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Gerald's Game | [Stephen King]
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Gerald's Game

  • UNABRIDGED
  • by Stephen King
  • Narrated by Lindsay Crouse
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  • Regular Price :$26.60

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What's Trending in Fiction:

  • Average Customer Rating
  • Overall
    (179)
    Performance
    (94)
    Story
    (95)
 
  • LENGTH
    13 hrs and 34 mins
  • RELEASE DATE
    05-11-09
  • AUDIO FORMATS
    About Audio Formats
    2 3 4 Enhanced Audio
 

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Publisher's Summary

On a warm October day, Jessie Burlingame lies in the bedroom of her secluded lake home, listening to the far-off sounds of the country; the cry of a loon, the growl of a chain saw, the bark of a lonesome dog. Nearer, she hears the banging of the screen door, left unlatched in the autumn breeze; nearer still, the click of the key locking the second pair of handcuffs that chain her to the bed. Gerald Burlingame, her husband of 17 years, looms over her, grin on his face, gleam in his eye, lust in his heart. This is Gerald's favorite game - a little kinky, perhaps, but all in good fun.

And then, quite suddenly, the fun is over. Gerald's heart fails him in the heat of passion, leaving Jessie hideously trapped and dreadfully alone. As darkness gathers in the room that is now Jessie's whole world, she must face not only the terror of never escaping, but the most excruciating truths about her life: the murky secrets that brought her here in the first place.

©1992 Stephen King; (P)1992 Penguin HighBridge Audio

What the Critics Say

"[A]n exquisitely horrifying frightfest." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Cunningly orchestrated...Kept us up half the night." (Newsweek)

What Members Say

Average Customer Rating

3.9 (179 ratings)
5 star
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3 star
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2 star
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1 star
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Overall
4.0 (95 ratings)
5 star
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3 star
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2 star
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1 star
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Story
4.1 (94 ratings)
5 star
 (50)
4 star
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3 star
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2 star
 (2)
1 star
 (6)
Performance
  •  
    Suzn F Fletcher, VT, US 01-18-12
    Suzn F Fletcher, VT, US 01-18-12 Member Since 2005

    I believe a reviewer should finish a book before submitting a review. What do you think?

    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "Until the Climax"

    Mr. King does it again...a little S and M and overall a story about resilience, a woman's strength and determination. This book is made up of our nightmares and doesn't disappoint. I loved that the reader must wait to see how things would turn out in a unique way. Enjoy this creepy book!

    6 of 6 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Roni United States 02-21-13
    Roni United States 02-21-13 Member Since 2012
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    "Excellent story, terrible narration/production"

    I had no clue as to what this book was about when I bought it, only that it was a friend's #1 choice for a SK book. After listening to it, I have no doubt as to why. This story is something of nightmares and it makes me wonder what Stephen King sees when he sleeps. Gerald's Game constantly twists and turns into new directions, never giving the listener a recovery period from what just happened. I'm not complaining, though. It was truly an amazing book that I would recommend to anyone who likes a visceral reaction from their fiction.

    On the downside, the narrator is not fit for this type of fiction, maybe not any type. She sounds like someone who would be great at documentaries or historical non-fiction. The tone of this book didn't lend itself to her rhythm, and based on the storyline, another narrator would have really seit it off. If you like a monotone/news anchor style, then Lindsay Crouse is for you. Otherwise, stay focused on the story. If another narrator picked up this book, I'd definitely listen to it again.

    Another critique that I can't leave out is the production. The individual who decided it would be a great idea to randomly place cheezy 80's synthesizer sounds throughout the book WAY more often than necessary should not be allowed to oversee an audiobook production again......ever.

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Thomas Tucson, AZ, United States 02-19-13
    Thomas Tucson, AZ, United States 02-19-13
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    "A must for King READERS"
    If you could sum up Gerald's Game in three words, what would they be?

    If you read the book when it came out, you'd know why it was never made into a movie. It is the finest example of King's keen attention to detail. Great piece of work!


    What other book might you compare Gerald's Game to and why?

    Nothing comparable comes to mind.


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

    Good sense of timing and pace.


    If you could take any character from Gerald's Game out to dinner, who would it be and why?

    Gerald himself. I have worked for and then with this same man in my lifetime.


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Jayme Scranton, PA, United States 07-22-11
    Jayme Scranton, PA, United States 07-22-11 Member Since 2011
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    "Unemotional and Disconnected"

    I read the reviews and was dubious about this title but I had had a previous friend rave about the book so I tried it anyway. I was disappointed.

    People that read a lot of Stephen King start to notice recurring characters and how many of his stories interconnect with others. This book filled in the spaces from the eclipse in "Dolores Claiborne." The other book was "far" better written than this I'm afraid.

    You really feel no compassion whatsoever for the main character despite the plight of her situation and the abuse of her past.

    I feel like the concluding story was disconnected from the beginning and the middle really didn't fit either... this book must have been written during an imaginative dry spot for Stephen King. Read "Lisey's story" or "Dolores Claiborne" instead for similar but much more captivating characters and subject matter. This was just a waste of time and money.

    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Stephen FRANKLIN, TN, United States 06-17-09
    Stephen FRANKLIN, TN, United States 06-17-09 Member Since 2005
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    "Bondage"

    Being relatively familiar with this authors work, it seemed a safe bet that this book would be at least a moderately interesting companion on a long car ride and daily commutes. I found the book to be exasperatingly sluggish, repetitious and an unrewarding waste of 15 hours. Replace the useless similes and repeated phrasing, apparently intended for emphasis, with a restraint and brevity and it would be somewhat tolerable. Duma Key is much more interesting in subject matter with more engaging characters and events.

    14 of 22 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Michael J. Szarka 11-13-10 Member Since 2008
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    "What's with the..."

    What's with the weird Casio Tone interludes? It's so absurd. it's like a cat jumping on a keyboard. I guess I did enjoy them as comic relief but someone I don't think that was the intent. Dun dun DUN dun dun DUN.

    2 of 3 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Tara NOWATA, OK, United States 04-30-13
    Tara NOWATA, OK, United States 04-30-13 Member Since 2013
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    "Really shows an authors talent."

    This story was okay but it was made better by the thought of how hard it must be for an author to essentially have one human character for the whole of the book and still be able to write an interesting story of this length.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Devin Redlands, CA, United States 03-11-13
    Devin Redlands, CA, United States 03-11-13 Member Since 2001
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    "wallowing in child sexual abuse"
    Would you try another book from Stephen King and/or Lindsay Crouse?

    maybe after a long time


    Would you ever listen to anything by Stephen King again?

    it's going to be a while


    What about Lindsay Crouse’s performance did you like?

    average to good


    If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Gerald's Game?

    about 2/3 of it


    Any additional comments?

    Be prepared for long discussions of a Dad abusing his little girl. Not scary in the least, just disgusting. I fast forwarded most of the second half of the book hoping for Stephen King chills, but only found shudders. One of the only audible books I've ever returned.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Santie Sol Waukegan, IL USA 02-09-13
    Santie Sol Waukegan, IL USA 02-09-13 Member Since 2011
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    "Not my fav..."
    Would you listen to Gerald's Game again? Why?

    I would not listen to this book again. I love Stephen King. In my eyes he can do no wrong. Though well written, this story didn't wrap me up and wisk me away like most of his novels and the ending really left me hanging.


    What other book might you compare Gerald's Game to and why?

    I have not read another book quite like this one.


    What do you think the narrator could have done better?

    The narrator did a fine job with the material.


    Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

    No.


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    jaye GREENWICH, CT, United States 04-30-12
    jaye GREENWICH, CT, United States 04-30-12 Member Since 2012

    LIBERAL DEMOCRAT.

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    "enjoyable book but not king's best."
    Would you listen to Gerald's Game again? Why?

    probably. i read the print version years ago. it is entertaining.


    If you’ve listened to books by Stephen King before, how does this one compare?

    it is let's say a b- if you were going to grade it. thinner is his top book.


    Have you listened to any of Lindsay Crouse’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

    i don't think so.


    If you could rename Gerald's Game, what would you call it?

    hard question. i think the book name is good as it is.


    Any additional comments?

    the dog in the story was stupid. i did not like that part. grossness when necessary is one thing but to find a way to purposely add grotesqueness to a story is weak.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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