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Amazon.co.uk Review
In Misery, as in The Shining, a writer is trapped in an evil house during a Colorado winter. Each novel bristles with claustrophobia, stinging insects, and the threat of a lethal explosion. Each is about a writer faced with the dominating monster of his unpredictable muse.
Paul Sheldon, the hero of Misery, sees himself as a caged parrot who must return to Africa in order to be free. Thus, in the novel within a novel, the romance novel that his mad captor-nurse, Annie Wilkes, forces him to write, he goes to Africa--a mysterious continent that evokes for him the frightening, implacable solidity of a woman's (Annie's) body. The manuscript fragments he produces tell of a great Bee Goddess, an African queen reminiscent of H. Rider Haggard's She.
He hates her, he fears her, he wants to kill her; but all the same he needs her power. Annie Wilkes literally breathes life into him.
Misery touches on several large themes: the state of possession by an evil being, the idea that art is an act in which the artist willingly becomes captive, the tortured condition of being a writer, and the fears attendant to becoming a "brand-name" best selling author with legions of zealous fans. And yet it's a tight, highly resonant echo chamber of a book--one of King's shortest, and best novels ever. --Fiona Webster --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
‘An incredibly gifted writer’ (Guardian )
'As a storyteller, he is up there in the Dickens class' (The Times )
'Stephen King is one of those natural storytellers...getting hooked is easy’ (Frances Fyfield, Express ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
'As a storyteller, he is up there in the Dickens class' (The Times )
'Stephen King is one of those natural storytellers...getting hooked is easy’ (Frances Fyfield, Express ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
this book was a brilliant read. It kept me up all night reading it. It absolutely blew me away with the writing of Stephen King as this was the first book i had read by him and definetly wont be the last. I must say this is probably the best book i have read in a while bear in mind i am only 15!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I just love Annie Wilkes! She is one of King's most fascinating, original, crazy and witty characters ever to come from the invention of his mind. From the first page this is powerful stuff, starting with a car crash and then King gives himself the challenge of a one-roomed story. Hard task? Of course, but he succeeded perfectly.
The book is more gruesome than the film, which makes Annie seem more monstrous (although who could ever forget Kathy Bates' perfect, disturbing and sheer brilliant performance of Annie in the film - she really brought another dimension to the character and deserved the oscar she so rightly won). At the time I read this, I had split my leg open and my shin was tied together with 20 thick stitches! Bad book to read when you're in that position!! But I really related to the pain and empathy of Sheldon even more when I was like that.
King captures the claustrophobia of both Annie and Paul (his incarceration and his mind)and punches you slap bang in the face with it so you pay attention. Also, parts of Paul's manuscript are to be read as they are relevant to his state of mind.
Along with The Dead Zone, this is my prefered King book - unforgettable and chilling, like the film adaption, which is one of my favourite films ever. And not one cheesey monster in sight! I've never read a better psychological thriller than this.
reznor84666@aol.com
The book is more gruesome than the film, which makes Annie seem more monstrous (although who could ever forget Kathy Bates' perfect, disturbing and sheer brilliant performance of Annie in the film - she really brought another dimension to the character and deserved the oscar she so rightly won). At the time I read this, I had split my leg open and my shin was tied together with 20 thick stitches! Bad book to read when you're in that position!! But I really related to the pain and empathy of Sheldon even more when I was like that.
King captures the claustrophobia of both Annie and Paul (his incarceration and his mind)and punches you slap bang in the face with it so you pay attention. Also, parts of Paul's manuscript are to be read as they are relevant to his state of mind.
Along with The Dead Zone, this is my prefered King book - unforgettable and chilling, like the film adaption, which is one of my favourite films ever. And not one cheesey monster in sight! I've never read a better psychological thriller than this.
reznor84666@aol.com
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Stephen King is known as the master of horror, and in 'Misery', he more than lives up to this title. This book has no monsters, no demons, no ghouls; only Annie Wilkes, and she is infinitely worse than any supernatural creation as she terrorises protagonist Paul Sheldon as he lies crippled in her back bedroom. 'Misery' is not only a novel, and not only a book about how to write a novel, but it is a touchstone for any writer - this book is rich in metaphor of the trials of creating a book that someone, anyone, will want to read, and it is impossible for anyone who has known the pain of writing, and wanting to write, not to identify with Sheldon.
I have read most of King's books, and this is, without a doubt, the best of the lot. The film starring James Caan and Kathy Bates (who won an Oscar for her role) is brilliant, but this is even better. I bought it several years ago, and have read it over and over, because the twists and turns always surprise. Well done to the author for a book honed to perfection.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Synopsis from rear cover
Mouth-to-mouth, the woman had forced him back to life, pumping great sickly-sweet gusts of bad breath into him. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2010 by Mary_10
Still my favourite
I first read 'Misery' long after seeing the film, but to this day it remains my favourite novel. Stephen King at his absolute best shows us exactly how to build and maintain... Read more
Published on 12 July 2008 by S. Cooper
Loved It!
I have watched the film a few times and finally tried the book. Its far more gruesome, but you get a much better understanding of the characters in the book than the film. Read more
Published on 18 April 2008 by dizzyshelly
A definite case of 'the gottas'...
Firstly, let me state that I am not a fan of Stephen King. I have always found him to be rather overrated, especially compared to the similar, often overlooked author Dean Koontz,... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2007 by LA Rowe
Number One Fan...
Stephen King had already scored a hit in 'Cujo' using a very enclosed area and a small cast for a gripping non-supernatural thriller, and to some extent 'Misery' is a return to... Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2007 by Jane Aland
Highly Amusing!
This was a great read. It was bought for me and I hadn't ever heard of it, so was quite sceptical about reading.
After the first couple of chapters... Read more
After the first couple of chapters... Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2007 by Chavez
Not his best, miserable in comparrison
I started reading this book, having high expectations after reading everyone's reviews and seeing the enjoyable film starring Kathy Bates. Read more
Published on 6 July 2006 by Simon Edwards
Amazing!
I brought this book a few days ago and have finaly finished it, i was amazed at the twists and the complexity of the characters,
The novel is about a mad woman named annie... Read more
The novel is about a mad woman named annie... Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2005 by "anonnymoususer"
Good Book
I am fourteen and MISERY was the first King book i read. I found it quite difficult to get into although halfway through it gets much better. It finished with a brilliant ending. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2005
A must read for all thriller fans
I LOVED this book from start to finish. Paul Sheldon, a well known writer is involved in a car accident in the middle of no where. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2005 by penny
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