Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Rose Madder

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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cheymac's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

This book feels refreshing in the way it approaches the difficult topic of domestic abuse. Despite its extremely raw depiction of this cruelty, it spins a narrative that allows for growth and healing and never once falls into victim blaming or shaming — it outright rejects these things at many points along the way.

While King has dismissed this book as one of his not so great ones, I think quite the opposite is true. It feels self aware in how it leans on cliches or uses the supernatural to neatly resolve otherwise messy storylines. The horror it evokes is a very real horror, and the closure it offers feels well deserved. I loved this book. From the moment I started it, I couldn’t put it down.

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sheryl_macca's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-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

I'm always going to enjoy a book written by Stephen King, his books are deep in my comfort zone, and this one was no different. I must admit that the premise didn't fully entice me from the blurb. I read this one initially with a note of caution but I quickly let that go and was fully absorbed.

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.

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