A classic revisited: Misery by Stephen King
Top marks for KING Stephen in this 1987 classic
Misery follows Paul Sheldon, a bestselling novelist who meets his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, after a car accident near her isolated farm. Annie nurses Paul's broken body, feeding him pills and tending to his wounds, but her benevolent facade quickly unravels. She’s furious that Paul killed off her favourite character in his series, and she subjects him to a harrowing ordeal, pushing him to the brink of his physical and mental limits.
Back in 2017, during a family holiday in Spain, I ventured into Stephen King's prolific literary universe for the first time with Misery. Choosing this novel felt like a significant leap for me as a newcomer to the horror genre. I wanted my initiation to be memorable, but Pennywise the clown from IT didn’t seem beginner-friendly, and the sheer size of The Stand intimidated me. Just shy of 400 pages, Misery was my first tentative step into King's masterful storytelling that so many adore.
“I am your number one fan.”
Misery delves deep into the psyche of obsession and the dark underbelly of fandom. It remains strikingly relevant today, where the boundaries between celebrities and their fans have become increasingly blurred. Unlike many of King’s other works, Misery has no supernatural elements - no aliens, psychics, or time hopping. It’s a book about the relationship between two characters, warped by obsession, desperation, disillusionment, dependency, and entrapment.
In an era where access to the personal lives of public figures is at an all-time high, the novel’s exploration of obsessive fandom serves as a chilling commentary on the potential dangers of such intimate access. Annie Wilkes’ extreme behaviour mirrors the darker aspects of contemporary fandoms. We see this mirrored in the harassment and threats experienced by celebrities like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, whose personal lives are often dissected by fans and the media alike. The entitlement and control issues fans exhibit today, demanding more from celebrities and often crossing personal boundaries, are eerily similar to Annie's behaviour.
“Writers remember everything… especially the hurts.”
King’s intention seems clear: to delve into the dark side of fandom and question the boundaries of devotion. By placing Paul in such a dire situation, King forces readers to confront their own fears and anxieties about vulnerability and control. Annie, with her unpredictable and violent tendencies, embodies the ultimate fan nightmare, turning admiration into a deadly trap.
King narrates the story from Paul’s first-person perspective, allowing readers to become intimately acquainted with his thoughts and feelings. This structure effectively conveys the protagonist's suffering and desperation. One of the most memorable passages describes Paul's agony in glaring detail: “He could feel the bones in his legs moving against each other, grating like broken machinery.”
The depiction of pain is unsettlingly realistic. The graphic descriptions of Paul’s injuries and the brutal treatment he endures can be harrowing to read. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that items like chainsaws and lawnmowers play a gruesome role. One of the most chilling scenes involves a unique brand of punishment: "She brought the axe down again and again, and the axe took it all... at first he thought he would die of the pain, but when the pain began to ebb, he realized he was going to live with the memory of it forever."
Annie stands out as one of King’s most unforgettable characters. Her mood swings and unpredictable behaviour create a constant sense of tension. King brings Annie to life with such vividness that she almost leaps off the page. I haven’t been this terrified of a female character since Lydia in Liz Nugent’s Lying in Wait and Barbara in Notes on a Scandal. Annie’s dual nature is revealed in disturbing detail through Paul’s exploration of her home and her collection of photo albums, which unveil her dark secrets.
“He laid back, put his arm over his eyes, and tried to hold onto his anger because the anger made him feel brave. A brave man could think. A coward couldn't.”
King also cleverly integrates chapters of the novel Annie forces Paul to write into the main narrative. While some readers might find this meta-fictional element distracting, I found it a necessary break from the intense dialogue and a clever way to show Paul’s gradual recovery. These interludes illustrate Paul’s growing alertness and determination to survive, even as he is forced to create a book he despises. It became apparent that during this time, Paul was no longer just writing a book. It had become a symbol of his struggle, his hope, and ultimately his salvation.
Despite its strengths, Misery isn’t without its flaws (I know, I know but hear me out!). As much as I enjoyed the novel, I sometimes found Paul’s internal monologues a bit tedious. While they flesh out his character and situation, they occasionally veer into the nonsensical and disrupt the narrative flow. Additionally, I wished for a deeper exploration of Annie’s psychological state and her past crimes. Understanding what makes her tick could have added even more depth to her already terrifying character.
“Writers remember everything… especially the hurts.”
However, Misery really is excellent. It’s a gripping and unsettling read that showcases Stephen King’s prowess as a storyteller. The novel’s intense focus on two characters in a confined setting creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. Through vivid descriptions and psychological depth, King crafts a narrative that is both thrilling and thought-provoking.
Misery stands as a testament to King’s ability to explore the darker aspects of human nature and the complex relationship between creators and their audiences. It’s a story that lingers long after the final page, a haunting reminder of the power dynamics at play in our relationships with the art and artists we love.
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Have you read Misery by Stephen King? Do you have any Stephen King recommendations for me? I would genuinely love to know! Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
As always, happy reading!
Until next time,
Sian | Criminally Creepy Books
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