<P> The novel focuses on Paul Sheldon, a writer famous for Victorian - era romance novels involving the character of Misery Chastain . One day he is rescued from a car crash by crazed fan Annie Wilkes, who transports him to her house and, once finding out what he has done to Misery in his latest book, forces him to write a new book modifying the story--no matter what it takes . </P> <P> Paul Sheldon is the author of a best - selling series of Victorian era romance novels surrounding the character Misery Chastain . He has just finished the manuscript of his new crime novel, Fast Cars, while staying at the Hotel Boulderado . Since 1974, he has completed the first draft of every one of his novels in the same hotel room in Colorado . With his latest project finished, he has an alcohol - induced impulse to drive to Los Angeles rather than fly back home to New York City . However, a snowstorm hits while he is driving through the mountains . Sheldon drives off a cliff and crashes upside down into a snowbank . </P> <P> Paul is rescued from the car wreck, which has resulted in shattered legs, by Annie Wilkes, a former nurse who lives nearby in the fictive town "Sidewinder" in Colorado . She takes him to her own home rather than a hospital, putting him in the guest bedroom . Using her nursing skills and stockpiled food and medical supplies, including an illicit stash of codeine - based painkillers, Annie slowly nurses Paul back to "health". Instead of setting his legs, as a doctor would have done (so that they may mend and eventually work), she puts them in makeshift splints . This results in his legs looking somewhat like a child's doodle . She proclaims herself as Paul's "number one fan," being an avid reader of the Misery Chastain series . However, when she reads the manuscript for Fast Cars, Annie argues with Paul on its violent content and profanity, causing her to spill his soup . Saying that the accident was "his" fault, she punishes him by withholding his medication, then forcing him to wash it down with soap water . Paul, who has done extensive research into mental disorders, suspects that Annie is dangerously disturbed . </P> <P> Prior to the accident, when Sheldon's latest novel, Misery's Child, had hit the shelves, Annie had bought herself a reserved copy . She does not know, however, that Paul has killed Misery Chastain off at the end, intending to end the Misery series and re-establish himself as a mainstream writer . Upon learning of the main character's demise (which she reads while Sheldon is her captive), Annie rages at Paul before leaving him alone in her house without food, water or the painkillers for over two days lest she do something "unwise". During this time, Paul suffers from extreme pain and withdrawal symptoms due to the painkillers; by the time Annie returns, he is close to becoming comatose or dying . Annie forces him to burn the manuscript of Fast Cars--the book he hoped would launch his post-Misery career--and presents him with an antique Royal typewriter, for the purpose of writing a new Misery Chastain novel that will bring the character back from the dead . </P>

Misery is all the rage fall out boy