Over the course of his 50-year career, certain King stories wouldn't age well.
When considering which Stephen King books may have lost their shine, my immediate thought is to look at his earliest books. Oftentimes, authors don't truly take off until they've written a couple of novels. It may take time for them to truly find their voice. However, when looking into the start of King's career, this is far from the truth. King's third novel ever was The Shining, which has certainly held up. His second book, Salem's Lot, is currently being adapted into a movie. Above all, King's first published work, Carrie, remains one of his most memorable books of all.
Stephen King's Carrie Holds Up Incredibly Well For A Debut Novel
What Makes Carrie Hold Up
In 1974, King published his first-ever novel, Carrie. It tells the story of a teenage girl named Carrie who is bullied in school and abused by her religious mother. Yet, when Carrie discovers that she has powerful psychic abilities, she is finally able to turn the tables on those who have wronged her. Compared to other King novels, Carrie is fairly short and straightforward, but that doesn't diminish the quality of the novel by a long shot. To me, Carrie has remained one of King's best stories because of its simple premise.
Carrie has held up so well because it is easily accessible to all readers.
Carrie has held up so well because it is easily accessible to all readers. Where other King books are massive epics with huge casts of characters, Carrie doesn't have all that. Anyone can understand the plight of this awkward young woman. Furthermore, this simple set-up makes it so that the climax of the book is even more shocking. King lays out all the cards slowly and methodically so that when the big turning point comes, it feels world-shattering. Plus, it helps that certain images and scenes in Carrie are so visceral that they stick with audiences for years afterward.
Carrie's Themes Make Stephen King's First Book A Timeless Classic
Carrie Explores Abuse, Adolescence, & Agency
I believe what really makes Carrie so strong, even 50 years later, are its themes. Despite being written in the 1970s, Carrie touches on ideas that anyone can relate to, no matter how old they are or when they grew up. Everyone has experienced or witnessed social rejection, and certainly everyone has felt like the odd one out at some point in their lives. What makes this aspect of Carrie even better is that the book doesn't just focus on Carrie but on Sue Snell as well. Readers can get both perspectives, making the story even more relatable.
How Much Stephen King Was Paid For Carrie (& Why It Was So Little)
Stephen King has carved out a vastly profitable career as a horror novelist, but his first book, Carrie, yielded a surprisingly small payday.
Furthermore, Carrie's story may not be relatable in every sense, but it is what lies underneath that counts. I definitely have not had a bucket of blood poured over their head, nor do I have telekinetic powers. However, Carrie's tale of identity can be meaningful for countless people. The supernatural aside, Carrie explores the idea of an individual turning their back on the cruelty of the world and taking action in their life. It is a tale of revenge, but also of agency. Carrie's ability to stand up for herself is irable, regardless of the violence that occurs alongside it.
How Stephen King's Books Have Evolved Since His 1974 Debut
King Has Remained Relatable (And Spooky)
Since writing Carrie, Stephen King has continued writing absolute hits. Some of his novels have gotten longer and more complex, but many still follow the same simple style of Carrie. If anything, I think King has evolved by leaning more heavily into stories that are strange or unique. While a story about a telekinetic girl isn't particularly groundbreaking, King has delved into much weirder topics such as rabid St. Bernards, a cult of murderous children, and a clown that lives in the sewer. I think King finds success with strange stories because they are so vivid and horrifying.
Carrie has had four movie adaptations, one television special, and a Broadway musical adaptation.
Ultimately, it is incredibly irable that King's debut novel continues to affect readers, even 50 years later. Not every author has such a strong and long-lasting first novel. Overall, Carrie laid a solid foundation for the rest of King's repertoire, and it is nice to be able to go back and enjoy the story as much as the first time I read it. If anything, the lasting success of Carrie just proves to me that Stephen King is one of the greatest writers of this generation.
Carrie is a horror film directed by Brian De Palma, based on Stephen King's novel. It stars Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a shy high school student who discovers her telekinetic abilities. Tormented by her peers and controlled by her fanatically religious mother, played by Piper Laurie, the film follows Carrie's emotional and psychological struggles leading to a dramatic climax. Carrie solidified its place in the horror genre for its powerful performances and chilling atmosphere.
- Writers
- Stephen King, Lawrence D. Cohen
- Main Genre
- Horror
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