Carrie

Spoilers ahead:As a huge fan of the 1976 film "Carrie," I decided to buy the book to read the story as first told. I figured a movie that made me feel so sad had needed to be looked into a little further to seek to understand it a little better. Maybe this way, I wouldn't feel as sad about Carrie's tragic life and ultimate end. However, the book made me feel just about as sad.Carrie White is a student at Ewen High School. She is an outsider who is constantly bullied by her peers due to her unappealing appearance, her shyness, and her mother's erratic behavior. She also discovers that she has the incredible power of telekinesis. When she has her first period in the showers, her classmates mock her by telling her to "plug it up!" and by throwing sanitary towels and tampons at her rather than helping her. The terrified girl has no idea about what a woman's menstruation is and believes she is dying, as no one taught her about it. Her gym teacher Miss Desjardin helps Carrie through this and punishes the girls for their behavior, which is one week's detention with her. Chris Hargensen, who is the ringleader of the bullies, leaves detention early and is suspended, and ultimately forbidden to go to the Senior Prom. This, in her mind, is all Carrie's fault.Meanwhile at home, Carrie's unstable and religious fanatic of a mother (Margaret White) punishes her for having her first period by locking her in a "prayer closet." This is something that is accustomed in the White household as the book explains Carrie sometimes spends days in the closet, leading to exhaustion and sleeping in her own waste. It's just so sad reading parts of the story like this.One of the bullies, Sue Snell, feels sorry for what she did to Carrie so she asks her boyfriend (Tommy Ross) to take the girl to the prom. He asks Carrie to the prom, which unlike the movie, she accepts almost right away though awkwardly. Margaret is unhappy with this of course and tries to make Carrie stay home from prom, which she is unsuccessful at. Carrie and Tommy are elected prom king and queen as part of a plan devised by Chris Hargensen and her boyfriend Billy Nolan. Their plan is to dump pig's blood on both of them as a prank for getting Chris in trouble. Once the blood is dropped on both of them, the bucket falls on Tommy and kills him. Carrie runs out of the gym in humiliation as everyone yet again is laughing at her. She then remembers her telekinetic powers....From outside, she locks all of the gym doors and what at first was a plan to just throw the prank back on all of the other students, turned into a massacre. Students and faculty are electrocuted, burned, and suffocated inside the school by the use of Carrie's powers. Unlike the 1976 movie, Carrie's vengeance continues throughout the town. She is able to use telepathy to communicate to the citizens of Chamberlain that she is in fact the one wreaking havoc on the town. Carrie visits a church to pray before going home, where her mother is there waiting there to kill her as she think that Carrie is using Satan's powers.Margaret White stabs Carrie in the shoulder when she returns home. Carrie kills her mother by stopping her heart in self-defense. Carrie then travels to local bar called The Cavalier to confront Chris and Billy, who had been sleeping together there. She is able to kill both of them by slamming their car into the side of the building.Sue Snell is able reach Carrie at the bar, who is dying. Carrie and Sue use telepathy to speak to each other. It is revealed to Carrie that Sue had good intentions all along and is forgiven by Carrie. As a last action before death, Carrie makes Sue miscarry her child that was conceived with Tommy as her period arrives. We then learn from the last few paragraphs that other people may in fact possess the great power of telekinesis.This is a great book that I literally read in one setting. I couldn't put it down because it is so intriguing. Once again, like the 1976 movie, we can't help but feel compassion for Carrie. The story is just so tragic. A tortured girl who just wanted to fit in and be normal, but was never given the chance. Stephen King uses a lot of court room dialog and news articles to tell certain parts of the story, such as the time a very young Carrie created a rain of ice stones to fall on the White house after a confrontation with her mother. I thought this was an excellent way to tell the story by giving us many different points of view.The book really makes you feel Carrie's isolation and sadness. The part that actually made me cry was the poem she wrote in her 7th grade class. The quote is posted on the picture I posted for this review. It's just so sad to think a child feels that helpless and alone. The description of the very small closet that she is forced to pray in also is unsettling.Stephen King was at the top of his game with his first published novel "Carrie." It is a very well written book that fills the reader with emotion and makes us want to reread it. I now know why the 1976 movie was so great: the novel in which it was based upon was excellent.

The novel Carrie by Stephen King is centered around a sixteen year old girl, Carrie White. Her whole life she has been pushed around by both her mother, Margret, and her classmates, especially Chris. Margret is an extremely religious individual and forces that apon Carrie. Chris is one of the most popular girls in their high school, and has an unprovoked hatred towards Carrie. As a result of these things, Carrie is made fun of in school. Everyone believes she is a freak and plays jokes on her. After having no independence from her mother, and constantly being harassed at school, she reaches her breaking point. This happens at the school prom when Chris decides to sabotage Carrie’s night and goes too far. Carrie is finally pushed over the edge and chaos erupts.While reading, I was able to connect to Carrie White. Throughout my life, I have never been popular at school and have been made fun of. This could be frustrating and sometimes made me angry. Though it was not the best choice, at times I would fire back at the people teasing me. Being as Carrie made the same decision, I was able to reach a deeper understanding of the book. I truly knew where Carrie was coming from and some of the things she may have been feeling. I also related to Sue in some ways. Just as Sue regretted bullying Carrie, I have regretted many of my actions in the past. For example, whenever I am unnecessarily cruel to my family, I feel remorse and wish to change my actions. This connection helped me to better grasp the novel and fully comprehend it.In my opinion Carrie is an exceptional book. Stephen King is really able to illustrate the story with his words. He goes into great detail during the whole novel. With Stephen King, anything is a possibility, especially the unexpected. It was extremely refreshing to read this because it was not at all cliche. I have certainly never seen or heard of any story quite like this one. Behind every corner is a new twist, just when you think things couldn't get any crazier. I am not usually very interested in reading, but this book had me on the edge of my seat. I found myself constantly thinking about it and eager to continue learning about Carrie White’s tragic life. My personal favorite part of this novel is the very beginning. I remember how wide my eyes got as I turned to the third page. The book starts off with a strong hook that will definitely grab your attention. I was shocked at how bold the story started, and I absolutely loved it!I would one hundred percent recommend this book to another person. It is thrilling and action packed, while still paying close attention to every component of the story. The characters are extremely well developed and very diverse. I believe that each and everyone could find at least one personal connection to one or more of the characters. With all of this, there is a strong and important message given throughout the novel. To me, this story really showed how your actions have a large impact on others. People who enjoy being frightened or taken on an adventure through the books they read would be the best audience for this novel. It also might be appealing to those who are sick and tired of Cinderella and other classics, people who are looking for something completely different. And finally, if you’re like me, and you are not the biggest fan of reading, this book might just change your mind.~Sydney Danese, D Block English

Carrie is King's debut, and was famously thrown in the garbage until his wife read it and convinced him to try and get it published.The format of the book is newspaper articles and interviews about the climax, and repeatedly flashes back to the narrative. A bold choice for a debut author, and it worked out incredibly well here.This short but sweet story is the germ of King's later successes.An absolute must read.

So I’m obsessed with Carrie I don’t know why because it’s amazing so to finally have the book makes me so happy. But I was so disappointed it was a pocket book which made me so mad but I’m still so happy to have the book.

This is where it all started. It was actually awesome to go back and see what King’s first big break looked like; it’s so different than even the next two novels. Reading this book was even inspiring. Thank you King, thank you Carrie.

I read it in Spanish a long time ago, reading it in English was like rediscovering a forgotten jewel. Note that if you're an English learner, there are cultural references that can be tricky to understand. Although slightly dated, it's still a marvelous book.

元々ブライアンデパルマの映画版が大好きで、一番好きなはホラー映画を聞かれれば必ずキャリーと応えているくらい。でも改めて原作を読んで、映画は映画で良かったけどとてもじゃないけど及ばないなぁと思わされてしまうような面白さと驚きがありました。映画がキャリー自身に凄くスポットを当てていたのに対して、小説はどちらかというとSue Snellに感情移入するような、キャリーを客観的に描いている感じ。だからこそ結果的に街一つを再起不能にしてしまう程の強大なパワーを持ちながら子供のようにママに助けを乞いつづけるキャリーの哀れな姿やぐちゃぐちゃの心情がSueを通して痛いほど伝わってきます。そしてそんなキャリーを助けることができない無力さにやるせなくなります。プロムの虐殺だけではキャリーの怒りは収まらなかった。そんな彼女を産んでしまった差別まみれの環境に苛立ちすら覚えます。スティーブンキング作品を英語で読んだのは三作品目なのですが、今作に限らず具体的かつ捻ったような表現方法が多いしキリスト教関係の見たこともない単語が結構出てきて結構難しかった。これに比べるとシャイニングは結構簡単に思えるかも。まだスティーブンキングは10タイトルくらいしか読めてないけど、映画が原作を超えてると感じた作品は一つもないので、映画だけを観て終わってしまう人たちが多いのは本当に勿体無い。映画でストーリーを知ってしまっている人も是非読んでみてほしい。

Étant fan inconditionnelle de S.King devant l'éternel et possédant tous ses livres, je me devais de me relancer un jour depuis le début mais en VO cette fois, à présent que je maîtrise la langue de Check Spear (un ancêtre à Britney?).Je suis donc en train de refaire toute ma collection (bonjour le porte monnaie!) dans l'ordre chronologique, exception faite de la tour sombre que je lirai à part. Mais revenons à nos moutons:Déjà je tiens à dire que se dire fan de S.King et traiter Carrie d'arnaque mal écrite et lourdingue excusez-moi mais ça me fait rire (non cette attaque pleine de fiel n'est destinée à aucun commentaire en particulier!).Carrie est le tout premier roman d'un écrivain qui a tout juste 26 ans, qui sort de la fac et qui n'a pour le moment publié que quelques histoires courtes dans des revues diverses alors bien sur que ce n'est pas le chef d'oeuvre de King (d'ailleurs je ne lui mets que 4 étoiles) mais c'est tout de même un bon roman.Bien sur également que l'intrigue est pleine d'erreurs de jeunesse. Par exemple King nous annonce systématiquement à l'avance tout ce qui va se passer... ou en tout cas il en dit plus qu'il ne le devrait. De fait l'expédition à la ferme de Billy Nolan et ses complices aurait très bien pu être racontée sans en livrer la finalité.Les personnages ne sont pas non plus vraiment creusés en profondeur et certaines personnalités sont un peu tout blanc ou tout noir.De plus, oui certes, l'intrigue n'est pas non plus le best du King. Carrie est avant tout une histoire courte, une histoire d'adolescents avec somme toute peu de rebondissements et de personnages. De là à dire que ça traine en longueur sur 300 pages, c'est y aller un peu fort à mon sens. Le roman est bien mené et je l'ai redévoré en 2 jours même en connaissant l'intrigue sans y trouver de temps mortCôté positif, ce premier roman laisse apercevoir tout ce qui va faire le succès de S.King. Pas tant le côté horrifique (après tout Carrie n'est pas un roman d'horreur mais plus un roman fantastique) mais bien le style incroyable de l'auteur.J'aime, j'adore, je surkiffe comme disent les djeun's le style de S.King. C'est un écrivain qui écrit avec une fluidité incroyable. Si bien qu'on n'a pas l'impression de lire, ni même d'écouter ses histoires mais bien de les dire! King écrit comme parlent les gens. Lire ses textes c'est entendre parler les personnages, c'est entendre notre voix prononcer ses mots.Et c'est pour moi la chose la plus surnaturelle dans les livres de King, qui m'a gardée fermement accro depuis des années et des années.S.King a écrit du très bon et du moins bon mais il reste pour moi un des plus grands (sinon le plus grand) auteur contemporain américain au niveau du style. On retrouve d'ailleurs dans Carrie, à un stade encore embryonnaire et un peu maladroit, un de ces éléments qui le rendent inimitables et reconnaissable au premier coup d'oeil: le fait de noter entre parenthèses au beau milieu d'une phrases le flot de pensées des personnages. Personnellement j'adore.Pour résumer, lire Carrie après un des derniers romans de King, espérer qu'il remplira le même contrat et être déçu c'est bien normal. Mais si on prend ce roman tel qu'il est et qu'on en profite pour assister à la naissance de tout ce qui fera par la suite le Grand Stephen King, alors on s'assure un très bon moment de lecture.Ne boudez pas votre plaisir!

C'est un livre rythmé et varié et je l'ai lu avec plaisir. Carrie est une jeune à qui rien ne réussit :harcèlement scolaire et maltraitance de la part de sa mère font d'elle une victime. Au bal annuel Carrie reçoit un seau de sang et elle se vengera grâce à son pouvoir de télékinésie. Petit roman bien ficelé à découvrir sans tarder..

Nada más se puede añadir de este libro. Tenía ganas de leerlo en ingles. Fantástico.