Book #16
Misery by Stephen King
After a car crash, writer Paul Sheldon is saved by his number one fan, Annie Wilkes. She brings him home, splints his mangled legs, and all he has to do in return is write a very special book, one all about her favourite character. Because if he doesn't, if he is bad, she will be cross - very cross.
I loved this. I thought it was amazing, and to coin an over-used book review phrase - I couldn't put it down.
Every element of it is engrossing, and every single moment is tense and claustrophobic. I had to bury it under a pile of clothes one night before I went to bed, just in case Annie Wilkes jumped out of the book with an axe. King made me so afraid of her; she is the devil himself, but also a picture of what human beings are capable of.
King's descriptions and imagery are incredibly vivid and do a lot to make the plot more disturbing. It seems so realistic and awful that you can't help but rapidly turn pages.
I really enjoyed King's nods at what it's like to be a writer, and the ironies he inserted into Paul's ordeal. Annie chops off various parts of his body when he complains about writing; his book turns out to be his best one yet, his masterpiece. Not only this, but the manuscript becomes integral to his survival, and ultimately, his escape.
This is definitely not for the squeamish. I am of the opinion that the torture scenes described in the book are a lot more brutal than anything that can be displayed on screen. It’s absolutely not for the faint hearted, but I’d recommend it to anyone. My love for Stephen King is growing bigger and bigger, and I have a few more of his novels on my bookshelves awaiting my perusal!