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A review by cheymac
Rose Madder by Stephen King
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book feels refreshing in the way it approaches the difficult topic of domestic abuse. Despite its extremely raw depiction of this cruelty, it spins a narrative that allows for growth and healing and never once falls into victim blaming or shaming — it outright rejects these things at many points along the way.
While King has dismissed this book as one of his not so great ones, I think quite the opposite is true. It feels self aware in how it leans on cliches or uses the supernatural to neatly resolve otherwise messy storylines. The horror it evokes is a very real horror, and the closure it offers feels well deserved. I loved this book. From the moment I started it, I couldn’t put it down.
While King has dismissed this book as one of his not so great ones, I think quite the opposite is true. It feels self aware in how it leans on cliches or uses the supernatural to neatly resolve otherwise messy storylines. The horror it evokes is a very real horror, and the closure it offers feels well deserved. I loved this book. From the moment I started it, I couldn’t put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse