Carrie: An Introduction
From: Jeffrey Wilsor
To: Meghan Krogh
Subject: Before I Begin…
I thought [whether or not we post it] that I would start off here with a tiny bit of context before I begin reading Carrie.
This will be my second time through this book, the first being over half my life ago, during the summer between the 8th and 9th or 10th-ish grades. I loved it then. I remember being fascinated by the unconventional structure and the skill with which King keeps some things hidden in plain sight; and when he gives a revelation in this story, I remember it being very matter-of-fact, not sensational or gimmicky. I wonder how well my memory serves, and how much my own growth and perspective changes how I read it, now that I’m not around the same age as Carrie is through the bulk of the book.
I also never had the chance to read this book without the knowledge of the 1976 film. In many ways, I knew what to expect upon my first reading. By this point in my life, I’ve seen that movie at least a dozen more times, and the remake a couple times as well. (Side note: the remake isn’t as bad as people think it is, IMO. If only for Her Excellency Julianne Moore’s performance, I urge you to watch it if you haven’t.) [New idea: maybe after we finish a book, we then watch the movie/TV adaptation(s) and have a short exchange about that?]
I’m sitting outside in the sun today with a copy of Carrie I just picked up from the library. I won’t wait any longer to start reading it...I’m so curious to see how my memory of the devices and style holds up to what’s actually there to read. In any case, I know I love almost always love King, and I know it’s an unusual book, especially for a debut novel. I’m excited to dig in!
In His Majesty’s Service,
Jeffrey
From: Meghan Krogh
To: Jeffrey Wilsor
Subject: re: Before I Begin…
As prefaces go, I think we're off to a good start.
I actually listened to Carrie the first time I read it; Sissy Spacek narrated it and I listened to it while I was on that huge road trip Luna and I took a couple of summers ago. It was a long, lonely trip but I just remember the book feeling so sad. And then I read something, somewhere, about King's writing of the book—at one point he threw it away, and Tabitha rescued it and urged him to keep writing it? And he mentioned at one point that Carrie was based on a couple of different girls he actually went to school with. I don't know why those details stuck with me so closely.
I've actually seen all three film adaptations of this book—the '76 classic, the newer one with Her Excellency Julianne Moore as Margaret, and this truly hilarious 2002 one made for TV which, shockingly, had Patricia Clarkson as Margaret (and Emilie de Ravin, as in Claire from LOST, as Chris—what a trip). We should definitely chat more about the adaptations after we've finished our read through.
One thing I think struck me the first time, and that I think will hold up, is the sort of "found document" style of narration. I worried it would feel gimmicky, but it doesn't—or, it didn't the last time I read the book. It'll be fun to dig in on that soon.
In His Majesty’s Service,
Meghan
