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Carrie

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Sissy Spacek, Margaret Atwood
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Publisher's summary

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY MARGARET ATWOOD • Stephen King's legendary debut, the bestselling smash hit that put him on the map as one of America's favorite writers • In a world where bullies rule, one girl holds a secret power. Unpopular and tormented, Carrie White's life takes a terrifying turn when her hidden abilities become a weapon of horror.

"Stephen King’s first novel changed the trajectory of horror fiction forever. Fifty years later, authors say it’s still challenging and guiding the genre."—Esquire

“A master storyteller.”—The Los Angeles Times • “Guaranteed to chill you.”—The New York Times • "Gory and horrifying. . . . You can't put it down."—Chicago Tribune

Unpopular at school and subjected to her mother's religious fanaticism at home, Carrie White does not have it easy. But while she may be picked on by her classmates, she has a gift she's kept secret since she was a little girl: she can move things with her mind. Doors lock. Candles fall. Her ability has been both a power and a problem. And when she finds herself the recipient of a sudden act of kindness, Carrie feels like she's finally been given a chance to be normal. She hopes that the nightmare of her classmates' vicious taunts is over . . . but an unexpected and cruel prank turns her gift into a weapon of horror so destructive that the town may never recover.

©1974 Stephen King (P)2012 Random House Audio
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Editorial review


By Steve Porter, Audible Editor

STEPHEN KING'S CARRIE TURNS 50. HOW WELL DOES THE HORROR CLASSIC STAND UP?

It’s staggering to consider that Stephen King’s Carrie is 50 years old this month. Margaret Atwood reminded me, in a recent paean to the novel in The New York Times, how vital the book was, and still is. I read it when I was close in age to the characters in the story, when Carrie was the talk of the hallways in middle school. I wanted to show I was cool—and yet, I was worried it might be a bit too much to handle. (I kept hearing about the mysterious "shower scene.") I was not exactly wise for my years, but my curiosity got the best of me.

Just a few pages in, I was hooked. And to say it affected me is an understatement— Carrie shook me to my core. Of course, there was the story, practically dripping with forbidden topics. It had sex! And blood! And telekinesis! And violence! And yes, that shower scene lived up to the hype. Dang, could high school kids really be that mean and awful? Oh, what little I knew. And I have to note that, as an uber-closeted gay kid desperate to keep my true feelings hidden, Carrie’s plight spoke to me in ways no other protagonist had. The shame and loathing she felt about who she was, the lack of family or friends to confide in, the inklings of attraction for a boy who is completely out of her league, the sliver of hope that she will fit in … oh my god, the waves of recognition and empathy crashed over me, page after page.

But what unsettled me even more was the verisimilitude King brought to his storytelling. The places felt lived in, familiar, with details I could almost touch. The people felt real, with unique personalities, quirks, and flaws. They were bold and alive in a way I envied. And King kept tightening the tension with a riveting device, interrupting the narrative at regular intervals to jump into the past or the future, citing a snippet of a (real-sounding) news item or scholarly report about something dreadful that happened to these people. He lets us know this is not going to end well—characters we care about are not going to survive—but he paves a path we are powerless to avoid.

Continue reading Steve's review >

Critic reviews

“Stephen King has built a literary genre of putting ordinary people in the most terrifying situations. . . . he’s the author who can always make the improbable so scary you'll feel compelled to check the locks on the front door.”The Boston Globe

“Shivering, shuddery, macabre evil!”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Eerie and haunting—sheer terror!”Publishers Weekly

Featured Article: The definitive guide to the very best Stephen King adaptations


If you’re a Stephen King fanatic, or are interested in learning about the movies and shows made from his books, this round-up will provide you with a comprehensive list of the very best Stephen King screen adaptations. Watch the adaptation and then listen to the audiobook, or vice versa—this choice is yours. Either way, you can see how the adaptation stacks up against the source material and experience these legendary frights over and over again.

Editor's Pick

The most fun horror listen of…ever, probably?
"Just like scrunchies and platform boots, Stephen King is hotter than ever again. Having never read (or even watched!) the classic that started it all, I recently cozied up with his 1973 novelette Carrie, knowing that it was about a high school outcast who gets her revenge at the prom, but otherwise going in completely blind. You guys, it taps into so many current trends that I can hardly count them all: magic! vengeance! female rage! menstruation!. And the best reason to listen to this Audible book ASAP is that it’s narrated by Sissy Spacek herself. Don’t sleep on this one!"
Rachel S., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Carrie

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Makes a good audible book

The narration by Sissy Spacek is a plus.
I actually enjoyed the audible version better than the book...it's an early work by King and some areas are rough, but it is much less noticeable when you are listening to the audible version.

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Narrator was amazing

This was one of my favorite narrators. She did an excellent job! I ‘ll have to look for more books she narrates.

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intence


Bullying, abuse, tyrannical religious monsters, twisted christian values… this one is a juicy, sink your teeth into, masterwork.

The pain she endures from her religious, nut-job mamma is excruciating. It is real. It is something that can be believed in and experienced during the read.

The use of the letters and newspaper clips that break up the character narrations make it unique, unusual.

indeed this is great story telling. this is one of King's best

-m

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Favorite Book to Listen to

Love this book. The story is about a girl who gets even with those who have tortured her since grade school. While the punishment is excessive, it does show that all actions have consequences, even if you're a teenager. King tells the story so well, it makes me wonder if he was ever on the receiving end of the bullying. The book is read by Sissy Spacek, who some will recognize as the first actress to play Carrie. She has a great voice and is easy to listen to.

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The Ultimate Underdog Bites Back!

Would you consider the audio edition of Carrie to be better than the print version?

Yes, this was an incredibly well done audiobook. It was definitely better than the movie, I love that she fought back.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Carrie, since the book was narrated by Sissy Spacek and she played Carrie in the original movie...it made it all the easier to imagine.

Which character – as performed by Sissy Spacek – was your favorite?

Carrie and her mother, they were well done and very complicated.

If you could take any character from Carrie out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Again I would pick Carrie, that poor girl never got the chance to have a real friend and feel loved. I would love to be her friend.

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Wonderful and yet...

I picked up this book after reading the back story of when Steven King wrote this Novel. I am not a horror fan, but this wasn't quite the needless butchering I usually hate. I am now a fan of Steven King writing. Amazing writing skill. The only grievance is the news reports. He would jump back and forth between the story and almost a panel of investigators. It made the final events anti climatic. I grunted every time the story would stop to hear a after article or police report in the middle of a scene. I didn't mind them in the beginning but they were like commercials: a few in the beginning but a ton at the end because they know you won't stop now. I would recommend it. Wonderful book. I felt a real connection to characters and events, truly a good read.

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Excellent and Scary!!

Very brilliantly written novel. Stephen King was at his very best for this story. This book kept me on the edge of my chair.

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Great book, loved it!’

It was great listening to Sissy Spacek read it, it was the first king movie I watched & the first book I bought. I have read it many times & now I will listen to it repeatedly!

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Great Thriller/Horror

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, to all my friends who enjoy this type of book. The narrator kept things interesting, and intriguing. He absolutely kept me on my toes

What was one of the most memorable moments of Carrie?

The narrators infliction in telling the story. Every moment was memorable because the narrator left a lasting imprint in my mind.

What does Sissy Spacek bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It felt like I was listening to a thrilling story around a campfire, with infliction in tone and excitement. This would have never have been the same if I had read the book

If you could rename Carrie, what would you call it?

I would not re-name Carrie, since the book is all about her and the life she led, and how she became the crazed girl in the end.

Any additional comments?

Carrie is a girl with telekinetic powers who has been isolated from her community due to the crazy reputation of her mother. Her mother has kept her sheltered and taught her extreme religions views and opinions.

All of this made going to high school a traumatic experience for her. Especially when the torture and traumatic times seem to occur on a daily basis.

Everything comes together and she finally explodes with rage, taking it out on anyone and everyone who has ever caused her pain.

It just so happens that the whole town has bullied her, so Carrie has a vendetta against a large amount of people.


I'd give this book 5/5 for an classic original King horror book.

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Favorite book

This is my favorite book of all time besides Harry Potter. Whenever I can't figure out what to read, I read Harry Potter and I can read anything, same with Carrie. From the multiple POVs, to the characters, the setting, the symbolism, the introduction really makes it personal. I love this book.

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