Carrie by Stephen King is today’s Halloween Book Festival selection.
What Amazon says
An unpopular teenage girl whose mother is a religious fanatic is tormented and teased to the breaking point by her more popular schoolmates and uses her hidden telekinetic powers to inflict a terrifying revenge.
My review
Carrie, by Stephen King, is one of his shortest novels. It is also the King novel that had the greatest impact on me from a philosophical point of view as King expresses viewpoints about teenagers, and how they form themselves into social groups of different status, which are true and chilling. His unerring ability to strike to the core of teenage human nature and their driving need, as a group, to hunt in packs and to be accepted by one another, as well as their intolerance of difference, is frightening to read.
Carrie has been a social outcast since her first day at primary school when she gets down on her knees, as she has been taught to do, and says prayers before lunch. From that moment, Carrie is labeled “weird” and a “religious freak” and she has no hope of ever redeeming herself, no matter how hard she tries. Carrie is the product of a single parent home and her mother is willing to abuse her daughter, mentally and physically, in order to ensure she complies with her rigid and extreme religious views. Carrie is caught between trying to please a mother she does love, despite her abusive behaviour, and attempting to be accepted by her peers at school. We discover early on in the book that Carrie isn’t an ordinary girl, but possesses some rather extraordinary powers. Her mother has had a taste of her powers in the past and is extremely frightened that they are gifts from the devil.
When Carrie becomes the victim of a school girl bullying event which involves the majority of her fellow students, one of the student’s, Sue, is so overcome by guilt, she decides to try and make amends for her bad behaviour. Sue convinces her boyfriend, Tommy, to take Carrie to the prom instead of her so that she can have a lovely evening to remember. Surprisingly, Tommy agrees and this starts of chain of events that quickly spiral out of control.
I am a great fan of Stephen King’s older works and I really enjoyed this book and the movie by the same name. I am not quite sure Carrie fits exactly into the horror book mold but it is certainly a gripping and fascinating story.
Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Carrie-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B001BANK2I
roberta-writes.com 
I’m short of superlatives for your reviews Robbie, all I can say is that this one is as on-the-button as all your other ones. As an afterthought, I also liked this book and think this chap might make quite a good writer.
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Hi Danny, I like King’s earlier books best. Terence and I are listening to The green mike. That story is very compelling.
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I’ve read this one (and saw the movie), but quite a long time ago. I do remember thinking it’s a good book. King has always been good at writing about young people.
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Hi Merril, yes, King was able to thrust to the heart of young people’s feelings and reactions
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Great review of a classic, Robbie! Stephen King’s early novels are incredibly memorable, and he of course produced a lot of excellent work after that as well.
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Hi Dave, you are right. Terence and I started listening to The Green Mile during the drive to the game lodge. What a wonderful writer King is.
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Carrie affected me, too. Her messed up mother terrified me. I was young enough when I read it that I felt trapped along with Carrie.
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Hi Vera, I read Carrie a bit later in my life as my mom didn’t own it. Carrie, Danny from The Shining and Charlie from Firestarter we’re all tragic victims of parental abuse or mistakes.
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No, no, no. Stephen King is not for me. But you already know that, Robbie. My son is a great fan of Stephen King. I gave him a copy of Holly for his recent birthday. Have you read it yet? Even the author himself gave a warning about it.
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Hi Norah, I prefer King’s older novels. His newer works cross lines for me.
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As you know I have read just one of his, and it’s brilliant: On Writing. 😉😊
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😁
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I haven’t read Carrie, although I’ve seen the movie. Teenagers can be very cruel.
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Your review is as close as I’ll ever get to reading this book, Robbie. Great review.
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King’s books are not for everyone, Jacqui. I do love his ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s books. His new stuff is OTT for me.
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Great review, Robbie, of a classic novel! I’ve read a lot of his books and studied his writing. He’s definitely a talented master writer.
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Hi Tim, he is most definitely very talented and he found the perfect genre.
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I so identified with Carrie, that I felt exposed whenever someone around me even spoke about the book/film. I have long since outgrown that but it was soul-shattering at the time.
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Hi Annette, I am sorry to hear that. I felt incredibly sorry for Carrie with her fanatical mother.
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Good novel. I read that more than 30 years ago and many more of those from Stephen King. And of course, I read ‘On Writing’ (twice).
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Hi Chris, it is a great book that was rejected by many publishers. I haven’t read On Writing.
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Ooooo, a modern classic with a deliciously creepy cover. I enjoyed your review, Robbie. Hugs.
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Hi Teagan, I’m pleased you enjoyed my review. A brilliant book.
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Carrie was the first King book I read (I think it was his first big release), followed by Salem’s Lot. I liked both the movie and the book (of SL, too). Like you, I’m a fan of King’s earlier work, though that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy later entries as well.
Great review, Robbie!
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Hi Mae, I read Carrie later as my mom didn’t have it. I enjoyed it very much. It quite captivated me.
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I read Carrie in the 1970s, soon after it was published. It struck me then as something different. I was closer in age to the characters than I am now, which may account for that.
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Hi Audrey, I think it was different at the time. King is a brilliant writer.
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I did not read this book but I should. I saw the movie and your excellent review brought back memories of the movie. Like you point out, this is a very intriguing as well insightful book. I am sure the book has a lot more to offer than the movie. After reading your review I decided I will read it. Thank you Robbie.
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Hi Thomas, I am delighted you are going to read Carrie. It is very good.
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Thank you Robbie
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It’s very true for teenagers to have such nightmares, Robbie! I had three ladies in my counseling who had similar experiences. Wonderful review!
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Hi Miriam, thank you for adding your thoughts. Interactions during our teen years can be very traumatic and King captures that well.
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Hi Robbie – Thanks for reviewing Carrie. I’m still too afraid to read a Stephen King book, although I have seen the Carrie film. I didn’t think it was that scary, but The Shining movie with Jack Nicholson really got to me.
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Hi Barbara, The Shining is the scariest book I’ve ever read. Carrie is more sad and disturbing than scary.
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I’ve read many Stephen King books, but I’ve never gotten around to reading Carrie. I’ve seen the movie, and I agree it’s more disturbing than scary. Although the last scene, with a hand jutting from out of the ground, really scared me!
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Hi Dave, that last scene in the movie was Hollywood. The book has a different ending … equally disturbing.
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