2020 EDIT: Things to note on rereading:
1. In some ways I can tell that 'Carrie' is a debut novel. I don't mind that there are no chapters, for it makes for a more flowing, impacting reading experience. But there are instances of inconsistency in the writing, such as once or twice there being no gaps in between character POVs, making for a confusing and jarring roadblock that takes you out of the story. It could have used a better editor.
2. The book can get very long-winded and over-descriptive at times, when it's not necessary. That segment explaining how Billy Nolan got the pigs' blood into the gymnasium in the first place is just painful. We didn't need to know every single step, told in minute detail, of how he executed the act. We didn't need to know how he did it, period. And who cares what a car looks like and how it works?!
3. Stephen King, at least in his earlier years, based on this and 'Firestarter', would casually drop in the N-word in his books. Plus little drops of homophobic language in the text, which I'd rather not repeat here when it comes to 'Carrie', other than it is on page 162 of my copy.
4. On the subject of problematic content, 'Carrie' also contains antisemitism. A girl, Frieda Jason, is said to have no chance of becoming prom queen because she's a Jew (page 107). Granted, it's from the POV of Chris Hargensen, but for someone like me, who's been reading a lot about WWII lately, and about the extent of the monstrous slaughter of over six million Jewish people in one of the worst examples of humanity's capacity for evil in history, it is beyond awful. And later, in a POV segment from someone who isn't evil, Frieda is described as having a 'letter-opener nose' (page 133). You did not just do that, Stephen King. You did not, could not. How dare you. What did Jewish people ever do to you?
5. Plus this, perhaps the most overt moment of sexism:
''This contest [the voting for king and queen on prom night] insults women!' Myra Crewes called with uneasy good nature.
'It insults men, too!' George Dawson called back, and there was general laughter. Myra was silent. She had made her token protest.' - page 153
6. Page 166. That mystifyingly un-self-aware commentary on Disney's 'Song of the South' is just cringeworthy.
7. On page 146, it is said that Carrie's father Ralph had stopped her mother Margaret from killing her when she was a baby... despite him being dead before Carrie was born. Maybe this is Margaret imagining that he had stopped her. Or imagining that his ghost did. But this isn't eluded to in the text at all, so it is very likely a huge continuity error.
Overall, 'Carrie' is an enjoyable, entertaining horror novel, containing clever narrative devices. The characters are interesting, and feel real and alive (the main ones, anyway; a lot of the side players are just names on the pages). It is a stunning, if messy, prelude to a prolific writing career that will span decades. Just be wary that in a few respects it is a product of its time. I still enjoy the 1976 film.
Final Score: 3/5
Original Review:
My first Stephen King novel. A bit embarrassing, I know, but I'm glad I've finally gotten around to reading his stuff. The main reason why I didn't before is because horror is not my favourite genre, though I know King doesn't write just that. But anyway, on to what I thought of 'Carrie'.
A well-written, perspective, sad but enjoyable and addictive read. I get the feeling that King knows how to make the ridiculous believable, and he does this with a touch of needed sympathy from the readers.
Bullying is a subject I feel strongly about, and 'Carrie' pulls it off in a way that makes you really feel for the victim's plight. You want Carrie White to stand up for herself, even if it means exacting revenge in the most horrific way possible; karma to the horrific things done to her. All because she is naive and different. This short book builds up to a tragedy that could have easily been prevented if Carrie had had enough of the right help from people (started by Miss Desjardin, who is awesome) who were either too shy or afraid of her background to give it to her.
Each character is vivid, flawed and sympathetic. King understands human beings and their reactions to certain things terrifically (like joining in to pick on a bully victim). In groups, they are sheep with a leader, but individually they are their own person. Though I was a little confused at first that there's more than one character called Tommy and Billy. Chris and Billy (the main man) are wonderful villains you love to hate. Sue Snell will spend the rest of her life feeling guilty for a destruction that might have been, in the root of it all, her fault.
The scariest I found this book to be are the scenes with Carrie and her pious mother. They really bring you on the edge of your seat without being overly manipulative or silly. Carrie clearly sees that her treatment from her Momma is awful, caused by reasons that are unfair and hypocritical (Margaret can't seem to understand or accept that if no one committed the "sin of intercourse", the human race will die out). I also loved and could really picture when Carrie started using her telekinesis to stand up to Margaret.
The excerpts from "books", the articles on the tragedy and the phenomenon of Carrie White, and the symbolic, foreshadowing instances involving blood - they all create effective and chilling imagery.
Overall, apart from a few inconsistencies in the writing (so was Carrie's father dead before or after her birth? Or did he die beforehand and come back in Margaret's hallucinations?), 'Carrie' is a great read. I will be reading more from Stephen King in the future, just to see how far he has progressed from this.
Final Score: 5/5
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