#18 – Carrie

Plot

Carrie knew she should not use the terrifying power she possessed. But one night at her senior prom, Carrie was scorned and humiliated just one time too many, and in a fit of uncontrollable fury she turned her clandestine game into a weapon of horror and destruction.

Review

If an episode of Family Feud was on and the question was, “Name a Stephen King book,” I would expect Carrie to be right near the top of the board.  It’s the first Stephen King novel ever published and has become synonymous with the master of horror.  I had never seen the movie but was completely aware of the iconic scene of Carrie getting doused with blood at her prom.  What I wasn’t aware of – and I doubt the public is either – is that the remainder of the story is absolutely riveting.  

We all have breaking points.  It’s inevitable.  It’s natural.  And King does an incredible job of building Carrie’s that not only do we empathize with, but we also actively root for the break to occur.  Carrie has a horrible home life with an overly religious and strict mother, she has an even worse social life due to her appearance, and she must fight off constant urges to unleash her telekinetic powers.  King takes us on this journey with impeccable pacing, especially when you consider he had previously never published a novel.

An important part of the story, and one I particularly enjoyed was how King told the story.  He throws in random excerpts from newspapers, court hearings, etc. to paint the entire picture from multiple sources.  

All told, this is an exceptional work of art and one that deserves to be thought of whenever Stephen King’s legacy is being discussed.  

Details

Pages: 290

Dates Read: January – February 2019

Quote: “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.”

Best Part: The classic scene containing pig blood is what people remember from this book, but the immediate aftermath was enthralling.

Hint for #17: This novel has twice been adapted for films. The most recent was released in 2019 and featured John Lithgow.

 

Until next time, peace be the journey.