Carrie - Stephen King > Reviews (30)

Carrie is Stephen King's first novel. Written in 1973, Carrie would have been scrapped if it weren't for King's wife who encouraged him to continue writing. The version I read has an introduction written by Stephen King himself that explains how he came about the novel. Carrete White is a combination of two girls King used to know at school that were both bullied and abused. Her story is to represent what must be going on inside somebody's head after constant abuse and if they have no friends.

Telekinesis (psychokinesis/TK)
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The ability to move or affect the property of objects using the power of the mind. Some believe that TK is inherited through rare genes; others believe that everybody has the ability. It is also believed that it can take years to learn and control the phenomenon. TK is thought to be located in the areas of the brain that are unused. It is practiced by many but proof of it actually existing is sceptical.

Plot
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Carrie White is one of those girls that has no friends and is at the centre of practical jokes and bullying. She has just started her periods, at the age of 16, in front of everybody in the showers. Carrie has no idea what is happening to her and thinks she is dying! The other girls see it as a chance to bully her further by throwing tampons at her cowering body.
It is this incident which triggers off the Telekinesis capability of Carrie's mind. After learning of her power she starts training to make it more powerful....
The reason for Carrie not having any friends is due to her Mother, Margaret White, who is seriously religious; so much so that she thinks almost everything is a sin, including the act of consummation! If Carrie does something to upset her Mother she is put in a closet to think about what she has done. This can last for anything from 3 hours to days!
It is the religious belief that started the teasing on Carrie White. During school she knelt down on the floor in front of everybody and prayed. Carrie didn't realise that it wasn't normal and was picked on every since.

Carrie doesn't plan to go to the Senior Prom, but popular Susan Snell feels bad about the shower incident. She asks her boyfriend Tommy Ross to go with Carrie instead of her. Tommy is the typical Captain of the football team guy that everybody loves. This includes Carrie; she has had a secret crush on him for years. So she is determined to go to the Prom with him, no matter what her psychopathic Mother thinks...

Chris Hargensen hates Carrie with a passion! When she finds out that she will be going to the Prom with Tommy, she is outraged! She decides to perform the Ultimate Humiliation at the Prom, with the help of her older (and crazy) boyfriend Billy Nolan. Billy will do anything for Chris and jumps at the chance to help her.

But what Chris and Billy don't know is that Carrie has the power of telekinesis and is on the extreme edge of going berserk....Summary
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The book doesn't have any chapters, instead it is a constant story divided up into three parts; "Blood Sport", "Prom Night" and "Wreckage".

The reason mainly being that the novel is constantly swapping between different perspectives. These perspectives include reports and books about the White incident, as well as statements from the few survivors.
The main perspective that you are going to want to read is the path of Carrie. Having to read the other bits when something important is about to happen is one of Kings well used tricks to keep you reading. He is always hinting, sometimes just plainly telling, at what is going to happen, and then leaves you in suspense as you have to read a different section before you find out the next part.
And you will want to find out what happens! The story is amazing and so original. When the destruction begins you will not want to put the book down! It is extremely detailed and very graphic, every gruesome detail not missed out!

Overall - 90%
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Once you start reading this you won't want to put it down! The plot is excellent and is constantly keeping you in suspense. Carrie will put you through all the emotions as it is so well written and every effort has been put into portraying each character.
Although not as long as most of his later masterpieces, spanning just over 200 pages, King still managed to create a compelling novel that will keep you wanting more!

You can pick this up for £5.99, or alternatively you can do what I did and pop down to your local library and read it for free!