Reviews

Misery by Stephen King

dragon_slayer1's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

asha_upadhya's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

brisingr's review against another edition

1.0

How is this one of the most lauded writers of the past century? This was very simplistic and unengaging, and truly, for a gritty book, utterly boring. Boring character, boring setting, boring action - just page after page of "Oh, God, please get better!" and it didn't. Will steer clear from this writer; at least I get bragging rights i guess lmao.

catedge's review against another edition

3.0

probably 2.5. not sure about this one. the “africa” motif was extremely cringe inducing and really dates the book. I also didn’t enjoy the extracts from misery returns. I just didn’t care. if paul claims misery was written for bored housewives and imbeciles why on earth would I want to read it too?

the_reader_mommy's review against another edition

5.0

Me: I should review this book. It's been a loooong time since I finished it.
Also me: Um.. well... yes
Me: So??!! When am I going to review it?
Me: When I get the lawnmower scene and the axe scene out of my system?
Me: Oh! It was spectacularly gory, wasn't it?
Me: I also enjoyed it, in a perverse way.
Also me: Does it make me similar to Annie Wilkes?

DOES IT, PAUL? DOES IT?? OH NO YOU ARE JUST A DIRTY BIRDIE WITH YOUR OOGY LIES!!!
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Review in some days (lawnmower scene, get out first, please).

nathan_ryan's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Sexual content, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

peppypenguin's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I can see why this is a classic. It’s an intense thriller that I had so much trouble putting down. The suspense in many scenes was incredibly painful, and I loved it. Paul's internal dialogue is great—it feels real, and it’s essential to understanding his actions as well as how the reader interprets what’s happening to him, bringing us closer to his pain. His understanding and terror of the situation make this book so good. 

Annie is an interesting character herself. King does a good job of describing her as a complete monster while also giving her an intelligence that Paul and the reader can’t help but respect. The build-up to discover more about her, and the descriptions of how she zones out into her psychotic states, add a lot to the suspense and horror. 

The pacing is perfect and while the setting is simple the goings on certainly are not. Even if it’s not a chapter moving the plot forward, each one is interesting, there’s never a lull. Strongly recommend it, though it’s not for the squeamish. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction and Cursing

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Vomit

mesumpter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lubleu's review against another edition

challenging dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

origenboricua's review against another edition

3.0

No lo disfruté tanto como otros de King, pero estuvo bueno.