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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
This book was definitely very intriguing. Well written and kind of scary. It makes me sad that her husband is such a butt head.
I've never heard of a house preforming such acts, but if you look deeper I feel that it's almost all Ellen..
I'm not sure. Good book. Very interesting.
I've never heard of a house preforming such acts, but if you look deeper I feel that it's almost all Ellen..
I'm not sure. Good book. Very interesting.
dark
mysterious
fast-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:
Yes
Interesting little read, and I guess more interesting because it is set in Seattle at the turn of the century. It would be a recommendation for someone who wants to watch the tv miniseries "Rose Red".
I know I read it, but I don't remember what happened. I'll have to read this one again some time.
As far as horror goes this is definitely not the worst I've read. This was the companion to the Rose Red miniseries which I haven't seen yet, though my husband wants to watch it soon. It's meant to be the background to the events of the series telling the story of Rose Red from it's first foundation till the owners died.
It has it's spooky moments, and it's readable to the extreme. You can fly through these pages. I will note however that it's not the most convincing 'diary' I've ever read. Scenes of dialogue are perfectly rendered in the 'writer voice' and at times it feels less like she's recounting things that have happened and more like they are happening (done I assume so that the author could add some tension and atmosphere). Not terrible, but it is obvious it's a fiction story masquerading as a diary. (I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the representation of Ellen's sexuality throughout the whole thing, but for the length and purpose of the book I don't see that it makes an impact at this point.)
Like I said it does have it's spooky moments, I'll be interested to see the series. It's definitely a popcorn kind of book.
It has it's spooky moments, and it's readable to the extreme. You can fly through these pages. I will note however that it's not the most convincing 'diary' I've ever read. Scenes of dialogue are perfectly rendered in the 'writer voice' and at times it feels less like she's recounting things that have happened and more like they are happening (done I assume so that the author could add some tension and atmosphere). Not terrible, but it is obvious it's a fiction story masquerading as a diary. (I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the representation of Ellen's sexuality throughout the whole thing, but for the length and purpose of the book I don't see that it makes an impact at this point.)
Like I said it does have it's spooky moments, I'll be interested to see the series. It's definitely a popcorn kind of book.
Read for a book club. I did not have high expectations going in and it was true to that. Very tropey and just kind of all over the place. Perhaps my opinion will change whenever I get around to watching the mini-series it was mean to promote.
Super fast read, not altogether "scary" or mysterious or original. I didn't find myself caring a whole lot about any of the characters or missing people, so the scare/care factor was low; there was no "will she make it, won't she make it" race against a person or merely time, or anything really, or even much of a whodunnit (the house did apparently? c'mon), which is what I think of when I read a true mystery. I want more action than this I think. As for the diary aspect, well, I always enjoy a novel in this format and it was done okay, though who writes dialogue in their diaries or explains nearly that much to themselves- some of it didn't jibe with a true diary feel. It was a recommended read from a friend, but I wouldn't exactly pass it along.
I read this in college, having been told by a friend that the "journal" had actually been penned by Stephen King. Pearson must have been so disappointed that so many attribute this work to King. That being said, this book enthralled me from start to finish. I became caught up in the Rimbauers and their lives. The Diary impresses.
I read this book shortly after watching the mini tv series that aired years ago and I remember being hooked to this book as much as I was on the tv show.
This was the first time I had ever read a diary styled book and at first I found it a little hard to really get into but as soon as I did I was hooked and did not want to put this down. It really gave you a great view on what happened in the house and all the people that died in it that you learned about on the show.
The way the book is written and the detail of the events and how you can just feel Ellen Rimbauer's emotion while her life falls apart thanks to a horrible husband and the loss of her daughter and a jealous house that is driving away any ounce of hope and sanity the woman has really had me forgetting more often then not the I was suppose to be reading a work of fiction.
This was the first time I had ever read a diary styled book and at first I found it a little hard to really get into but as soon as I did I was hooked and did not want to put this down. It really gave you a great view on what happened in the house and all the people that died in it that you learned about on the show.
The way the book is written and the detail of the events and how you can just feel Ellen Rimbauer's emotion while her life falls apart thanks to a horrible husband and the loss of her daughter and a jealous house that is driving away any ounce of hope and sanity the woman has really had me forgetting more often then not the I was suppose to be reading a work of fiction.
I skimmed through the first few pages because the prose was overwrought and extremely melodramatic. It reminded me of the sort of thing someone who has never read a romance might write thinking this is the way it's done. Purple prose, fluttering hands, and swooning galore. Blech.
Okay, I'm revising my first impression of this book because last night I zipped through 3/4's of it without taking a break, getting bored, or skimming. I haven't done that in YEARS. Something about this story fascinates me. It's not frightening or overly gory but it is filled with a nice sense of impending dread, a creeping ugliness and an increasingly jaded, frustrated and angry heroine. Ellen's ideal marriage soon turns out to be a huge disaster once she realizes he's a monster, sexual deviant and possible murderer. She develops a close bond with her beautiful servant Sukeena who is strong, unafraid and possess powerful knowledge. Before long Ellen longs more for the touch of her friend Sukeena than the monstrous hands of her once perfect husband. Her feelings, her anger and her thoughts of revenge are realistic to me.
Interesting stuff and I'm glad I continued reading past the insipid beginning.
Later
I finished and, in the end, was a bit disappointed. Big chunks of the so-called diary were removed by Dr. Reardon to spare us gentle reader's the shocking sexual revelations within. I smell a cop-out on the part of the writer here . . . Dr. Reardon directs nosy reader's to a website in order to read these passages. Note to other readers: Don't waste your time with the website because it contains absolutely nothing of substance. Not that I checked or anything ;)
Okay, I'm revising my first impression of this book because last night I zipped through 3/4's of it without taking a break, getting bored, or skimming. I haven't done that in YEARS. Something about this story fascinates me. It's not frightening or overly gory but it is filled with a nice sense of impending dread, a creeping ugliness and an increasingly jaded, frustrated and angry heroine. Ellen's ideal marriage soon turns out to be a huge disaster once she realizes he's a monster, sexual deviant and possible murderer. She develops a close bond with her beautiful servant Sukeena who is strong, unafraid and possess powerful knowledge. Before long Ellen longs more for the touch of her friend Sukeena than the monstrous hands of her once perfect husband. Her feelings, her anger and her thoughts of revenge are realistic to me.
Interesting stuff and I'm glad I continued reading past the insipid beginning.
Later
I finished and, in the end, was a bit disappointed. Big chunks of the so-called diary were removed by Dr. Reardon to spare us gentle reader's the shocking sexual revelations within. I smell a cop-out on the part of the writer here . . . Dr. Reardon directs nosy reader's to a website in order to read these passages. Note to other readers: Don't waste your time with the website because it contains absolutely nothing of substance. Not that I checked or anything ;)