanship, offering one of the most remarkable explorations of a single character that I have ever had the privilege of following. The story is filled with chills, shocks, and terrors that keep the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. It is absolutely captivating and brilliant, leaving me with an insatiable appetite for more of King's works. I simply cannot wait to dive into another one of his novels and experience the thrill and excitement that only he can deliver.

I need to read more King! His ability to create such vivid and unforgettable characters, along with his masterful storytelling skills, make him a literary icon. I am confident that each of his books will continue to amaze and enthrall me, just like Misery did.

Why didn't we capture Dr. Tamara Ibrahim to complete for us the trilogy of "The One Who Didn't Die"? The years pass and pass. Why didn't we capture Dr. Ahmed Khaled Tawfik to bring back Ismail's rise to life? He really used to disappoint us. Why didn't they capture Dr. Arthur Doyle to bring back Sherlock Holmes to life? Was it because of his personal mood? Because we are rational, of course. Since Paul Sheldon woke up to the smell of vanilla and chocolate in his breathing apparatus... he realized that his best days had passed forever. So is it possible to live in peace after meeting "Annie Wilkes"?

So take good care of that plump nurse and focus on the color of the liquid she injects you with... for it may be your last injection

4.5 Stars

I thought this novel wasn't going to surprise me because I have seen so many series and movies about people with mental disorders. At the beginning, I said, "Even King won't be able to get to me."

But I was so wrong. The second part of the book got more and more twisted with each page.

I didn't put the book down for 3 consecutive days because I simply had to know what happened next!!

Annie Wilkes is the TRUE crazy fanatic.

She is a great character. Her actions and thoughts are so unpredictable that it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The way she obsesses over Paul Sheldon and her extreme methods to keep him captive make for a thrilling and terrifying read. Overall, this is a must-read novel for fans of psychological thrillers.

Only the King could create such an interesting book that literally unfolds within four walls, and you just don't want to let it go until you find out how the story ends. I bow to his pen once again.

The King's talent for storytelling is truly remarkable. His ability to bring a story to life within the confines of a limited space is a feat that few can achieve. This book is a testament to his creativity and skill.

From the moment you pick up the book, you are drawn into a world of mystery and intrigue. The characters are vividly described, and the plot twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat. You can't help but be captivated by the story and eager to see what happens next.

Whether you are a fan of fiction or non-fiction, this book is sure to appeal to you. It is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story and wants to experience the magic of the King's writing.

**Misery by Stephen King: A Tale of Terror and Captivity**

Paul Sheldon, the renowned author of the best-selling Victorian romance series featuring Misery Chastain, has completed the final installment. Bored with Misery, he kills her off. After celebrating the completion of his new crime novel, Fast Cars, Paul, on an alcohol-induced impulse, decides to drive to Los Angeles instead of flying back to New York. Caught in a snowstorm in a remote part of Colorado, he drives off a cliff and crashes into a snowbank.

When he wakes up, he finds himself rescued by Annie Wilkes, a former nurse living nearby. Annie, an avid fan of Paul's Misery series, proclaims herself his "number one fan." Despite Paul having two severely broken legs, she refuses to take him to the hospital and nurses him herself using her stockpiled food and illegal stash of codeine-based painkillers, to which Paul quickly becomes addicted.

Paul soon realizes that Annie is mentally unstable. She has catatonic episodes and bouts of unreasonable rage. When Annie reads Misery's Child and learns of Misery's death, she leaves Paul alone in her house for over two days, depriving him of food, water, and painkillers. As the days pass, Paul's situation worsens. He is completely at Annie's mercy, and his hope of escape seems to fade away.

In this terrifying situation, Paul must find a way to survive and escape from Annie's clutches. But with his broken legs and addiction to the painkillers, his task is not an easy one. Will he be able to outwit Annie and make it out alive? Or will he become another victim of her madness? Only time will tell in this thrilling and suspenseful novel by Stephen King.

Misery takes readers on a wild ride through the mind of a deranged fan and the captivity of a famous author. King's masterful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next. With its vivid descriptions and complex characters, this novel is a must-read for fans of horror and suspense.