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Rose Madder

stephen king

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The #1 national bestseller about a woman who escapes an abusive marriage is “one of Stephen King’s most engrossing horror novels. Relentlessly paced and brilliantly orchestrated...fueled by an air of danger immediate and overwhelming” (Publishers Weekly).

Rosie Daniels leaves her husband, Norman, after fourteen years in an abusive marriage. She is determined to lose herself in a place where he won’t find her. She’ll worry about all the rest later.

Alone in a strange city, she begins to make a new life, and good things finally start to happen. Meeting Bill is one; and getting an apartment is another. Still, it’s hard for Rosie not to keep looking over her shoulder, and with good reason. Norman is a cop, with the instincts of a predator. He’s very good at finding people, even if he is losing his mind.

Fixed on revenge, Norman Daniels becomes a force of relentless terror and savageness, a man almost mythic in his monstrosity. For Rosie to survive, she must enter her own myth and become a woman she never knew she could be: Rose Madder.

“Riveting, engrossing...packed with suspense” (People), Stephen King infuses this novel with an edge-of-your-seat, chilling atmosphere. Rose Madder is “an eerie, remarkably mature and moving novel” (The Washington Post).

595 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1995

This edition

Format
595 pages, Paperback
Published
January 1, 1996 by Hodder \u0026 Stoughton
ISBN
ASIN
Language
English
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About the author

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stephen king

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Stephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.

Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.

He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.

Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.

In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.

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Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 99 votes)
5 stars
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99 reviews All reviews
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Ballista
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Thriller

This is the harrowing story of domestic abuse. Rosie Daniels, a victim of her deranged and abusive husband, Norman, makes a desperate escape to a strange city. There, she hopes to start a new life, far away from the humiliation and pain that has plagued her. In this new place, she meets Bill, and the two begin to fall for each other. However, Rosie can never truly feel safe. She is constantly on edge, fearing that Norman, a cop, will eventually track her down. After all, for him, it would not be a difficult task.

As is typical in most of Stephen King's books, there are supernatural elements in this story. These elements are well integrated, adding an extra layer of mystery and tension. Perhaps if this had been written by a different author, the supernatural aspects would have been more unexpected. The characters in Rose Madder are well-developed and engaging. Rosie is a sympathetic protagonist, and Bill is a likable love interest. However, the plot is not as captivating as some of King's other works. The pacing could have been better, and the story felt a bit unfocused at times. Overall, while it is not one of King's best novels, it is still a decent read.

Note: Rose Madder is part of my reading of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. It is Book No.12 of the 24 books I plan to read for this series.
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Darkmazo
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I think Rose Madder just became one of my top ten favourite King books.

I’ve read it before and loved it, but something about it this time around really struck a chord.

It felt like it upped and punched me in the gut, and it hurt SO good!

There’s a little bit of everything in this one; horror, suspense, fantasy.

And it’s all absolutely delicious, and I devoured it.

Rosie is such a kickass female character. I am absolutely in love with her, and I think she might tie Susannah as my favourite female King character.

And that’s saying a hell of a lot!

Short story, I freaking love this book!

I found myself completely immersed in the story, unable to put it down.

The way King weaves together the different elements of horror, suspense, and fantasy is truly masterful.

Each page turn had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

Rosie’s character development is also a standout.

From a battered and abused wife, she transforms into a strong and empowered woman, and it’s truly inspiring to read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good horror/suspense/fantasy novel.

It’s a must-read for King fans and anyone looking for a thrilling and engaging read.
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Gbnni
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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It starts with a single drop of blood on a bed sheet, and in that moment, Rose Daniels has a sudden and terrifying realization. If she doesn't leave her domineering and abusive husband, Norman, she may very soon find herself dead. But she also knows that she can't simply pick up and run away to a new city. Norman is a cop, and he has resources at his disposal that can help him track down the wife who has betrayed him.

This novel is an engaging feminist celebration that is rich with allegorical themes about the psychology of the abused and the abuser. While it sometimes feels a bit heavy-handed, for the most part, the characters are believable and resonate with the reader. Norman is truly nuts, and although he may seem over-the-top at times, I know men like him in real life. Some men will stop at nothing, even murder, to regain control of the woman who has wronged them.

Despite the overt supernatural aspects of this book, it is still a good story. There are some elements, such as the painting (no spoilers here), that stretch the boundaries of truth, but overall, there is much to be optimistic about. Not all of King's work is as filled with hope as this one.
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planet_alhena
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Stephen King, the renowned author, once made a famous self-proclamation, comparing himself to the Big Mac and fries of literature. By this, he meant that his works are popular and enjoyable, yet perhaps lacking in nourishment. However, I mostly disagree with this assessment. Novels like IT, Dolores Claiborne, and The Dead Zone are intricate and multi-layered masterpieces. I believe King is overly modest when it comes to his own creations.

Nevertheless, the Maine author's observation does hold true in some specific cases. Christine is a barrel of fun but offers no depth. That's okay. King's 1983 novel about a haunted car is campy horror at its extreme. I would also place Rose Madder in the Big Mac and fries category. While it is fun and engaging, one finishes it feeling full but not particularly satisfied.

This is a brutal and hard-edged tale of spousal abuse, escape, and recovery. The main character, Rose, has endured physical and mental trauma from her husband for fourteen years. Rose Madder follows her journey to self-discovery and freedom. Similar to previous novels Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne, King takes an unflinching and daring look at femininity and what it means to be a woman in the modern age. And for the most part, he succeeds.

Perhaps my biggest issue with this story is not the infamous magical painting that Rose escapes into (a plot point that didn't work for me initially but was more enjoyable on this reread), but rather Norman, the abusive husband. This character is so over-the-top that it's almost unbelievable. King is a master at creating despicable and terrifying characters, yet he completely fails with Norman. He is a walking cliché, and King never takes the time to give the reader any reason to sympathize with him. He is just crazy from the very first page, and it only gets worse. Because of this, much of the novel's potential menace is lost, which is a shame.

That being said, the mythological elements of this novel are interesting. They don't always work, and sometimes they seem awkwardly juxtaposed with the woman-on-the-run thriller feel, but it's acceptable. King would explore the concept of escaping into an alternate, mythic world more effectively in Lisey's Story.

Rose Madder is Stephen King at his most average. While it contains interesting ideas, some captivating prose (especially that prologue!), and a serviceable main character in Rose, this novel just feels tired and inessential. At times, I got the sense that King was getting bored with the story and was eager to finish it. It is recommended, but perhaps only for King completists.

King Connections: There are a few tangential connections to Dark Tower, such as references to ka and the City of Lud. Paul Sheldon of Misery fame also gets a few mentions.

Favorite Quote: "In that instant she knew what it must feel like to cross a river into a foreign country, and then set fire to the bridge behind you, and stand on the riverbank, watching and breathing deeply as your only chance of retreat went up in smoke.”

Up Next: I thought Desperation was next, but I forgot The Green Mile exists. Ha!
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Dracolitch
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I’ve never delved into the works of Stephen King before. And if it weren’t for the numerous people telling me that this was one of his weaker books, I’m uncertain if I’d have the inclination to explore anything else by him.

Overall, I found it to be far too lengthy. In some parts, it was rather boring and repetitive. Moreover, it had a certain unpleasantness that wasn’t related to its horror elements or the inclusion of an abusive relationship.

Regarding the villain, Norman, it seems that King mainly aimed to showcase his awfulness by making him extremely racist and sexist at every given opportunity (even before he starts the rather extreme act of biting people’s dicks off lol). While this did succeed in making me despise him and clearly identify him as the villain, he comes across as rather cartoonish. I don’t believe the book offered much actual insight into the psychology of an abusive man beyond the most obvious aspects of his obsessive dedication to controlling, stalking, and wanting to punish his wife. Maybe that wasn’t King’s intention, but it would have been more fascinating for me than what I ended up reading. It might have also made the horror elements surrounding Norman’s near-indestructibility a bit more engaging.

I liked Rosie as the protagonist. The parts of her journey to independence through staying at a shelter program were nice. However, these aspects quickly got overshadowed by the focus on a very flat and uninteresting instalove romance with a random guy. I also thought it was quite interesting that King made Norman a police detective and initially showed how difficult it is for anyone with a police abuser to find any recourse within the criminal justice system. Only to have Rosie be lectured by the Good Police at the end of the book about how “what she knows about cops” is actually wrong and her experience was just a case of a few bad apples. Okay, lol.

The whole painting world was cool and was by far the part of the book that I was the most interested in. Apparently, there are references to other Stephen King lore here, but of course, these were completely lost on me. This was really not a great read overall, and I definitely wish I had chosen something different for my r/fantasy bingo square for Horror last year (yes, this is how behind I am on posting reviews here!).
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HFH
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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If the term "underrated" can be appropriately applied to any Stephen King book, then "Rose Madder" is surely the one.

In "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft", King himself downplayed this novel, famously referring to it as a "stiff, trying-too-hard" work. I can understand his perspective, especially considering the completely outlandish and misogynistic, racist, homophobic cop/husband villain. However, I believe the book manages to avoid becoming a cartoonish caricature. Even as details of King's own troubled upbringing seep in, it still maintains a certain level of authenticity. This is similar to the antagonist in his later work, "Mr. Mercedes".

The book is far from lacking in subtlety, and that is part of its power. It offers a no-holds-barred, nightmarish account of domestic abuse, which was a dominant theme for King during that decade. I consider this one of his best three novels from the 1990s, along with "Dolores Claiborne" and "Wizard and Glass". When I first read it, I was struck by its potency, and that impression has not changed upon rereading. Rose's abusive marriage is both horrifying and all too believable, and it's impossible not to cheer for her as she escapes and gradually discovers her true self and power.

The randomly encountered totemic and transformative painting is a classic King device that leads to a shockingly rich realm of Greek mythology, long before "retellings" became popular. There is nothing gimmicky about it; it's an authentic literary element that rings true to the source material. This is similar to his much later work, "Fairy Tale". Clearly, "Rose Madder" is steeped in King lore and contains themes that he would return to throughout his decades of writing.

However, one aspect that could have been improved is the overuse of italics. The Norman POV segments did not require this emphasis; the tone and content alone were sufficient to set them apart without the need for this unnecessary slant.
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Timothy_Zlk3
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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4.5 stars

I absolutely adored this book. Rosie is a character who is fully developed and extremely engaging. Her husband, Norman, on the other hand, is truly terrifying. The story begins as a recognizable domestic abuse narrative, featuring some of the most shocking portrayals of partner harm that one can imagine. So, it's important to be aware of this aspect going in.

Witnessing Rosie's escape and her subsequent rebuilding of her life is truly amazing. The tension mounts to unbearable levels as we know that Norman is hunting for her relentlessly. Some reviewers have expressed concerns about the supernatural element seeming out of place for them. However, if you are familiar with the magical elements of The Dark Tower series and the concept of “twinners” which is particularly elemental in Black House, then the way it develops here feels like a natural part of that established whole. That being said, I don't think you necessarily have to be familiar with either of those to appreciate what King has accomplished here.

The portal fantasy element, for me, was executed incredibly well. It reveals the dark side of unlocking power and essential identities and just how dangerous it can be once unleashed. There is gore, violence, and raw power, but there is also the idea of confronting all those aspects within oneself and making the more difficult choice to control them and do what is necessary to become the person you choose to be.

I understand that this may not be a book for everyone, but for me, it was a true gem. I was completely captivated by the story and the characters. “It's best to be ruthless with the past. It ain't the blows we're dealt that matter, but the ones we survive.” This quote really sums up the essence of the book for me. It's about moving forward, leaving the past behind, and finding the strength within oneself to overcome even the most difficult of circumstances.
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j15cailipan
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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I was out researching books by Stephen King and ended up buying two (!!!). This made me remember to write my opinion about this reading. Even though I didn't love it, I still remember the plot relatively well. It's curious how this happens, considering I read it a long time ago and didn't love the story. I read this book when I was a teenager, borrowed from the municipal library, and to this day it's the only book by the author that I've read. His books are of a genre that doesn't captivate me, and I read this one without knowing that it was by an author more inclined towards horror/suspense, and probably at the time I read it, he was already a cult author. I can say that I was completely blind. At the beginning, I liked the story. A woman married to a policeman and who was a victim of domestic violence, but since said husband was a law enforcement agent, who would believe her? So she decided to flee from her tormentor, and this was the part that I liked the most. The eagerness to know if she was successful and the methods she adopted to go unnoticed and not leave a trace of her whereabouts left me impressed. After all, fleeing from a violent and obsessive man is not easy, and when you add that he is a policeman, deceitful, and has more effective means of search, it's even worse. The woman is successful, and this is where things went awry, or, to put it in simpler terms, the fantastic entered. And this is what I didn't like, because let's face it, a woman who goes into a painting and lives a kind of dream isn't really my thing. Maybe I didn't understand the greatness of it, which, I admit, is quite probable, but it didn't convince me.

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