From the book jacket:
In one way or another, everybody abused Carrie. Her fanatical mother forbade this sixteen-year-old misfit everything that was young and fun. She was teased and taunted by her classmates, misunderstood by her teachers, and given up as hopeless by almost everyone.
But Carrie had a secret: she possessed terrifying telekinetic powers that could make inanimate objects move, a lighted candle fall, or a door lock. Carrie could make all kinds of startling bizarre, and malevolent things happen. And so she did one night, when feeling scorned and humiliated...and growing angrier and angrier...she became the vengeful demon who let the whole town feel her power.
Moe's Review
Stephen King's first book, the one that started it all back in 1974, is a short novel by the name of Carrie. Carrie has aged very well, the story is just as fresh today as I imagine it was back in 1974 (the year I was born incidentally). Carrie shows the younger much more raw King but is in no way lacking in thrills and talent.
The book tells the story of Carrie White, a teenager with some special gifts. Carrie's life is dominated by her religious maniac of a mother who has turned Carrie into a sheepish and extremely naive young woman. Carrie is an outcast at school and is constantly the victim of their pranks. Carrie also happens to be telekinetic. Her latent telekinetic ability has only manifested itself a few times during Carrie's life, raining stones upon Carrie's house for example, but as Carrie matures throughout out the book she learns to harness her power, to "flex" it.
King uses an interesting style in the telling of the book. He jumps from a third person narrative, to newspaper clippings, scientific essays, court documents and personal interviews. Although this method takes a little while to get used to it is extremely affective and helps to build an air of believability to the story. He is able to keep up the suspense and tell a riveting tale.
Carrie is probably my favorite of King's early works. I think most people can relate to Carrie on at least some level, I know that I can, and it makes her a compelling character that you want to root for. Carrie is also one of King's shortest novels with only about 250 pages it is a quick read, and is so riveting that you aren't going to want to put it down.
Highly recommended. |
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