She felt - actually, physically - her whole miserable life narrow to a point that might be an end or the beginning of a widening beam.

This vivid description immediately draws the reader in and makes them curious about what will happen next.

I'm a Stephen King fan, but I don't read his horror stories, so I'm an unlikely reader for this particular novel. I debated, for almost a year, if I wanted to include any of King's work in my 1970s reading project. Finally, I decided I should as he was too big of a literary presence in that decade to omit at least one of his novels.

Yet, strangely enough, although Carrie was published in 1974, it was written many years before that and it doesn't capture my favorite decade in almost any way. The clothes, the music, the expressions, the hairstyles - none of it was indicative of the 1970s. Instead, I believe it was a story inspired by what a young Stephen King knew about his days in high school in the mid-1960s.

Putting this quirk aside, here's another one: why does this novel, published in 1974, offer a story that takes place in May of 1979? You may argue that this is fantasy, but it's not science fiction and it was already annoying enough that the story didn't even depict the 1970s. The setting is closer to 1958 than it was to 1980.

In case you think I'm being critical of Stephen King, you mistake me. The man is a writing god to me and three of his stories fall into my “top 10 of all time” list. Truly, he's a madman writer and I'm nuts about him.

But, let's be honest. This was a young man's debut and, in many ways, it is one hot mess. The dialogue was borderline brutal, the plot was just strong enough to deliver a punch as an 80 page novela, and there are parts of this story (most especially the ending) that made me sigh with boredom.

So, what's good about this iconic novel? Why would an editor have stuck their neck on the line to take a chance on this no name author in the early 1970s with this unusual story of a high school girl with powers of telekinesis? Abuse. King's understanding of the devastating nature of abuse.

Forget pig blood (if you can), forget tampons being thrown as missiles, forget telekinesis. Where King establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with here is in his greater understanding of what can happen when a person is abused and bullied and is never lifted up to the light. If what is base in us is never elevated, but is always reinforced, we can become something akin to a mistreated farm animal. And that is what Carrie is. Or, how she feels, how she is described.

This isn't a book about parlor tricks; it's about the irrevocable damage we do to others when we abuse them. I can't stand stories of abuse, real or fictional, and my stomach has hurt all week, reading this. At the same time, I can honestly contribute that I was ready for Carrie to burn down the whole town.

Despite my three stars for this one, Mr. King can laugh freely in my face. He set the world on fire (or at least one high school) with his fiction, and he just got better and better and better from here.

CARRIE is a book that many people assume everyone has read. Having watched the two film adaptations and being a big fan of the first one, I thought I already knew the story, so I never bothered to read the book. But as it turns out, I was both right and wrong.

Released in 1974, CARRIE is an early Stephen King novel. His writing style has always impressed me with its deceptive simplicity. However, when I tried to imitate it, I found it wasn't as easy as it seemed. CARRIE, in particular, was an exception for me. While the story contains many elements that would become trademarks of King's novels, such as character thoughts interrupting the narrative and dialogue, brutal scenes like the killing of the pigs, and sharp attention to detail at key moments, I never felt that I could emulate it. The personal knowledge of teenage life in the book is so different from my own experiences.

Let me start by getting the negative out of the way. I really don't like it when foreknowledge moments are inserted into a story. You know, things like "At that point, he only had two hours to live" or when outside resources mention significant events before they happen in the plot. CARRIE is full of these, and in my opinion, many of them are spoilers. They completely disrupt the rhythm of the story and the sense of being there as it unfolds. Of course, considering the previously mentioned film versions, CARRIE might be seen as an exception. But as a reader, I resented each and every one of these intrusions.

That being said, I understand that this is a matter of personal taste. If it weren't for this style, CARRIE would have been one of my favorite books. The positives far outweigh the negative. One of the main strengths of the book is how real the characters feel in my mind. The psychology behind their actions is fascinating, even when it's not explicitly stated. I truly felt like I was being given a tour of the hidden corners of this town.

Is there another book that so vividly portrays the mental anguish of bullying? Some of these characters are trapped in horrific nightmares, even those who don't realize it. Carrie White, Sue Snell, and Margaret White are etched in my memory. These are multi-dimensional people who could easily fit into my memories as "people I've known." And despite it being a horror novel, there were two moments when I almost shed tears while reading.

There are some things that I think the first film version did better than the book, and vice versa. I won't go into details to avoid spoilers, but let me give one example of the book's superiority. The ending of Brian De Palma's film is a shocking sequence that had audiences screaming. It was effective and became an iconic moment in film history. However, the conversation near the end of the book was much more powerful for me because it was emotionally devastating. It was a chilling reminder that no good deed goes unpunished.

Just a side note: Several years ago, a local high school student with Down's Syndrome was elected Queen of the Prom by her classmates. She was always friendly to everyone, and her dream was to be one of the popular kids just once. Without any intervention from the teachers or administration, her peers made it happen. The story made the front page of our newspaper. Every time I think of the antagonists in CARRIE, my mind also goes back to this very different Prom, which restored my faith in our youth.

Carrie has endured a truly arduous life. She is overweight, which makes her an easy target. Her mother is overly religious, and the girls at school mercilessly bully her.

However, Carrie is not like the other girls. She is unique, and on prom night, when her tormentors push things too far, that's when she will exact her revenge.

This book review contains spoilers, so read at your own risk!

I went into this book expecting it to be similar to the movie, and it did not disappoint. Stephen King incorporates newspaper and book excerpts throughout the narrative, which creates a sense of anticipation and uses some heavy-handed foreshadowing for the reader. Even though I am very familiar with the story, having seen the Sissy Spacek version multiple times and even endured the remakes, I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to read this without any prior knowledge.

Some people have criticized the writing in this book as being a bit dull. Having read parts of Stephen King's other works, I have to admit that I agree when comparing it to his later writing. However, this book is fast-paced and has very interesting content. If you have already seen the movie, it might reduce the anticipation of wondering what will happen, as the movie closely follows the book. That being said, there are several fascinating innovations in the writing. I love the way Stephen King inserts little interjections of thought within the text, which are undoubtedly meant to unnerve the reader. He also does a great job of explaining how Carrie's telekinesis works without overcomplicating it. Describing it as "flexing" was a novel and interesting way of putting it, in my opinion.

In the book, Carrie smiles maniacally as she takes her revenge. I absolutely loved the disturbing image this description evoked. The way Stephen King describes it sent shivers down my spine. I would have liked to see Sissy Spacek perform in that way in the movie. It would have created a different experience for sure! With her grinning, you realize that she is enjoying what she is doing. In the movie, however, Carrie has a catatonic expression on her face, which leads you to believe that she has had a mental breakdown and may not be held responsible for her actions. This is surely a different interpretation!

The ending of this novel was quite chilling. I wonder if King ever had plans for a sequel.

I recommend this book to anyone who has not read a Stephen King book before but is interested in giving it a try. It is shorter than his other works, almost exactly like the movie (with no major surprises), and it is his first published novel.

Carrie, Stephen King

Carrie is a captivating novel penned by the renowned American author Stephen King. It holds a special place as his very first published novel, hitting the shelves on April 5, 1974. The story centers around Carrie White, a tragic and isolated figure. She is an unpopular, friendless misfit in high school, constantly bullied and tormented by her peers. However, Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers, which she uses to seek revenge on those who have wronged her.

As Carrie unleashes her powers, she causes one of the worst local disasters the town has ever witnessed. King himself has described the work as "raw" and with a "surprising power to hurt and horrify." This novel has unfortunately faced frequent banning in United States schools. Much of the narrative is presented through newspaper clippings, magazine articles, letters, and book excerpts, vividly描绘ing how Carrie destroys the fictional town of Chamberlain, Maine, in her quest for vengeance against her sadistic classmates and her own mother, Margaret.

Carrie's story has also been adapted into two successful films. The first, directed by Brian De Palma in 1976, features a talented cast including Sissy Spacek. The second, directed by Kimberly Peirce in 2013, stars Chloe Grace Moretz. Both films have captured the essence of King's terrifying tale and have been well-received by audiences.

I'm currently removing this book from the reading shelf.

The reason is that I simply can't seem to get engaged with it.

Every time I pick it up, my mind starts to wander, and I find it difficult to focus on the words on the page.

Maybe it's the writing style, or perhaps the subject matter just doesn't appeal to me.

Whatever the reason, I've come to the conclusion that it's best to move on and find a book that will capture my interest and hold my attention.

I'm sure there are many other great books out there waiting for me to discover, and I'm looking forward to finding that perfect one that will keep me turning the pages and eager to see what happens next.

For now, this book will have to go back on the shelf, and I'll continue my search for that literary gem that will become my new favorite.

Carrie is one of the early works of Stephen King. Despite being a relatively short book, it has brought me a pleasant surprise. I must admit that I started reading it with not many expectations, considering that the story and ending are quite well-known (having been adapted into a movie at least twice). However, it managed to keep me on the edge of my seat and moved until I finished the last page.

Regarding the characters, the mother of Carrie really impressed me, especially in terms of her ideas, thoughts, and lifestyle. I felt sorry for the protagonist and even for Tommy (a rather minor character).

As for the themes addressed, the main one is the paranormal phenomenon that the protagonist begins to experience, followed by school bullying, religious fanaticism, and the sexual awakening in adolescence. These are intertwined in the plot in a natural way.

In conclusion, it is a book that does not leave you indifferent. It manages to attract you from beginning to end.

Was Carrie White a literary active shooter?

Let's break it down. Carrie comes from an abusive and negligent home life, filled with dark theological and religious hobgoblins. At school, she is relentlessly picked on and teased by other girls, and the bullying is somewhat allowed by the school administration. She feels completely alone and without any relief. Finally, she is subjected to a humiliation that breaks a wall and crosses a line. And then she crosses a line too, and people die.

Stephen King makes a bold statement by crashing the writing party. He declares that he belongs and will be around for a while. In 1974, when this was first published, readers probably noticed his talent and thought he was a young writer with more in the tank for the future. Little did they know that this HELLACIOUS, kick-ass, grudge match throw down of a first book was just the opening salvo in a long, genre-defining career that still scares the heebie jeebies out of paying customers worldwide.

So, back to the active shooter idea. As scary as King made the 70s, he had no idea how scary we would be a few years later. Before Columbine, before all the sad CNN breaking news reports, King showed us what could happen when the bullied, terrorized, terrifying, disenfranchised, chased-up-a-tree, and backed-into-a-corner fat kid, who is always picked last for the game and on the receiving end of a laughing, pointing finger, thinks about it too hard. Carrie's powers become an allegory for an assault weapon with duffle bags full of ammo clips.

We see the scene from the perspective of the bully, the bullied, and the spectrum of third parties who look on and allow it to happen. Readers can relate because kids have been cruel to one another since cave times.

King's great talent is to find the extraordinary in the everyday. He gives Carrie White the kind of power that those who are laughed at and not with have dreamed about. Later, in his novella Apt Pupil, King will return to this idea, exploring the active shooter concept in a more conventional way for our desensitized senses. But here with Carrie, he has dug down deep and uncovered the same black roots.

With her telekinetic powers and her unstable psyche, Carrie embodies and personifies a dark truth that King has turned a light on. The ability to be hurt and hurt back is something inherent in us, and we can see it in the classrooms, in the post office, and in the mirror.

\\n  

“People don't get better, they just get smarter. When you get smarter you don't stop pulling the wings off flies, you just think of better reasons for doing it.”

\\n

This is pizza, the freaky flavor. It's an interesting and perhaps somewhat strange description that makes you wonder what exactly is meant by it.

I loved how the story was intertwined with religion. It wasn't just about the typical churches and such. It delved into the hardcore aspects where religion can cross the line into fanaticism. It explored how a person can drive themselves crazy with it, especially if they already have a tendency towards the crazy. And Margaret White was a prime example of this. She was a prejudiced, maniacal, and insane person. She believed that women were constantly living in sin simply because of their gender. She thought sex was poison and sexual pleasure was a sin. When she got pregnant, she even tried to kill the baby. Now, after 17 years, she self-harms to stop her daughter from disobeying her like a nice little sheep.

Carrie, on the other hand, was the kind of girl who got her period and thought she was bleeding to death. This shows how isolated and alone she was. She had no friends, no one to stand by her, and a mother who was anything but supportive and couldn't guide her through such basic things. Every time Carrie committed a sin, she was forced by Margaret to get locked inside a closet until she repented by asking for forgiveness.

If you've seen the movie – or better yet, the movies – then you're familiar with the plot. But even if you are, reading the book by Mr. King is a whole new experience. I felt like I was reading something fresh and unique, something I'd never heard or seen before. That's the magic of his writing. The way he combines the past with the present and makes horror seem so real is truly captivating. It's like a delicious treat that leaves you craving more and more of that horror and terror.

It's a relatively small novel, so it won't take you much time to read. If you've seen the movies, don't hesitate. Just pick up the book and give it a try. You won't regret it.

This was a reread, and it was quite obvious that the first read was many years ago!!

As I was reading this, all I could envision was Sissy Spacek covered in blood, and the hand emerging from the ground. Was that from the Carrie film or was I just imagining things!!

Everyone is familiar with the story of Carrie, the young girl who is bullied by her fellow school students. Of course, one shouldn't have laughed at the girl who had never had a period and had a cruel mother who never informed her about menstruation and was fixated on God.

I felt sorry for Carrie and the innocent people, but it also made me feel a sense of gratitude for those who died. I know that might sound wrong, and I'm sorry!

Considering this was Stephen King's first work, he did an excellent job on it. He must have thought, "YOU FINALLY DID IT."

Oh Carrie, how deeply my heart breaks for you. In a way, to a lesser degree, I could identify with you (minus the extraordinary powers

Carrie is a story that delves deep into the turmoil of adolescence. It begins with a simple premise: a girl with supernatural powers is bullied and then seeks revenge. However, Stephen King takes it much further, exploring the horrors and insecurities of growing up.

Carrie is presented as the "monster," but she is actually a sympathetic character. Bullied at school and abused at home by her ultra-religious mother, Margaret White, and her classmate Chris, she is caught between two extremes. Margaret's religious trauma leads her to fear and control Carrie, while Chris's jealousy and meanness drive her to torment Carrie.

The theme of sex and sexuality is prominent in the story. Sue, one of the young lead characters, has a healthy attitude towards it, while Chris is promiscuous and Margaret is traumatized by it. Carrie's telekinesis, which Margaret believes is from the devil, is actually a manifestation of her fear of her daughter growing up and becoming independent.
In contrast to other King books, there is no clear-cut good and evil in Carrie. The characters all make mistakes and do bad things, and it is the group mentality and the power of peer pressure that lead to the tragic events at the end. This makes the story all the more powerful and thought-provoking. Overall, Carrie is a great book that explores the dark side of adolescence and the human psyche.

Kari White, perhaps making the biggest mistake anyone could notice, is able to forget in this way. But how could this girl forget? What she has endured in her home and then at school until her powers flared up and there were consequences for everyone.

Teasing and bullying have always been among the ugliest human traits. That feeling can only be known by those who have experienced it, tearing at the heart and soul, just wanting to disappear, feeling unworthy of life.

Surprisingly, bullying always finds its way to the self, even through laughter and acceptance of what others are subjected to. When that happens, the worst in you is brought out, and it may stay with you like a false shadow for the rest of your life.

Kari's father is a strange man who leaves home determined, carrying a club in one hand to use against the Antichrist if he meets him. Her mother is a hysterical woman with extreme fanaticism. How many times has this crazy woman tried to kill her! She locks Kari in the closet to pray for the remission of her sins since she was a little girl.

Kari's birth? A sin. This dress? A sin. This candy? A sin. Going to the party? A sin and a thousand sins.

So Kari's life was between a school full of bullies and a home full of fear and repression. There is no safe haven to turn to. So does she deserve to be angry and explode now? But Kari's anger will not be like any anger as she was born with the power of telekinesis. She can move things with her mind.

Stephen King portrays for us the real and touching fear in our reality. How will teasing and bullying lead to one of the ugliest events in this town? The story that makes your body shiver. What scared me the most was her mother's madness. The home where you should find peace, instead, you find accusations of your very existence being a sin and a curse.

The story is available on most websites with a bad translation. Unfortunately, I read that translation. But I recommend reading the translation by Abdel Rahim Youssef. The story has been adapted into two movies in 1976 and 2013. In the old version, the actress who played Kari was nominated for an Oscar. As for the new version, it's very bad.

Carrie was the first novel Stephen King wrote. It was rejected at first, but his wife retrieved it and convinced him to finish it. After its success, he decided to leave his job as an English teacher and devote himself to writing. Fortunately for us, he did.

Done