Scan barcode
A review by readingspells
Rose Madder by Stephen King
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
As with so many King books there were definite moments in this when it just felt overly long and that we totally had the point but can we please move on now to something happening. I have learned to lean into that with this author as so often when you get to the end you suddenly realise that all of those moments were actually needed to tell a complete and detailed story. However I am not sure that is true this time. Yes it is somewhat true but not completely.
I found some of the chapters will Norman's inner dialogue were almost repetitive in nature and I have to say that large body of italic text was not that easy to read. I keep trying to differentiate it from the rest of the story but bloody hell that italic was hard.
SLIGHT SPOILER
This is a book where I feel like King had tried to be too clever and the result was it lost me a bit. The domestic violence story totally had me hooked and I so wanted Norman to get his comeuppance but the whole painting and super natural part of it seemed to derail that and I was oddly disappointed that Norman's fate does not lay in reality.
However, King writes violent misogynist so well. Normal literally made my skin crawl and the second half off the book where he is hunting Rose was such a gripping page turner that I couldn't put it down.
But then the end, well I won't do spoilers but it just didn't work for me and I the very very end, I didn't even really understand the significance of it and it left me feeling like I wasn't smart enough for this book as my Greek myth knowledge was lacking.
CW: Vivid descriptions of violent domestic violence, miscarriage, physical trauma from abuse and violent misogyny.
I found some of the chapters will Norman's inner dialogue were almost repetitive in nature and I have to say that large body of italic text was not that easy to read. I keep trying to differentiate it from the rest of the story but bloody hell that italic was hard.
SLIGHT SPOILER
This is a book where I feel like King had tried to be too clever and the result was it lost me a bit. The domestic violence story totally had me hooked and I so wanted Norman to get his comeuppance but the whole painting and super natural part of it seemed to derail that and I was oddly disappointed that Norman's fate does not lay in reality.
However, King writes violent misogynist so well. Normal literally made my skin crawl and the second half off the book where he is hunting Rose was such a gripping page turner that I couldn't put it down.
But then the end, well I won't do spoilers but it just didn't work for me and I the very very end, I didn't even really understand the significance of it and it left me feeling like I wasn't smart enough for this book as my Greek myth knowledge was lacking.
CW: Vivid descriptions of violent domestic violence, miscarriage, physical trauma from abuse and violent misogyny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Violence