How did I miss this one...

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Waylander

Well-Known Member
Oct 7, 2011
234
372
London UK
I can't believe that I have never read this book. I was flicking through the forums yesterday (as you do), and I've seen the Rose Madder section plenty of times. I was so sure I'd read the book, but I thought I'd have to give it a re-read as I couldn't remember the story.

I checked my massive Stephen King section on my book shelves and realised that I didn't have a copy. This could mean only one thing: I've never read the book!

I think most people know the usual Stephen King books like The Stand, It, The Shining, 'salam's Lot, Carrie etc.; all the ones that everyone talks about. I've realised that Rose Madder was not really one of these books.

Anyway, I decided to remedy the omission and ordered the book from Amazon yesterday. Thanks to my Prime membership it arrived today and I started reading right away.

I'm only 70 pages in and I am amazed. Not only have I got a new Stephen King story (to me) to read, but it's a cracker. I've been through the wringer with Rosie in such a short space of time. The anger at Norman's (her 'loving' husband) physical abuse from the very first page, the loss of her baby, the lies she has to tell just to stay alive. Then the dawning realisation that she needs to leave after 14 years of abuse.

I was on the edge of my seat, screaming in my mind, telling her to get out. I felt the fear as she leaves, walking the streets, fear of her husband driving past and catching her in mid-flight. I want to hold her in my arms already and protect her from this monster.

By the time she reaches a safe house her tears finally come, and I found my own were flowing with hers.

This is powerful stuff from a master storyteller. I'm hooked, fully emotionally invested in Rosie's plight. I can't believe I missed this book, but I'm so glad I've finally found it.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
I thought it was a good story, with or without the supernatural aspect. Anna Quindlen's Black and Blue was a very similar story (aside from the supernatural elements) that came out three years later, and I thought it was a damn shame that it got tons of good press while people were mum on Rose Madder. Rosie was the better of the two books.
 

doowopgirl

very avid fan
Aug 7, 2009
6,946
25,119
65
dublin ireland
I can't believe that I have never read this book. I was flicking through the forums yesterday (as you do), and I've seen the Rose Madder section plenty of times. I was so sure I'd read the book, but I thought I'd have to give it a re-read as I couldn't remember the story.

I checked my massive Stephen King section on my book shelves and realised that I didn't have a copy. This could mean only one thing: I've never read the book!

I think most people know the usual Stephen King books like The Stand, It, The Shining, 'salam's Lot, Carrie etc.; all the ones that everyone talks about. I've realised that Rose Madder was not really one of these books.

Anyway, I decided to remedy the omission and ordered the book from Amazon yesterday. Thanks to my Prime membership it arrived today and I started reading right away.

I'm only 70 pages in and I am amazed. Not only have I got a new Stephen King story (to me) to read, but it's a cracker. I've been through the wringer with Rosie in such a short space of time. The anger at Norman's (her 'loving' husband) physical abuse from the very first page, the loss of her baby, the lies she has to tell just to stay alive. Then the dawning realisation that she needs to leave after 14 years of abuse.

I was on the edge of my seat, screaming in my mind, telling her to get out. I felt the fear as she leaves, walking the streets, fear of her husband driving past and catching her in mid-flight. I want to hold her in my arms already and protect her from this monster.

By the time she reaches a safe house her tears finally come, and I found my own were flowing with hers.

This is powerful stuff from a master storyteller. I'm hooked, fully emotionally invested in Rosie's plight. I can't believe I missed this book, but I'm so glad I've finally found it.
What a great surprise to find a 'new' Stephen King.
 

doowopgirl

very avid fan
Aug 7, 2009
6,946
25,119
65
dublin ireland
I thought it was a good story, with or without the supernatural aspect. Anna Quindlen's Black and Blue was a very similar story (aside from the supernatural elements) that came out three years later, and I thought it was a damn shame that it got tons of good press while people were mum on Rose Madder. Rosie was the better of the two books.
Oh yeah!
 

Waylander

Well-Known Member
Oct 7, 2011
234
372
London UK
Well, I've just finished.

WOW!

This was amazing. I had no problems with the supernatural side of the story, in fact I feel it made it even better than a run of the mill battered wife story.

Mr King's ability to make you believe in the unbelievable is beyond belief (lol). I love Rosie, I felt her fear, anger, rage and love. Norman paid a high price for his cruelty and madness, a price I was glad to see him pay. Pennywise in her true form sprang immediately to mind.

If you haven't already read this book, then what are you waiting for. This is definitely one of my favourites from Mr King.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
I can't believe that I have never read this book. I was flicking through the forums yesterday (as you do), and I've seen the Rose Madder section plenty of times. I was so sure I'd read the book, but I thought I'd have to give it a re-read as I couldn't remember the story.

I checked my massive Stephen King section on my book shelves and realised that I didn't have a copy. This could mean only one thing: I've never read the book!

I think most people know the usual Stephen King books like The Stand, It, The Shining, 'salam's Lot, Carrie etc.; all the ones that everyone talks about. I've realised that Rose Madder was not really one of these books.

Anyway, I decided to remedy the omission and ordered the book from Amazon yesterday. Thanks to my Prime membership it arrived today and I started reading right away.

I'm only 70 pages in and I am amazed. Not only have I got a new Stephen King story (to me) to read, but it's a cracker. I've been through the wringer with Rosie in such a short space of time. The anger at Norman's (her 'loving' husband) physical abuse from the very first page, the loss of her baby, the lies she has to tell just to stay alive. Then the dawning realisation that she needs to leave after 14 years of abuse.

I was on the edge of my seat, screaming in my mind, telling her to get out. I felt the fear as she leaves, walking the streets, fear of her husband driving past and catching her in mid-flight. I want to hold her in my arms already and protect her from this monster.

By the time she reaches a safe house her tears finally come, and I found my own were flowing with hers.

This is powerful stuff from a master storyteller. I'm hooked, fully emotionally invested in Rosie's plight. I can't believe I missed this book, but I'm so glad I've finally found it.
Rose Madder is the single strangest sK novel I've read so far. I'm no literary dude nor am I an historian type; I haven't studied the literary arts or the history of myth enough to have a clue what sK was thinking when he wrote Madder. His idea will always be a total mystery to me.

Nevertheless, I do seem to have a love for myth, and a heart for the abused in this world, especially that of the weak. I tend to root for the underdog. Rose Madder was an easy read for me despite that I had no idea what it was about, and still don't.
 
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Sunlight Gardener

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2013
375
1,273
I am reading Desperation again and I completely forgot that there is a character overlap with a character in Rose Madder. Cynthia Smith is the same Cynthia Smith form at the Daughters and Sisters shelter. She talks about her friend Gert as well as something about a mad man tearing up the place. I love how SK puts those little connections in so many books and I am always delighted when I come across one.