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sophiaalf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Bullying
catsy2022's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
taviarz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
dannilmp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
For being only a novella length book, Carrie really packs a punch in such a short number of pages. The use of mixed media from excepts, transcripts and newspaper clippings was a nice touch. Introduced before the reader has too much knowledge which helps to keep you on your toes just wondering how such catastrophic events come to be toward the end of the book. I am so glad that King's wife made him finish writing this novella.
Bullying is a topic close to my heart so I must admit some scenes made me quite uncomfortable but this didn't stop me from finishing the book. But boy, King sure does love his
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying and Fire/Fire injury
zakcebulski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Well, I finally got there! I finally read the King book that started it all, and while I thought the book was very well done, I don't know that I enjoyed it- let me explain.
I think that King's first outing novel was very well done. The story follows 16 year old Carietta "Carrie" White- a girl who cannot catch a fucking break.
Carrie is a girl who deals with so much bullshit day in and out. This is not limited to bullying at the hands of her high school peers, but, with religious mania stemming from her mother's pathological following of her Christian faith.
Carrie also holds a secret- telekinesis (TK in the book)- which she will later use to full effect to get revenge on all of those who have wronged her (and even those who didn't).
Now, I would be utterly shocked if anyone did not know about the ending of Carrie specifically the Prom Night sequence. I knew about the prom sequence, but, I did not know that Carrie ends up destroying damn near the entire town of Chamberline, Maine. This is like the ending of another one of King's books.
Prior to this, however, the narrative follows Carrie through the struggles of life as she is constantly put down upon by people for no fucking reason. I found it interesting that by in large the story is pretty simple. It is a narrative following the life of a bullied girl. Gradually, there are interspersed vignettes from lab reports, police interviews and books discussing the events of "The Black Prom" and Carrie White. I thought that this was a very smart addition by King as he was able to pepper in foreshadowing while still building a sense of elation. Very well done.
Eventually one of her classmates- Sue Snell, who, feeling guilty for some particularly horrific bullying- the shower scene- convinces her boyfriend to take Carrie to prom. It is at this point where the reader falls into a sense of near glee for Carrie when it seems that things are finally starting to turn around for her.
But, a vindictive bully- Chris Hargensen and others decide to play a prank on Carrie where when she is crowned prom queen with her date- Tommy- pig's blood will be dropped on them. This act of bullying, this "prank" is one step too far for Carrie who unleashes her full TK powers and ends up not only decimating the school, but, levelling much of the town and killing in excess of 440 people.
This is obviously horrific, and I think that it is an interesting play by King where he writes Carrie to be so sympathetic and nearing pathetic, and switches her on a dime to be abhorrent, and deserving of zero sympathy.
I will say that people like Billy and Chris- I didn't have a great deal of sadness for them.
One of the most interesting points of the book to me is the relationship with Carrie's mom- Margaret and her relationship with Carrie due to her religious beliefs. Margaret is pathologically devout, considering most things to be sinful. It is later revealed that Carrie was a result of a marital rape from her drunken father, which Margaret enjoyed. I think that though this is sickening to read about, it is a very interesting character defining moment, as it illustrates why Margaret harbors such a vicious scorn toward her daughter.
After reading many of King's later works it is interesting to read his first book and to see all of the tropes and see the progression of his writing style.
I think that I would have liked this book more should more of the characters been more fleshed out. At the end of the day it was Carrie, Margaret and Sue that were the most in depth characters. I found people like Billy and Chris to be very one-dimensional, and ultimately not very believable as evil characters.
I thought that this book was truly heartbreaking as someone who was truly innocent is pushed and razed to the point where they become something truly profane and evil. I thought that the emotions which King was able to conjure up when Carrie gets asked to prom and when she is voted as Queen were some of the higher highs I have experienced reading one of his books. His ability to take that positive momentum and turn it on a dime to be truly hellacious is astounding.
I am truly glad that King continued writing. This book is a clear illustration, to me, of the potential which King had even in his first book.
Long live the King.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
elioolive's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cursing
sandybree7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Gaslighting
whilhelminaharker's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Racial slurs, Vomit, and Death of parent
planetshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m always upset when I think about Carrie. Her experience on this planet was so fucked.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body shaming, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
anime917's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, and Child death