I've never read Misery. I saw the movie, many many many times. It is supposed to be so faithful to the book, that I think I kind of felt like I knew the matereal. But, alas, I have jumped in to this neat little book. Originally Misery was slated to be a Bachman book, but King was exposed before that could come to fruition.
Just a few initial observations:
1. As Paul comes into consciousness, thoughts from Genesis flood his mind. "Let there be light, and there was light." Thus Misery opens much the same way the the creation account begins. Misery will be the story of a creator -- writer -- struggeling for his life. Cast into a dark place, Paul will have to fight to really find the Light. And, like Adam and Eve, Paul Sheldon quickly meets the devil! King wastes no time letting us meet Annie Wilkes. King is even kind enough to inform us early on that she is crazy.
2. King makes mouth to mouth resuscutation delivered by Annie Wilkes seem like something close to respiratory rape. You just have to read it -- but it is sickening and powerful. Strong writing, because it evokes disgust. And this isn't King going for gross out -- it is a powerful picture of being helpless as another person tries to breath life into you. (By the way, there is another creation refernce in the breath of life stuff. But that one is not intended by Mr. King, so I will not press it.)
3. In the early pages of Misery, Kings writing has some of the dreamy quality I associate with Ray Bradbury. I like it very much.
4. Annie expresses frustrationt hat Pual doesn't write Misery novel's fast enough. She has to re-read the novels she already has, and anxiously awaits each new novel. In hindsight, the Constant Reader is left wondering if there is a little Dark Tower resentment on Kings part here! Fans would express frustration at the pace of the Tower novels release.
5. Lindsay Crouse, the reader of theaudiobook transitions smoothly between narration and the voice of Annie Wilkes. The voice of Annie is so familiar the listener is left wondering if the reader is purposefully mimicking Kathy Bates performance -- or is there is only one way to read Annie Wilkes?
I'd argue that one of the things "Misery" is about is the act of creation itself, via the device of writing novels. I suppose you could extend that metaphor to serve the purpose of saying that "Misery" is about using faith in one's own abilities to stay alive during a nasty situation.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the audiobook once, and I remember liking it a lot; from what I recall, Crouse did a good job. However, there are sections toward the end (involving broken keys on the typewriter) that she litterally cannot read as written.
Misery is about creation! I thought the same thing, that writing itself is an act of creation. I held back, thinking I was reading too much into it.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about Crouse . . . how would you pick up on that unless you read right along with her?
Speaking of creation and the nature of, Honk's got a great entry up at Rambligns on the nature what wrok belongs, not just to King, but any literary Canon.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I should warn you Reverend, only Nerds need apply, and by Nerds i mean the kind of person who would know about the rumor that Kubrick planted a secret code into his version of the Shining that reveals the moon landing was a hoax.
THAT'S the level I'm talking about, you have been warned.
ChrisC