Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Rose Madder by Stephen King

6 reviews

emmiemopho's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

What my husband hears when I read Stephen King: “Stephen, why do you have to say it like that” and “I just don’t have the ability to put up with your nonsense tonight, Stephen.” 

It’s true. I don’t like reading most SK stories but there are a few that I really like. And with a silly little goal to read the rest of his books, I hope I can add some more faves to that list. But sometimes, I’m just fed up and at this point, on a first name basis with Stephen when complaints arise. 

Rose Madder is horrific and there should be so many trigger warnings on it. The first chapter jumps in with detailed abuse, rape, and lots of blood. I think I was nauseous for about 80% of the read. Would I recommend? Definitely not. But if you do, just know the detailed abuse is on the same level as the parts they had to take out of 13 Reasons Why on Netflix. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Rape, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Cannibalism, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Stalking

cvrios's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

they had this in my middle school library! i first read it when i was like 13! this is not for a 13 yr old to read!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Blood, Homophobia, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

btrz7's review against another edition

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Gore, Rape, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Incest, Miscarriage, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Violence

tifftastic87's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Another that I loved as a teen but didnt hit the same way as an adult. 

It made me more emotional this time around for sure but it was... Definitely 90s. Its always hard when King writes from his villain's perspective because they are always truly horrible and its hard to hear the language they use about other people. However it does truly make you hate Norman. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cannibalism, Classism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, Medical content, Murder, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Homophobia, Body horror, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexism

sheryl_macca's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I'm always going to enjoy a book written by Stephen King, his books are deep in my comfort zone, and this one was no different. I must admit that the premise didn't fully entice me from the blurb. I read this one initially with a note of caution but I quickly let that go and was fully absorbed.

Rose Madder is a combination of a quintessential King thriller and Greek mythology. The story is told from the 2 main characters points of view in alternate chapters which very slowly reduce in length. It's barely noticeable until the final third of the book where you are being swept into the faster pace this trick creates, like a whirlpool.

Rose Madder is brutal, tense, thrilling, violent and supernatural but it's also moving, emotional and hopeful. For me, the mirror world/largest metaphor ever used was almost too much. It takes a significant suspension in disbelief but I learned to appreciate it. 

I also found it difficult to believe that a woman traumatised by domestic abuse would so easily enter into a new relationship and so smoothly. I was rooting for them though.

My final criticism is in the very end of the book. It's hard to describe it without giving any spoilers so I'll just say that I found 'remember the tree' unnecessary.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

podanotherjessi's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Interestingly, my normal complaints for King novels weren't a problem with this one. The language and swearing used felt appropriate, the sex content seemed to fit, and the ending was actually pretty good. The main issue I had was the inclusion of the husband's perspective. In thrillers and horrors, I just don't like hearing the bad guy's thoughts. For one thing, they are super uncomfortable and gross to read, but for the other they take some of the suspense away. I think I would have been more scared if I were as uncertain as Rose was about what he was doing.
The other thing I had an issue with was the racism, homophobia, and fatphobia. The first two mostly came from the villain of the novel, so it's unclear if it was meant to be just a bad thing the bad guy thinks or if the narrative was supporting those ideas. The fatphobia was clearly coming from the narrative itself, not just the villain's perspective.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Miscarriage, and Misogyny

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Homophobia

Minor: Sexual content