Misery
Misery by Stephen King
Published: 1987
Narrated by: Lindsay Crouse
Length: 12:21 (369 pages)
A popular novelist has just finished his latest book, a gritty departure from the historical romance series he’s recently ended. He gets into an accident on his drive home and wakes up in the remote home of Annie Wilkes, his number one fan. She loves the historical romance and doesn’t want it to end. She also doesn’t want him to leave, and he’s too injured to escape.
I really expected to love this. I thought the movie was great, and I know many readers look down on ‘self-important’ authors writing novels in which the protagonist is a writer, especially when they are so reminiscent of the author, but I love that. I love reading about writers, fictional or otherwise. Despite already being on board with the premise, I found the first half of this quite dull, which is maybe just because I knew the plot going in. He did eventually hook me near the end of the novel. Annie Wilkes is such a terrific and terrifying character. Lindsay Crouse did a great job with the narration; her voice for Annie was reminiscent of Kathy Bates without feeling like an impression.
This is my second King novel, and I’m still not sure if I’m a fan. My first was Rose Madder, twenty years ago, which didn’t really grab me. However, he did mention in On Writing, his fantastic autobiographical writing guide, that he tried to write that novel without an outline and it didn’t go so well, so it’s maybe not the best to judge him on. I’ll give him another try at some point, and I’m certainly open to suggestions for a next novel.
7 Comments
Silvia
Have not read the book. Thought the movie was pretty good.
Rob
It’s been a while since I saw the movie, but I remember really enjoying it.
Seems like a lot of people feel the book is better than the movie, so I might be in the minority here, hah.
Silvia
I don’t know, but I am not the one who says she prefers the book to the movie. And have not read Stephen King in 20+ years!
Geoff W
I read this before I saw the film when a friend and I were doing a books to movies book group at our local library and remember both being good but the film being a better embodiment of the story (thank you Kathy Bates).
I’m midway through King’s Dark Tower series and it is fantastic. It’s nothing like the creepy/horror stuff he does, but somehow reminiscent of it. I also want to check out On Writing at some point as everyone says it’s a wonderful resource.
Rob
It’s hard to top Kathy Bates, for sure.
I’ve had the first Dark Tower novel on my shelves for probably fifteen years now. Maybe that should be my next King…
Geoff W
I will say it’s a commitment! I’m glad I’m getting them from the library, it forces me to spread them out and they are NOT short novels.
Rob
Yeah, I think that’s what’s been keeping me from them. Takes a lot to convince me to start a long series these days. Still, could try the first and see how it goes.