Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Rose Madder

Rose Madder
Rose Madder
Author: Stephen King
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Horror
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
ChezGery avatar reviewed on + 75 more book reviews


Stephen King's "Rose Madder" is a beautiful, if not a horrible side of reality that not only straddles the line of fiction but crosses it. And that's what he does in this novel of domestic abuse. It's hard to know where the two separate. Such reality weaves itself into this story with a violence that is all too common not to be recognized. However, things change, and for 'Rosie' it's a single drop of blood on her pillow. After fourteen-years of abuse that single drop of blood triggers a spontaneous will to take it no longer. A spur of the moment decision to once for all say,enough is enough and she walks out the door, leaving her past and her husband, Norman behind. But Norman is a 'cop', he knows how to find people. That's what he's good at and she knows it. For Rosie it's a brief escape where she finds support and the beginning of a new life. But Norman is always a look over her shoulder. Then she finds a painting that captures her interest. The mythic painting is encouragement where she can see hope in its strength and maybe even for herself. Yet, the fear of Norman looms in the haze of her past, he knows how to find people...