One of my top favorite novels

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MaddenSudeikis

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Jul 21, 2014
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I have loved this book for 20 years now. The whole abuse story is powerful in of itself, but I was just fascinated about Rosie being able to go inside a painting. I always found that cool. Norman Daniels is one of the scariest characters ever written, because he could be a real person. This book is a prized possession of mine.
 
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Grillo

Active Member
Sep 18, 2012
28
99
I agree. I think SK far undervalues how good of a novel this is; I would argue that it's actually one of his best, a hidden gem for sure.
 
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SpazzTheBassPlayer

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2014
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I agree. I think SK far undervalues how good of a novel this is; I would argue that it's actually one of his best, a hidden gem for sure.

I totally agree.......Critics often do not like this book and I can not figure out why.....When it comes to "realism": Believing that the central characters really exist , this book should be the barometer that all other books should be gauged against....As said above, SK's portrayal of Rosie's character as an abused woman is mind-blowing and then he further invents Norman who is as staggeringly believable as well and the entire book unravels like I am watching a movie (this is the trait about SK that admire the most and is the primary reason why he is my favorite author - I still, to this day, can not find another author that paints an actual movie in my head - in all fairness, Ive only recently discovered Joe Hill and he can do it also which is why I look forward to his work :) )......I haven't read this book in years and I am going to revisit it soon.....I didnt know that SK undervalued this book which I find odd to myself because I really think its one of his absolute best --- it certainly is a reflection of his genius as a writer!

As a side-note, when my wife (who also read the book and loved it) and I are verbally-jabbing at each other in fun, I often tell her "I'm going to talk to you...up close"...It never fails to crack her up in teary-eyed laughter :D
 
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ALOT

Banned
Jun 10, 2011
130
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I totally agree.......Critics often do not like this book and I can not figure out why.....When it comes to "realism": Believing that the central characters really exist , this book should be the barometer that all other books should be gauged against....As said above, SK's portrayal of Rosie's character as an abused woman is mind-blowing and then he further invents Norman who is as staggeringly believable as well and the entire book unravels like I am watching a movie (this is the trait about SK that admire the most and is the primary reason why he is my favorite author - I still, to this day, can not find another author that paints an actual movie in my head - in all fairness, Ive only recently discovered Joe Hill and he can do it also which is why I look forward to his work :) )......I haven't read this book in years and I am going to revisit it soon.....I didnt know that SK undervalued this book which I find odd to myself because I really think its one of his absolute best --- it certainly is a reflection of his genius as a writer!

As a side-note, when my wife (who also read the book and loved it) and I are verbally-jabbing at each other in fun, I often tell her "I'm going to talk to you...up close"...It never fails to crack her up in teary-eyed laughter :D
I totally agree.......Critics often do not like this book and I can not figure out why.....When it comes to "realism": Believing that the central characters really exist , this book should be the barometer that all other books should be gauged against....As said above, SK's portrayal of Rosie's character as an abused woman is mind-blowing and then he further invents Norman who is as staggeringly believable as well and the entire book unravels like I am watching a movie (this is the trait about SK that admire the most and is the primary reason why he is my favorite author - I still, to this day, can not find another author that paints an actual movie in my head - in all fairness, Ive only recently discovered Joe Hill and he can do it also which is why I look forward to his work :) )......I haven't read this book in years and I am going to revisit it soon.....I didnt know that SK undervalued this book which I find odd to myself because I really think its one of his absolute best --- it certainly is a reflection of his genius as a writer!

As a side-note, when my wife (who also read the book and loved it) and I are verbally-jabbing at each other in fun, I often tell her "I'm going to talk to you...up close"...It never fails to crack her up in teary-eyed laughter :D[/QUOTE


It must be a hoot in your household. Let me match my enthusiasm with that of your own, and acknowledge that this story is exceptional.
 

Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
May 9, 2010
2,906
6,242
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Norman is a cold, dirty sliver under the fingernail, and that's a fact.

I love this story, because (as others have pointed out) it places a very real (and very uncomfortable) human evil into an essentially mundane "horror" story.

This story unnerves me less than . . . oh . . . let's say Pet Semetary . . . but it unnerves me just the same. I like Mr. King when he takes me out of my world and puts me in his. I like him even more when he shows me that his world is my world.

I don't really care how Rosie really escapes (if she does), or if Rosie Real is really Rosie.

It doesn't matter.

Just as it doesn't matter that the convenient Boogeyman of "abuse" becomes a crutch for Mr. King sometimes. (that's probably a bad way to put it . . . but there it is).

What matters is that I cannot turn away from this story . . . and I suspect I am not the only one so afflicted.

The irony, of course, being that if any of us could turn away ...

Well . . . we wouldn't be here talking about it, would we?

:glare:
 

Aija

Active Member
Nov 7, 2007
25
77
Norway
Love love love this story!
I haven't been in a abusive relationship but I can imagine that mr.King describes it as it is.
I can feel what Rosie feels; why she didn't kick the bastard in his balls first time he abused her and why she didn't leave. Because that's what we all are thinking about, if it had been me I would have been gone the moment he showed his dickness.
And the feeling of pay uppence and karma is a bitch, when she showed Norman "up close", her "up close". It was enpowering!

And I recommend audiobook, it's a pleasure to listen to.