My ‘King of the month’ for April was Carrie, I went right back to the beginning, and read his debut novel.
Book Description
Carrie White is no ordinary girl.
Carrie White has the gift of telekinesis.
To be invited to Prom Night by Tommy Ross is a dream come true for Carrie – the first step towards social acceptance by her high school colleagues.
But events will take a decidedly macabre turn on that horrifying and endless night as she is forced to exercise her terrible gift on the town that mocks and loathes her . . .
My Thoughts
As far as debuts go, this is a bloody impressive one! Carrie is a horror novel that uses it slow pace to draw you in. This slower pace essentially slows down the horror, Carrie’s hell at home, and Carrie’s hell at school, I guess you could call Carrie an anti-hero, because King’s storytelling really does have you offering her your sympathies, hoping for a revenge plot.
I was worried about reading this novel as I’ve watched the movies and I remember the most recent one very well, but despite knowing the events that would occur in this novel, I still greatly enjoyed it. And I’m sure Constant Readers will agree with me, this was the birth of ‘the shine’ – the abilities that are so prevalent in King’s novels. In Carrie, it takes the form of telekinesis. It’s interesting because the blurb clearly states Carrie has this gift so the suspense is there from the first page, wondering when and where Carrie will first use her ability, will it be intentional or accidental, will it be to help or to harm?
From his very first novel, King mastered writing unlikeable characters; it’s a raging success when a reader actively dislikes certain characters with a passion, it shows how well-crafted the character is.
At under 300 pages, this novel is perfect for people wanting to read a King novel, but don’t want to read a book of 500+ pages. This shorter novel gives you a glimpse in to the darker imagination of King, the horror and the brilliant storytelling. This is a King I definitely recommend, and I’m looking forward to continuing reading my way through all his books.
This book is available to buy from: Amazon UK / Book Depository
Wow fantastic review! I’m quite tempted to get this from the library and give it go, as it’s a shorter book. I remember seeing the Cissy Spaeck film years ago but all I remember is the school shower scene! 🤔
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Ah the shower scene, what an opener! I definitely recommend giving this one a go as, like you say, it’s one of his shorter ones!
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Great review Janel, I read this many years ago, I think when I was in high school possibly. Is it suitable as a YA book or not really?
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Thanks Kerrie. Erm I wouldn’t recommend it as YA no, maybe 15 at a push depending on maturity. I’d actually rather my son watched the film than read the book because the film is so ‘fake’ if that makes sense, whereas the book can be a bit graphic in it’s horror descriptions
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Thanks Janel x
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I love love love this book! It’s up there as one of my favourite King novels. Great review!
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Thank you 😊 I’m really enjoying making my way through all his books. I’m just about to start Gerald’s Game
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I’ve got that on my kindle to read, I could easily just read Stephen King forever!
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I loved Carrie. Gerald’s Game – not so much (it’s one of the rare instances where the movie is better than the book, in my opinion).
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I just finished Gerald’s Game, it certainly wasn’t my favourite king but its not my least favourite either 😅
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I think the adaptations are not bad but the book is great 🙂 Loved your review!
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Thank you, I think the book is nearly always better. Although I absolutely love the films Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption, I haven’t read the books yet (both by King) but I’m really looking forward to seeing which I prefer!
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I read Carrie years ago as a teenager, loved it. To this day I had no idea it was King’s debut 😳
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I only found out last year when I decided to read all his books and created a chronological list, I’m even more impressed with it knowing it was his debut!
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Wow this takes me back – Carrie might have been the first King I read! Agree it’s a great one to get started on because it’s short (and to be honest, I wish his others were shorter too).
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Haha, yeah I read a few of his books that could have been a good few 100 pages shorter 😅
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Agree!
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I watched the original Carrie and that’s the one I’ll always remember. This takes me back.
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I think I might rewatch the older movie, the new one is fresh in my mind and it certainly wasn’t up to par with the book!
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Wonderful review! I’m glad you enjoyed Carrie… I read it a few years ago and while not my favorite King, it’s pretty darn impressive for a debut.
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Thank you! It’s not my favourite either but I did really enjoy it and yes a bloody impressive debut!
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👍one of the few King books I’ve read and this one is a true horror classic! Nice review!
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Thank you, I agree, a great horror classic!
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Cracking review! I’m still hesitant about wading into King’s more horror-y stuff (I’m a chicken). I love his story of writing this one though, how long and how hard he had to work before it was finally accepted for publication at Doubleday – he had a mountain of rejections, but with his wife’s support, his persistence paid off! Thank you for sharing ❤️
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Thank you for commenting! Tabitha King is the real start of the show – what’s that saying – being every great man… 😉
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Carrie is a great book and a super strong debut from one of our most prolific authors. I remember when I read it, I could not get the character of Carrie’s mother out of my mind for months. Great review!
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Thank you! And to think King was going to discard this novel, Thank God for Tabitha 😅!!!!
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Absolutely 👍
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