I know I have an unpopular opinion on this one, but I thought this was just okay.

I have a rather strange relationship with Stephen King books. I tend to either love them passionately or feel completely meh about them. And unfortunately, this particular one left me with a very meh feeling. The concept of this book is truly great. I really love the idea behind it: a huge fan of this author discovers him in a car wreck and kidnaps him. She then forces him to write the next book in a series about a girl named Misery, which he had previously ended, and she's compelling him to re-write her story. Annie is an incredibly fascinating character to read about. She's one of those classic psychotic characters like Norman Bates or Hannibal Lectur. Reading about her was entertaining. However, I feel that because this book is told from Paul, the author's point of view, it sometimes felt a bit dragging for me.

I really struggled through the first 50% of this book. I found it extremely slow and boring. Maybe it's because I read thrillers all the time and it's one of my favorite genres, but this book just didn't thrill me the way I had hoped. The story did get a lot better towards the end, and I actually ended up liking the last third of it quite a lot. But still, it isn't my favorite from Stephen King. I guess I just went into it with overly high expectations.

Pet Semetary remains as my favorite Stephen King novel.

This was my buddy read for the month of November with my friends Jacqueline and Zoe!

Misery is indeed a remarkable book. It is divided into bite-size chapters, which makes it highly accessible. Some of these chapters are just a few words or pages long.

However, it is a disturbing tale. It讲述了一位作家被一个名叫安妮·威尔克斯的疯狂前护士囚禁的故事。安妮患有严重的心理健康问题和抑郁症，虽然并不总是可怕或令人不安，但如果身体恐怖和对心理健康的担忧是触发因素，现在就可以移开视线了。

This book explores suffering in many ways. Physically, due to injuries, and psychologically, due to the cruelty and threats of another person. Annie is severely ill, but also very lucid and competent when she wants to be. She subjects Paul Sheldon to the worst case of psychological gaslighting you could ever imagine. He doesn't know what to say or do, but he survives as best he can for as long as it takes.

Because there is scarier horror literature out there, Misery may feel a bit tame. Its slow pace and the way it jumps into the 'Misery Returns' story written by the captured Paul while under duress contribute to this. Although this procrastination is an essential part of the plot, it further slows down an already drawn-out narrative.

The section about 'having' and 'getting' an idea is particularly well done and inspiring. If a story has plot holes, some people will overlook these annoying details, while others will not, resulting in a loss of credibility and readership. This is why Paul can't make up any old nonsense just to keep Annie Wilkes happy, as she is far too perceptive for that. At the same time, Annie can't completely do without Paul because of her reliance on finding out what happens next in Misery Returns and through her emotions for him.

There is a distinct sense of duality and contradiction in the book, derived from mental health issues. This makes it an intriguing read with more depth than just obvious horror and gore.

Many books have too many characters and interconnections, which can make them confusing. Misery, on the other hand, is a breath of fresh air as it only has two main people to focus on.

Even though Misery is depressingly bleak due to the plight of entrapment and the constant threat of mistreatment, it also has moments of mad comicality. This comes through Paul's accumulated hatred and cynicism towards the unstable Annie, and Annie's cockadoodie ranting at the whole world. She truly believes that Paul should be grateful to her for providing him with food and shelter.

I loved the references to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper and other retro bands and music from the 1980s and before.

However, I can't give Misery a full rave review. Maybe it's because I knew what was coming next, or perhaps because there is better shocking horror literature out there. Additionally, its slow pace may not appeal to everyone. It is a psychological horror book rather than a fast-paced thriller, although there are some magnificent sections at times.

Overall, this is a classic horror book and is recommended. However, Stephen King has written better. There is something a bit stodgy about the writing style and its overall lack of scope, which prevent it from deserving five stars.

There was a time when horror, for me, was narrowly defined as ghosts, demons, vampires, and all things paranormal.

However, under the guidance of my horror-loving friends, I have come to realize that this genre encompasses a vast array of subgenres.

Not every subcategory is related to the inexplicable or the otherworldly.

"Misery" falls into the psychological horror category, making it an excellent introduction to Stephen King's extensive body of work, especially for those who don't enjoy reading supernatural stories.

The plot is deceptively simple. Paul Sheldon writes, in his own words, "novels of two kinds, good ones and best-sellers." Annie Wilkes is a huge fan of his best-selling series featuring the character Misery Chastain.

When Paul is involved in a major car accident, Annie, an ex-nurse, "rescues" him and tends to his broken body in her home in rather insidious ways.

But when she discovers that he has killed off Misery Chastain in his latest novel, she becomes even more maniacal than before.

What transforms this simple, somewhat straightforward storyline into an engaging read is the author's approach.

With twists and turns, troubles and traumas placed恰到好处, I was hooked on the story, even though I wasn't exactly "enjoying" it.

And that ending! The book is worth reading for its finale alone.

As this was my very first Stephen King novel, I had no idea what to expect.

This, I think, was a great advantage because incorrect expectations can ruin the actual experience.

The initial few pages were quite challenging for me. The writing doesn't give you the luxury of a gradual introduction to the traumatizing events.

You are right in the middle of the problem from the very first sentence. I felt a sense of claustrophobic unease at the start when Paul Sheldon was in a mental fog.

But things soon improved (or at least, as much as they could in this type of novel), and I began to enjoy the read.

The characters of Paul Sheldon and Annie Wilkes are very well-developed.

While Paul definitely deserves sympathy for his situation, you quickly realize that he is not a whiny victim despite his terrible circumstances.

He does his best to manipulate Annie into a good mood. Thus, both are playing mind games with each other: one to survive, the other to have her favorite character resurrected by her favorite author.

As I mentioned earlier, I enjoy books that make me wonder how I would have reacted in the same situation.

If I were in Paul Sheldon's shoes, I honestly have no idea what I would have done.

This is where Stephen King got me hooked and spooked.

My feelings for the story kept alternating between spellbound captivation and horrifying disgust, especially during the rat scene

Finally, I’ve read my first Stephen King novel, and now I can’t wait to read more of his work!

I cannot imagine the things that go on in his head to come up with this stuff. His creativity seems to know no bounds.

Misery is truly a disturbing piece of literature. The character of Annie is just batshit crazy, and her actions and behavior keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the story.

This is one of those books that will stick with me for a long time. It has left a lasting impression on me, and I find myself thinking about it even days after finishing it.

The way King builds suspense and creates an atmosphere of dread is truly masterful. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller.

I’m excited to explore more of Stephen King’s works and see what other horrors and thrills he has in store for us.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH

On the hot and humid early morning of February 8th in the Gregorian calendar, with a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, beside his slender and dengue wife, lying horizontally, Editheus, a 27-year-old phenotypically white man, emotionally concludes the book "Misery" by Stephen King.

I can precisely explain that this work is like a knife prodding an exposed wound without the presence of muscle relaxants. Throughout the reading with my brown eyes without contact lenses and with a high degree of myopia, I felt a great agonizing discomfort that preceded drops of water sliding down the upper skin of my frontal face. I was very reluctant to read this book due to the highly detailed level of Uncle Stephen, but I guarantee to you, a person with the ability to read and access to the internet, that this characteristic only highlights the agonizing moments even more.

A positive point that also captivated this almost bald young reader due to heredity was the presence of short chapters, which facilitate my difficulty in paying attention to the sentences formed by the letters of the Portuguese alphabet.

I shout before you that you take your fingers positioned on your hands connected to your arms and trunk, that you read this book, it is a story that will surely please every type of reader.

Stephen King is nothing more than a genius, worthy of the legendary 5 Edilikes, a masterpiece that will surely leave marks on my existence. I highly recommend it to you who are looking for an easy-to-read work with depth and detail that makes us stumble at every chapter.

For more reviews, follow me on cube.tv, and if you want to send a provisional letter to [email protected], I thank you for the attention given in this digital environment composed of binary numbers.

**Title: The Intriguing World of Literary and Cinematic Mysteries**

Why didn't we catch Dr. Tamara Ibrahim to complete for us the trilogy of "The One Who Didn't Die"? As the years pass by and pass by.
And why didn't we catch Dr. Ahmed Khaled Tawfik to bring back Ismail to life?..For he truly disappointed us.
And why didn't they catch Arthur Conan Doyle to bring back Sherlock Holmes to life? For it was his own rival who killed him

Misery was the subsequent book on my re-read list as I embarked on the journey of reading all SK books in publication order. It is effortlessly one of my all-time favorite books and among the best Stephen King books I have ever perused.

The book commences at a rapid pace, and it is quite disorienting. We follow our main character, Paul, who遭遇 an accident and is slipping in and out of consciousness. Swiftly, we realize that our main character's'saviour' is not as she appears. I believe it is described flawlessly in this line: 'I am in trouble here. This woman is not right.' Wow, what an understatement.

Paul is an author, and we get an intimate look into his mind, which is fascinating. Paul's imagination is both beautiful and terrifying. At times, it feels as if Stephen King is penning about himself because it seems so personal. If someone informed me that this had truly occurred to SK, I think I would believe him - he describes everything with such lucidity and emotion.

The descriptions of Annie are truly remarkable. Her physical descriptions are very well executed, and you can envision a clear picture in your mind. However, I think the way SK describes her mentally is perfection. It is scary and horrifying, but sometimes I can't help but feel sorry for Annie and wonder why she is the way she is.

The writing in this book is some of Stephen King's finest. It is so unnerving and suspenseful that I never desired to put this book down. I never knew what was forthcoming or how it would all conclude. I can understand why this is SK's greatest fear. He often has endings that fans do not concur with - I mean, this could genuinely happen to him. People do crazy things when they are your number one fan and you do something that they do not agree with.

We also have the opportunity to read a book within a book, which I find to be great fun! I would definitely read Misery Returns. I don't want to disclose spoilers, but some of the body horror in this is astonishing and so vivid. If I had to recommend one Stephen King book, it would most definitely be this one.

Stephen King's brilliant psychological horror classic "Misery" [1987] was one of the two main group read selections from the horror book club Horror Afficionados. This does not reflect a re-read in 2024. I am simply re-posting my book review. This is one of my personal favorites.

"Misery" [1987] by Stephen King is a remarkable work that has stood the test of time. It was originally published in 1987, and this year, on June 8, 2024, it will mark 37 years since its debut. The novel tells the story of a well-known author, Paul Sheldon, who is rescued by his self-proclaimed biggest fan, Annie Wilkes, after a devastating car crash in a snowstorm. What follows is a harrowing tale of abduction, mental and physical abuse, manipulation, and the infliction of both mental and physical pain.

The story is written in first-person POV, limited, which provides a front row seat for the reader. We see and feel everything that happens through Paul's prism of perception and experience. The character of Annie Wilkes is simply terrifying. A 40-year-old Stephen King executed a masterpiece with "Misery," presenting it with a perfect heart-thudding pace and a gradual escalation in Annie's actions that are pitch perfect. The final showdown is both thrilling and horrifying.

It is worth mentioning that "Misery" is likely to be best known for its film adaptation by Rob Reiner in 1990. The Oscar-winning performance delivered by Kathy Bates is now a permanent part of cinema history. However, the novel is chock full of more shocking and horrific material than the motion picture. The changes that were deliberately made in the film for savvy reasons worked out well for filmgoers, but the book is the winner for this reader.

Stephen King has stated that "Misery" is one of his top ten favorite film adaptations. The novel won the first Bram Stoker Award for Novel in 1987 and was nominated for the 1988 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. It also neatly slotted itself in 4th Place in the 1987 Bestseller List. Reviewers praised King, and the critical acclaim was in part due to the novel's parallels with the author's personal life.

In conclusion, "Misery" is a truly great psychological horror novel. It is a stellar example of a perfect work in this genre, with no supernatural elements employed. I will always be a fan of Stephen King's works, and I look forward to reading more of his novels in the future. Thanks to the members of Horror Haven for voting for "Misery" and for their love of horror literature. And a big thanks to Stephen King for creating such a masterpiece.

ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE NOVELS BY STEPHEN KING, MASTER OF HORROR

OMG for Annie Wilkes! What an incredibly complex and disturbing character she is. After a terrible car accident, she keeps her favorite author prisoner in her house.

She forces him to rewrite his novel because, in her warped view, it just doesn't work for her. Annie's actions are not only disturbing but also become increasingly creepy as time passes. She is truly a nut case.

If this were reality, she'd probably give me a taste of her "medicine" just for saying that.

I thought it was a great work by Stephen King. He told this story brilliantly, and I can clearly see why he is such a great storyteller, despite my sometimes love/hate relationship with some of his books.

Although I did not enjoy the parts involving Misery and could have done without it, overall, I mostly had a great time diving into this captivating and chilling story.

It's a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you question the boundaries of obsession and madness.

Stephen King has once again proven his ability to create characters and stories that linger in your mind long after you've finished reading.

Isn’t it truly wonderful when you have a dedicated fan who not only encourages you to pen a new book in the series that made you renowned but also offers you free health services?

Well, "Misery" was indeed one of the most unsettling plotlines that Stephen King crafted. Most people vividly remember sweet Kathy Bates' transformation into the extremely scary and obsessive fan Annie Wilkes. Her performance was so outstanding that it rightfully earned her a golden statue. On Broadway, Laurie Metcalf brought the complex, dangerous, and thrilling character to life, yet she wasn't quite as remarkable as dear Kathy.

Furthermore, King collaborated with Sam Shaw to create the Hulu series "Castle Rock," which展示了Annie's early days: younger, a single mother, attempting to start afresh in the wrong place at the wrong time. The series also provides the background story of Annie, helping us understand that she wasn't born a villainess but became one later.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book that reveals just how far fans can blur the fine line between real life and the illusory worlds that authors create. True obsession, confusion, violence, claustrophobic tones, and the brilliant characterization all draw you in!

It's a gripping and effective story, just like other works of the author. However, it's truly spine-tingling and deeply disturbing! You may forget the name of the famous author Paul Shelton, but I'm absolutely certain that you'll never forget the cold-blooded villainess Annie Wilkes!

Misery is the kind of obsessive tale that could only emerge from the mind of Stephen King.

A writer has an accident and is "rescued" by a woman whose mental instability is proportional to her cruelty and who proceeds to detain him to satisfy her own whims in the form of a novel.

The premise is not overly complex, and although the idea of something similar happening to us is chilling, what makes the book a true gem of horror is the way King's creative genius unravels the most acute cruelty of his female protagonist while exploring the limits of a disturbed mind and subjects his male protagonist to the role of a slave to the will of his captor as much as to the dependence on tranquilizers and the deterioration of his own abilities as a result of fear, pain, and confinement.

The levels of suspense and tension that the author achieves are enough to keep you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath as you devour one page after another of a story that is engaging, macabre, and fascinating.

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