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lorelurking's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Otherwise the characters were very fleshed out (though the main antagonist does sort of devolve into a bit of an almost cartoonishly evil character for "plot reasons") but it's a Stephen King novel if that makes sense so there's sexual violence and weird thinly veiled fetishes in my opinion (really Stephen? ANOTHER man eating spider)?
For what it's worth I read this entire novel in a single sitting (with Covid).
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
fatkidatheartreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Lesbophobia
a_novel_craving's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Murder, and Gaslighting
angielisle's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
sheryl_macca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Rose Madder is a combination of a quintessential King thriller and Greek mythology. The story is told from the 2 main characters points of view in alternate chapters which very slowly reduce in length. It's barely noticeable until the final third of the book where you are being swept into the faster pace this trick creates, like a whirlpool.
Rose Madder is brutal, tense, thrilling, violent and supernatural but it's also moving, emotional and hopeful. For me, the mirror world/largest metaphor ever used was almost too much. It takes a significant suspension in disbelief but I learned to appreciate it.
I also found it difficult to believe that a woman traumatised by domestic abuse would so easily enter into a new relationship and so smoothly. I was rooting for them though.
My final criticism is in the very end of the book. It's hard to describe it without giving any spoilers so I'll just say that I found 'remember the tree' unnecessary.
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, and Murder
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The other thing I had an issue with was the racism, homophobia, and fatphobia. The first two mostly came from the villain of the novel, so it's unclear if it was meant to be just a bad thing the bad guy thinks or if the narrative was supporting those ideas. The fatphobia was clearly coming from the narrative itself, not just the villain's perspective.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content