Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Rose Madder by Stephen King

32 reviews

stars_and_stags's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, however it is very much a book of its time. 

The first chapter is very dark and the opening pages are horrific to read. 

There are also quite a few words & phrases that were quite shocking to hear in 2023. 

Overall, I like the journey Rose goes on but I perfectly understand why some choose not to read this. It’s a tough read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Stalking, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

tifftastic87's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Another that I loved as a teen but didnt hit the same way as an adult. 

It made me more emotional this time around for sure but it was... Definitely 90s. Its always hard when King writes from his villain's perspective because they are always truly horrible and its hard to hear the language they use about other people. However it does truly make you hate Norman. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

stacymania's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Review contains spoilers 
*I also mention devices used in Duma Key & Lisey's Story

I really wanted and expected this to zoom into my Top King's. I originally claimed a five star rating, but I have to admit it wasn't a perfect read.

Firstly, I found the pacing to be really uneven. Being a Constant Reader I'm all for slow burns, however this one started off hot and lost its way, getting a little boring honestly, before finding itself again in the second half. 

My secondary issue was our Rosie finding new love so quickly. I ended up really adoring Bill's character, however, this trope had me rolling my eyes at his first introduction. Why not focus more on the bonds made with fellow femmes than needing a man?

Lastly, I found most of the characters fairly one dimensional, especially for the first half of the book. Rosie absolutely kicked ass in the second half and Norman was absolutely diabolical the whole way through. I just didn't come to adore Rose as much as I anticipated, which makes me sad and I found most of the secondary characters quite flat. 

That being said, MVP goes to Gertie. Her triumphant takedown of Norman had me cheering outloud! She's hilarious and badass! 

I wanted this to be up there with Dolores Claiborne and Gerald's Game, yet I found it didn't hold the same power. 

The supernatural element was pretty neat, but I'd have to say Duma Key does the haunted painting in a more effective manor and Lisey's Story has a more intoxicating "dream" world. 

The last act of this book was a thrill ride, and redeemed my previous boredom. Although things seemed to line up almost too perfectly, I found this section tense and emotional. 

Rose Madder is worth the read and has a brave message for anyone going through or who has survived abuse, it just landed middle of the road King for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Murder

legithdnelson's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Miscarriage

samantha_diluca_duckworth's review against another edition

dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is very strange and kind of all over the place. In some parts I loved it and in others I really didn't. Overall I enjoyed it though and found it worth finishing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Rape

gemdnnlly's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.25

I don’t even know where to start with content warnings for this. Filled with racist, homophobic and antisemitic slurs. 

There’s so much repetition and it feels like King was just trying desperately to reach 500+ pages 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Antisemitism

saemiligr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Body horror

liminalweirdo's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Blood, and Antisemitism

a_novel_craving's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Murder, and Gaslighting

squaresofliving's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another book by King that I really really enjoyed. 
Yes, Norman is vile and some parts when we were told what he'd done to Rosie I thought were a bit too detailed, but I was rooting for Rosie the whole way through. I did find the elements of the painting a bit unnecessary, as in many of King's novels I think the books could be better without those "scary" bits. Reality is scary enough, as Rose well knows... 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence