For those of you who have never seen the film or read the book, here is a brief outline of the story. Carrie is a teenager who is bullied at school and tormented by her mother at home. She discovers that she has telekinetic powers. After being cruel to Carrie another pupil at school, sue, persuades her boyfriend to take Carrie to the prom. The evening seems to go well but others have a nasty surprise in store for Carrie. They fix it for her and her date Tom to become prom King and Queen, then when they are on stage they are showered with pig’s blood. Carrie is so upset her powers take over and she destroys the school hall by fire, trapping all the students. Then she goes home and kills her mother.
I have seen the film a few times and I was always left with unanswered questions. For example, did her prom date, Tom, really begin to like Carrie? Was Tom’s girlfriend, Sue, in on the pig’s blood trick played on Carrie? I bought the book to see if it could throw some light onto my questions.
The book is interspersed with fictional extracts form reports and books written about the incidents that happened concerning the main character Carrie white. I believe King’s intention is to give different sides to the story and also to make it appear as an account of actual events. The film is a pretty good interpretation of the book mostly. It describes Carrie’s experiences at school and her relationships with her mother. However, the endings are different. In the book, after destroying the school hall, Carrie goes on to cause loads more death and destruction throughout the whole town. She also destroys the fire hydrants so that he fires that she creates cannot be put out. The death of Carrie’s mother is not by a frenzied knife attack as in the film. Also, there was nothing in the book about Carrie’s home disappearing, although it was probably burnt to the ground. Carrie did not die at home but in a parking lot where she was found by Sue just before she passed away from a wound made by her own mother.
In conclusion, the book has much more murder, horror and destruction and you do get a better insight to the characters. Where my questions answered? Well, you’ll have to read the book yourself to find out!
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A good comparison between the book and the film, enjoyed reading your review. I agree with most that the book was better than the film in this case. Ellie.
slinkysteve 16.04.2001 16:33
I've never read the book, but I have seen the film. I might do now. Very good comparison
wiggglypufff 15.04.2001 07:14
I've never read the book, but seen the film on many occasions. I think I'll give it a try now though. Good review, thanks :0)
Why read Carrie? Stephen King himself has said that he finds his early work "raw," and ... more
Brian De Palma's movie was so successful that we feel like we have read the novel even if we never have. The simple answer is that this is a very scary story, one ...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Why readCarrie? Stephen King himself has said that he finds his early work "raw," and ... more
Brian De Palma's movie was so successful that we feel like we have read the novel even if we never have. The simple answer is that this is a very scary story, one t...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Terror and empathy, uniquely blended until you're totally off-balance. Disadvantages: Nope - I'm stuck here. If you're at all interested in horror fiction, I can't think of any.
Advantages: Stephen king's first and one of his best novels,a sweet and sad tale of pain and sweet vengeance,clever twists and dialogue,excellent Disadvantages: NONE
darkangelwing 30.08.2005 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Carrie - Stephen King
Advantages: A psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Disadvantages: More narrative/less action than in previous Stephen King books.
Advantages: A nice gripping and readable novel ; A terrific tale of survival ; Very atmospheric ; The characters thoughts and feelings are projected well to the reader Disadvantages: Suddenly stops flowing towards the middle ; King can be slightly over obsequious towards the main character
darkangelwing 10.02.2007 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Misery - StephenKing
Apr 12th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
