Book Synopsis: Misery

Title: Misery

Author: Stephen King

Publication Date: 1988

Page Count: 338

Type: Fiction

Started On: August 30, 2007
Finished On: September 18, 2007


My Grade: A-

1. Why did I decide to read this book?

During the summer I watched the movie version of Misery starring Janes Caan and Kathy Bates. The insanity and physical brutality of Annie Wilkes kept me disgusted yet interested the entire duration of the movie. After reading the book, I realized that James Caan and Kahty Bates were perfect for their corresponding parts. I saw the movie so I decided to read the book. That way I could compare certain factors that are different or similar. I like to read a book that I never want to put down and that also keeps me interested the entire time. Misery is exactly the kind of book that I enjoy reading the most(and it is more disgusting and graphic than the movie in many aspects).

2. Plot summary(avoiding major spoilers when possible).

Paul Sheldon is a writer. He crashes his car due to a snow storm and falls off the edge of a road. Paul is recovered by a woman named Annie Wilkes. Annie is, in her eyes, the "biggest fan" of Paul Sheldon's Misery novel series. Misery Chaistain is a character in the book Misery written by Paul. Annie takes Paul to her house and cares for him. Paul has shattered his legs and is in much pain all around his body because of his crash. Through many strange events involving his books, Paul is put through numorous forms of torture. In Paul's book Misery's Child, he kills off Misery. Annie is keeping Paul alive just so he can write a return novel in the Misery series. The tortures that occur and the reasons for them you will have to discover on your own. Misery is a pulse-pounding thriller with many phsychological(and physical) twists and turns. I would get lost in Paul Sheldon and Annie Wilkes' world and find it hard to leave, and I think you will too.

3. What is the setting, and why is it important to the novel?

The setting of Misery is Boulder in the duration of about half of a year. There is also a short time period in New York City. It was mostly in the winter. While in the winter, the weather was signifigant because Paul Sheldon couldn't escape on an icy road or snowy road. He was in a wheelchair, because of his legs being shattered, and he wouldn't make it very far on the slick roads.

4. Who are the main characters and what role do they play in the novel?

The main characters in this novel are Paul Sheldon and Annie Wilkes. Paul is a writer that is the "hostage" of Annie Wilkes. Paul has to right a return novel in the Mysery series in order to stay alive. Annie Wilkes found Pual Sheldon wrecked in the snow and has taken him to her house. She "takes care" of him using various bizzare and unusual methods until he gets well(so she says). Annie is a phycotic murderer whom is obssessed with her idol, Paul Sheldon.

5. What is/are the main conflicts in the novel?

Paul sheldon is held captive at the household of Annie Wilkes. Paul's leg are shattered and he cannot escape from the insane yet clever hands of Annie. He must write an entire new novel to satify the desires of his tormentor, Annie Wilkes. Paul is put through much pain and suffering by the "Goddess" Miss Annie Wilkes(read the book to find out what Goddess means).

6. Describe the climax of the novel.

I found that the climax of Misery would have to be the amputation. During most of the novel, Paul is locked in Annie's spare bedroom. Sometimes Annie would leave and Paul would try to exit his room by picking the lock with one of Annie's bobby-pins. He had made three trips in all: one to get medication for his pain, one to try and find a way out, and another to retrieve a pitcher of water and a knife to kill Annie. Annie puts her own hairs tightly on different things all around the house so that if one broke, she would know that he had been out of his room. She finds a set of the hairs broken and confronts Paul. She found the knife under Paul's matress where he had put it, and she thought that he had left his room at least seven times. She grows angrier and angrier with Paul until finally she got so mad that she cut his left foot off at the ankle with an axe. I felt that this was the climax because it had shown me how far Annie was willing to go to punish Paul and make sure that he wouldn't leave her. She was determined to have him finish Misery's Return in dedication to her.

7. What is the signifigance of the books title?

The title Misery is signifigant in a few ways. Misery is the title of the book that Paul wrote that Annie loved so much. Also, the title of Paul's book is mirrored by the misery that Paul is put through in the duration of the novel. Paul also will probably remain miserable and tortured for the rest of his life by the nightmare that is Annie Wilkes.

8. What is my opinion about this book? Why(give specifics)?

I surprisingly enjoyed this book. Surprisingly because I rarely find a book that I enjoy. The suspense never stopped and the thrills never ceased. I hated to stop reading the book at any point because I just had to know what was going to happen next(what torture Annie was going to put Paul through next). It had an erie horror behind it that disturbed me but that interested me at the same time. I give this book an A- because it was flawless and had never ending, heart-racing suspense.