Carrie by Stephen King

“As I rebuild the WLS archive with books I've read from 2011 through to 2025, I want to build a fully-fledged ecosystem of books I've read and recommend. I'd like to be able to reference and speak to any I've finished. For books I haven't reviewed (or can't entirely remember), please enjoy this brief questionnaire that can help you decide whether it's a read you'd like to pursue. Some of these are favorites I just haven't gotten around to fully reviewing yet—I'll explain in each description, but I hope this Q&A can be illuminating to you in the meantime.”

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY MARGARET ATWOOD - 

Stephen King's legendary debut, the bestselling smash hit that put him on the map as one of America's favorite writers -

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In a world where bullies rule, one girl holds a secret power. Unpopular and tormented, Carrie White's life takes a terrifying turn when her hidden abilities become a weapon of horror.

"Stephen King's first novel changed the trajectory of horror fiction forever. Fifty years later, authors say it's still challenging and guiding the genre." —Esquire

"A master storyteller." —The Los Angeles Times - 

"Guaranteed to chill you." —The New York Times - 

"Gory and horrifying. . . . You can't put it down." —Chicago Tribune

Unpopular at school and subjected to her mother's religious fanaticism at home, Carrie White does not have it easy. But while she may be picked on by her classmates, she has a gift she's kept secret since she was a little girl: she can move things with her mind. Doors lock. Candles fall. Her ability has been both a power and a problem. And when she finds herself the recipient of a sudden act of kindness, Carrie feels like she's finally been given a chance to be normal. She hopes that the nightmare of her classmates' vicious taunts is over . . . but an unexpected and cruel prank turns her gift into a weapon of horror so destructive that the town may never recover.

Why Did I Read This Book?

Stephen King is obviously an iconic writer. One of his movies, the latest iteration of IT, was actually filmed in the small town in Canada I go to every summer, so I have a particular fondness for him. I've read On Writing and have watched a few of the movies, but hadn't gotten around to any of his literal novels. I was in a bit of a strange reading mood in February 2024, so ended up picking this up in an airport bookstore as a mass market paperback. It was a quick flight, and I ripped through it within an hour or two. Overall, made me satisfied that I'd crossed him off the bucket list of "books I should read."

What's This Book About?

Carrie by Stephen King is about an ostracized, abused girl being tormented by bullies at school. Her wildly religious mother essentially punishes her for her existence because she's the result of a rape—and seems to embody the worst of hell / temptation / evil as embodied by the twisted man who chose to violate his religious tendencies for his earthly lust, etc,. etc,. It's so embedded in the family to reject sex and pleasure and to believe in religion as restriction.

Needless to say, this informs Carrie's high school experience. She gets her period in the showers at school and absolutely loses it. The reactions of others at school range from pity to disgust to horror to embarrassment; it's the worst of humanity, but a very realistic range.

So the mean girl at school decides to have some fun with Carrie alongside her friend, who genuinely means well. They have a kind guy ask her to the prom, with the evil couple planning the worst of her prank/retribution for directly after naming her prom queen.

If you're not familiar: they rig pigs' blood to pour over her head and ruin her prom. Anyway, Carrie is actually telekenitic, and absolutely loses it, killing most of the attendees. She reigns hellfire upon the town, wreaking revenge on all those who have caused her pain and suffering growing up.

There are a lot of poetic parallels, and the motivation as a whole—across most characters—makes a lot of sense.

What Do I Remember Most About It?

I'm glad I read it! I think just because Stephen King is so lauded, I was expecting a little more intangible skill—for his writing to have an almost otherworldly quality that I could not dream of touching—but I do think he's a great writer who's just been elevated to a practically-godly quality.

Carrie was voicier than I expected. I loved the introspection and the parentheses. I really did feel for the characters who got caught up in the bullying (unknowingly) but had the best of intentions. You could really see and sympathize for the ways in which Carrie's developed her defense mechanisms, and those who genuinely wanted to make sure she had a good night. That all makes it more horrifying!

It's fast-paced, entertaining, and an easy read. There are hallmarks of Stephen King's style that are easy to recognize and perhaps repetitive—so again, I'm not sure I do consider him the best of all time, but I did appreciate reading his work.

I adored the multimedia and reflection aspects of Carrie. The holistic perspectives of the storytelling felt very fresh and surprising in a way I hadn't expected, especially for a story that's so familiar to me already.

Who's It Best for?

In college, I dated a guy who loved Stephen King, and I can see why he loved the author. I'd love to read more of his work! If you love horror, Carrie's a given. If you're somewhat new to reading fiction for pleasure, King is a satisfying author to cross off the repertoire. I wouldn't read if you consider yourself easily offended by different perspectives on religion, as it covers a very warped (but definitely accurate to how some people think) version of punishment-heavy Christianity; if critique makes you uncomfortable, maybe not for you.

You could read in October, and you could read for a quick afternoon knock-out. I wanted exposure to new (or rather, classic) writing styles and appreciated the thematic parallels and complex characterization. Loved the final line. I probably would not reread but am glad I did. I'd maybe library!

If You Liked It, You Should Read These Others:

more Stephen King / IT by Stephen King

YA horror / There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

unflinching gore / The Call by Peadar Ó Guilín

bullying / This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

writing process / On Writing by Stephen King