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cedrisc's review against another edition
2.0
I watched the movie first so I found the book a little boring. They did a great job of following the plot so there wasn't much else to learn. It is a 'fucked up' story as others have mentioned. Stephen King is very good at writing disgusting things that you don't want to read. While The Stand is my fav book by him, this book is my least fav. Glad I didn't read it as a teen.
cekisha's review against another edition
5.0
Warning: I wouldn't recommend this book to those who are easily triggered by confinement, child molestation, mutilation and necrophilia.
To be honest I hadn't even heard of this book until I watched the trailer for the upcoming film adaptation. And that's when I got intrigued by the whole idea of being handcuffed to the bed, with a dead husband next to it.
I simply knew that most of the horror would happen in Jessie's head and the confinement would trigger some really painful memories.
It is interesting to note that this book is closely related to [b:Dolores Claiborne|7278752|Dolores Claiborne|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1275665144s/7278752.jpg|6560478] because the two main characters sorta "meet" through a trance for a moment during the Solar Eclipse which might or might have not set off the monstrous events in their lives.
I guess the scariest thing about [b:Gerald's Game|32692|Gerald's Game|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1297737756s/32692.jpg|4847031] is the complete hopelessness. There are two kinds of hopelessness:
1. the physical hopelessness which is obviously the one in which Jessie currently finds herself, handcuffed and confined to the bed posts, unable to defend herself or move.
2. the psychological hopelessness of
I'd recommend this book to those who like to read about exploring the darkest parts of human mind. Because that is the true horror.
Men and women alone in the dark are like open doors, Jessie, and if they call out or scream for help, who knows what dread things may answer?
To be honest I hadn't even heard of this book until I watched the trailer for the upcoming film adaptation. And that's when I got intrigued by the whole idea of being handcuffed to the bed, with a dead husband next to it.
I simply knew that most of the horror would happen in Jessie's head and the confinement would trigger some really painful memories.
It is interesting to note that this book is closely related to [b:Dolores Claiborne|7278752|Dolores Claiborne|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1275665144s/7278752.jpg|6560478] because the two main characters sorta "meet" through a trance for a moment during the Solar Eclipse which might or might have not set off the monstrous events in their lives.
I guess the scariest thing about [b:Gerald's Game|32692|Gerald's Game|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1297737756s/32692.jpg|4847031] is the complete hopelessness. There are two kinds of hopelessness:
1. the physical hopelessness which is obviously the one in which Jessie currently finds herself, handcuffed and confined to the bed posts, unable to defend herself or move.
2. the psychological hopelessness of
Spoiler
being too young to understand and defend yourself, especially by those who should protect you, not betray you. This is correlated to the fact that Jessie was sexually molested by her father when she was 12 during the already mentioned and mysterious Solar Eclipse. She was "hopeless" in a sense that she had to keep the secret for more than 20 years, knowing that it would destroy her family. However, by protecting her family she has been steadily destroying her psyche which exploded during the confinement.I'd recommend this book to those who like to read about exploring the darkest parts of human mind. Because that is the true horror.
jaymeeduck's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
moonbabie's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished reading this.
It took me a while to get through but life happened. But I got myself to finish it these last 3 days...
Let me just say, what a ride.
It's very hard to find a copy of this where I live and I happened upon a second-hand copy at a 2nd hand bookshop a couple months ago.
So I'd obviously watched the Netflix movie first. Which i wasn't sure how spot on it was in comparison to the book, I'm now thoroughly impressed cause they got it exact.
So my first thoughts are: wtf did I just read, I'm so uncomfortable in so many different ways and I am disturbed. For me to say that is very rare cause I watch horror movies for fun and am so desensitized at this point... But this book. Something else. King really is a literary genius. If his intention was to make the reader incredibly uncomfortable and unsettled to their core. He 100% achieved that and deserves my 5 star rating honestly. I'm blown away.
I do think if there are reprints in future or whatever... There should be a trigger warning in the beginning as some of the themes in this book were very hard for me to read... As it probably is for most people who have experienced such things.
However, I am really impressed and I'm honestly at a loss for words... I don't think a book has ever shook me to my core like this in terms of the horror genre.
Overall a really good book. Really disturbing but it achieved what it was meant for. I watch the movie zero issues. Maybe a tad uncomfy in some scenes... But nothing unbearable. But with King's descriptions and just the way he puts his imagery down... It's just something else.
Had to tell my best friend to give this one a skip as he definitely wouldn't be able to stomach it
It took me a while to get through but life happened. But I got myself to finish it these last 3 days...
Let me just say, what a ride.
It's very hard to find a copy of this where I live and I happened upon a second-hand copy at a 2nd hand bookshop a couple months ago.
So I'd obviously watched the Netflix movie first. Which i wasn't sure how spot on it was in comparison to the book, I'm now thoroughly impressed cause they got it exact.
So my first thoughts are: wtf did I just read, I'm so uncomfortable in so many different ways and I am disturbed. For me to say that is very rare cause I watch horror movies for fun and am so desensitized at this point... But this book. Something else. King really is a literary genius. If his intention was to make the reader incredibly uncomfortable and unsettled to their core. He 100% achieved that and deserves my 5 star rating honestly. I'm blown away.
I do think if there are reprints in future or whatever... There should be a trigger warning in the beginning as some of the themes in this book were very hard for me to read... As it probably is for most people who have experienced such things.
However, I am really impressed and I'm honestly at a loss for words... I don't think a book has ever shook me to my core like this in terms of the horror genre.
Overall a really good book. Really disturbing but it achieved what it was meant for. I watch the movie zero issues. Maybe a tad uncomfy in some scenes... But nothing unbearable. But with King's descriptions and just the way he puts his imagery down... It's just something else.
Had to tell my best friend to give this one a skip as he definitely wouldn't be able to stomach it
19mclaste's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
a_randomsoul_onjourney's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Gerald's Game felt like it was less about the "game" itself and more about Jessie facing her trauma, which all started with that specific game.
For me, the heart of the story wasn't the handcuffs or the terrifying predicament Jessie found herself in, but the emotional and psychological journey she was forced to go on because of it.
I really liked how the book portrayed the way unaddressed trauma can impact a person over time, in ways they may not even realize until something drastic forces them to confront it. Jessie's experiences with her father and later with Gerald showed how deeply these events can scar someone, and how avoiding dealing with them can cause them to linger, even in the background of your life.
The introduction of Space Cowboy felt necessary to me. With both of her abusers—her father (and Gerald)—being dead, it gave Jessie a tangible figure to confront. It wasn't just about surviving her physical predicament but about coming face-to-face with a manifestation of her fears and memories. Space Cowboy allowed Jessie to finally close the loop on her trauma, in a way she might not have been able to otherwise.
I also appreciate how the book tackles the subject of sexual assault, in all its forms, and explores what it means to survive in the most dire of circumstances.
Overall I liked this book, although I am not sure if I would ever recommend it to anyone. I give it a 3.75/5 ⭐
For me, the heart of the story wasn't the handcuffs or the terrifying predicament Jessie found herself in, but the emotional and psychological journey she was forced to go on because of it.
I really liked how the book portrayed the way unaddressed trauma can impact a person over time, in ways they may not even realize until something drastic forces them to confront it. Jessie's experiences with her father and later with Gerald showed how deeply these events can scar someone, and how avoiding dealing with them can cause them to linger, even in the background of your life.
The introduction of Space Cowboy felt necessary to me. With both of her abusers—her father (and Gerald)—being dead, it gave Jessie a tangible figure to confront. It wasn't just about surviving her physical predicament but about coming face-to-face with a manifestation of her fears and memories. Space Cowboy allowed Jessie to finally close the loop on her trauma, in a way she might not have been able to otherwise.
I also appreciate how the book tackles the subject of sexual assault, in all its forms, and explores what it means to survive in the most dire of circumstances.
Overall I liked this book, although I am not sure if I would ever recommend it to anyone. I give it a 3.75/5 ⭐
joe_couture's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
zclrksn's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0