Rose Madder [NOOK Book]

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Overview

This is the story of Rose Daniels, "the most richly portrayed female King's ever created" (Detroit Free Press). Escape from her macabre marriage is not as easy as fleeing to a new city, picking a new name, finding a new job, and lucking out with a new man. Not with a husband like Norman...

Stephen King's national bestseller Rose Madder is the haunting story of a housewife who flees her abusive husband. She runs, thinking she is free. She's wrong--dead wrong.

... See more details below

Overview

This is the story of Rose Daniels, "the most richly portrayed female King's ever created" (Detroit Free Press). Escape from her macabre marriage is not as easy as fleeing to a new city, picking a new name, finding a new job, and lucking out with a new man. Not with a husband like Norman...

Stephen King's national bestseller Rose Madder is the haunting story of a housewife who flees her abusive husband. She runs, thinking she is free. She's wrong--dead wrong.

Editorial Reviews

Christopher Lehmann-Haupt
Rose Madder is rarely dull. It builds to a vivid climax. . . . In Rose Madder Mr. King has a rousing story when he needs one and when he doesn't.
New York Times
Publishers Weekly
Relentlessly paced and brilliantly orchestrated, this cat-and-mouse game of a novel is one of King's most engrossing and topical horror stories. At the center of the action is heroine Rose McClendon, a battered wife who starts life anew by leaving her police officer husband, a consummately cruel man depicted by King as a paragon of evil. Crowded with character and incident, the novel builds to a nearly apocalyptic conclusion that combines the best of King's long novels -- the breadth of vision of The Stand, for example -- with the focused plot and careful psychological portraiture of Dolores Claiborne. The story of Rose's joyous growth from tortured wife (her persecution gruesomely but realistically portrayed) to independent woman alternates with the terrifying details of her husband's deliberate pursuit to create unflagging tension. The book is a phantasmagorical roller-coaster ride, peopled by a broad array of indelibly characterized men and women and fueled by an air of danger that is immediate and overwhelming.
School Library Journal
YA -- King moves from supernaturally frightful subjects into the real world of terror. This heroine has been systematically abused (mentally, physically, and sexually) for 14 years of marriage. As the book begins, Rose is finally escaping her husband, a truly psychotic cop, and is starting a new life in another city. The suspense comes from wondering when he will finally catch up with her and talk to her ``up real close,'' his verbal prelude to physical punishment for every perceived wrongdoing. The book is full of graphic language and acts and may be all too real for some YAs. But those readers who have enjoyed King's past books will not be disappointed by this one. Though he doesn't frighten, he does create tension in the chase, demonstrating just how mad this husband is. As the final conflict occurs, though, the author emphasizes the strength one can find in oneself by having Rose (with the aid of a painting that comes to life) vanquish Norman herself. Unfortunately, very few victims of abuse in today's world have access to supernatural paintings.
Ray Olson
One gift that distinguishes King from other horror writers is his knack for and dedication to creating convincing female protagonists who are more than stock damsels in distress, like feisty Dolores Claiborne in the novel, arguably King's best, that bears her name, or this book's Rose McClendon Daniels. Rose is the abused wife of sadistic cop Norman Daniels. We meet her in a typical King grab-'em-and-shock-'em prologue, just as she's beginning to suffer a miscarriage brought on by Norman's latest beating. The main action begins when Rose finally walks out of the 14-year hell of her marriage. Dazed and ignorant of the regular world, she finds a battered women's shelter 800 miles from home, starts an independent life, and even meets a decent man, a pawn shop operator from whom she buys a strange painting. Of course, Norman, gone -- as a King character might say -- round the bend and ballistic, is tracking her down, maiming and murdering every informer and obstructor he can along the way. The expected bloody showdown climaxes the yarn, but not until King invokes the supernatural -- the painting, of course, and its inhabitant, whom Rose dubs "Rose Madder" to help his heroine. This time, the tactic seems strained and unnecessary; Dolores Claiborne needed only a dash of the uncanny to get out of her predicament, and Rose McClendon, bolstered by her shelter cohort, seems equal to Norman without the assistance of weird artwork. That judgment, however, is something with which King's millions of readers will want to concur or dissent after their own reading.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781101138014
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
  • Publication date: 6/1/1996
  • Sold by: Penguin Group
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 480
  • Sales rank: 18,337
  • File size: 552 KB

Meet the Author

Stephen King
Stephen King
Few authors have tapped into our secret fears as adeptly as Stephen King, Master of the Macabre and one of the most widely read novelists writing today. With his trademark blend of fantasy, horror, and psychological suspense, this prolific and immensely popular contemporary writer continues to remind us that evil is still a potent force in the world.

Biography

Fiction powerhouse Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine, in 1947. As a student at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, became active in political causes, and met his wife, the former Tabitha Spruce. In the early years of his marriage, King augmented his meager teacher's salary by selling short stories to men's magazines. Then, in 1973 he hit pay dirt: his novel Carrie was accepted for publication, and a major paperback deal provided the means for him to leave teaching and concentrate full-time on writing. Since then, the prolific author has never looked back.

Dubbed the Master of the Macabre for his domination of the horror genre, King has also written bestselling thrillers, mysteries, fantasies, novellas, and short stories, many of which have been turned into blockbuster films and miniseries (A partial list includes Carrie, The Shining, The Stand,, Misery, It, The Shawshank Redemption, The Langoliers, Stand by Me, and The Green Mile). He also has two works of nonfiction to his credit: a gorgeously crafted memoir/scribbler's how-to (On Writing) and Faithful, a chronicle of the Boston Red Sox' stellar 2004 season, cowritten with Stewart O'Nan. In 2003, he received the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

In between books, the indefatigable King performs in the Rock Bottom Remainders, a rock band that includes among its rotating personnel fellow authors Dave Barry and Amy Tan; attends as many Boston Red Sox games as is humanly possible; and contributes with his wife, Tabitha, to many local and national charities.

Good To Know

Don't believe everything you read about Stephen King. Among the gossip circulating about the scribe is the rumor that he is going blind. King assures his fans that while he is genetically predisposed to a disease called macular degeneration, which could result in blindness, he is not actually going blind.

King is probably one of the most easily recognizable authors alive, and it's not just because of his string of bestsellers. King has appeared in a number of films based on his work, including Pet Semetary, Thinner, and The Stand.

If you've ever wondered why Stephen King has written several books under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, there is actually a very simple explanation: King is so prolific that he felt it necessary to create an alter-ego so that he could publish more than one book a year. The name was a hastily hobbled together combination of writer Richard Stark (ironically, a pseudonym for Donald Westlake) and Randy Bachman of rock group Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

    1. Also Known As:
      Richard Bachman
      Stephen A. King
      Stephen Edwin King
    2. Hometown:
      Bangor, Maine
    1. Date of Birth:
      September 21, 1947
    2. Place of Birth:
      Portland, Maine
    1. Education:
      B.S., University of Maine at Orono, 1970
    2. Website:

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 187 )

Rating Distribution

5 Star

(93)

4 Star

(48)

3 Star

(29)

2 Star

(11)

1 Star

(6)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 189 Customer Reviews
  • Anonymous

    Posted October 10, 2011

    Rose madder

    My favorite King novel. Read the paperback 10 times, and purchased a copy for my NookColor. Love it!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 10, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    A Smart and Scary view of Gender Wars

    Rose Madder is based on a woman who leaves an abusive marriage after 14 years and tries to live a new life without beatings. However, when her husband Norman realizes she left (and with his bank card!) he becomes furious and sets out to find her, and "teach her a lesson".

    Stephan King intertwines the stories of both characters; Rose and Norman, and brings readers through a creepy tale that will make you wonder if it is in fact reality or not. Although it is a bit over drawn, and we could have let go of 100 pages, it is a great story.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted March 10, 2012

    My opinion

    This is one of my favorite steven kings books ever :)

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted February 28, 2012

    Awesome book

    This book takes you to a different place as all Kings books do. While still having you rooted in a real womans issue with abuse and finding strength from within.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted December 28, 2011

    This was my first stephen king book and i loved it (: it was a bit long but i got into it on the 1st page. I wish that he woild have kept it non supernatural especially at the end but hey thats king for ya. I did however enjoy reading and getting into the mind of norman. I would recommend this book

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted December 17, 2011

    A Must read if you're a King fan

    As usual, the only bad thing was, I read it and finished it too quickly. Great Stephen King. You won't be disappointed. Loved it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted November 14, 2011

    Unforgettable

    This books is a book that i read around 14 i forgot what it was called for a while but ill never forget what it was about. This book is so creative.i love it def. Check it out

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted February 28, 2011

    One of my all-time favorites

    This novel has always spoken to something deep within my soul. I would recommend it for anyone who has ever been in a situation where they make the powerful realization that, as scary as it might be to change what you know, it's can be far more frightening to live with the idea that things will stay the same if you don't make a change. While the title character, Rose Madder, is awe-inspiring and genuinely creep, it's Rosie Real (Rose McClendon) that you'll find yourself ultimately enthralled with.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted November 4, 2010

    Recommended

    I enjoyed Rose Madder by Stephen King, I thought it the characters were well describe, and believable. The two main characters Rose Daniels, whose husband beat her for 14 years, and Norman Daniels, who is a hero cop in his city and who I believe to have a personality disorder, are both written in 1st person. So when your reading about Rose or Norman the setting can be confusing because your reading about one person and then jump to the other character. I also think there are too many descriptions which makes the book a little boring and there isn't much for the reader to infer about.

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  • Posted February 21, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Original Plot

    This is a great book. I loved the way they have three different dramatic story lines going on throughout the book. There is the one with Rose's new life, then her abusive husband, Norman hunting her down and the best of all, the oil painting....It all comes together for a great ending ! The only thing I noticed in reading the book on my nook, there are numerous misspelled words. They must be all typos. This is a great read whether you are a fan of Stephen King or not, you'll enjoy it !

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  • Posted January 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Rose Madder

    Coming soon.

    0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 7, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    ''High School''

    I read this book my senior year of high school, have to say it was the first book by Stephen King I'd read. Its capitivating, thrilling and escapism.I give this book also 10/10 for its intrigueness.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted January 29, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    One of King's best!

    This is one of King's best works. He delved deep into the two characters' minds (Rosie & her husband Norman). There are some very disturbing scenes and he did a VERY good job with Norman, even I was scared of him! Unlike some of King's other books, this one has just the right amount of supernaturalism for the plot. I love Stephen King, but in some of his other books, he sometimes has a tendency to go overboard, but in "Rose Madder", it's perfect.

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 23, 2008

    An emotional rollercoaster...

    This is my favorite work by Mr. King. He sends you deep into the psyche of the main character and you can't help but hold breath as you turn each page. However it is certainly not for everyone, as it hit very close to home for me. If you think you can handle the realities of abuse, fear and strength, I suggest you add this to your collection.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 31, 2007

    Captivated

    I read this book many years ago and is the one book that has remained vividly in my memory. Stephen King is my favorite author. I wans't an avid reader until I ready one of his books then I was hooked. Rose Madder is by far the best fictional book I have ever read. Thats why he is the King.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 9, 2007

    A reviewer

    one of his best books

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 8, 2007

    Amazing

    The best King book. A complet twist then his normal works. It's a book you can't put down.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 4, 2006

    Rose Madder

    It is a really great book, but it can be a little confusing at times, I'd recommend it to anybody with a solid somache, King is very grafic in his writings and sometimes very gruesome.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 14, 2005

    Good but confusing

    I liked this book but sometimes i got very lost and kinda had to reread entire passages. and i didnt really like how it turned into this fantasy story at the end. but over all, very good.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 8, 2005

    Jaw Dropping

    This book is unbelievable and I have NEVER read a book any better. This book blows away in all standards. King takes you on an adventure and the climax is incredible. The only thing i didnt like about it is soon it will turn into a very phantasmagorical story. And it got boring. But other than that it was amazing and i dont think he'll ever right a better book

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 189 Customer Reviews

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