Gerald's Game

[3.5]

Not counting short stories, I'd place Gerald's Game as my third fave King book, behind Mr. Mercedes and The Gunslinger. As some of you may know, I've been only now diving into Stephen King, but I also wanted to see this book's supposedly very good film adaptation from familial trauma expert, Mike Flanagan. I can now officially say that the Netflix released Gerald's Game might be one of if not the most accurate adaptation of a King work. I wouldn't have called this book “unfilmable,” but I guess I could understand elements of the book that would make some lesser travelled readers a bit queasy and uncomfortable. Of course there are some changes in the film, but nothing that ruins the experience nor anything added for no good reason.

I didn't enjoy this very much. It was slow and pondering in sections and the middle part that goes into detail about her past trauma nearly made me stop reading it. Tempted to see what the movie is like but not a book I'll be recommending to anyone.

Interesting idea. It was definitely scary in parts. But man it felt long. I enjoyed the beginning and middle, but by the end I just wanted it to be over.

Also, I read this because it supposed to be a companion novel to Delores Claiborne, which I guess it is, but I don't understand WHY it is. Aside from both having events durning the same eclipse, I don't understand the connection at all.

Let me set the scene for you here. A husband, a wife, a secluded cabin in Maine, a bed, and a pair of handcuffs. You could probably guess where this is going; I thought I did, but this single-location thriller is an incredibly enthralling read that only the master of suspense could provide.

Without saying too much more, Jess, the main character, is left chained to the bed after a not-so-hot and heavy session with her husband. Certainly, they left a note with the family on when to expect them back. Not so fast there. Maybe they wanted to keep their kinky getaway a secret, or maybe this was all planned as something much more sinister.

Our main character is put through the ringer in this novel. Not only is she coming full circle with her past, but she witnesses some pretty hairy things in the room as well. Let's just say it involves a bit of “misery” and elements from a book featuring a St. Bernard, if you catch my drift.

As Jess conjures up the ability to escape from her perilous position, she is struck with flashbacks and ominous voices that really add a spark to the situation. These voices and flashbacks give us insight into her past and current psyche. It is a troubled one, as you can imagine coming from King, and each chapter ratchets up the tension to a surprising conclusion.

One more quick note that I mentioned in an update: Jessie is constantly worried about a glass of ice water leaving rings and water spots on the nightstand. Now that this is next-level OCD neurosis, I can definitely appreciate it and would be worried about myself.

Llevaba tiempo queriendo leerlo ya que la sinopsis me parecía interesante.
Lo empecé a leer muy animada, pero me comenzó a aburrir, en un principio parece interesante y promete mucho pero se extiende demasiado la trama, y al tratarse de un solo personaje y en un solo escenario, el libro se torna demasiado tedioso. La historia se va diluyendo y perdiendo fuerza con el pasar de las páginas.
Es un entretenido thriller psicológico, pero no mucho más.

Much better than the movie, much more exciting and vibrant

Want to write a sympathetic female character? Why not give her a backstory of child abuse? I think King is a great writer of dialogue, characters and world building but as I read more of his books I read the more annoyed I get that child abuse is almost a Stephen King trope. Drinking game, pick a random King novel and if it has child abuse take a shot! Hey why you lying on the floor already?

Geralds Game made me more angry than annoyed because it's almost written as if the girl wanted it and it's not a big deal. Almost like the scene was written more like a power fantasy than a horrific psychological scar. Maybe I've read it completely wrong but especially between this and the satnav scene in “It” I'm making bad assumptions of the writer.

Worst of all it didn't even have any real bearing on the plot or outcome. Just an easy trope so you would feel for the main character.

Also the final 20% should have been left on the editing floor. It would have made a better novella.

I will always owe a huge debt of gratitude to Stephen King. He is one of the main reasons I chose to become a writer, and he filled my teenage years with nightmares and wonderful, horrifying stories.
This story is an excellent one. It's creative and terrifying and you feel so deeply for the heroine as she overcomes both her physical and mental obstacles in her fight to survive. It's a heartfelt and fearless look into the how traumatic events can damage us.
The only thing keeping me from rating it higher is the same thing that keeps me from enjoying all of Stephen King's books. The older I get, the more I dislike his writing style. I used to love it, then I didn't care that much, and now it's feeling more and more like a chore to get through it. The stories are the only reason I still read him, because they are so damn good, and I insist you give this book a try, especially if you're not so persnickety about writing style as I am. It is well worth your while.

An engaging bottle episode. The terror of being physically chained to one spot without hope of salvation is pretty intense. However, this is a façade for the backbone of this story: a woman coming to terms with a childhood trauma inflicted by her father. This trauma may have led her to the very predicament she finds herself in, and with a variety of voices in her head, she must escape before death literally comes knocking.

ugh this book was SO GROSS on PRETTY MUCH EVERY LEVEL

http://www.frowl.org/worstbestsellers/episode-41-geralds-game/