Stephen King's novels are nothing if not varied. Whether it be the pure horror of a Pet Sematary or Cujo or the post apocalyptic visions of The Stand and The Dark Tower series no one could ever accuse him of not trying anything new.
Rose Madder is another digression from the horror genre for King as it is not a traditional thriller/schlock horror book to which many associate King with.
Told in the first person our story follows a woman called Rose Daniel’s. After several years of physical and mental abuse from her husband Norman (a highly respected policeman) she finally snaps after losing her baby due to yet another severe beating. Running away with just his credit card and the clothes on her back Rose tries to find a new life for herself in another town. Will she succeed or will Norman track her down and punish her for daring to defy him?
This is an intriguing
story in that Rose appears as such a weak character at first and as a reader it is initially difficult to find sympathy with her plight. Why does she not just leave? She has no family or friends so what keeps her there? However, the more you read the more you become to admire Rose. Fleeing to a new city and adopting a new lifestyle you start to really root for her. She is living in a home for battered wives and is trying to rebuild her life through plain old hard work. Her strength of character is plain to see and belies everything King initially led us to believe. I found myself hoping Norman wouldn't find her and hoped the book would continue to be a story of Rose's attempts to find her way.
This all sounds like traditional thriller territory thus far. However, the story takes a wild change of direction as it goes on. This all centres around a strange oil painting of a woman called Rose Madder which Rose feels she must own. It is here King draws us into a world of fantasy and Greek mythology with references to the famous Minotaur and the labyrinth. King has a penchant for including history and myth in his novels and this is no different. Were King is successful is that it all seems so plausible. One minute I think I am reading a thriller novel about abuse the next I am whisked off into a fantasy world.
Were this novel also succeeds is in the effectiveness of its villain. Unlike other King novels, which point to the supernatural or unearthly forces (although there is mention of this in the story), Norman is just a plain old human with psychopathic tendencies. His deviousness and amoral attitude led me to loathe him intensely. I was distraught at the possibility of this madman catching up with poor old Rose and the stalking of her left me sick with worry (sad but when I get into a book I really do!)
As always King weaves a good and a complex tale and in some ways this detracts from the story. I finished the book slightly disappointed as it was almost like reading two books at once because of the changing styles throughout. One minute it was a thriller, the next a love story, then horror and fantasy with a little drama thrown in for good measure. The description ranges from the disturbing ("the blood on her panties as she miscarries following another beating") to the horrific ("Rot swelled across the upper swell of her bosom; her neck was as purple black as a strangulation victim) and for me this is King's main weakness his stories often surpass his powers to describe.
However, I did enjoy this book and would read it again. Not sure whom it would appeal too as it is not a horror or thriller and sits somewhere in between. King fans may be disappointed whereas others may be pleasantly surprised by the change in tack and slower pace compared to other "horror" novels.
So non-King fans give it a go!
Boring bits for those who need to know!
Published in 1995 by Hodder & Stoughton
Retails in paperback at £6.99 or Hardback at the ridiculously expensive £16.99
A long novel at 466 pages.
Available in all major bookstores but I picked up the hardback version in a charity shop for £1.50!
Pictures of Rose Madder - Stephen King
Bloody Rose
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Jun 23rd, 2004
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