Misery a Novel, by Stephen King
Stephen King’s novel Misery tells of a famous writer, Paul Sheldon, who crashes his car in a snowstorm and gets rescued by Annie Wilkes, a lifelong nurse and number one fan of Misery Chastain, the character Paul has made into a long series of successful books.
Paul has his only copy of a new book, Fast Cars, which he hopes will replace Misery Chastain, now that he has killed her off in his last book.
Annie takes Paul back to her home and is thrilled to have her favorite author to nurse but really upset with the outcome of the Misery book. She nurses him, it seems, and pushes him to write another Misery book and bring Misery Chastain back to life somehow.
Annie forces Paul to burn his Fast Cars manuscript a he quickly learns how serious she is and that she may kill him if he doesn’t do what she asks.
This novel works on several levels with the theme of staying alive itself showing the power of writing as Paul struggles to stay alive. Annie loves Paul for his ability to tell a story and that saves his life.
The book is brilliant in its plot and the intensity of Annie.
See Favorite Author section for more about Stephen King
Quotes From the Book Misery
“Writers remember everything...especially the hurts. Strip a writer to the buff, point to the scars, and he'll tell you the story of each small one. From the big ones you get novels. A little talent is a nice thing to have if you want to be a writer, but the only real requirement is the ability to remember the story of every scar.
Art consists of the persistence of memory.
“I am your number one fan.”
“There may be fairies, there may be elves, but God helps those who help themselves.”
“dirty birdy”
“Can I? Yeah. You bet I can. There's a million things in this world can't do. Couldn't hit a curve ball, even back in high school. Can't fix a leaky faucet. Can't roller-skate or make an F-chord on the guitar that sounds like anything but shit. I have tried twice to be married and couldn't do it either time. But if you want me to take you away, to scare you or involve you or make you cry or grin, yeah. I can. I can bring it to you and keep bringing it until you holler uncle. I am able. I CAN.”
“Writers remember everything...especially the hurts. Strip a writer to the buff, point to the scars, and he'll tell you the story of each small one. From the big ones you get novels. A little talent is a nice thing to have if you want to be a writer, but the only real requirement is the ability to remember the story of every scar.
Art consists of the persistence of memory.”
“I am in trouble here. This woman is not right.”
“He lay back, put his arm over his eyes, and tried to hold onto the anger, because the anger made him feel brave. A brave man could think. A coward couldn't.”
Memory Man, by David Baldacci →
Amos Decker, the memory man, 22-year-old and NFL rookie, was struck on the field that he died twice, ending his football career. The injury-induced hypothermia and synesthesia, and he becomes a different person for the rest of his life and will forget nothing. After some help at a particular rehabilitation institute for those like him, he becomes a cop and a detective.
Years later, his wife, daughter, and brother-in-law are brutally murdered in his home. He can’t continue as a cop and becomes a private investigator. He has hit bottom, is grossly overweight, and, in his way, grief-stricken.
Sebastian Leopold walks into the police station and confesses to the killing of his family. While he is in jail, a mass shooting occurs at a local high school. Decker, I pulled back to working with his old partner and the police department to solve the killings; a surprising link that connects the school killings with those of his family opens up the plot with twists and turns to leave questions that are only answered at the very end.
A well-done story, the first in a series for the Amos Decker character.
See More about David Baldacci in the Favorite Authors Section
