Carrie (Stephen King)

As I've written elsewhere (interminably), King may be the writer I feel most ambivalent about. I always thought he was an entertaining (if not very original) storyteller, but not much of a writer-- his characters were usually pretty unbelievable, his dialogue trite, and having a precocious kid in every story wore on the nerves quickly. For example, I thought "Salem's Lot" was an amateurishly written book, but it remains one of my favorite King works (maybe just because I'm a "sucker" for vampires?). "Carrie" was the 2nd book I read after "Salem's Lot" as a teenager, and I remember enjoying it quite a bit. King's flaws as a writer weren't quite as glaring to me, the story seemed not to have been plagiarized from an old E.C. comic, and the suspense was sustained from beginning to end (another King flaw-- even in stories that work overall, his endings tend to fall apart). In fact, I remember enjoying the book more than I enjoyed the movie made from it. Haven't read it since, but I still t... Read more

Carrie is one of my favorite heroines of all time! Having been bullied in school, I can easily place myself in her shoes and know exactly how she feels! This is one book I can never grow tired of reading! Pick up this wonderful book and read it! Carrie, where are you? Carrie, give me your powers, I beg of you! Carrie, will you go to the next prom with me?

This is an amazing book. You'll never be able to forget Carrie. Impossible to put down and very well written. Creates an image in your mind and is horrific. I highly reccomend reading it!

Well the book i read was by Stephen King one of the greatest authors ever. Well I think this book was most interesting because these things that happened to carrie can really happen. Like being fiscally and verbally abused. Also when he stated the fact that she was sixteen and had her first period in front of everybody, i mean she has already been picked on and laughed at all her life i mean what worse could happen besides getting tampons and napkins and pads thrown at you. Well trust me you will have more to read, and also she found out that she had telekinesis whoa thats another thing coming for you. But the most part is can't believe the way her mom treats her. Her mom tries to act like she is the most holiest person in the world, and even when she creates sins her self by abusing her daughter and throwing her in the closet for hours and not giving her food. But when she finds out the cutest boy Tommy wants to take her to the prom she thinks nothing else could go wrong... Read more

As with most, this book is hugely better than the movie. Although the movie is quite good. Carrie's inner voice is creepy, her Mom is downright frightening and the girls at school are the Original mean girls. It's a short, great book.

This review refers to the Unabridged Audio edition(CD-Simon and Schuster) of "Carrie" by Stephen King... Other than her creator, Stephen King, can you think of anyone better suited to get into the head of Carrie White than Carrie herself? Sissy Spacek(who played Carrie in the film) not only does an excellent job in the part of Carrie, during this chilling read, but makes the transition from character to character, to the reading of the various news articles,journals and books relating to the bizarre events that lead to the horrific and tragic ending for a little town in Maine in the 1970's. Okay, just in case there is someone out there who has not seen the movie or read the novel, Carrie is a tormented high school girl. Tormented by her deranged mother and her classmates. She has grown up, knowing she has a special, but secret and potentially deadly talent. She is telekinetic. All she has to do is see something in her mind, and "flex" her brain and she can move the objects, lock ... Read more

Stephen King's first novel Carrie is a classic film of horror. Sissy Spacek portrayal of Carrie White. Her performance was amazing on film, combined with performances by newcomers William Katt, Nancy Allen, John Travolta, and Amy Irving. This film is worth buying on DVD. This brings me to the unabridged audio version of Carrie (7.5 hours, seven CDs, Simon & Schuster Audio). This audio narration is done by Sissy Spacek. I like Spacek's simple narration. There is a problem with her narration. She has lost Carrie White's voice in her narrative effort. As a simple story, she does a great job . . . but you have to feel for the Character of Carrie (and you don't). In the audio version of the book, you can understand how this material seems slightly dated and needs a slight updating.Which also brings it down a notch Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD

I had read Stephen King's first novel, Carrie, years ago and finished it in one night. It's shorter than most of his later work and pretty good for a first book. I recently listened to this unabridged audio version of the novel read by Sissy Spacek, who played the title role in the original film adaptation. Spacek does a fine job here and the book holds up well after 30+ years.

This book is, without any question, one of the best horror novels around. At least, that's what I believe. Carrie is one of King's earliest books (in fact, I believe it's his first one), and even still he manages to make you hang on to every word. This book is not told from one point of view, directly. It is more of a collection of documents, mixed with the actual story telling - but I found this added to the effect. A few moments were a bit tedious, like when that one guy was hanging the buckets of blood above the stage (I can't remember his name off hand), I felt there wasn't a need to become so technical with the descriptions... however that certainly wasn't enough to make me put the book down. You know that something's coming, and that when you turn the page, something is just bound to jump out at you. You know it! Stephen King has that wonderful gift in his writing. If you haven't read it, pick up a copy, I don't care if you've seen the movie or not.

I have become really turned off by a lot of Stephen King's books, because he overwrites (this is why I gave up on Bag of Bones and The Tommyknockers). The underlying ideas for those books were really good, but he couldn't get to the point. HOWEVER, Carrie is a great audiobook. The story is very interesting and it moves along well. Sissy Spacek is excellent as the reader. I couldn't shut the MP3 player off...got through the book in just a few days. Highly recommended.

Stephen King's first book, and it shows throughout. While I like the idea behind the book, I thought the execution and writing style left a lot to be desired, and that's saying a lot, coming from a die-hard King fan. Probably the only book he's written that I don't re-read periodically. Just didn't do anything for me.

This was the first book that I read of Stephen Kings. It blew me away! If you have not read this book you are missing out on so much! The characters are so well developed. Carrie White is a character that will always stick with me. One word to sum this book up: MASTERPICE! I would also like to add that I admire Stephen King as a writer--not as a person, and DEFINETLY not as a Red Sox Fan!

As it was his first book, I can say, there are many authors who wrote much better. The story is interesting, but he's lacking the skill. Ok, it was his start and we saw, that he's a really great storyteller. I loved many of his books, but Carrie always made me wonder, how this book could kick of his success...

Crisply written, plausible tale of nastiness. Written before King dispensed with an editor.

A very entertaining read. King uses a riveting style, weaving faux newspaper reports and testimony from witnesses with the 3rd person narration. It is a very graphic read, almost bordering on pedophilic at some times. Chilling and moving.

This is the shortest book that I have read by King and it could very well have been stretched further. I love the concept of the book and that Carrie was able to exact her revenge. I do feel she went a tad overboard but then I don't think she had all her marbles anyway. I loved the way the book was written and the way it darted around and read it all in about four hours.

Carrie is a wonderful story and a great book. King's debut is well written and is quite a bit shorter than most King fans are used to. carrie follows a girl with telekenetic powers as she battles her high school life, her mother, and her own inner demons. A more human story than you might think at first glance. Although this story is a must-read, I'm don't think it belongs at the top of this list.

i think it was very good

The first published Stephen King book. Welcome to your worst nightware world. muhahhahhaha

Carrie sucked

Stephen King is a very deep author. His books and ideas are always original and unique. Carrie was a great book.

Best horror novel ever written. No question.

Carrie is one story that you need to be prepared for, and in the mood to read, because you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Yes, you can enjoy Carrie, but you need to know what your reading.

This book gave me the impression of fear when I first read it. It made me think of all the people who are picked on in school and how they feel. I truly can understand how someone can turn on everyone if pushed to the limits.

I love tall tale stories of revenge and Carrie is the absolute epitomy in this area. Being victimized after a false sense of acceptance can be the most horrendous type of victimization someone could ever experience. The ability to perform telekinetic feats were the most interesting aspect of this story.

King uses an interesting concept of going back and forth between the story and of inserting intervies and random excerpts. It makes the book more engaging. I like how the characters undergo transitions over the course of the novel. Not one character stays the same.

It not only made a great book but it made a great movie. This book keeps you in it and always wondering where the next twist will come from. It was a very compelling book.

This is a great book about teenagers and how we are not the only ones that have a hard time fitting in at school. It was written so well that it made you not want to put it down and you just wanted to keep reading. Plus, it had a great movie and also a great sequel, Carrie 2: The Rage.

Stephen King's horror and suspense raised to a classic. His personal style and presence in horror books is already a part of the American culture.