Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Misery by Stephen King

313 reviews

buud_w0rm's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Blood

Minor: Confinement, Cursing, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

josiah17's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Well, that was a ride. I honestly was not entirely captivated by the first third or so of this book. I was certainly intrigued, but not hooked and on the edge of my seat yet like I was kind of expecting. However, the remainder of the book does just that and I was hooked. This story quickly becomes amazing suspenseful, intense, and insane. King evokes all the right emotions and atmosphere with his writing to make this a truly compelling and chilling thrill-ride. And for the most part I did enjoy his prose, but there were some undertones that bothered me here and there. Either from King himself or simply because Paul Sheldon isn't the greatest guy either. Could've shortened the actual Misery novel portion after Part II as well.

But anyways, definitely an enjoyable introduction to Stephen King's works, and I will certainly read more from him in the future. Annie's one psychotic villain...

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Torture, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Racial slurs and Suicidal thoughts

t_bun's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Rape

sadgirlsidney's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture and Murder

taliabahar's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, and Torture

dantemkunc's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death

zaria86's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness, Self harm, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

tyelperinquar's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-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

Funny that the last book I finished before my reading break was a King book and this book, the one that got me back into reading again, is also a King book.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this one. Everything takes place within Annie Wilkes’s house, and the tension in the book comes from wondering what Annie will do to Paul next, and wondering if Paul will be able to get out of it alive. (Can you, Paulie?)
For fans of more traditional thrillers, there may not be enough action, because there’s a lot of Paul writing and a lot of him just being cooped up in the bedroom Annie keeps him in. But for people who enjoy psychological thrillers, tense character interactions, exploring the psyche of the main characters, and watching how a traumatic situation can change a person, there’s a lot to enjoy.

This is only the second King book I’ve read, but the guy’s a bit weird about sex. There are some non-rape situations in the book that he describes as rape which are really uncomfortable to read, but I guess that’s the goal? Still, I don’t  particularly appreciate them. That’s the one thing about King’s writing that irks me— otherwise, I adore how he’s able to craft a narrative and portray characters and the scenes they’re in.

I listened to an audiobook recording of this book— Lindsay Crouse was a phenomenal narrator. Her voice for Annie was absolutely spot-on, and the emotion she can conjure up made the story that much more immersive. Highly, highly recommend giving it a listen for her voice work.

I was really worried the book was going to end with

the scene where Annie chops Paul’s head off

, but that ends up not being the case. Thank God. Figuring out the details at the end about

where Annie was found in the barn and how she was holding a chainsaw

… that was chilling.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Very easy to listen to and pick up. And what can I say, I love reading about men who get into awful situations and are traumatized about it. It’s cathartic. Thanks for your service, Paulie!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Cursing, Racial slurs, and Terminal illness

There’s no actual rape, but King describes several non-rape situations (ie.

Annie performing mouth-to-mouth on Paul and Paul stuffing paper down Annie’s throat

sarahjanehayes's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

Definitely a horror, what a classic, movie was better imo but Annie is definitely convincing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

emileeandherbooks's review against another edition

3.75

My first Stephen King! Woo! 

Pretty intense and interesting for the most part! Sometimes I felt it dragged (like when I had to read the MC’s book chapters that he was currently writing - too self referential for my taste) but overall I was invested. 

I’m looking forward to my next Stephen King read!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Physical abuse, and Torture

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Violence