You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

One of the group reads for July is Misery by Stephen King Please discuss the book in this thread.

Nistha will be leading the discussion.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during July 2023.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favorite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

A note on discussion: Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favorite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc.

In addition to this, the group reads are meant to be a "read along" so it is preferable that you discuss the book as you read rather than wait until you've finished the book.

And finally, discussion is not about just listing your thoughts. Please interact with the other group members, comment on their thoughts, and if they comment on yours, respond to them. This is what makes a good book discussion!

You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.

Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!

I’m going to fall asleep to this tonight so I won’t get very far. I’ve seen the movie ( a long time ago) but am excited to finally read the book.

10%

I’m listening to the audiobook and you can tell it’s an older version of that format- no chapters so it’s harder to scroll back.

The opening (view spoiler)[ I liked how we were tossed in when Paul was waking up. He had no idea what was going on and we get to figure out with him. (hide spoiler)]

Foreshadowing (view spoiler)[
“This woman is not right.” Naming your sow after a favorite character was quite funny and alarming.

King is great at building tension. We know Anne is obsessed with the Misery story and we also know that Paul has killed off the character in the book which Anne’s reading right now. It feels like a ticking bomb. (hide spoiler)]

Marnie (view spoiler)[ it says something that the novel is named after the character too, not after Anne. It is titled after Anne's obsession (hide spoiler)]

Sandra wrote: "Marnie [spoilers removed]" So true plus (view spoiler)[ he’s pretty miserable too. (hide spoiler)]

I will be starting this one today.

I see what you mean about the audio being one long chapter Marnie - it's kinda weird.
I read a lot of King when I was in high school in the 90s so I may have read this then but I don't remember since I have also seen the movie so I know what it is about. But man - this book on audio is amazing! He paints such great word pictures it is better than watching a movie because you get all the thoughts and descriptions.
I am at 11% (view spoiler)[the creepiness of the beginning was so well done! The way he gradually comes to. His pilons of pain. I just got to the part where she leaves for the first time. This won't be good. (hide spoiler)]

I’m at 30%

I’m really enjoying the audio too. I’m seeing Kathy Bates and James Caan as the characters and agree Katrisa he paints a great “word picture.”

(view spoiler)[ Paul has started to write a new Misery book to appease Annie. Her critique of his new story is quite funny. (hide spoiler)]

I started but only read the first two chapters so far.

(view spoiler)[I already like how this is going, I just love his writing style and when Paul said he knows that she's his number one fan... I will love this book, I just know it haha (hide spoiler)]

56%

Newspaper clippings (view spoiler)[ We find out that Annie has killed many patients in an “ angel of death “ way. Thinking that this was published in 1988 and it is horrifying and surprising.

Annie is rabid (hide spoiler)]

I just started and read the first 4 chapters, my first SK so quite excited. (view spoiler)[ Wow, it started off really creepily. As I have never read anything from this author before and also tried not to read any plot summary before going in, I don't quite know what to expect. What I find weird is that the first section is titled Annie but is not from her point of view, Well, we shall find out. (hide spoiler)]

75%

This section is more horror ish. (view spoiler)[ Annie is whittling him away. She just chopped off his thumb. He really is giving his all for his art. (hide spoiler)]

Nistha wrote: "I just started and read the first 4 chapters, my first SK so quite excited. [spoilers removed]"

Your very first King... that seems momentous. I will be extra curious of your thoughts.

I finished and really enjoyed this read. I was concerned it would feel dated but I think it held up in fact it is kind of prescient. (view spoiler)[ In this day of social media and the parasocial relationships it creates. King was ahead of his time. (hide spoiler)]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Marnie.

I am at 30% (view spoiler)[ King does such a good with suspense! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time Paul was out and about in the house. I love that Paul likens himself to Sheherazad (hide spoiler)]

I am joining in. I have read 9 chapters / 30 pages.
I don't really remember the movie so it's all a surprise to me.

(view spoiler)[I'm surprised that it seems to be a coincidence that he ended up in Annie's "care." I was expecting her to have been a stalker and been the one to run him off the road. The fact that she hasn't even read the death of her beloved Misery has me in a panic. Like Marnie said, what a ticking time bomb!

What has happened to her mind that she doesn't bring him to a hospital?? Paul suspects that she used to work as a nurse. I feel really bad for him but he should not have been drinking and driving :P He had the nerve to blame the errant weatherman for his predicament lol (hide spoiler)]

Welcome to the world of Stephen King, Nistha!

I read this one a long time ago, but remember it being really good. King can really create that tension and suspense.

Interesting discussion about the title. I think I always thought that it referred to his situation, but I think it likely has a dual meaning.

I wanted to pop into this discussion to let you all know that I saw a little snippet of King on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and he mentioned that Misery is one of his favorites of his books. He also said it was a fun one to write. Thought I'd share. You can see the snippet here: https://youtu.be/MoejU-tf4xI

I got totally sucked into the book yesterday and just marathon-style finished the book yesterday. I remembered the basic story from either reading it in high school or watching the movie but I was still riveted this time around. (view spoiler)[There were some INTENSE scenes in this book! I loved how King showed Paul slowly cracking up as time went on. That end was CRAZY! and I didn't remember how it ended at all. The way he shows Paul at the very end still hallucinating Annie seems totally plausible. (hide spoiler)]

Kristie wrote: "I wanted to pop into this discussion to let you all know that I saw a little snippet of King on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and he mentioned that Misery is one of his favorites of his books. He also said it was a fun one to write. Thought I'd share. You can see the snippet here: https://youtu.be/MoejU-tf4xI"

It's interesting that it's the first novel that he mentioned as one of his favorites.
I was wondering if he ever had a paranoia of deranged fans at one point or if writing Misery gave him one. Like why are you giving people ideas!

Haha, he probably got the idea from his fans. lol I'm sure he has had some over-the-top fans over time. Though, my understanding is that he's a very normal guy who takes part in his community and doesn't really have that air about him.

The strange thing is that a lot of times, King writes things then something similar happens later on. Like he was talking about the mutated flu virus that he wrote about in The Stand during that interview and then people compared it to Covid. Well several years after writing this book (Misery) he was actually hit by a truck and was pretty seriously injured. He nearly lost a leg. Some people thought the accident gave him the idea for Misery, but Misery was written well before his accident. It was just a very strange coincidence.

I'm so busy at the moment that I still didn't get further than the first two chapters. I'm dying to read all your comments!

Same on the busy front Fiona. I haven't even started but hope to pick this up later today.

I finished chapter 15 of part 1 and wow it is quite gruesome!

(view spoiler)[ I am really liking the type of horror in this story. I like how much of a psycho they show Annie to be - I mean how do you even bargain with such people in that condition? Such a helpless situation and has me on the edge. (hide spoiler)]

Nistha wrote: "I finished chapter 15 of part 1 and wow it is quite gruesome!"

You are totally right (view spoiler)[ She is completely unpredictable. I think Stephen King does an excellent job showing the relationship between captor and captured. How her instability starts to mold the way he responds, the anxiety that she provokes in him. It seems really accurate. (hide spoiler)]

Hi I will be joining in on this one. I am going to pick up the book from my local library today :)

Welcome Madison! Hope you enjoy the read :D

Welcome to our group Madison.

Sandra wrote:
You are totally right [spoilers removed]"

I think that is the best thing about this book. It feels so accurate.

Chapter 35 about 30%

(view spoiler)[wow he got out of the room! That was so intense! I'm so glad he looked for the phone just so that we know, otherwise there would have been some regret hanging over me. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2 chapter 1

(view spoiler)[this will be interesting to have chapters of cheesy romance interspersed with the suspense of the rest of the story. Could just be a one off. Either way I am intrigued./spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

I reached Chapter 17

(view spoiler)[ Wow! This book is so dark and Annie is such a dark psycho, I am loving it. The scene with the rat and its metaphorical significance was very well done. This book gives insights into an author's writing process as well which I am also quite enjoying. The only thing I am not enjoying as much is Misery's part but that might just be the different writing style - I am always waiting for Annie to come back with a different mood. Can't wait to see how it ends. (hide spoiler)]

I have reached chapter 32 - almost nearing the end - and the cat-and-mouse chase has got so interesting!

(view spoiler)[ I am loving the story - the axe scene many chapters back had hooked me in completely. I love the way Annie thinks - how smart she is. After a long time I am seeing a formidable villain. (hide spoiler)]

I finished and what a page-turner!

(view spoiler)[ The ending was done so well - they kept the tension very high at the end. Annie's psych and mood swings were my favourite bits. Also, we could see Paul's mental stability deteriorating along with his physical health and it was a true test of his willingness to survive. He actually believed that she was a goddess! Annie's death at the end was quite a poetic ending to her arch. When the rescue came at the end, Paul's speech seemed quite impaired and it shows how much he had suffered.

(hide spoiler)]

Did anyone understand what the reference to Africa was about?

I am about 50% through. Pt 2 ch 13

Nistha wrote: "Did anyone understand what the reference to Africa was about"

Sometime at the beginning he started comparing himself to a bird he saw that was from Africa. Maybe at a zoo or in a cage. In the last chapter I read he had this comparison(view spoiler)[ He picked the lock to clean the marks on the door frame but didn't go through with his plan to steal a knife. He said if anyone freed that bird and brought it back to Africa it would sit there paralyzed not knowing what to do until something are it. (hide spoiler)]

Paul just had a dream that (view spoiler)[ Someone came to the house with his car bumper and steering wheel and asked "do these belong to you?" I thought that was a pretty funny and accurate as far as dreams go.

I also just like how he describes his intrusive thoughts. He sends his brain police to take away the thoughts in handcuffs and leg irons but they keep managing to escape. (hide spoiler)]

Marnie wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Marnie [spoilers removed]" So true plus [spoilers removed]"

Marnie & Sandra, this is why reading with others is so beneficial - I hadn't even thought about the foreshadowing aspect or how the title of the book can relate to various aspects of the story itself.

Kristie wrote: "Welcome to the world of Stephen King, Nistha!

I read this one a long time ago, but remember it being really good. King can really create that tension and suspense.

Interesting discussion about ..."

This was really interesting to listen too. Of course, I have now added more King interviews to my ever increasing watch later list!

I've read up to Part 2, chapter 10.

I love the suspense that King creates. There is so much tension when Annie and Paul are together. So far, the chapter where (view spoiler)[Paul is made to drink the dirty water after Annie has cleaned up the soup from the wall still gives me dry heaves! (hide spoiler)].

I am not, however, interested in the parts (view spoiler)[where Paul is writing the new Misery book. I am reading them but if I was a skimmer, I would definitely skim through them. I haven't worked out yet if these sections are actually necessary to the story itself or just a filler to perhaps up the page count of the book? (hide spoiler)]

Anna's Reading Life wrote: "I've read up to Part 2, chapter 10.

I love the suspense that King creates. There is so much tension when Annie and Paul are together. So far, the chapter where [spoilers removed].

I am not, howev..."

I had felt the same Anna but it does kind of get better on that aspect as well.

Vicki wrote: "I am about 50% through. Pt 2 ch 13

Nistha wrote: "Did anyone understand what the reference to Africa was about"

Sometime at the beginning he started comparing himself to a bird he saw that was fr..."

Ahh, this makes sense, I might have forgotten about this part.

Nistha wrote: "Vicki wrote: "I am about 50% through. Pt 2 ch 13

Nistha wrote: "Did anyone understand what the reference to Africa was about"

Sometime at the beginning he started comparing himself to a bird he s..."

I just finished the book. There is one thing about this I don't quite know the significance of. (view spoiler)[ Africa seemed to be a metaphor for freedom but also in his book Misery and co. end up having a big adventure in Africa. Was this just a coincidence or because he always had Africa on the brain or more metaphors? (hide spoiler)]

Yesterday, I read up to part 3, chapter 8. (view spoiler)[Annie is a piece of work! What I love about the book, compared to the movie, is that we get to read about Annie and her back story which I am pretty sure is not touched on in the movie. She is completely derange! When she cut off Paul's foot OMG - I knew something like this was bound to happen, as a similar scene is in the movie but still, the build up was something else! (hide spoiler)]

Nistha wrote: "Anna's Reading Life wrote: "I've read up to Part 2, chapter 10.

I love the suspense that King creates. There is so much tension when Annie and Paul are together. So far, the chapter where [spoiler..."

I think these sections are now starting to decrease as we near the end of the book.

Anna's Reading Life wrote: "I think these sections are now starting to decrease as we near the end of the book.
..."

I agree they weren't that interesting. But I did like the way (view spoiler)[ that Paul seems to be blending the world of the book with Annie and his captivity. He goes from calling Annie a stone idol to eventually the Goddess. (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "Anna's Reading Life wrote: "I think these sections are now starting to decrease as we near the end of the book.
..."

I agree they weren't that interesting. But I did like the way [spoilers removed]"

Agree, I also think it is quite interesting (view spoiler)[ and bittersweet that he ended up writing the best Misery novel due to Annie's discipline. Diamonds are formed under pressure! (hide spoiler)]

Anna's Reading Life wrote: "Yesterday, I read up to part 3, chapter 8. [spoilers removed]"

True true, (view spoiler)[ the foot scene was just brutal! She is such a psycho - once she has made up her mind, it is impossible to trick her into something else. (hide spoiler)]

Anymore Stephen King suggestions which I should try next? This one was quite interesting.

Nistha, this one is one of my favorites. 'Salem's Lot was another 5 stars for me, but it is different. It is a kind of a modern version of Dracula. I gave 4 stars to Carrie, The Shining, Mr. Mercedes, and The Institute. They are all very different. King is not only a prolific author, but a very versatile one. I suggest you check the book descriptions and see what picks your interest.

Nistha I also thought The Stand was really good. And The Dark Tower series is one of my favorite book series. Also King is fun because there are crossovers in his books.

Yes! that's true. It is fun to find references to other books in his stories.

Vicki wrote: "Anna's Reading Life wrote: "I think these sections are now starting to decrease as we near the end of the book.
..."

I agree they weren't that interesting. But I did like the way [spoilers removed]"

He did that very well and I can see to some degree the relevance of these sections. I just found they slowed down the pace for me. Still very clever of King!