Meet New Books
Meet New Books
Book Cover

Gerald's Game

Save:
Find on Amazon

In 'Gerald's Game' by Stephen King, the story revolves around a woman named Jessie who finds herself handcuffed to a bed after her husband unexpectedly dies during a sex game gone wrong. Stranded in a secluded cabin, she must confront her deepest fears while battling physical and psychological horrors. The narrative delves into themes of survival, past trauma, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination, keeping readers on edge with its intense and disturbing storyline.

The writing style in 'Gerald's Game' is described as psychologically horrifying, thought-provoking, and suspenseful. Stephen King masterfully crafts a tale that explores the complexities of human nature, creating a chilling atmosphere that lingers long after the book is finished. The novel combines elements of horror, suspense, and psychological thriller, offering a unique and immersive reading experience that challenges readers to question morality and face their deepest fears.

Characters:

The characters, particularly Jessie, are deeply developed, revealing complex internal struggles and past traumas.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is intense and psychologically driven, marked by vivid imagery and deep exploration of trauma.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a woman trapped after a sexual game goes horribly wrong, leading her to confront deep-seated trauma and fight for survival.

Setting:

The setting is a secluded cabin, which amplifies the sense of isolation and dread experienced by the protagonist.

Pacing:

The pacing is methodical, focusing on internal conflict and creating tension through confinement.
Jessie could hear the back door banging lightly, randomly, in the October breeze blowing around the house. The jamb always swelled in the fall and you really had to give the door a yank to shut it. Th...

Notes:

The story centers around Jessie Burlingame, who becomes trapped in a remote cabin after her husband dies suddenly during a kinky game.
Jessie is handcuffed to the bed, left alone with her husband's corpse and the terrifying thoughts in her head.
The novel explores deep psychological themes, including trauma from Jessie's childhood, revealing her past abuse.
Multiple voices in Jessie's head provide different perspectives and push her toward self-discovery and survival.
The narrative features disturbing scenes such as a stray dog eating Jessie's dead husband and encounters with a mysterious figure known as the Space Cowboy.
The book is noted for its exploration of themes like misogyny and sexual assault, making many readers uncomfortable with its content.
Several readers found the book to be extremely unsettling or even nauseating, particularly the scenes involving her escape from the handcuffs.
Gerald's Game is relatively simplistic in its setting, mostly taking place in a single room, yet is filled with tension and psychological horror.
The book is often discussed alongside Dolores Claiborne, another Stephen King novel, as both deal with themes of trauma and survival, and share a thematic connection through a significant event.
The ending of Gerald's Game has been criticized for being anti-climactic or underwhelming, with some readers preferring ambiguity over the explanations provided.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Gerald's Game contains significant content warnings including sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, intense psychological situations, body horror, and graphic imagery.

From The Publisher:

Now a Netflix movie directed by Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Hush) and starring Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood.

Master storyteller Stephen King presents this classic, terrifying #1 New York Times bestseller. When a game of seduction between a husband and wife ends in death, the nightmare has only begun…

"And now the voice which spoke belonged to no one but herself. Oh my God, it said. Oh my God, I am all alone out here. I am all alone."

Once again, Jessie Burlingame has been talked into submitting to her husband Gerald's kinky sex games-something that she's frankly had enough of, and they never held much charm for her to begin with. So much for a "romantic getaway" at their secluded summer home. After Jessie is handcuffed to the bedposts-and Gerald crosses a line with his wife-the day ends with deadly consequences. Now Jessie is utterly trapped in an isolated lakeside house that has become her prison-and comes face-to-face with her deepest, darkest fears and memories. Her only company is that of the various voices filling her mind…as well as the shadows of nightfall that may conceal an imagined or very real threat right there with her…

Ratings (71)

Incredible (6)
Loved It (20)
Liked It (24)
It Was OK (12)
Did Not Like (6)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (130):

Read It (71)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (32)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (23)

About the Author:

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, and Doctor Sleep are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

 
Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.