What's so great about Stephen King's Misery?

[@GlynDwr-d4h]

The book is much darker and more brutal than the movie. The Annie Wilkes character is much smarter, more cunning, more unhinged. The other thing missing from discussions of the book is the symbolism in Misery's Return. I'm not even sure what it meant, but nobody ever talks about it. Misery is really about the relationship that writers have with their fans and the way that relationship shapes the writer's creative output. He spends a considerable amount of time showing us how his actual relationship with Wilkes is transformed into what appears in Misery's Return. People treat the novel within a novel as if it's a side issue, when it's clearly center stage.

[@Daughterofawildflower]

One of my favourite horror books of all time. Honestly the scene with the ornament facing the wrong way had me virtually screaming in fear 😂

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Ohmygod the tension. My toes were curling. Actually, they were curled for half the book.

[@ameliareads589]

When I read Misery back in the day (I'm old 😊), I was already very familiar with Stephen King's books. And then I read this. And the scene with the foot happened...and I fell from the couch. I didn't see that coming. I think it is so horrifying, because a story like this could actually happen.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I completely agree! Same reaction. The way it degenerates slowly is harrowing. I remember watching the first Saw movie as a teen and thinking the same thing at the time.

[@michelflores9798]

Must read: The Shining and Pet Sematary! Great review as always!

[@nisoZ]

You've done the unthinkable! You made me want to read a King's horror novel!

[@mikegseclecticreads]

My reaction exactly!

[@ariannelg]

Same!!! Tbh this was already the only one I’ve considered before, but now I sure will!

[@angelaholmes8888]

I read misery earlier this year I really enjoyed it 🙂

[@daniellafransson2242]

I was just thinking about reading this book! Wow what a perfect timing :)))

[@WillowTalksBooks]

What a happy coincidence!

[@ChainsawCheese]

This is one of my most favorite books. I’ve read lots of SK, but I felt this was a cut above.

[@ALC111222333]

Couple of things 1. As I'm sure you know by now, Hill and (especially) King are my bread and butter so thank you so much for doing a wonderful video on my Evil Grandad 2. The film is better than the book. I don't say that about many films. But Kathy Bates makes an frightening character become a nightmare. 3. If you ever want to check out more King, i recommend: Duma Key (weird but his best novel) Night Shift (the single best short story collection I've ever read) The Stand (a post-apocalyptic epic) 11.22.63 (time travel and sci-fi loveliness) Dolores Claiborne (hilarious but also a dark tale of domestic abuse)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

We'll get to the film very soon! That is high praise but Bates is so great. And I've still got to find the time for Night Shift but I swear I will!

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

Ehh...I don't really know that the movie is necessarily superior to the book. Kathy Bates gave a stellar performance, sure, and she earned that Oscar, but the movie completely excises all the neat commentary and reflections that the book contains about what it means to be a storyteller, as well as the meta-subtext of King himself feeling chained to a genre he felt he had outgrown. And plus the book is just flat-out more visceral and horrifying than the movie.

[@ALC111222333]

@@TH3F4LC0Nx Nah I'm good thanks.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

This is actually what I'm afraid of. As I read the book (especially all of Paul's inner monologuing and the passages from his book that we read), I assumed that, surely, the film must have had to sacrifice these bits and that would be such a shame. I still want to see it for Bates' performance but I do wonder what will be lost in translation.

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

@@WillowTalksBooks Yeah, sadly, they pretty much threw out all the stuff about writing that the book had to say. Granted, they streamlined the plot a great deal, as well as added in a quite engrossing subplot that wasn't in the book, but I still feel that they lost something. Misery was probably the most transparent book that King ever wrote, and it's a shame they couldn't retain that element. And plus, they toned the violence down greatly, which kind of neutered things a bit. There's only one scene in the movie that'll actually make you cringe, whereas the book has loads of them. :)

[@faustianacademia]

I have no idea why Stephen King is not my cup of tea. I love his adaptations but never the main books. Probably because I am into Gothic Horror in the old form. Indeed, Misery is my mother's favourite film, I should read the book.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

He's only my cup of tea occasionally as well. I never have the urge to read him but I got Misery out of the library and it was a success! I'm also much more of a gothic horror fan as well. Laura Purcell is my hero.

[@faustianacademia]

@@WillowTalksBooks Gothic horror written by female authors is my forever cup of tea; I am about to read The Silent Companions after finishing The Historian.

[@rubyjreads7503]

IT has been on my shelf for years. He is not my cup of tea as well. After I've DNF several of his books, I stopped purchasing his books.

[@johnlee3701]

Great review Just finished the book myself and i agree with everything you said.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks so much! Glad you agree :)

[@angelaholmes8888]

King wrote misery after his last book eyes of the dragon flopped his fans didn't like it because it was a fantasy read but I did it's really good plus it's connected to the dark tower series

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Interesting! I didn’t know that

[@dailycarolina.]

To me, the last 50 pages were the BEST part of this book. The movie is one the best films I've watched in 2021.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I still haven't seen the film but I really need to!

[@cwgoog]

Thank You

[@lacamila666]

Great video, love the book. King said his "Annie" was cocaine

[@glendaw5221]

Only YOU my dear could get me to watch a book tube video about Stephen King. I cannot ever read a Stephen King because a) I don’t like horror b) I don’t enjoy gruesome and gross stuff c) I think his books are weird. The only possible Stephen King book I even remotely “like” is Misery. I saw the movie-Kathy Bates is fabulous. I want to read 11/22/63 but need to be reassured there is no horror. I loved your video-I admit it doesn’t matter your topic I just enjoy your enthusiasm for books and your articulateness. PS I will be a patreon the minute I am debt free.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I always look forward to your comments; they brighten my day. I'm going to find time over the weekend to watch the film of Misery at last.

[@glendaw5221]

@@WillowTalksBooks I hope you love it.

[@ALC111222333]

Glenda, i can confirm that 11/22/63 has absolutely no horror 😊 it's also got one of the best romantic sub-plots I've ever read.

[@glendaw5221]

@@ALC111222333 oh wow thank you. I’m moving it up on my TBR short list. It was languishing in the “want to read but” queue. ❤️

[@jstamps9578]

Books of Kings that are particularly scary psychologically include Cujo, The Dead Zone, and The Shining (which Kubrick destroyed). Kathy Bates is amazing in the movie of Dolores Claiborne. The long form TV series (which best suits Kings' big books) Mr. Mercedes with Brendan Gleason and Harry Treadaway is terrific. Haven't read Kings' sons works yet but I will now thanks.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks for the recs! I love Brendan Gleason so I'll definitely give Mr Mercedes a watch.

[@mynameissiddharth]

The 1990 movie is a lot less disturbing as compared to the novel. I would like another adaptation of "Misery" which is much more faithful to the novel. Three major differences that actually matter: 1. In both the novel and the movie, Anne forces Paul to destroy the manuscript of his book. It's called "Fast Cars" in the novel while it is untitled in the movie. This was perhaps done by the director to make the loss of the book less depressing. 2. The "hobbling scene" in the book involves the chopping off of one of Paul's legs. But his ankles are broken with a hammer in the movie. Furthermore, Anne cuts of one of Paul's thumbs in the novel, this never happens in the movie. 3. Paul does not actually burn the manuscript of "Misery's Return" in the novel. But he actually destroys the book in the movie. That was perhaps the director's idea of a proper revenge.

[@GlynDwr-d4h]

I re-watched the movie recently and if you pay close attention, you'll see that he actually swaps his manuscript out with a stack of blank paper and puts the title page on top. If you blink, you'll miss it, but that bit was true to the book. But for some reason, in the epilogue scene, the book he's just published isn't Misery's Return but something else entirely.

[@mynameissiddharth]

@@GlynDwr-d4h Wilkes' first name was "Annie" right? Not "Anne" as I wrote. "Annie" looks and sounds weird. I have read the whole book but I always thought it was Anne.

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

Hey, a King book review! I'm not really a "Constant Reader", but I do still enjoy many of his books. Misery is right near the top for me. I think King is best in the shorter books, because when he allows himself to self-indulge, the story suffers. Misery was lean and mean and, I think, one of his best. Coincidentally, I'm actually on the 4th Dark Tower book myself right now! (Here's hoping it doesn't make me quit the series too; I spent too much money buying all those books to stop now, LOL! XD) And as for IT...well, I pretty much refuse to read that one based on, for lack of a better word, "moral grounds", because I know the ending would kill the entire experience for me. The fact that King thought (and still thinks) that was a good idea suggests something very off about him. I'm not one to read the author into their works, but nevertheless that particular scene makes me really wonder about the guy. XD

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I couldn't agree more. If his other short books and stories are of Misery calibre, sign me up! I hope you enjoy Dark Tower 4 more than I did though! And as for IT, yeah, I didn't know about the ending until I got to it and I was so very disturbed. Being disturbed is fine; I loved the ending of Earthlings and found it thematically appropriate. But IT? Yeah, it makes me question King as a person, too!

[@fiktionbuchlichkeit9238]

Thanks for the great review - I also really liked this novel, but I had troubles with every other King book I read. At least I couldn’t understand what all the fuss is about. But now I will definitely read „It“. 😊 I really enjoy your channel, I am so happy I found it! At what time is the book club exactly?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

The book club is on the third Sunday of every month. We are happy to move the time around a little to make everyone happy but, for now, it's at 8pm BST/3pm EST/12pm PST.

[@michiamamomimi]

@@WillowTalksBooks Is it on Zoom please?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

@@michiamamomimi It is!

[@natashanorris6546]

I need to watch the film and read the book 👀 another great video!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I'll be watching the film soon as well! Think it's on Netflix.

[@luizabertolini5556]

Oh shit....now I want to read King

[@properpolymath2097]

The Dead Zone is a good one too, with a much more sympathetic protagonist.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Oh cool, thanks!

[@foxingfae8172]

I have massively enjoyed a lot of King's books but I feel like theres almost always some little thing in there that comes off as insensitive, offensive, or just completely unnecessary. Its just one of those author quirks I put up with to get the to good stuff. Pet sematary is my absolute fave and I think it's terrifying. Also loved IT, Salem's Lot, Mr. Mercedes trilogy, and the Outsider. Liseys Story has to be one of the most beautiful and tragic love stories I've ever read. It's easily his best written female protagonist (I think his wife was a big influence there). But I also could finish The Dark Tower. Finished Wizard and Glass and never went back 🤷 I'll definitely be checking out Misery!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

It's unfortunate that so many authors (usually men) have some frustrating quality to their writing that spoils them even for their fans. Murakami is the same way. I love him but ugh, he's exhausting.

[@foxingfae8172]

@@WillowTalksBooks I agree! I actually just finished Murakami's new book First Person Singular and there's one story where he describes how unbelievably ugly this one woman is and I found myself cringing a bit. It's such a shame since I think his writing is so beautiful otherwise. I guess that why we have to diversify our reading a bit though! I actually just picked up Brood and Shadow of the Gods based on your recommendations and I'm very excited for those. I'm definitely interested to see your thoughts on other King books if you give them a try!

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

King's older books are especially grating for me, because it seems like every time a female character exits a scene or walks away, there's always some completely unnecessary remark about how her ass looks or something like that. And beyond that his books are often over-sexualized to the point of near pornography, (The Stand). And plus, as good as King is at writing characters, his main characters are almost always insufferable assholes. The protagonist of Roadwork is unbearable. Paul got annoying by the end of Misery. Jack Torrance is a total tool. So yeah, you're not alone in feeling that his books all too often contain things that detract from the experience.

[@adhinanashraf7059]

@@TH3F4LC0Nx how is paul annoying? Are you serious

[@wburris2007]

Stephen King has been on my do not read list ever since I had seen The Shinning movie in the theater when it came out in the early 80s. Horror has been on my do not read list forever. My thinking was, why do I want to waste my time with such nonsense. But now that I am in my 60s, my mind is boldly going where it has not gone before. But, my list of Asian books to read is very long, so will I ever get to Stephen King. I don't know.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I certainly respect a man exploring Japanese lit in translation more than one spending his sixties on Stephen King, so I don't blame you! Though I do love horror very much.

[@mikkareads]

Yeah, that scene in "It" … 🤨 King has said that it was meant as a metaphor, the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. But come on, there would've been a million other ways to portray that. Still, "It" is a great book. I have watched the old 1990 movie and loved it, haven't watched the new ones.

[@BranTheBald]

You are a beautiful woman

[@singIeservingfriend]

Please tell me you’ve now seen the film. I was about 13 when I first saw it (read the book five years later) and at 39 I still find it a terrifying film

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I still haven't seen the film, and every time someone leaves a comment on this video I'm like, drat! Must do that!

[@singIeservingfriend]

@@WillowTalksBooks do it when you've a free night! I prefer the hobbling scene (always makes me cringe) and sheref death in the film. (I found the lawn mower scene comical, the film is more tragic)

[@adamwan0527]

I've always respected Stephen King for who is and what he's done (he's literally made cultural icons with some of his characters) but I've always had trouble reading his books. I bought "It" and tried reading it, but I couldn't make it past 300 pages because I just couldn't stand his (to me) sloppy prose style. The only Stephen King stories I've experienced have been in the form of movie adaptations. Another thing is that I have trouble reading novels that are just "plain fun." Other people can, but for the life of me I cannot. For lack of a better phrase, the "campiness" of his stories keep turning me off. I'm fine with it and can have a lot of fun with campiness in movies (in fact, I've been watching a few campy horror movies in the last few months) but I couldn't keep my interest in campy stories in books. I wonder if there's a book of his that'll finally gel with me. Either way, I hope you're having a nice day!

[@arialydia8095]

I'm actually not a big fan of this book, I think my expectations were a bit too high! I can see that it's good and understand why others like it though. Despite more horrific moments, the scene with the water with bits of wall and plaster in it made me feel so sick

[@ultimategamingtv1443]

I read Misery and watched then the movie. I think the movie was just good. Not that great how everyone says.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

When I finally watch it, I'll go in with reasonable expectations.

[@fynngilburn7258]

your telling me bro called the drawing of the three boring 💀

[@WillowTalksBooks]

*you’re, and I’m not a bro

[@ayanbose4739]

Next must be Pet Sematary ❤️

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That's actually the other King book I've been tempted by for a long time.

[@ayanbose4739]

@@WillowTalksBooks I have some Stephen King collection ! IT, The Shining, Doctor Sleep, Pet Sematary, Salem's Lot.....I know Bibliophile often call them masterpieces though I haven't read them yet. I would definitely like to do it somewhere down the line. Meanwhile talking about Horror, Did you read "I am Legend by Richard Matheson" ?

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yes, I'm a big fan of that book! Hated what they did with the film but the book is wonderfully clever and tense.

[@RoGameReview]

I don't really get your point, in what way Paul it's not a likeable caracter? The poor man lived in terror for months and at the end he got ptsd, so your statement doesen't make sense at all.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

But a character is more than what happens to them. They are also made up of their actions, personalities, opinions, relationships, and histories. Please tell me you understand even some of that.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Unlikeable protagonists #stephenking #reading

[@RoGameReview]

@@WillowTalksBooks well you made a good argument, thanks for clarifying. (Pretty cool that you actually made a response video to my comment 😁)