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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
Joyce Reardon and Stephen King's The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red was the latest audio book selection of my husband for our daily rides to and from work. It is billed as a thriller or suspense novel, but I found that the diary format did not lend itself to suspense over the audio. I'm not sure if I would feel differently if I had read the hard copy of the book.
The book begins with Ellen Rimbauer and her budding relationship with her future husband John Rimbauer, who is building a mansion to surpass all mansions in Seattle--Rose Red. The construction of the home is rittled in controversy as it is built on an Indian burial ground and contractors are killed on the site.
Her marriage to John is wrought with marital turmoil as she continues to uncover the depths of her husband's perversity and sexual desire. While the premise of the house being haunted is obvious from Ellen's visits to psychics in Chinatown and the various disappearances inside the home, I was not scared while this audio book played, and I found it a bit predictable.
The diary is entertaining until you get near the end when the supposed paranormal investigator, Joyce Reardon, interrupts the narrative to interject her reasons for eliminating portions of the narrative and to explain about speculation at the time of Ellen Rimbauer's behavior after major events happen in the house, etc.
Overall, this was a good book to listen to in the car and maybe to pick up and read, but it is not something that will frighten you. It is interesting to see how Ellen learns how to take control of her life with the help of her African handmaid Sukeena.
The book begins with Ellen Rimbauer and her budding relationship with her future husband John Rimbauer, who is building a mansion to surpass all mansions in Seattle--Rose Red. The construction of the home is rittled in controversy as it is built on an Indian burial ground and contractors are killed on the site.
Her marriage to John is wrought with marital turmoil as she continues to uncover the depths of her husband's perversity and sexual desire. While the premise of the house being haunted is obvious from Ellen's visits to psychics in Chinatown and the various disappearances inside the home, I was not scared while this audio book played, and I found it a bit predictable.
The diary is entertaining until you get near the end when the supposed paranormal investigator, Joyce Reardon, interrupts the narrative to interject her reasons for eliminating portions of the narrative and to explain about speculation at the time of Ellen Rimbauer's behavior after major events happen in the house, etc.
Overall, this was a good book to listen to in the car and maybe to pick up and read, but it is not something that will frighten you. It is interesting to see how Ellen learns how to take control of her life with the help of her African handmaid Sukeena.
It was OK.....hmn....How do I explain? This book was like a boring salad with some really good parts. I mean there was just sooooooo much tasteless, boring lettuce....,,which you endure, for the occasional bite of ham, or cheese...or a mushroom.
I liked the STORY....not the writing. Does that make sense?
I liked the STORY....not the writing. Does that make sense?
I have absolutely no strong feelings about this book in any direction. It just...is. I like the Rose Red TV mini series, but these characters didn't feel like the ones in the show, nor did they feel like fleshed-out people at all. I wasn't thrilled with the audio narration, nor did I find the diary format believable or compelling. Nothing was scary or creepy or disturbing, especially because we know we're being told it in a diary entry after the fact. The weird sexual dynamic at the end seemed bizarrely out of place. I would recommend any fans of the show just fill in the blanks of the Rimbauer family with their own ideas.
This is my second time reading this and I've enjoyed it just as much. A great companion to the Stephen King mini series Rose Red.
I picked this book because I really enjoyed the movie. It was a quick easy read, not as much insight to the background story as I had hoped. I was not a big fan of the format, just as the title states it is a Diary.
The Diary of Ellen Rimbaur: My Life at Rose Red is a 2001 novel written by Ridely Pearson. Written in diary form, this novel tells of Ellen Rimbaur's time during the early 20th century in the fictional haunted mansion, Rose Red, that was built on an indigenous burial ground. This story is loosely based off of the real life Winchester Mansion as was written as a promotional tool for the Stephen King miniseries "Rose Read" and was written under the name of Dr. Joyce Reardon, one of the main characters of the series.
I personally found the book enjoyable and it filled in some questions that was left in the series about the past. However, it was at times very heavy with detail to the point that it ruined the illusion you were reading a diary. This did not deminish my personal interest in the book itself, but is the main reason I didn't give it a full five stars.
I personally found the book enjoyable and it filled in some questions that was left in the series about the past. However, it was at times very heavy with detail to the point that it ruined the illusion you were reading a diary. This did not deminish my personal interest in the book itself, but is the main reason I didn't give it a full five stars.
This was a quick read but a really good read. I have watched Rose Red and enjoyed the movie and this gives good background on the creation of Rose Red, this monstrous living house and the madness inside of it. It wasn't a scary novel but it was chilling. It should be noted that the website given in the novel for additional entries to read is no longer available which is disappointing.
Overall, a great read. Nothing serious. Just a solid read.
Overall, a great read. Nothing serious. Just a solid read.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fiction, printed as if a true diary and totally ridiculous. the main character was a nut!
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I am quite a fan of journal style entry way of story telling. When it is done right it makes for some great reading and it jumps right to some early unease/horror.
Not only do you get Ellen's story, but those around her, with her expertly written chain of events you get a much more rounded story than you would think with the novel being told in a dear diary sort of setting.
Story includes pictures and drawings that help really sell the journal style.
The house starts to take on a life of it's own, becoming an entity and character in its own right. Some great moments of haunting. This even has some gut wrenching scenes in it
Not only do you get Ellen's story, but those around her, with her expertly written chain of events you get a much more rounded story than you would think with the novel being told in a dear diary sort of setting.
Story includes pictures and drawings that help really sell the journal style.
The house starts to take on a life of it's own, becoming an entity and character in its own right. Some great moments of haunting. This even has some gut wrenching scenes in it