After All These Years...

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Zone D Dad

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2017
359
1,829
Chicago Suburbs
...I finally read Carrie. I don't know how it is that I'd never gotten to it before. It was fun to read such an early work by Mr. King, when that talent is still raw, but really showing the potential. I've always been partial to the novels that he wrote in the early part of his career, as he was just so consistently good.

As much as I enjoyed this novel, it really made me appreciate the DePalma adaptation, especially concerning the ending. King's prom scene is well done, but I found the denouement to be a bit bland, whereas DePalma's film saves what I believe are its most effective moments for what happens after.

Now that this is done, I can get back to finishing Joyland. I had to stop in the middle due to my digital loan expiring...
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
I like Mr. King's endings--lol. I'm a realist, and his endings feel real to me. No BANG moments or the literary equivalent of jump scares, just a tying up of a few loose ends (and leaving a few as well, because life is like that: we never really do know everything, do we?).

Regardless, I'm glad you liked Carrie :) Oh, and enjoy Joyland! It is my favorite of his from recent years (though I still haven't gotten over the surprise snotsobbing at one point. Damn youse, Mr. King!)
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
82,822
47
United States
...I finally read Carrie. I don't know how it is that I'd never gotten to it before. It was fun to read such an early work by Mr. King, when that talent is still raw, but really showing the potential. I've always been partial to the novels that he wrote in the early part of his career, as he was just so consistently good.

As much as I enjoyed this novel, it really made me appreciate the DePalma adaptation, especially concerning the ending. King's prom scene is well done, but I found the denouement to be a bit bland, whereas DePalma's film saves what I believe are its most effective moments for what happens after.

Now that this is done, I can get back to finishing Joyland. I had to stop in the middle due to my digital loan expiring...
Where ya been, ZoneDad? Lol
I get what you're saying but I like the ending in the book better. What did you think about his making use of letters and newspaper clippings to add perspective and immediacy to the book? He gets to paint with a broad brush while giving us a personal witness (Sue Snell) who, like Nick Caraway, gets us paradoxically closer to the eponymous character (Carrie/Gatsby).
 

Zone D Dad

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2017
359
1,829
Chicago Suburbs
Where ya been, ZoneDad? Lol
I get what you're saying but I like the ending in the book better. What did you think about his making use of letters and newspaper clippings to add perspective and immediacy to the book? He gets to paint with a broad brush while giving us a personal witness (Sue Snell) who, like Nick Caraway, gets us paradoxically closer to the eponymous character (Carrie/Gatsby).

Thanks for asking! Just busy - you know how it is. Life gets in the way. I missed the community though and was glad to get a chance to check in again.

You know, I liked some of what he did with the clippings and such, but not all. Once the book gets a full head of steam and we get to the Prom, I think I would've liked to see the narrative flow without interruption. This might change if/when there is ever a re-read. I still had the specter of the old film in mind, so that colored the novel for me a bit. That's one of the reasons I always prefer to read a book before seeing the movie if possible. It doesn't always work out that way.

Love the Gatsby reference; one of the best novels I was ever forced to read. I almost typed "that was a great Gatsby reference," which would've been supremely lame...
 

Zone D Dad

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2017
359
1,829
Chicago Suburbs
While I find the DePalma version of Carrie a great movie, I much prefer the ending as written by SK.

I don't mean to crap on the ending, it's just that DePalma's is so damned creepy...meaning:
When Piper Laurie gets pinned in the doorway with all the kitchen utensils, just like that creepy closet Jesus? Good grief that freaks me out.
...more so than the jump scare bit, although it's a mighty fine one.