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