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.

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.

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.

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!

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!).

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.

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.

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.

Hasta el momento, el mejor libro junto a Dolores Claiborne en esta etapa de los 90´s de King es una obra que cautiva desde la primera página. Recuerdo que el primer libro que leí de él fue "Desesperación", y será el último libro que lea del maestro cuando concluya toda su obra, al menos la publicada en español.

Es una historia muy dura, llena de violencia y tensión que no deja al lector insatisfecho. Más bien, es incómoda, con toques sobrenaturales que, aunque no marcan la obra, tienen cierto significado simbólico. Las primeras hojas fueron literalmente muy duras y me dieron un mal rollo que no había notado desde hace tiempo. Hasta el punto que tuve que darme un respiro en algunos párrafos. Los peores monstruos que puede crear King son aquellos que tienen la apariencia humana. La tensión casi viva que fluye a través de estos personajes hace de su narrativa algo único. Aunque no sea una lectura original del todo, lo que la hace excepcional es cómo se cuenta la historia. Esta lectura me sorprendió gratamente. Aunque no es de sus obras más conocidas, merece una oportunidad sin duda.

Contiene algunos guiños a "La Torre Oscura" y a "Misery", y cuando King mete guiños, la lectura se vuelve aún más interesante. Además, en algunos puntos me recordó a "El Retrato De Dorian Gray", probablemente por el tema del cuadro. Si ha sido una referencia más fuerte, lo ha hecho de una forma sutil y elegante.

Otro punto que me llamó la atención en esta obra es el tema de la dualidad. No es la primera vez que King trata esa doble personalidad casi diabólica en sus obras, como en "El Resplandor", en la trilogía de Bill Hodges o en la mitad oscura. Y no es casualidad, ya que una de las lecturas que marcó su infancia fue "El Extraño Caso Del Doctor Jekyll Y El Señor Hyde" de Robert Louis Stevenson.

En resumen, es una novela bastante redonda y gratificante. Quizás la falta de perspectiva absoluta sobre esta novela fuera un factor fundamental para disfrutarla a mi gusto.

Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up.

This is one of those King books that I truly didn't anticipate much from. It's not typically listed as a favorite or even frequently mentioned among his works. Honestly, if I hadn't been so committed to the extended reading list for the Dark Tower, I probably wouldn't have thought to pick it up. But since it was next on that list, I managed to find a copy. And now, I'm extremely glad I did.

Though not flawless, Rose Madder has now become one of my favorite King novels outside of The Stand and the main Dark Tower series. The protagonist, Rose Daniels, is someone you can really root for.

Rose has endured 14 years of extreme spousal abuse at the hands of her policeman husband, Norman Daniels. One drop of blood on a bed sheet serves as her catalyst for leaving this dreadful existence and starting anew elsewhere. Now, Rosie is finally embarking on a life of her own for the first time in her adult life, and it's truly wonderful. However, Norman refuses to let his wife go. He's determined to track her down and have a "conversation" with her, which he plans to be the last one Rose ever has. But there are strange powers at play here, and Norman will find this plan much more difficult to execute than he ever imagined.

Norman might just be the most despicable fictional character in the history of fiction. He's one of the most disturbed, chauvinistic, narcissistic, and deranged excuses for a human being that I've ever had the misfortune of being in the head of. I found him truly appalling. On the other hand, Rose is possibly the best female character King has ever created. She feels incredibly real, and both her hopes and her terrible fears ring very true. The way she grows throughout the novel made me want to cheer. Her resilience and optimism are truly inspiring.

While I developed strong feelings towards both the protagonist and the antagonist, what really sold me on this book was the horror element. I've read a significant amount of King by this point, including most of his horror classics like The Shining, IT, ‘Salem’s Lot, and Pet Sematary. There are portions of Rose Madder that I firmly believe are just as freaky and disturbing as those in the aforementioned books. And the horror here felt different and original in ways that really resonated with me. I won't soon forget the source of the novel's title or why there's a bull skull on the cover.

I could never consider King or his work underrated. But I do think Rose Madder deserves more attention than it currently receives. I loved seeing the ways in which it ties into the Tower, but even outside of those connections, I found it to be a fantastic book. The only reason it's a 4.5-star read for me instead of a full 5 is because Norman's head was such a vile place to be, although thankfully, his perspective chapters were fewer and shorter than Rosie's. Rose Madder is a great horror-laced thriller that will stay in my mind for a long time to come.

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.

I truly believe that "Rose Madder" contains one of the most unyielding and heart-stopping pursuits in any novel. And in Norman Daniels, we have the strongest villain in all of King's works. King doesn't merely describe Norman's actions; he delves deep into the monster's mind, revealing the thoughts that drive a violent murderer.

Rose McClendon married Norman right after high school. On their wedding night, she endured a savage bite from him, and from that moment on, her life became a never-ending nightmare of abusive violence. If things weren't done exactly as Norman wanted, there was a price to pay, and it was a physical one. Rose was beaten for not washing the floor thoroughly enough, for reading romance novels, and for getting pregnant. It was the pregnancy that landed her in the hospital, with the baby beaten to death inside her. She endured all of this for fourteen years. Then, one day, when she noticed a drop of blood from the previous night's beating on her bedsheet and knew she'd either have to change the sheets again or face more abuse, Rosie simply walked out of the house forever. She took Norman's ATM card and fled.

What follows is a story of liberation. It alternates between Norman's furious plans to make his wife pay for the audacity of leaving him and Rose's escape into a new life. That life turns out to be far more wonderful than she could have ever imagined. It's not just the absence of pain; it's a world of friends, a lover, and a magical painting she discovers in a pawnshop.

The painting becomes a central focus of the story. It shows an image of a strong woman standing on a hillside, who inspires Rose to be strong whenever she's overcome with doubt or fear. Rose eventually learns that she can step into the painting and have amazing, though sometimes terrifying, new experiences. Meanwhile, as Rose's new life improves, Norman draws closer, just as she knew he would.

How does King manage to gain such a profound understanding of the mind of a sicko like Norman? I'm sure there was extensive research and discussions with experts. Norman is a cop, a great cop, and he's internalized police procedures to the highest degree. I can envision King engaged in long conversations with those who know the ins and outs of the police force and its most deviant members. Still, I think there's more to it than that. In a word, it's genius, perhaps King's greatest genius. He's such a perceptive observer of people that he can create believable characters, even when they're monsters. He can enter Norman's mind, piece together his intentions, reconstruct his thoughts, and provide us with a clear rationalization for all those brutal actions.

When Norman shows up, terrorizes, and murders the very people who saved Rose when she arrived in her new city (presumably Chicago), the painting becomes even more vivid. Crickets hop out of the scene and into her bed; the painting's moonlight fills the room even on the darkest nights. Then the image takes over one whole wall of Rosie's apartment, and she's lured inside. Rose does a favor for the woman on the hill, a favor that the woman says she will repay.

It's at this moment that the story starts to get even stranger than most of us would have expected. Up until now, it's been a terrifying and very real tale of pursuit; now it becomes surreal and horrific. The woman, named Rose Madder for the color of her gown and the words scrawled in charcoal on the back of the painting, is not the sweet, motherly type we might have imagined. She's not just there to help Rose; she's a monster in her own right, stark raving mad and in the process of being consumed by some flesh-crusting illness. But she also serves a liberating purpose because, when Norman chases Rose into the painting, Rose Madder is more than happy to confront him, reveal her true self, and basically eat him alive.

Teetering on the brink of continued violence, Rose Madder exercises scary self-control as she warns Rosie that she has to do certain things to lead a happy life. Oh, and Rose had better get out of the painting while she can.

Rose does escape. She marries the wonderful guy she met earlier, has a sweet daughter, but she's suddenly possessed by a new and terrible temper. Rosie pictures herself carrying out some of the same cruel actions that Norman performed. (Perhaps she couldn't have been that much of a victim without learning about the allure of violence.) And now Rose begins to fear that her anger will turn her into the very being she encountered in the painting. Rose Madder might have been a preview of what Rosie is to become. King sometimes uses symbols and at other times avoids them. In this case, it sure seems like the crusts growing on Rose Madder might be emblematic of the anger that has transferred from Norman to her, taking over her life and turning her into the same kind of monster who had persecuted her.

Good news. By carefully following the ritualistic steps that Rose Madder outlined for her, Rose overcomes her anger. Then, one day, when performing the very last task on a hilly slope that resembles the one in the painting, Rose realizes that she's overcome her demons. She's free. She doesn't have any of the crusted growths that she saw on the crazy woman. She's not destined to become Rose Madder. HAPPY ENDING.

I get the feeling that King is drawing inspiration from more than just Norman Daniels in this one. Shakespeare seems to have influenced him, and perhaps Euripides as well.

"Rose Madder" is a brutal thriller with fantasy elements!

The main heroine decides to escape from her husband, who has been beating her for years. However, the abuser is a policeman and starts brutally persecuting Rosie. Subsequently, she discovers a mysterious painting and exciting and mysterious events occur...

"— This world, and all the other worlds, are mazes. And every maze is full of thorns. These myths contain a lot of truth, Rosie. That's where their power lies. That's why they have survived until today."

This story takes the reader on a thrilling journey filled with danger, mystery, and the power of the unknown. Rosie's fight for freedom and her encounter with the strange painting add an extra layer of intrigue to the plot. The use of fantasy elements makes the story even more captivating, as the reader is drawn into a world where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural are blurred. Overall, "Rose Madder" is a must-read for fans of thrillers and fantasy alike.