What do you think?
Rate this book
El retrato de Rose Madder
Rose Daniels flees her nightmare marriage to find refuge in a strange city, far from her brutal husband, Norman, whose relentless savagery and mad obsessions follow her to her sanctuary and drive her to transform herself to survive.
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
2516 people are currently reading
61931 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,573 books881k followersStephen 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,587 reviews
September 22, 2025
Readers be warned: Rose Madder opens with one of the most vivid scenes of violence that I have ever read; harsh, brutal and heartbreaking in its ferocity.
This novel tells the compelling tale of an average, suburban housewife, Rosie Daniels, as she makes the decision to leave her vicious husband, Norman.
Admittedly, I started this book on two prior occasions and couldn't make it past that brutal opening scene.
I literally found it to be mentally disturbing, therefore, I would put it down and then just avoid it.
This doesn't mean I thought it was bad. I didn't. I think it is a testament to King's writing, how much those few pages effected me.
I knew if I kept going, I would enjoy the book, I just needed to be in the right head space in order to do so.
Even for King, those first pages are savage and shattering because you know this type of thing happens in real life, to real people.
This isn't a book where the villain is an alien, an ancient spirit, or a ghost; he is just a man. A corrupt cop with a penchant for violence against women.
One of my favorite aspects of King's writing is his ability to fully develop his characters.
That is certainly the case here. From Rosie and Norman, all the way to the smallest side characters, I felt like I knew them all.
Rosie was very young when she married Norman, just out of high school. She had lost her family and had no outside support system.
He became her whole world and no matter how difficult that world was, she stayed, until now.
After she decides to leave, she discovers just how sheltered her existence has become. Her ability to navigate the outside world is close to nonexistent.
I felt bad for her. I wished I was there to help her and guide her.
She hasn't a clue where she will go or what she'll do. She has no skills.
What will she do for a job? How will she survive without money?
In spite of her reservations, however, Rosie knows if she doesn't leave, Norman will kill her. It's not an if, it's a when.
Fleeing for her life, she boards a bus and selects the farthest stop she can afford. Once there, she will try to build a new life for herself with no resources. She left everything behind.
Unfortunately, if there is one thing Norman is good at, besides hitting, it's tracking people down. He's humiliated by Rosie walking out on him and vows to find her.
Now his sole mission, he has big plans to make her pay. No matter what it takes, no matter how many laws he has to break, he will not give up.
The intensity that builds over the course of this book is truly something special. The narrative alternates back and forth between Rosie and Norman, so you can track his progress, and that really helped to build the sense of dread.
I became quite attached to Rosie rather quickly, as did many she met in her new life. That definitely escalated my fear for what I suspected was coming.
In addition, there was a really interesting fantastical element thrown in that reminded me a bit of a cross between The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Dark Tower series.
That may seem like a really odd combination, and it is, but in King's skilled hands, it somehow works.
I truly enjoyed this story. Thank you to all my Constant Reader friends who pushed me to finally pick it up this year.
I found it to be empowering and moving. I loved Rosie so much and her growth was satisfying. I am very happy I made time for it and can absolutely see myself reading it again some day.
This novel tells the compelling tale of an average, suburban housewife, Rosie Daniels, as she makes the decision to leave her vicious husband, Norman.
Admittedly, I started this book on two prior occasions and couldn't make it past that brutal opening scene.
I literally found it to be mentally disturbing, therefore, I would put it down and then just avoid it.
This doesn't mean I thought it was bad. I didn't. I think it is a testament to King's writing, how much those few pages effected me.
I knew if I kept going, I would enjoy the book, I just needed to be in the right head space in order to do so.
Even for King, those first pages are savage and shattering because you know this type of thing happens in real life, to real people.
This isn't a book where the villain is an alien, an ancient spirit, or a ghost; he is just a man. A corrupt cop with a penchant for violence against women.
One of my favorite aspects of King's writing is his ability to fully develop his characters.
That is certainly the case here. From Rosie and Norman, all the way to the smallest side characters, I felt like I knew them all.
Rosie was very young when she married Norman, just out of high school. She had lost her family and had no outside support system.
He became her whole world and no matter how difficult that world was, she stayed, until now.
After she decides to leave, she discovers just how sheltered her existence has become. Her ability to navigate the outside world is close to nonexistent.
I felt bad for her. I wished I was there to help her and guide her.
She hasn't a clue where she will go or what she'll do. She has no skills.
What will she do for a job? How will she survive without money?
In spite of her reservations, however, Rosie knows if she doesn't leave, Norman will kill her. It's not an if, it's a when.
Fleeing for her life, she boards a bus and selects the farthest stop she can afford. Once there, she will try to build a new life for herself with no resources. She left everything behind.
Unfortunately, if there is one thing Norman is good at, besides hitting, it's tracking people down. He's humiliated by Rosie walking out on him and vows to find her.
Now his sole mission, he has big plans to make her pay. No matter what it takes, no matter how many laws he has to break, he will not give up.
The intensity that builds over the course of this book is truly something special. The narrative alternates back and forth between Rosie and Norman, so you can track his progress, and that really helped to build the sense of dread.
I became quite attached to Rosie rather quickly, as did many she met in her new life. That definitely escalated my fear for what I suspected was coming.
In addition, there was a really interesting fantastical element thrown in that reminded me a bit of a cross between The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Dark Tower series.
That may seem like a really odd combination, and it is, but in King's skilled hands, it somehow works.
I truly enjoyed this story. Thank you to all my Constant Reader friends who pushed me to finally pick it up this year.
I found it to be empowering and moving. I loved Rosie so much and her growth was satisfying. I am very happy I made time for it and can absolutely see myself reading it again some day.
December 8, 2017
My book club read this book last month. This is how book club went basically:
Joy: Colleen, what was your favorite part of this book?
Me: Well, Joy, I'll get to that in a few, but would anyone like some chocolate? (Passes around a bowl of chocolate until they are all staring at me expectantly. Reluctantly continues.) You know, Joy, Stephen King never disappoints. Every time I turned the page, there were more words that formed sentences. The kind of sentences that make up all of Stephen King's books. Long ones, short ones, incomplete ones. But that's the beauty of this book, right? The sentences tell a story in a way that only sentences could. And THAT is why this book was so brilliant.
Joy: You're a f*cking idiot. Why are you even in book club if you never actually read the books?
Me: Five stars!
Joy: Colleen, what was your favorite part of this book?
Me: Well, Joy, I'll get to that in a few, but would anyone like some chocolate? (Passes around a bowl of chocolate until they are all staring at me expectantly. Reluctantly continues.) You know, Joy, Stephen King never disappoints. Every time I turned the page, there were more words that formed sentences. The kind of sentences that make up all of Stephen King's books. Long ones, short ones, incomplete ones. But that's the beauty of this book, right? The sentences tell a story in a way that only sentences could. And THAT is why this book was so brilliant.
Joy: You're a f*cking idiot. Why are you even in book club if you never actually read the books?
Me: Five stars!
September 11, 2021
A wonderfully weighted book in the first two acts as King really gets into the underbelly of domestic abuse survivor, from existence as victim through to an escapee., and life rebuilder. A hard read at times, but also with so much positivity, especially showing the day-to-day impact and power of empathy, understanding and human kindness. However, what ruins the book for me was the third act which appears to swerve into all-out horror, but feels a lot more like magical realism, I kid you not! As I got older and re-read and reappraised this work, I got to tolerate and better understand King's rationale, but back when I first read this, I was soooo annoyed!
My re-read and reappraisal of this book had me shoot this up to 8 out of 12, as the love and appreciation for the first two halves of the book outweighed the attempted mystical realist finale, which is still pants by the way!
My re-read and reappraisal of this book had me shoot this up to 8 out of 12, as the love and appreciation for the first two halves of the book outweighed the attempted mystical realist finale, which is still pants by the way!
January 3, 2019
3.5 Stars
If you can handle a story of horrific abuse, Hannibal Lector's idea of a tasty dinner, and haunted dreams from the beyond, you're going to love ROSE MADDER.
Norman "Bates" Daniels is a lunatic cop with a foul mouth and a sick, evil mind, and for wife Rose, a life of fear and pain begins the night of her honeymoon.......for the reader, it's almost immediate and a real shocker.
Unprepared, terrified and alone, after 14 long years of living in hell, Rose finally flees for her life knowing full well he will never stop searching.
ROSE MADDER is an intense thriller throughout most of the 600+ pages, but for me lost its momentum when we entered the mysterious, but drawn out world of the supernatural, and the ending.....just ok.
As always, enjoyed the tie-ins to other KING novels.
September 22, 2018
"It ain't the blows we're dealt that matter, but the ones we survive."
A single drop of blood causes Rose McClendon to come to the realisation that her husband might actually kill her. So she ups and leaves him, setting off to a new city...
I always get really excited for the King novels where the main protagonist is a female as I've a pretty good track record with them - Lisey's Story, Dolores Claiborne, Gerald's Game etc. I'm pretty sure these were all 5 star reads for me! So I had high expectations for Rose Madder, but unfortunately we just didn't click *sad face*
My main complaint is the character of Norman, Rose's husband. He's a piece of shit - that much is apparent from the very first page - but as the story progressed, his character became more of a caricature for me? It all became very over the top and exaggerated. I didn't need all the biting... It was enough for me to know that he was an abusive husband - I already hated him, but King kept building on it in a way that I didn't care for. And if Norman had mentioned his ATM card one more time... I think I might have EXPLODED. After a while repetition can become very irritating.
Norman is also not a typical King villain. Often King's characters are quite complex, they exist in shades of grey, people aren't always just good or evil. But Norman has ZERO redeeming features - he's racist, homophobic, batters his wife, squeezes people's intestines until they burst. It was very uncomfortable to read the story from his perspective.
I also HATED that all the sections from Norman's point of view were in italics. PAGES OF IT. Reading italics for so long hurts my eyes and I can't concentrate - it actually stopped me from picking up the book at times or I would get very easily distracted by my phone instead. I would like to think we're all smart enough to quickly pick up on who's part of the story we're reading without needing it to be made obvious for us.
Now, what I DID like - Rosie! She's the kickass female I want to root for! Her relationship with Bill was truly beautiful and I felt very protective over those guys. They are definitely one of King's strongest couples, they were very well-written and believable. I also loved the usual King easter eggs with references to Misery and the Dark Tower series in particular. So bonus points for that!
The plot does go down quite a weird route, and initially I felt a bit unimpressed and bored reading it, but over time began to appreciate it more for what it was? I just feel like the book would have worked better if it had stayed focus on the domestic violence aspect, and Rose escaping from her abusive marriage, the events involving the painting just felt a tad stupid at times and over-written. It's just not a new favourite for me unfortunately, but I can champion Rose as another awesome leading lady. And I did enjoy quite large sections of it!
3.5 stars.
A single drop of blood causes Rose McClendon to come to the realisation that her husband might actually kill her. So she ups and leaves him, setting off to a new city...
I always get really excited for the King novels where the main protagonist is a female as I've a pretty good track record with them - Lisey's Story, Dolores Claiborne, Gerald's Game etc. I'm pretty sure these were all 5 star reads for me! So I had high expectations for Rose Madder, but unfortunately we just didn't click *sad face*
My main complaint is the character of Norman, Rose's husband. He's a piece of shit - that much is apparent from the very first page - but as the story progressed, his character became more of a caricature for me? It all became very over the top and exaggerated. I didn't need all the biting... It was enough for me to know that he was an abusive husband - I already hated him, but King kept building on it in a way that I didn't care for. And if Norman had mentioned his ATM card one more time... I think I might have EXPLODED. After a while repetition can become very irritating.
Norman is also not a typical King villain. Often King's characters are quite complex, they exist in shades of grey, people aren't always just good or evil. But Norman has ZERO redeeming features - he's racist, homophobic, batters his wife, squeezes people's intestines until they burst. It was very uncomfortable to read the story from his perspective.
I also HATED that all the sections from Norman's point of view were in italics. PAGES OF IT. Reading italics for so long hurts my eyes and I can't concentrate - it actually stopped me from picking up the book at times or I would get very easily distracted by my phone instead. I would like to think we're all smart enough to quickly pick up on who's part of the story we're reading without needing it to be made obvious for us.
Now, what I DID like - Rosie! She's the kickass female I want to root for! Her relationship with Bill was truly beautiful and I felt very protective over those guys. They are definitely one of King's strongest couples, they were very well-written and believable. I also loved the usual King easter eggs with references to Misery and the Dark Tower series in particular. So bonus points for that!
The plot does go down quite a weird route, and initially I felt a bit unimpressed and bored reading it, but over time began to appreciate it more for what it was? I just feel like the book would have worked better if it had stayed focus on the domestic violence aspect, and Rose escaping from her abusive marriage, the events involving the painting just felt a tad stupid at times and over-written. It's just not a new favourite for me unfortunately, but I can champion Rose as another awesome leading lady. And I did enjoy quite large sections of it!
3.5 stars.
April 14, 2021
Buddy read with my sweet friend, Vickie.
4.5 Stars ⭐️
Fantastic writing, but it is King..
I loved the characters and worried about them and wanted to rip the villain to shreds. AND THEN... we take a peek down the rabbit hole
Those parts I didn’t care for at all so I took off half a star. I noticed there was a mention to something in that Darktower series. I read the first book and hated it and I thought someone somewhere mentioned it leading to those books ... so that’s why I don’t like it.
I did like the idea about the picture and then it went sideways 🤣😂
Either way, I mostly loved it. There you go. You’re welcome 😘
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
4.5 Stars ⭐️
Fantastic writing, but it is King..
I loved the characters and worried about them and wanted to rip the villain to shreds. AND THEN... we take a peek down the rabbit hole
Those parts I didn’t care for at all so I took off half a star. I noticed there was a mention to something in that Darktower series. I read the first book and hated it and I thought someone somewhere mentioned it leading to those books ... so that’s why I don’t like it.
I did like the idea about the picture and then it went sideways 🤣😂
Either way, I mostly loved it. There you go. You’re welcome 😘
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
October 31, 2007
Probably my favorite King book, Rose Madder contains some of his creepiest imagery and the best characterization of a woman that he's managed thus far. It's hard not to get involved in Rosie's problems as she runs from a horrifically abusive marriage. The supernatural horror aspect of the story doesn't even enter into it until fairly late in the book; King gives you the chance to watch Rosie grow and change, and to set the stage for what will happen next.
Definitely the one I would loan to someone who wasn't sure about King's more horrifying books, but wanted to try out his writing anyway.
Definitely the one I would loan to someone who wasn't sure about King's more horrifying books, but wanted to try out his writing anyway.
July 24, 2019
There’s a reason why King is one of the best writers around.
Even when the stories aren’t the strongest, it’s the strength of the characters that help propel the constant reader through.
Straight from the prologue where the novel introduces young Rosie Daniels most shockingly brutal attack from her husband Norman, the reader instantly roots for her to leave this domestic hell.
It not until years later after constant abuse that Rosie spots a drop of blood on her bedding that the realisation of this horrific situation will kill her.
Fleeing to a next town and fitting the sanctuary of a women’s institute is just the start of a new like for her.
King does introduce a supernatural element to the middle section of the book, whilst feeling slightly off kilter to the rest of the novel.
Though this section does feel relevant as it harks back to the beginning of the story, whist also a nice sense of foreshadowing. Plus The Dark Tower references were also great.
Norman is one of the best ‘worst’ villains that King has created and the switching between him and Rosie through the main part of the book were incredibly well written.
By no means Kings best work but there was so much to enjoy, gripping characters mixed with a tough subject matter helps makes this a memorable entry in the King cannon.
Even when the stories aren’t the strongest, it’s the strength of the characters that help propel the constant reader through.
Straight from the prologue where the novel introduces young Rosie Daniels most shockingly brutal attack from her husband Norman, the reader instantly roots for her to leave this domestic hell.
It not until years later after constant abuse that Rosie spots a drop of blood on her bedding that the realisation of this horrific situation will kill her.
Fleeing to a next town and fitting the sanctuary of a women’s institute is just the start of a new like for her.
King does introduce a supernatural element to the middle section of the book, whilst feeling slightly off kilter to the rest of the novel.
Though this section does feel relevant as it harks back to the beginning of the story, whist also a nice sense of foreshadowing. Plus The Dark Tower references were also great.
Norman is one of the best ‘worst’ villains that King has created and the switching between him and Rosie through the main part of the book were incredibly well written.
By no means Kings best work but there was so much to enjoy, gripping characters mixed with a tough subject matter helps makes this a memorable entry in the King cannon.
August 30, 2023
I loved this. It's taken me so long to review this book because I'm not sure how well I can articulate how much I loved it.
Here's my best attempt:
It's become rather trendy recently to "reclaim" the Persephone myth from Greek mythology: The story of Persephone's abduction by her uncle Hades, forced to become his wife in the Underworld. All the other Gods just let it happen, but finally agreed to allow her to leave when her mother, the Harvest Goddess Demeter, caused considerable famine on Earth through her grief. Before she could leave, however, Hades tricked her with an ensorcelled pomegranate seed, requiring her to spend a season each year with him in the Underworld.
Each year, the world withers and grows cold for Demeter's grief at being separated from her daughter. And that's how we got Winter,the worst season.
But recent reimaginings of the myth are much softer. They depict Persephone and Hades sweetly as a couple slotting perfectly into the Grumpy/Sunshine trope. They depict Persephone as being oppressed by an overbearing mother in Demeter, eager for an escape. They depict Hades as awakening the darkness inside Persephone, allowing for her agency to bloom in the Underworld.
Among other things.
None of these have ever sat right with me. These reclamations are wolves in sheep's clothing, pretending to be about female agency and empowerment while maintaining the framework that still sees a woman kidnapped and forced into the life of a man.
I don't think these stories are about Persephone at all. I really just think they're a way of romanticizing Hades, the OG dark, broody, taciturn hawt boi. And the onus is on Persephone in these stories to either bring light into his life through her love, or embrace the darkness within her to conform to his ~*aesthetic*~ and ~*lifestyle*~.
And I think this is a real-life trap a lot of people, but especially women, fall into. Having to change so much and do so much emotional labor for a partner who won't do the same for you.
It happened to me just once, but once was enough.
I was 18 and spent many miserable hours watching a guy attempt metal music on his guitar, sitting underneath that Pulp Fiction poster. You know the one. He talked mad shit about his ex-girlfriends, but didn't want me to even allude to any past relationships. He ate meat, smoked weed, and drank; I did not (still don't). And when he couldn't keep hard (ahem...all the meat and weed 👀), he called himself the F-slur.
And the homophobia is where I was OUT. Never to return to again, and he ripped up one of my stuffed animals because of it. Because dark, broody guys aren't fun like they are in books. In real life, they're just assholes.
Rosie McClendon, heroine of Stephen King's Rose Madder, would know exactly what I'm talking about. Hers is the tale of a woman who finally has enough of her horrible cop husband's abuse and suddenly leaves him, taking with her just an ATM card and the clothes on her back. She travels to the Midwest, finding protection in the company of women at a shelter called Daughters and Sisters, the security and friendship found there helping her to restart her life.
And this is where the Greek mythology comes in: Rosie finds a strange painting at a pawn shop one day that draws her in. Though she has no money to spare, she trades her wedding ring for it. The painting is of a Grecian woman in a brilliant red chiton, looking out at a distant temple. On the back of the painting the words "Rose Madder" are etched, likely referring to the pigment used on the chiton.
As the painting hangs in Rosie's new home, it seems to morph each night. Growing larger. Making noise. Calling to her until it becomes a portal to another world - a world that will allow her a private odyssey just for herself.
A world that will give her the tools to fight against her evil cop husband, eagerly tracking her down.
Although King himself doesn't think highly of this book, calling it a "stiff, trying-too-hard novel", I feel quite the opposite. I found it flexible, as fluid as the definition of what it means to be a woman. I found it did the perfect amount to tell this story of personhood, self-worth, and emancipation.
And King really went out of his way to say ACAB. Absolutely brilliant.
What more can I really say? I loved it.
Here's my best attempt:
It's become rather trendy recently to "reclaim" the Persephone myth from Greek mythology: The story of Persephone's abduction by her uncle Hades, forced to become his wife in the Underworld. All the other Gods just let it happen, but finally agreed to allow her to leave when her mother, the Harvest Goddess Demeter, caused considerable famine on Earth through her grief. Before she could leave, however, Hades tricked her with an ensorcelled pomegranate seed, requiring her to spend a season each year with him in the Underworld.
Each year, the world withers and grows cold for Demeter's grief at being separated from her daughter. And that's how we got Winter,
But recent reimaginings of the myth are much softer. They depict Persephone and Hades sweetly as a couple slotting perfectly into the Grumpy/Sunshine trope. They depict Persephone as being oppressed by an overbearing mother in Demeter, eager for an escape. They depict Hades as awakening the darkness inside Persephone, allowing for her agency to bloom in the Underworld.
Among other things.
None of these have ever sat right with me. These reclamations are wolves in sheep's clothing, pretending to be about female agency and empowerment while maintaining the framework that still sees a woman kidnapped and forced into the life of a man.
I don't think these stories are about Persephone at all. I really just think they're a way of romanticizing Hades, the OG dark, broody, taciturn hawt boi. And the onus is on Persephone in these stories to either bring light into his life through her love, or embrace the darkness within her to conform to his ~*aesthetic*~ and ~*lifestyle*~.
And I think this is a real-life trap a lot of people, but especially women, fall into. Having to change so much and do so much emotional labor for a partner who won't do the same for you.
It happened to me just once, but once was enough.
I was 18 and spent many miserable hours watching a guy attempt metal music on his guitar, sitting underneath that Pulp Fiction poster. You know the one. He talked mad shit about his ex-girlfriends, but didn't want me to even allude to any past relationships. He ate meat, smoked weed, and drank; I did not (still don't). And when he couldn't keep hard (ahem...all the meat and weed 👀), he called himself the F-slur.
And the homophobia is where I was OUT. Never to return to again, and he ripped up one of my stuffed animals because of it. Because dark, broody guys aren't fun like they are in books. In real life, they're just assholes.
Rosie McClendon, heroine of Stephen King's Rose Madder, would know exactly what I'm talking about. Hers is the tale of a woman who finally has enough of her horrible cop husband's abuse and suddenly leaves him, taking with her just an ATM card and the clothes on her back. She travels to the Midwest, finding protection in the company of women at a shelter called Daughters and Sisters, the security and friendship found there helping her to restart her life.
And this is where the Greek mythology comes in: Rosie finds a strange painting at a pawn shop one day that draws her in. Though she has no money to spare, she trades her wedding ring for it. The painting is of a Grecian woman in a brilliant red chiton, looking out at a distant temple. On the back of the painting the words "Rose Madder" are etched, likely referring to the pigment used on the chiton.
As the painting hangs in Rosie's new home, it seems to morph each night. Growing larger. Making noise. Calling to her until it becomes a portal to another world - a world that will allow her a private odyssey just for herself.
A world that will give her the tools to fight against her evil cop husband, eagerly tracking her down.
Although King himself doesn't think highly of this book, calling it a "stiff, trying-too-hard novel", I feel quite the opposite. I found it flexible, as fluid as the definition of what it means to be a woman. I found it did the perfect amount to tell this story of personhood, self-worth, and emancipation.
And King really went out of his way to say ACAB. Absolutely brilliant.
What more can I really say? I loved it.
January 30, 2022
Sin deslumbrar, fue una lectura aceptable.
Esta historia hubiera sido quizás una gran decepción sino tuviera como co-protagonista un personaje tan peligrosamente inestable como Norman; que casi podría estar a la altura de Annie Wilkes en cuestiones de ponerme nervioso, intranquilo e inseguro de hasta qué punto es capaz de llegar y salirse con las suyas. Es como cuidarse de una mordida que está a nada de arrancarte la piel. Cómo ya he aclarado mi punto inicial, puedo decir que no creo que sea mal libro pero me fue imposible simpatizar o más bien empatizar con la protagonista de la historia, quien mayormente narra la historia y sus experiencias luego de escapar de las garras de su marido. Me producía mucha indiferencia su salida al mundo y las interacciones con personas que desconocía al vivir desde su matrimonio encerrada prácticamente en una jaula y comiendo por desayuno puñetazos, humillaciones y manipulaciones psicológicas de su marido. En un ambiente retorcido y abusivo.
Ahora bien, cuando leí la sinopsis yo me esperaba un libro más cercano a la persecución. Ese juego donde el gato caza al ratón, bailando entre los límites del suspenso y la intriga, tal vez volviéndose una lectura tensionante. Pero no, de hecho hacia el final se torna muy predecible cómo va a concluir la cosa. Y es que si le agregamos esa parte fantástica que a mí prácticamente me gustó poco y me pareció una ridiculez. El enfrentamiento final y el cómo se resuelven las cosas es decepcionante hasta cierto punto. Lo único que me gustó y saqué bueno de ello fue un guiño/referencia a It.
Me queda claro que no ha sido la lectura más encantadora de King pero me ha gustado. Aunque por retazos. Las tres partes importantes del libro se juntan y se convierten en un solo nudo, y de esas, solo me gustó una: la que tiene que ver con el loco, abusivo y controlador esposo de la protagonista, quien también narra su lado oscuro y rancio de la historia, notandose los recovecos de su putefracta mentalidad. Lo interesante de sus acciones, pensamientos, traumas y actitudes machistas, misóginas, racistas y homofóbicas. La parte fantástica hubiera preferido que ni existiera. Y la exploración, supervivencia, independización e incluso subtrama romántica que va vivenciando la protagonista me gustó muy poquito. Casi nada.
Ahora, he leído el libro solo por Norman y no sé qué tanto diga eso de mí pero queda claro que era porque me esperaba otra cosa. El retrato de Rose Madder explora la violencia doméstica, tema ya recurrente que se ha tocado en otros libros de King. Y siendo completamente sincero, preferiré Dolores Caliborne con toda mi alma siempre, lo que hace ese libro es espectacular y maneja la trama de una manera magistral con personajes potentes; narrado con saña y una cruel sinceridad. Acá incluso algunas de las conversaciones me resultaban vacías, planas y poco orgánicas pero eso ya es otro asunto y no quiero extenderme. Creo que sin duda otro de sus puntos fuertes es la gran cantidad de capítulos que tiene, lo que le da agilidad y ritmo a la lectura. Nunca se vuelve pesada. Y el final final es muy realista, cosa que si es de mi gusto.
Esta historia hubiera sido quizás una gran decepción sino tuviera como co-protagonista un personaje tan peligrosamente inestable como Norman; que casi podría estar a la altura de Annie Wilkes en cuestiones de ponerme nervioso, intranquilo e inseguro de hasta qué punto es capaz de llegar y salirse con las suyas. Es como cuidarse de una mordida que está a nada de arrancarte la piel. Cómo ya he aclarado mi punto inicial, puedo decir que no creo que sea mal libro pero me fue imposible simpatizar o más bien empatizar con la protagonista de la historia, quien mayormente narra la historia y sus experiencias luego de escapar de las garras de su marido. Me producía mucha indiferencia su salida al mundo y las interacciones con personas que desconocía al vivir desde su matrimonio encerrada prácticamente en una jaula y comiendo por desayuno puñetazos, humillaciones y manipulaciones psicológicas de su marido. En un ambiente retorcido y abusivo.
Ahora bien, cuando leí la sinopsis yo me esperaba un libro más cercano a la persecución. Ese juego donde el gato caza al ratón, bailando entre los límites del suspenso y la intriga, tal vez volviéndose una lectura tensionante. Pero no, de hecho hacia el final se torna muy predecible cómo va a concluir la cosa. Y es que si le agregamos esa parte fantástica que a mí prácticamente me gustó poco y me pareció una ridiculez. El enfrentamiento final y el cómo se resuelven las cosas es decepcionante hasta cierto punto. Lo único que me gustó y saqué bueno de ello fue un guiño/referencia a It.
Me queda claro que no ha sido la lectura más encantadora de King pero me ha gustado. Aunque por retazos. Las tres partes importantes del libro se juntan y se convierten en un solo nudo, y de esas, solo me gustó una: la que tiene que ver con el loco, abusivo y controlador esposo de la protagonista, quien también narra su lado oscuro y rancio de la historia, notandose los recovecos de su putefracta mentalidad. Lo interesante de sus acciones, pensamientos, traumas y actitudes machistas, misóginas, racistas y homofóbicas. La parte fantástica hubiera preferido que ni existiera. Y la exploración, supervivencia, independización e incluso subtrama romántica que va vivenciando la protagonista me gustó muy poquito. Casi nada.
Ahora, he leído el libro solo por Norman y no sé qué tanto diga eso de mí pero queda claro que era porque me esperaba otra cosa. El retrato de Rose Madder explora la violencia doméstica, tema ya recurrente que se ha tocado en otros libros de King. Y siendo completamente sincero, preferiré Dolores Caliborne con toda mi alma siempre, lo que hace ese libro es espectacular y maneja la trama de una manera magistral con personajes potentes; narrado con saña y una cruel sinceridad. Acá incluso algunas de las conversaciones me resultaban vacías, planas y poco orgánicas pero eso ya es otro asunto y no quiero extenderme. Creo que sin duda otro de sus puntos fuertes es la gran cantidad de capítulos que tiene, lo que le da agilidad y ritmo a la lectura. Nunca se vuelve pesada. Y el final final es muy realista, cosa que si es de mi gusto.
February 23, 2025
A story I’ll never forget👏❤️
•He made one last mad effort to pull free and was instead drawn into Rose Madder’s hungry embrace. Where Norman finally learned what it was like to be the bitten instead of the biter.• 🩸
“I’m really Rosie… I’m Rosie Real… you better believe me… I’m a great big deal” 🎶 🌹
•He made one last mad effort to pull free and was instead drawn into Rose Madder’s hungry embrace. Where Norman finally learned what it was like to be the bitten instead of the biter.• 🩸
“I’m really Rosie… I’m Rosie Real… you better believe me… I’m a great big deal” 🎶 🌹
July 28, 2017
I just met crazy rivaling that of Annie Wilkes. Norman Daniels. He’s a special kind of nut.
Turns out this book was better than I had anticipated. Maybe that’s due to low expectations, seeing that many put this one towards the bottom of their personal King ratings. Introducing a preternatural painting within a story about spousal abuse is “out there”, maybe more so than his other books. But isn’t that what King does so well? The painting did not necessarily overwhelm the narrative. It added a dimension. Some have said this book would have been better as a straight-out thriller, with the supernatural element removed. Guess what? That’s been done - a million times over.
There’s a bull parallel with Norman that comes to fruition towards the end. When you see it, it’s an obvious analogy, but smart (you’ll need to have read the book to understand), and it caught me off guard. By doing this King brings the story full circle, using that wacky and wonderful imagination no less. Granted, this book is not for everyone. Even some King fans will cringe at the violence and sexual innuendos (many of which are not innuendos at all). And I don’t know if it was just me, but I was rolling on the floor when Norman got hurt. Norman falls down the stairs. I laughed. Couldn’t help it. I attribute it to King’s use of slapstick amid terror, along with a display of alternating viewpoints (first experienced from Rosie’s point of view, then Norman’s). Plus, Norman’s an ass, deserving of any pain that happened to come his way.
Recommend for King fans because none should be missed. A “probably not” for 1st time King readers.
PS. There’s a tiny glimpse into the world of The Dark Tower. It doesn’t say much, just kind of fun to run into.
Turns out this book was better than I had anticipated. Maybe that’s due to low expectations, seeing that many put this one towards the bottom of their personal King ratings. Introducing a preternatural painting within a story about spousal abuse is “out there”, maybe more so than his other books. But isn’t that what King does so well? The painting did not necessarily overwhelm the narrative. It added a dimension. Some have said this book would have been better as a straight-out thriller, with the supernatural element removed. Guess what? That’s been done - a million times over.
There’s a bull parallel with Norman that comes to fruition towards the end. When you see it, it’s an obvious analogy, but smart (you’ll need to have read the book to understand), and it caught me off guard. By doing this King brings the story full circle, using that wacky and wonderful imagination no less. Granted, this book is not for everyone. Even some King fans will cringe at the violence and sexual innuendos (many of which are not innuendos at all). And I don’t know if it was just me, but I was rolling on the floor when Norman got hurt. Norman falls down the stairs. I laughed. Couldn’t help it. I attribute it to King’s use of slapstick amid terror, along with a display of alternating viewpoints (first experienced from Rosie’s point of view, then Norman’s). Plus, Norman’s an ass, deserving of any pain that happened to come his way.
Recommend for King fans because none should be missed. A “probably not” for 1st time King readers.
PS. There’s a tiny glimpse into the world of The Dark Tower. It doesn’t say much, just kind of fun to run into.
July 30, 2024
Continuing on my journey of reading/re-reading SK's books in publishing order Rose Madder was next a re-read I was looking forward to.
Horrifying from the first page, SK doesn't pull any punches from the offset, it's gut-wrenching. This is a SK book that really shows of his beautiful writing too. King never fails to create the most despicable characters and this book is no different.
Misery is mention a couple of times throughout this book. Norman is the one of the worst character characters Stephen King has created and I think it's because he could be living right next door, he is really easy to hate 'you can have another one' this line made me want to scream. All you can think when reading this book is how you want Norman to get everything that is coming to him.
Something I really love about this book in particular is Rose's internal monologue. It's so interesting to read and it's so believable too, we all talk to ourselves a little and Rose is no different. Rose's practical-sensible is that little voice we have in our head to stay comfortable and safe even if it's really keeping us trapped and miserable, freedom is out there and we just to open our mind to see it. For such a dark book it had some witty lines that managed to make me smile, 'When I need something uplifting. I'll buy a support bra' I mean what a line.
SK creates such suspense it had me reading faster than my brain could keep up at times, my hands were sweating and my mind racing and I have read this before. Flicking between Rose and Norman and how close they always were to bumping into each other was genius, it never got confusing and the short chapters made me want to read on through the night.
I enjoyed the nod to The Dark Tower with the mention of KA and I am glad I am reading these in order now. Gert is such a great character, a strong bad ass female character who isn't small and doesn't look strong for her size, but who is actually big physically and powerful something we don't read enough of in books.
I think the only reason this doesn't get the full five stars for me is because I find some of the moments in the painting a little slow and strange, I do feel like SK could have skipped the more fantastical elements in this one and just gone for real life horror/thriller. Having said that would it really be a King book without a little nonsense?
Horrifying from the first page, SK doesn't pull any punches from the offset, it's gut-wrenching. This is a SK book that really shows of his beautiful writing too. King never fails to create the most despicable characters and this book is no different.
Misery is mention a couple of times throughout this book. Norman is the one of the worst character characters Stephen King has created and I think it's because he could be living right next door, he is really easy to hate 'you can have another one' this line made me want to scream. All you can think when reading this book is how you want Norman to get everything that is coming to him.
Something I really love about this book in particular is Rose's internal monologue. It's so interesting to read and it's so believable too, we all talk to ourselves a little and Rose is no different. Rose's practical-sensible is that little voice we have in our head to stay comfortable and safe even if it's really keeping us trapped and miserable, freedom is out there and we just to open our mind to see it. For such a dark book it had some witty lines that managed to make me smile, 'When I need something uplifting. I'll buy a support bra' I mean what a line.
SK creates such suspense it had me reading faster than my brain could keep up at times, my hands were sweating and my mind racing and I have read this before. Flicking between Rose and Norman and how close they always were to bumping into each other was genius, it never got confusing and the short chapters made me want to read on through the night.
I enjoyed the nod to The Dark Tower with the mention of KA and I am glad I am reading these in order now. Gert is such a great character, a strong bad ass female character who isn't small and doesn't look strong for her size, but who is actually big physically and powerful something we don't read enough of in books.
I think the only reason this doesn't get the full five stars for me is because I find some of the moments in the painting a little slow and strange, I do feel like SK could have skipped the more fantastical elements in this one and just gone for real life horror/thriller. Having said that would it really be a King book without a little nonsense?
May 22, 2017
“The concept of dreaming is known to the waking mind but to the dreamer there is no waking, no real world, no sanity; there is only the screaming bedlam of sleep.”
Stephen King can be downright weird with surprises he leaves for the reader. For the bulk of the book, it's an interesting story of an abused woman escaping her sadistic and tormenting husband. The main character is a sympathetic lead who doesn't indulge in melodrama or denial, but comes across realistically written when she escapes into a town and group that accepts her for who she is and not what she's escaping. The side characters were as well-written, including the lead of the women's group who, while being noble, isn't black and white noble.
Rose Madder was a tough book to put down and I didn't get the griping I'd heard about it....until, well until it just gets weird. The painting and other world stuff threw me. I had a discussion with a friend about this and we both felt the story didn't need any of it. He could have just written a thriller with a man chasing his escaped wife and it would have been great; when he introduces the fantasy stuff that was hard to comprehend, the story loses focus and even warrants a little skimming.
Unlike some of King's other tomes, the length and pacing are suitable to the story content. The ending has a weird and bitter twist which fit well, even again that I didn't full get it. The author doesn't shy away from actual vicious abuse, giving his main villain a biting tendency. I would have liked to see more of the details of the shelter, but I liked the women who worked together and had friendships. It was convincing and thoughtful.
Stephen King can be downright weird with surprises he leaves for the reader. For the bulk of the book, it's an interesting story of an abused woman escaping her sadistic and tormenting husband. The main character is a sympathetic lead who doesn't indulge in melodrama or denial, but comes across realistically written when she escapes into a town and group that accepts her for who she is and not what she's escaping. The side characters were as well-written, including the lead of the women's group who, while being noble, isn't black and white noble.
Rose Madder was a tough book to put down and I didn't get the griping I'd heard about it....until, well until it just gets weird. The painting and other world stuff threw me. I had a discussion with a friend about this and we both felt the story didn't need any of it. He could have just written a thriller with a man chasing his escaped wife and it would have been great; when he introduces the fantasy stuff that was hard to comprehend, the story loses focus and even warrants a little skimming.
Unlike some of King's other tomes, the length and pacing are suitable to the story content. The ending has a weird and bitter twist which fit well, even again that I didn't full get it. The author doesn't shy away from actual vicious abuse, giving his main villain a biting tendency. I would have liked to see more of the details of the shelter, but I liked the women who worked together and had friendships. It was convincing and thoughtful.
June 4, 2023
Glad I read it (listened to it, actually) but I wasn't as hooked as with most of King's other novels I have read.
OverDrive, thank you!
OverDrive, thank you!
August 21, 2011
This is without a doubt the worst Stephen King book I've read. Why he felt the need to add the fantasy element in I don't know, but I found it absolutely ridiculous.
Norman Daniels (the psychopath husband) was almost a caricature more than a character. A purely evil, hateful man with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, yet we're expected to believe this psycopath functions perfectly well in the police force and is a highly decorated detective? Trying to imagine this man being sympathetic and kind to victims of serious crime, being a credible witness in court etc is impossible for me to do.
It's a shame, because I liked the idea of a much-abused wife finally 'snapping', taking hubby's bank card, then running off to try to start a new life elsewhere and the cop husband trying to track her down. Sure, it's not original, but King could've made it work. Instead, he made a half-arsed (assed, if you're American!)fantasy novel.
I'm one of those people who can't give up on a book once I've read past the first few chapters, so I stuck with it til the end. Poor writing, poor characterisation, with ridiculous fantasy elements included. Recommended to absolutely no one; a terrible novel.
Norman Daniels (the psychopath husband) was almost a caricature more than a character. A purely evil, hateful man with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, yet we're expected to believe this psycopath functions perfectly well in the police force and is a highly decorated detective? Trying to imagine this man being sympathetic and kind to victims of serious crime, being a credible witness in court etc is impossible for me to do.
It's a shame, because I liked the idea of a much-abused wife finally 'snapping', taking hubby's bank card, then running off to try to start a new life elsewhere and the cop husband trying to track her down. Sure, it's not original, but King could've made it work. Instead, he made a half-arsed (assed, if you're American!)fantasy novel.
I'm one of those people who can't give up on a book once I've read past the first few chapters, so I stuck with it til the end. Poor writing, poor characterisation, with ridiculous fantasy elements included. Recommended to absolutely no one; a terrible novel.
October 10, 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Thriller
This is the story of domestic abuse. Rosie Daniels needs to get away from her crazy, abusive husband, Norman. She escapes to a strange city to have a new life away from all the humiliation and abuse. There she meets Bill, and the two will fall for each other. But the problem is that Rosie will never feel secure and comfortable as she is on her toes all the time, fearing that Norman will hunt her eventually, especially because he is a cop and it won’t be a difficult task for him.
As usual, there must be supernatural elements to the story in most books by Stephen King. In this one, those elements are well implemented. Maybe if this had been written by a different author, it would have been more surprising. The characters are well-developed and interesting. However, the plot was not that captivating and the pacing needed some work. I feel that King’s stories tend to lose some of their magic when they are not focused enough. This was the case with Rose Madder. No wonder it is one of the very few of his novels that has not been adapted yet into a movie or a TV series. Overall, it is a decent read.
Note: Rose Madder is a part of my reading of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. This is Book No.12 of the 24 books I am going to read for this series.
Genre: Thriller
This is the story of domestic abuse. Rosie Daniels needs to get away from her crazy, abusive husband, Norman. She escapes to a strange city to have a new life away from all the humiliation and abuse. There she meets Bill, and the two will fall for each other. But the problem is that Rosie will never feel secure and comfortable as she is on her toes all the time, fearing that Norman will hunt her eventually, especially because he is a cop and it won’t be a difficult task for him.
As usual, there must be supernatural elements to the story in most books by Stephen King. In this one, those elements are well implemented. Maybe if this had been written by a different author, it would have been more surprising. The characters are well-developed and interesting. However, the plot was not that captivating and the pacing needed some work. I feel that King’s stories tend to lose some of their magic when they are not focused enough. This was the case with Rose Madder. No wonder it is one of the very few of his novels that has not been adapted yet into a movie or a TV series. Overall, it is a decent read.
Note: Rose Madder is a part of my reading of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. This is Book No.12 of the 24 books I am going to read for this series.
December 13, 2022
A great enthralling story combining domestic violence and mythology. Rose see’s a drop of blood one day on a bed sheet left over from a beating by her abusive husband the night before. It is the trigger that sets her off escaping from his abusive control. Norman Daniel’s her husband is a psychotic cop who is slowly going insane.
The story follows Rose’s escape and assistance from an organization that helps abused women. She starts a new life, meets a new man and buys a mysterious picture which causes her vivid dreams or is the painting a gateway to another world?
I enjoyed the tension of the story. The chilling madness of Norman and his obsession with talking to Rose up close. He becomes fixated and obsessed about her taking his bank card.
The transformation of Rose to a stronger woman was excellent. The picnic and the symbolism of the vixen, the carnival, bus ride and purchasing the picture as well as her adventure to get the baby were all great stories within the story.
The ending is memorable and Norman gets to take the bull by the horns and no guesses on that outcome. Hands down the best book I have read this year.
The story follows Rose’s escape and assistance from an organization that helps abused women. She starts a new life, meets a new man and buys a mysterious picture which causes her vivid dreams or is the painting a gateway to another world?
I enjoyed the tension of the story. The chilling madness of Norman and his obsession with talking to Rose up close. He becomes fixated and obsessed about her taking his bank card.
The transformation of Rose to a stronger woman was excellent. The picnic and the symbolism of the vixen, the carnival, bus ride and purchasing the picture as well as her adventure to get the baby were all great stories within the story.
The ending is memorable and Norman gets to take the bull by the horns and no guesses on that outcome. Hands down the best book I have read this year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2015
I really believe that Rose Madder contains one of the most relentless, heart stopping pursuits in any novel anywhere, and - in Norman Daniels - the strongest villain in any of King’s work. King doesn’t just describe Norman Daniels’s actions in Rose Madder; he gets inside the monster’s head and in the process shows us the kind of thoughts that motivate a violent murderer.
Rose McClendon married Norman right after high school, suffered a vicious bite from him on their wedding night, and from then on her life became one long nightmare of abusive violence. If things weren’t done Norman’s way, done just right, there was hell to pay... and it was physical hell. Rose was beaten for things like not washing the floor thoroughly enough, reading romance novels, and getting pregnant. It was getting pregnant that landed Rose in the hospital, the baby beaten to death within her. She put up with all this for fourteen years, and then one day, when she noticed a drop of blood from last night’s beating on her bed sheet and knew she’d either have to change the sheets yet again or face more abuse, Rosie just walked out of the house forever. She took Norman’s ATM card and split.
What follows is really a story of liberation. One that cuts back and forth between Norman’s raging plans to make his wife pay for the effrontery of leaving him and Rose’s escape into a new life. That life turns out to be far more wonderful than she could ever have imagined. It isn’t 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 key focus in the story. It shows Rose the image of a strong woman standing on a hillside (a woman who inspires Rose to be strong whenever she’s overcome with doubt or fear), and Rose eventually learns that she can step into the panting, and have amazing though sometimes terrifying new experiences there. Meanwhile, as Rose’s new life improves, Norman draws ever closer, just as she knew he would.
How is King is able to gain such a keen grasp of the mind of a sicko like Norman? I’m sure there were mountains of research and discussions with experts. Norman is a cop, a great cop, and he’s internalized police procedures to the highest degree. I can see King in long conversations with guys who know the ways and whiles of the police force and its most aberrant practitioners. Still, I think there’s more to it than that. In a word, it’s genius... maybe King’s greatest genius. He’s such a keen observer of people that he’s able to create believable characters even when they’re monsters. He can enter Norman’s mind, piece together his intentions, reconstruct his thoughts, and give us a clear-cut 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 (has to be Chicago), the painting becomes even more alive. 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 that 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 ever 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 truest self, and basically eat him alive.
Teetering on the brink of continued violence from then on, Rose Madder exercises scary self-control as she warns Rosie that she has to do certain things to be able to lead a happy life. Oh, and Rose had better get the hell out of the paining 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 kinds of cruel actions that Norman performed. (Guess 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 with 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 looks like the crusts growing on Rose Madder might be emblematic of the anger that has transferred from Norman to her, taking over her life, turning her into the same kind of monster who had so persecuted Rose.
Good news. By carefully following the ritualistic steps that Rose Madder outlined for her, Rose overcomes her anger, and then, one day, when performing the very last task out on a hilly slope that does resemble 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 channeling more folks than Norman Daniels in this one. Shakespeare seems to have worked his way in there too... and probably Euripides.
Rose McClendon married Norman right after high school, suffered a vicious bite from him on their wedding night, and from then on her life became one long nightmare of abusive violence. If things weren’t done Norman’s way, done just right, there was hell to pay... and it was physical hell. Rose was beaten for things like not washing the floor thoroughly enough, reading romance novels, and getting pregnant. It was getting pregnant that landed Rose in the hospital, the baby beaten to death within her. She put up with all this for fourteen years, and then one day, when she noticed a drop of blood from last night’s beating on her bed sheet and knew she’d either have to change the sheets yet again or face more abuse, Rosie just walked out of the house forever. She took Norman’s ATM card and split.
What follows is really a story of liberation. One that cuts back and forth between Norman’s raging plans to make his wife pay for the effrontery of leaving him and Rose’s escape into a new life. That life turns out to be far more wonderful than she could ever have imagined. It isn’t 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 key focus in the story. It shows Rose the image of a strong woman standing on a hillside (a woman who inspires Rose to be strong whenever she’s overcome with doubt or fear), and Rose eventually learns that she can step into the panting, and have amazing though sometimes terrifying new experiences there. Meanwhile, as Rose’s new life improves, Norman draws ever closer, just as she knew he would.
How is King is able to gain such a keen grasp of the mind of a sicko like Norman? I’m sure there were mountains of research and discussions with experts. Norman is a cop, a great cop, and he’s internalized police procedures to the highest degree. I can see King in long conversations with guys who know the ways and whiles of the police force and its most aberrant practitioners. Still, I think there’s more to it than that. In a word, it’s genius... maybe King’s greatest genius. He’s such a keen observer of people that he’s able to create believable characters even when they’re monsters. He can enter Norman’s mind, piece together his intentions, reconstruct his thoughts, and give us a clear-cut 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 (has to be Chicago), the painting becomes even more alive. 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 that 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 ever 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 truest self, and basically eat him alive.
Teetering on the brink of continued violence from then on, Rose Madder exercises scary self-control as she warns Rosie that she has to do certain things to be able to lead a happy life. Oh, and Rose had better get the hell out of the paining 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 kinds of cruel actions that Norman performed. (Guess 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 with 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 looks like the crusts growing on Rose Madder might be emblematic of the anger that has transferred from Norman to her, taking over her life, turning her into the same kind of monster who had so persecuted Rose.
Good news. By carefully following the ritualistic steps that Rose Madder outlined for her, Rose overcomes her anger, and then, one day, when performing the very last task out on a hilly slope that does resemble 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 channeling more folks than Norman Daniels in this one. Shakespeare seems to have worked his way in there too... and probably Euripides.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2010
This is definately my least favorite of the King books I've read so far. I simultaniously loved and hated this book. There were no parts that I just liked...seriously I was either loving it or hating it. Clearly since I gave it 3 stars I loved more parts then I hated.
First the good stuff. As usual Kings take on a crazy person is always amazing and terrifying. My first King book was Misery and I just love his crazy villians.
I was actually getting a little bored with the book until Rosie found her painting and the weird stuff, that makes me love King so much, started to happen. I was entranced during Rosies whole 'adventure' in the painting trying to find the baby. I wish a few things had been explained a little more but he kind of left me to make up my own mind which is always bittersweet anyways.
And, of course, I loved the Misery references in this book. It made me feel like I was part of a special group of people who were in the know. *wink wink*
Now what I did not like. There was an aspect of this book that was so beyond reality and completely fake and phoney that I don't think even King pulled it off. His name was Bill. Rosie's heart of gold, love at first sight, commitment loving boyfriend. Hello...LAME!
"I've known you for two weeks and spent a total of 3 hours with you but I'm in love with you and I want to handle all of your baggage as well as your completely insane husband and take you away on my white horse." Total bull shit.
I kept expecting this dewey-eyed chick-lit cliche to turn into a hard core dose of reality, which is usually Kings specialty. Something a little more...
"You know what Rosie, you're great and I really like you but this is a little to much for me." Which would be totally understandable and expected from any normal guy who doesn't want his penis bitten off by Stormin' Norman.
Holy Christ...Nora Roberts fans don't even buy this guy. And I'm pretty sure I heard Nicholas Sparks call him a pussy.
Keep in mind that not all woman are waiting around for a white knight to rescue them on his valient steed. Some of us want realistic relationships with realistic men. This character almost completely ruined the female empowerment in this book...
...almost, until Gertie's scene with Normie in the amusement park. The woman's lib fanatic in me was jumping for joy when she pee'd all over his face but mostly when she called him a queer boy (I think that was her term) and he couldn't believe a woman was talking to him in that respect. Yep, Normie, its a woman...standing up for herself and being strong. Suck it!
First the good stuff. As usual Kings take on a crazy person is always amazing and terrifying. My first King book was Misery and I just love his crazy villians.
I was actually getting a little bored with the book until Rosie found her painting and the weird stuff, that makes me love King so much, started to happen. I was entranced during Rosies whole 'adventure' in the painting trying to find the baby. I wish a few things had been explained a little more but he kind of left me to make up my own mind which is always bittersweet anyways.
And, of course, I loved the Misery references in this book. It made me feel like I was part of a special group of people who were in the know. *wink wink*
Now what I did not like. There was an aspect of this book that was so beyond reality and completely fake and phoney that I don't think even King pulled it off. His name was Bill. Rosie's heart of gold, love at first sight, commitment loving boyfriend. Hello...LAME!
"I've known you for two weeks and spent a total of 3 hours with you but I'm in love with you and I want to handle all of your baggage as well as your completely insane husband and take you away on my white horse." Total bull shit.
I kept expecting this dewey-eyed chick-lit cliche to turn into a hard core dose of reality, which is usually Kings specialty. Something a little more...
"You know what Rosie, you're great and I really like you but this is a little to much for me." Which would be totally understandable and expected from any normal guy who doesn't want his penis bitten off by Stormin' Norman.
Holy Christ...Nora Roberts fans don't even buy this guy. And I'm pretty sure I heard Nicholas Sparks call him a pussy.
Keep in mind that not all woman are waiting around for a white knight to rescue them on his valient steed. Some of us want realistic relationships with realistic men. This character almost completely ruined the female empowerment in this book...
...almost, until Gertie's scene with Normie in the amusement park. The woman's lib fanatic in me was jumping for joy when she pee'd all over his face but mostly when she called him a queer boy (I think that was her term) and he couldn't believe a woman was talking to him in that respect. Yep, Normie, its a woman...standing up for herself and being strong. Suck it!
April 17, 2019
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!
April 14, 2021
Read with my good buddy, Mel. Loved the whole psychological horror aspect, it was very intense at times! However, I can see why some people didn't like this one, due to the picture storyline. It definitely kept me from rating this 5 ☆. But overall, a great horror story!
July 22, 2022
Rosie lleva muchos años viviendo un absoluto infierno. Desde que se casó con Norman, ha visto como su vida poco a poco va siendo mermada por el maltrato que este ejerce sobre ella, y como todo lo que una vez fue o quiso, ya solo es un recuerdo. Rosie pasa sus días encerrada en casa, pensando cuando será el día en que su marido la mate, cuando una de esas palizas llegará a más. Sin embargo, un día, una simple gota de sangre despierta en ella un sentimiento nuevo, y decide que ha llegado el momento de huir.
Para ser un libro de los noventa y estar tratado por un hombre, me ha gustado mucho como toca el tema del maltrato y como consigue meternos en las mentes tanto del agresor como de la víctima, y lo hace por completo, sin medias tintas. Eso consigue que muchas veces se te pongan los pelos de punta, o que te mueras de rabia, pero también implica que la creación de los personajes sea increíble. Algo en lo que, para mí, King es perfecto.
Una de las cosas que más me gusta de King es esa habilidad para mezclar el terror real con el sobrenatural, principalmente porque consigue que te parezca más terrorífica la maldad humana que vemos en el día a día, que el hecho de que te ponga criaturas fantásticas que acechan a sus personajes. Creo que “El retrato de Rose Madder” es uno de los libros de King donde más pesa esa parte real, y tarda muchísimo tiempo en arrancar la más sobrenatural. De hecho, para mí, la parte sobrenatural desmerece un poco el conjunto de la obra. Y es la primera vez que eso me pasa con un libro de King.
Creo que la parte fantástica es poco sólida y nada clara, y abre más incógnitas de las que cierra. Quizás me hubiera gustado más que la historia siguiera por la vía realista y que el desenlace mantuviera ese rumbo, y no que estuviera mezclado con esa parte fantástica, que sé que es seña de King, y normalmente me flipa, pero en esta ocasión no he terminado de verle el sentido. Es más, hay varios capítulos larguísimos, que se centran bastante en esta parte más fantástica de la trama, que me aburrieron bastante.
Pese a todo, me ha gustado, lo he disfrutado (o sufrido más bien) y creo que King es un genio a la hora de crear villanos, lo hace incluso mejor que con sus heroínas o héroes. Norman es de esos personajes que odias profundamente y que si pudieras sacarías de entre las páginas para hacer con él cosas políticamente incorrectas. Es una historia cruda, muy bien creada y con personajazos, pero que pierde algo de fuelle por su parte fantástica.
Para ser un libro de los noventa y estar tratado por un hombre, me ha gustado mucho como toca el tema del maltrato y como consigue meternos en las mentes tanto del agresor como de la víctima, y lo hace por completo, sin medias tintas. Eso consigue que muchas veces se te pongan los pelos de punta, o que te mueras de rabia, pero también implica que la creación de los personajes sea increíble. Algo en lo que, para mí, King es perfecto.
Una de las cosas que más me gusta de King es esa habilidad para mezclar el terror real con el sobrenatural, principalmente porque consigue que te parezca más terrorífica la maldad humana que vemos en el día a día, que el hecho de que te ponga criaturas fantásticas que acechan a sus personajes. Creo que “El retrato de Rose Madder” es uno de los libros de King donde más pesa esa parte real, y tarda muchísimo tiempo en arrancar la más sobrenatural. De hecho, para mí, la parte sobrenatural desmerece un poco el conjunto de la obra. Y es la primera vez que eso me pasa con un libro de King.
Creo que la parte fantástica es poco sólida y nada clara, y abre más incógnitas de las que cierra. Quizás me hubiera gustado más que la historia siguiera por la vía realista y que el desenlace mantuviera ese rumbo, y no que estuviera mezclado con esa parte fantástica, que sé que es seña de King, y normalmente me flipa, pero en esta ocasión no he terminado de verle el sentido. Es más, hay varios capítulos larguísimos, que se centran bastante en esta parte más fantástica de la trama, que me aburrieron bastante.
Pese a todo, me ha gustado, lo he disfrutado (o sufrido más bien) y creo que King es un genio a la hora de crear villanos, lo hace incluso mejor que con sus heroínas o héroes. Norman es de esos personajes que odias profundamente y que si pudieras sacarías de entre las páginas para hacer con él cosas políticamente incorrectas. Es una historia cruda, muy bien creada y con personajazos, pero que pierde algo de fuelle por su parte fantástica.
March 16, 2025
If "underrated" can in any circumstance be applied to a Stephen King book, this is the one.
In On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, King downplayed this book, famously calling it a "stiff, trying-too-hard novel". I can see how he could find it too on-the-nose, especially with its completely fuckbonkers misogynistic, racist, homophobic cop/husband villain, but I think it managed to avoid descending to a cartoonish level, even as details of his own fucked-up upbringing drip in (reminding me vividly of later Mr. Mercedes' antagonist). The book certainly doesn't lack for subtlety, and that's part of its power: it's a no-holds-barred nightmarish account of domestic abuse, King's dominant theme of its decade.
I think this is one of King's best three novels of the 1990s, the others being Dolores Claiborne and Wizard and Glass. I found it striking and potent when I read it then, and this didn't change at all in my current reread. Rose's abusive marriage is horrifying and all too possible, and it's impossible not to root for her as she escapes and slowly finds herself and her power. The totemic and transformative painting randomly encountered, a classic King device if there ever was one, leads to a shockingly rich realm of Greek mythology, long before "retellings" were a thing. There's nothing gimmicky about it, it's an authentic literary pull that rings true to the source matter. I found this similar to King's much later Fairy Tale. Clearly Rose Madder is seeped in King lore and matters he would return to throughout his decades of writing.
If only the book weren't 20% italics. The Norman POV segments did not require this; the tone and content set them apart without this unnecessary slant.
In On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, King downplayed this book, famously calling it a "stiff, trying-too-hard novel". I can see how he could find it too on-the-nose, especially with its completely fuckbonkers misogynistic, racist, homophobic cop/husband villain, but I think it managed to avoid descending to a cartoonish level, even as details of his own fucked-up upbringing drip in (reminding me vividly of later Mr. Mercedes' antagonist). The book certainly doesn't lack for subtlety, and that's part of its power: it's a no-holds-barred nightmarish account of domestic abuse, King's dominant theme of its decade.
I think this is one of King's best three novels of the 1990s, the others being Dolores Claiborne and Wizard and Glass. I found it striking and potent when I read it then, and this didn't change at all in my current reread. Rose's abusive marriage is horrifying and all too possible, and it's impossible not to root for her as she escapes and slowly finds herself and her power. The totemic and transformative painting randomly encountered, a classic King device if there ever was one, leads to a shockingly rich realm of Greek mythology, long before "retellings" were a thing. There's nothing gimmicky about it, it's an authentic literary pull that rings true to the source matter. I found this similar to King's much later Fairy Tale. Clearly Rose Madder is seeped in King lore and matters he would return to throughout his decades of writing.
If only the book weren't 20% italics. The Norman POV segments did not require this; the tone and content set them apart without this unnecessary slant.
May 13, 2021
Hasta el momento, el mejor libro junto a Dolores Claiborne en esta etapa de los 90´s de King, recuerdo que el primer libro que leí de él fue desesperación, que será el último libro que lea del maestro cuando concluya toda su obra, al menos la publicada en español.
Es una historia muy dura, en la que la violencia y la tensión continua no dejan al lector insatisfecho o más bien, no deja de ser incómodo, con unos toques sobrenaturales que no marcan la obra, pero que si tienen cierto significado simbólico. Las primeras hojas, literalmente es me hicieron muy duras y de un mal rollo que no había notado desde hace tiempo, hasta el punto que he tenido que darme un respiro en algunos párrafos, los peores monstruos que puede crear King desde siempre son los que tienen la apariencia humana, la tensión casi viva que fluye a través de estos personajes hace de su narrativa algo único, porque al final no es el hecho de que sea una lectura original del todo, puede ser cotidiano y la excepcionalidad en este hecho está en como se cuenta la historia. Me ha sorprendido muy gratamente esta lectura, no es de sus obras más conocidas ni mucho menos, pero merece una oportunidad, sin duda. Contiene algunos guiños a La Torre Oscura y a Misery y ya se sabe, cuando King mete guiños la lectura se vuelve aún más interesante. Por otro lado, en algunos puntos me ha recordado a El Retrato De Dorian Gray, supongo que por el tema del cuadro y si ha sido una referencia más fuerte, lo ha hecho de una forma lo suficientemente sutil como para que quede elegante.
Otro punto que me ha llamado 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 por ejemplo 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 Robert Louis Stevenson.
Una novela bastante redonda y gratificante, puede que la falta de perspectiva absoluta sobre esta novela fuera un factor fundamental para disfrutarla a mi gusto.
Es una historia muy dura, en la que la violencia y la tensión continua no dejan al lector insatisfecho o más bien, no deja de ser incómodo, con unos toques sobrenaturales que no marcan la obra, pero que si tienen cierto significado simbólico. Las primeras hojas, literalmente es me hicieron muy duras y de un mal rollo que no había notado desde hace tiempo, hasta el punto que he tenido que darme un respiro en algunos párrafos, los peores monstruos que puede crear King desde siempre son los que tienen la apariencia humana, la tensión casi viva que fluye a través de estos personajes hace de su narrativa algo único, porque al final no es el hecho de que sea una lectura original del todo, puede ser cotidiano y la excepcionalidad en este hecho está en como se cuenta la historia. Me ha sorprendido muy gratamente esta lectura, no es de sus obras más conocidas ni mucho menos, pero merece una oportunidad, sin duda. Contiene algunos guiños a La Torre Oscura y a Misery y ya se sabe, cuando King mete guiños la lectura se vuelve aún más interesante. Por otro lado, en algunos puntos me ha recordado a El Retrato De Dorian Gray, supongo que por el tema del cuadro y si ha sido una referencia más fuerte, lo ha hecho de una forma lo suficientemente sutil como para que quede elegante.
Otro punto que me ha llamado 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 por ejemplo 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 Robert Louis Stevenson.
Una novela bastante redonda y gratificante, puede que la falta de perspectiva absoluta sobre esta novela fuera un factor fundamental para disfrutarla a mi gusto.
October 22, 2024
The worst Stephen King book ever. I heard he wrote this after he got off alcohol and drugs. It shows.
August 30, 2017
Stephen King once famously proclaimed himself the Big Mac and fries of literature — meaning his works are popular and enjoyable, albeit perhaps lacking in nourishment. I heartily disagree with that assessment, for the most part. Novels such as IT, Dolores Claiborne, and The Dead Zone are intricate, multi-layered masterstrokes; methinks King is too modest in regards to his own creations.
However. . . the Maine author's observation does hold true in a few select cases. Christine is a barrel of fun, but it certainly offers no depth. That's cool. King's 1983 novel about a haunted car is campy horror at its campiest. I think I would put Rose Madder in the Big Mac and fries category, too: while fun and involving, one comes away feeling full but perhaps not particularly satisfied.
This is a brutal, hard-edged tale of spousal abuse, escape, and recovery. The main character is Rose, a woman dealt physical and mental trauma from her husband for fourteen years. Rose Madder is her journey to self-discovery and freedom. Like previous novels Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne, King takes an unflinching and daring look at femininity and what it takes to be a woman in the modern age. And, for the most part, he succeeds.
Perhaps my biggest problem with this story is not the infamous magical painting Rose escapes into (a plot point that didn't work for me the first time around, but I had a bit more fun with it on this reread), but Norman — the abusive husband. This dude is so over-the-top it's unreal. King is a master at creating despicable, terrifying humans; it's nothing short of fascinating that he failed so completely with Norman. He's a walking cliche, and King never takes the time to give the reader any reason to sympathize with him. He's just CRAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY from literally page one, and he only gets worse. Because of that, much of this novel's potential menace is lost. Shame.
That 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 whatever. King would explore escaping into an alternate, mythic world to better effect in Lisey's Story.
Rose Madder is Stephen King at his most average. While containing interesting ideas, some captivating prose (especially that prologue — sheeeeesh!), and a serviceable main character in Rose, this novel just feels tired, inessential. At times I got the sense King was getting bored with the story, and was ready to finish the damn thing. 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 gets a few generous shoutouts.
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!
However. . . the Maine author's observation does hold true in a few select cases. Christine is a barrel of fun, but it certainly offers no depth. That's cool. King's 1983 novel about a haunted car is campy horror at its campiest. I think I would put Rose Madder in the Big Mac and fries category, too: while fun and involving, one comes away feeling full but perhaps not particularly satisfied.
This is a brutal, hard-edged tale of spousal abuse, escape, and recovery. The main character is Rose, a woman dealt physical and mental trauma from her husband for fourteen years. Rose Madder is her journey to self-discovery and freedom. Like previous novels Gerald's Game and Dolores Claiborne, King takes an unflinching and daring look at femininity and what it takes to be a woman in the modern age. And, for the most part, he succeeds.
Perhaps my biggest problem with this story is not the infamous magical painting Rose escapes into (a plot point that didn't work for me the first time around, but I had a bit more fun with it on this reread), but Norman — the abusive husband. This dude is so over-the-top it's unreal. King is a master at creating despicable, terrifying humans; it's nothing short of fascinating that he failed so completely with Norman. He's a walking cliche, and King never takes the time to give the reader any reason to sympathize with him. He's just CRAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY from literally page one, and he only gets worse. Because of that, much of this novel's potential menace is lost. Shame.
That 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 whatever. King would explore escaping into an alternate, mythic world to better effect in Lisey's Story.
Rose Madder is Stephen King at his most average. While containing interesting ideas, some captivating prose (especially that prologue — sheeeeesh!), and a serviceable main character in Rose, this novel just feels tired, inessential. At times I got the sense King was getting bored with the story, and was ready to finish the damn thing. 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 gets a few generous shoutouts.
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!
October 13, 2024
I’ve never read Stephen King before, and if I hadn’t heard from multiple people that this was one of his weaker books, I’m not sure I’d be inclined to try anything else by him. Overall, I thought it was far too long, pretty boring/repetitive in places, and just vaguely unpleasant in a way that didn't have anything to do with its horror elements or the inclusion of an abusive relationship.
As far as the villain Norman goes, it seems like King mainly decided to show how awful he is by making him abhorrently racist and sexist at every possible opportunity (before he starts biting people’s dicks off too lol) . This succeeded in making me hate him and making him a clear villain, but that being said, he's just so cartoonish; I don't think the book rendered the psychology of an abusive man with much actual insight into what might be going on up there beyond the most glaringly obvious bits of him being obsessively dedicated to controlling/stalking/wanting to punish his wife. That might not have been King's goal, but it would have been more interesting to me than what I ended up reading. I think it might have made the horror elements surrounding Norman being nearly indestructible a bit more interesting, too.
I liked Rosie as a protagonist and thought that parts of her journey to independence via staying at a shelter program were nice, but those parts quickly got lost with the focus on a very flat, boring instalove romance with some random dude. I also thought it was super interesting that King made Norman a police detective and started out by showing how impossible it is for an anyone with a police abuser to find any recourse with the criminal justice system…only for Rosie to 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 it was the part of the book I was the most interested in by far. Apparently there are references to other Stephen King lore here, but these were totally lost on me, of course. This was really not a great read overall, and I definitely wish I had picked something different for my r/fantasy bingo square for Horror last year (yes, this is how behind I am on posting reviews here!)
As far as the villain Norman goes, it seems like King mainly decided to show how awful he is by making him abhorrently racist and sexist at every possible opportunity (before he starts biting people’s dicks off too lol) . This succeeded in making me hate him and making him a clear villain, but that being said, he's just so cartoonish; I don't think the book rendered the psychology of an abusive man with much actual insight into what might be going on up there beyond the most glaringly obvious bits of him being obsessively dedicated to controlling/stalking/wanting to punish his wife. That might not have been King's goal, but it would have been more interesting to me than what I ended up reading. I think it might have made the horror elements surrounding Norman being nearly indestructible a bit more interesting, too.
I liked Rosie as a protagonist and thought that parts of her journey to independence via staying at a shelter program were nice, but those parts quickly got lost with the focus on a very flat, boring instalove romance with some random dude. I also thought it was super interesting that King made Norman a police detective and started out by showing how impossible it is for an anyone with a police abuser to find any recourse with the criminal justice system…only for Rosie to 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 it was the part of the book I was the most interested in by far. Apparently there are references to other Stephen King lore here, but these were totally lost on me, of course. This was really not a great read overall, and I definitely wish I had picked something different for my r/fantasy bingo square for Horror last year (yes, this is how behind I am on posting reviews here!)
September 29, 2020
I don't even know what to say about this one. It is fantastic. King combines the everyday horror that an abused woman goes through with actual horror (going to a different reality where a monster stalks you in a maze) and it works. I think that King can when he wants to write women very well. That's why it drives me up the wall when he drops the ball. The characters are vivid and I would have liked it if King gave a nod to them in his other books, but he does not. The writing at times get a bit too "Kingy" a la repetitive like when referring to Norman and his "I want to talk to you up close" mantra. The flow works though. You are hanging on full of tension to see what King does next. The ending was really good and kind of reminded me a bit of Lisey's Story. You have a woman coming full circle and deciding what she is going to do next.
"Rose Madder" is about 30 year old house wife, Rose Daniels. The book starts off with some vivid and violent imagery and imagery. Rose has been beaten again by her husband Norman. The beating has caused her to miscarry. With Norman looming over her and telling her to be quiet about what was done, Rose goes away in her own head. The book then jumps forward by several years and we have Rose finally "waking up" and realizes if she does not leave him soon, he is going to either kill her or just leave her so incapacitated, she would want Norman to. Rose realizes that after 18 years being married to Norman she needs to find herself again. What follows is Rose (now Rosie) flight from Norman and trying to have something just for herself. Tie in some King and you also get some horror elements included. When Rosie finds a painting that speaks to her called "Rose Madder" things become even more interested. Constant Readers know how much King loves his paintings.
The character of Rose McClendon Daniels, later known as Rosie McClendon and sometimes as Rosie Real will grab at you and have you scared for her life. I think King did an excellent job of showing how abusive men can cut a person off from their friends and family and it's just an ugly twosome of each other. I loved the grit we get to see coming from Rosie as the book goes on. The final showdown was epic and I loved it.
The other characters in this one, some do well, some do not. I mean it's King, you know not everyone is getting out alive. The horror of what is done to some of them may stay with you. Don't read if you have a weak stomach.
The villain in this one, Norman, reminds me a bit of some of King's other antagonist. A man wanting to hurt a woman just because he can (see Lisey's Story, Bag of Bones, and Dolores Claiborne). We do get some insights into what supposedly made Norman this way, but honestly I was not here for it. Some of the things he did to Rosie and others had me at the no sympathy at all mindset.
The writing at times is lyrical, though goodness love King, he gets repetitive at times. Also reading some of the italics (I have a hardcover) made it hard at times. I get that was the way to show Norman's thoughts/feelings on past and present going on's, but it gave me a slight headache to switch back and forth between that and the regular font.
The flow works a lot in this one. The tension of Rosie's predicament just sticks with you while you are reading. I was sad to leave this one alone last night (hey even I have to sleep) but picked it up right again when I was having my breakfast.
The world building in this one was a great Easter Egg for Constant Readers. We have some tie-ins to "The Dark Tower" (the woman or goddess) that Rosie comes across mentions Lud and ka so we know she's part of Roland's world, or at least a world where it is mentioned. We also have mentions of "Misery" and I think possibly "Insomina." But there are also some of King's favorite narrative plot points, a painting that is not all that it seems, a great big beast in a different land/reality, etc.
The ending was really good and I thought that it was a great way to wrap things up.
I read this one for the "King of Fear" square.
"Rose Madder" is about 30 year old house wife, Rose Daniels. The book starts off with some vivid and violent imagery and imagery. Rose has been beaten again by her husband Norman. The beating has caused her to miscarry. With Norman looming over her and telling her to be quiet about what was done, Rose goes away in her own head. The book then jumps forward by several years and we have Rose finally "waking up" and realizes if she does not leave him soon, he is going to either kill her or just leave her so incapacitated, she would want Norman to. Rose realizes that after 18 years being married to Norman she needs to find herself again. What follows is Rose (now Rosie) flight from Norman and trying to have something just for herself. Tie in some King and you also get some horror elements included. When Rosie finds a painting that speaks to her called "Rose Madder" things become even more interested. Constant Readers know how much King loves his paintings.
The character of Rose McClendon Daniels, later known as Rosie McClendon and sometimes as Rosie Real will grab at you and have you scared for her life. I think King did an excellent job of showing how abusive men can cut a person off from their friends and family and it's just an ugly twosome of each other. I loved the grit we get to see coming from Rosie as the book goes on. The final showdown was epic and I loved it.
The other characters in this one, some do well, some do not. I mean it's King, you know not everyone is getting out alive. The horror of what is done to some of them may stay with you. Don't read if you have a weak stomach.
The villain in this one, Norman, reminds me a bit of some of King's other antagonist. A man wanting to hurt a woman just because he can (see Lisey's Story, Bag of Bones, and Dolores Claiborne). We do get some insights into what supposedly made Norman this way, but honestly I was not here for it. Some of the things he did to Rosie and others had me at the no sympathy at all mindset.
The writing at times is lyrical, though goodness love King, he gets repetitive at times. Also reading some of the italics (I have a hardcover) made it hard at times. I get that was the way to show Norman's thoughts/feelings on past and present going on's, but it gave me a slight headache to switch back and forth between that and the regular font.
The flow works a lot in this one. The tension of Rosie's predicament just sticks with you while you are reading. I was sad to leave this one alone last night (hey even I have to sleep) but picked it up right again when I was having my breakfast.
The world building in this one was a great Easter Egg for Constant Readers. We have some tie-ins to "The Dark Tower" (the woman or goddess) that Rosie comes across mentions Lud and ka so we know she's part of Roland's world, or at least a world where it is mentioned. We also have mentions of "Misery" and I think possibly "Insomina." But there are also some of King's favorite narrative plot points, a painting that is not all that it seems, a great big beast in a different land/reality, etc.
The ending was really good and I thought that it was a great way to wrap things up.
I read this one for the "King of Fear" square.
April 30, 2023
It begins with a drop of blood on a bed sheet, and the sudden realization that if Rose Daniels doesn’t leave her domineering and abusive husband, she may very soon wind-up dead. She also realizes that she can’t just pick up and flee to a new city. Her husband is a cop. He has resources. Cop resources at his disposal, that can assist him in his search for the wife that’s betrayed him.
This novel is an intriguing feminist celebration rife with allegorical themes about the psychology of the abused and the abuser. Admittedly, it sometimes feels a little heavy-handed, but for the most part the characters resonate with believability. Norman is nuts. No matter how over-the-top he may seem, I know men like this FOR REAL. Some men will stop at nothing (even murder) to regain control of the woman that did them wrong. Despite the supernatural aspects of this book (which are overt) this is a good story. At times, there are some elements – no spoilers – the painting – that stretch the parameters of truth, yet overall, there is much to feel optimistic about. Not all of King’s work is as filled with hope.
This novel is an intriguing feminist celebration rife with allegorical themes about the psychology of the abused and the abuser. Admittedly, it sometimes feels a little heavy-handed, but for the most part the characters resonate with believability. Norman is nuts. No matter how over-the-top he may seem, I know men like this FOR REAL. Some men will stop at nothing (even murder) to regain control of the woman that did them wrong. Despite the supernatural aspects of this book (which are overt) this is a good story. At times, there are some elements – no spoilers – the painting – that stretch the parameters of truth, yet overall, there is much to feel optimistic about. Not all of King’s work is as filled with hope.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,587 reviews