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Needful Things

Needful Things by Stephen King
Published by Gallery Books on March 20, 2018
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Supernatural
Pages: 816

Stephen King’s underrated Needful Things is a darkly satirical novel set in his fictional town Castle Rock, Maine. I appreciated Needful Things more on my second read. The thick 700+ volume features dark humor, multiple character perspectives, critiques on capitalism and religion, and characters from earlier King books. This work is also notable because it is one of the first novels King published after becoming sober (it contrasts strongly to the chaotic Tommyknockers).

Castle Rock, Maine is also featured in King’s: Cujo, The Dead Zone, and The Dark Half. Needful Things was described as the last Castle Rock story at the time of its publication (but King has since featured Castle Rock in short stories and novellas). Leland Gaunt, a mysterious man, moved into town and opens a shop called Needful Things. The store sells a mishmash of items including antiques, baseball cards and art. Gaunt’s store is unique because there are no set prices for his wares. Instead, every sale is a negotiation between him and the customer. In addition to a monetary cost, he asks his customers to play a small prank on one of their neighbors. These pranks set the people of Castle rock at odds with each other. Gaunt especially fuels the fire between the Baptists and Catholics of Castle Rock. The story is told from the perspective of many of the Castle Rock residents. The main protagonist is Alan Pangborn, the town sheriff and magic trick enthusiast. He is coping with the death of his wife and son who died in a tragic car accident. Alan is currently dating Polly Chambers a seamstress who suffers from the most extreme case of arthritis in literature. There is also the town’s head selectmen Danforth Keeton, who has a gambling addiction and is convinced that “persecutors” are out to get him. And Ace Merrill, the bully from King’s beloved short story Stand by Me, returns to Castle Rock. Ace is struggling to find money to pay off a debt to organized criminals making him a prime target for Gaunt to manipulate.

My favorite part of Needful Things is the dark humor and satire. The squabbles between the residents of Castle Rock quickly escalate to extremes. The Castle Rock women committing murder because of petty pranks feel like over exaggerated scenes from the Real Housewives. Leland Gaunt is a unique villain in the early parts of the book. I believe he embodies the evils of American capitalism and commerce. I love any King story that has multiple perspectives, my favorites being Salem’s Lot or The Stand. Maybe some people are put off by King’s tendency to drop references and characters from his previous works into his books, but I love all the Easter Eggs. Brian Rusk a schoolboy is Gaunt’s first customer and one of my favorite characters. King has mastered writing child characters, probably why I’m currently loving his latest release, Fairy Tale.

I found the pattern of customers purchasing from Gaunt and then playing a prank on someone to be repetitive after a while. And it does become difficult to keep track of who played a prank on who. Gaunt is an interesting villain at the start of the story, but I thought he devolved into a more one-dimensional villain by the book’s conclusion.

Needful Things is essential reading for any King fan. That being said, this is not among his best books and not something I’d recommend to a reader looking to try Stephen King for the first time.

The Hour I First Believed

The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Published by Harper Collins on March 6, 2009
Genres: Fiction, Literary, Psychological, Historical
Pages: 832

Wally Lamb has mastered writing addictive trauma porn. The Hour I First Believed includes the Columbine shooting, alcoholism, infidelity, Hurricane Katrina, homeless children, child prostitution, unexpected deaths, prescription drug addiction, injustices in women’s prisons and family secrets. I don’t find the characters likeable, but they feel immensely human. And the numerous Connecticut references (so many UConn basketball shoutouts) are great! Wally Lamb’s third novel doesn’t live up to the perfection of She’s Come Undone or I Know This Much is True, but it is still an engrossing and worthwhile read. Fun story: in 2011 I served Wally Lamb wine at a community art event in Willimantic, CT.

The Hour I First Believed is a sprawling novel, so it is challenging to write a brief synopsis. The protagonist is Caelum Quirk, an English teacher now in his third marriage. Him and his wife, Maureen, have reconciled after infidelity separated them for a few years. They move from Connecticut to Colorado where they both work at Columbine High School. Caelum returns to Connecticut after his Aunt Lolly dies. While he is away, Maureen survives the horrific Columbine school shooting. After the tragedy Caelum tries to help Maureen recover from the traumatic event. Caelum and Maureen also have a close relationship with Velvet, a troubled student who also survived the shooting. Caelum and Maureen move into Aunt Lolly’s house in Connecticut to have a fresh start after the shooting. While going through his aunt’s belongings Caelum uncovers generations of family stories and secrets. This being a Wally Lamb book Caelum and Maureen continue to face tragedy after tragedy.

Wally Lamb does ample research for his novels. It’s rare to see a piece of fiction with such a long list of citations. I also appreciate how Lamb includes a list of charities at the end of his book. These charities focus on social issues that are featured in The Hour I First Believed. I think the research and list of charities shows Lamb’s respect and compassion for the sensitive topics his book covers. I appreciate the way Lamb ends his trauma filled books on a hopeful note. This sends the message that humans can overcome unimaginable trauma. In contrast the questionably exploitative Hanya Yanagihara leaves her queer characters broken with no hope of recovery (A Little Life is a trash book, maybe one day I’ll get around to writing a rant). Lastly, Wally Lamb’s books are so addicting, I can’t put them down!

The Hour I First Believed would be an even better book with some more editing. Lamb tries to tie together too many story threads. I think he overreaches a bit. I think Lamb was trying to weave a tapestry of trauma that spanned from past to present. Some editing down would have resulted in a tighter story with stronger, more distinct themes. Specifically, I think the excerpts of letters and the thesis involving Caelum’s ancestors. Those long sections were jarring and interrupted the present-day story without feeling relevant.

The Well of Ascension and The Hero of Ages

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Hachette UK on March 30, 2010
Genres: Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 800

The original Mistborn trilogy has earned a spot in my favorite fantasy series of all time. The second and third entries in the series continue to expand Brandon Sanderson’s brilliant world. These two books contain loveable characters, twists upon twists, heartbreaking losses, and a highly satisfying ending. Be warned this review has spoilers for the first Mistborn book, The Final Empire. Feel free to check out my spoiler free review of The Final Empire here.

The Well of Ascension has less action compared to The Final Empire, which was essentially a heist story. The sequel digs into the politics of the world. The Final Empire ended with Vin killing the Lord Ruler. Elend now takes control of Luthadel, the capital of The Final Empire. Elend finds himself torn between building a utopic government and doing whatever is necessary to keep control over Luthadel. Multiple factions, one led by his own father, place a siege on Luthadel. They are hoping to overthrow Elend to secure the valuable store of atrium that is rumored to be hidden there. In the meantime, Vin starts hearing mysterious thumping, that only she can detect, and a rival Mistborn is stalking her at night. The Well of Ascension also expands the world of the kandra, introducing an excellent character. And Sazed, (my favorite!) gets a love interest. The second novel concludes with an excellent trope-busting twist. After that ending I was scrambling to find a copy of The Hero of Ages as soon as possible.

I love when fantasy books get political. Fantasy authors, please do not gloss over why leaders make their decisions. I really enjoy the thought process behind political maneuvers, which Sanderson delivers in The Well of Ascension. Once Elend takes on the leadership position, he becomes more likeable. Elend certainly makes mistakes as a leader, even if his intensions are well-meaning. But Elend quickly learns from these mistakes, all while trying to uphold a fair and just government. Sanderson somehow got me to root for a straight male protagonist, which is rare for me in fantasy. And I cannot hype the twist at the end of The Well of Ascension enough! This is my favorite twist of the whole trilogy. Sanderson manages to offer an unexpected new take on the “chosen one” trope.

I will not say too much about the plot of The Hero of Ages, to avoid spoiling events in The Well of Ascension. Every character that survives the first two books gets their time to shine in the final installment. Especially one previously minor character. The ending is spectacular. The conclusion is epic, brutal, and beautifully wraps up the trilogy.

For me, The Hero of Ages, is the weakest entry in the trilogy, but the ending is everything! Sanderson is not afraid to kill off any of his characters, which is essential for me in fantasy. If there is an ongoing war or extreme danger, then some main characters need to die to keep the stakes high. Maybe I’m a bit twisted, but the pain of a loveable character dying feels so good! I really enjoyed Sanderson’s use of religion in all three books. Religion ended up playing a significant role in the final pages, and I appreciated the overall message. After finishing my fist three Brandon Sanderson books, I am impressed with his storytelling skills. Sanderson planned out these novels well in advance. Hints and clues are dropped early on, yet the twists never seemed obvious or predictable. All of Sanderson’s foreshadowing gives Mistborn great rereading potential. I am looking forward to continuing my way through Sanderson’s bibliography. I plan to stick to just the Cosmere universe for now.

The House in the Cerulean Sea

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Published by Tom Doherty Associates on March 17, 2020
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Gay, Humorous
Pages: 305

This is possibly the most wholesome book I’ve ever read! TJ Klune’s feel good fantasy novel takes place at an orphanage for magical youth on a magical tropical island. This story features a loveable found family and an endearing gay romance. The predictability of the story did not bother me because the characters were so likeable. Save this book for a gloomy day, I guarantee that it will cheer you up!

The protagonist, Linus Baker, is a lonely British man in his 40s. He is a case worker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth where he travels to different government sanctioned orphanages, housing magical children, to ensure regulations are being followed. Linus is an extremely by the book employee. Because of his consistent track record of impartiality his superiors assign him a special assignment. He is sent to Marsyas Island to see an oversee a classified orphanage. The children housed there include a boy that can turn into a Pomeranian, a wryvn, a gnome, a sprite, an amorphous blob, and Satan’s son. Yes, the antichrist. The orphanage is run by Arthur Parnassus, a quirky middle-aged man who is passionately protective of the children. The children and Arthur end up challenging Linus’s rigid nature. Linus finds himself working less by the book as he becomes more attached to the children and especially Arthur.

The children in this story are so cute! My two favorites were Sal and Chauncey. Sal turns into a Pomeranian whenever he is scared or startled, which leads to many adorable scenes. Chauncey is an amorphous blob with an unknown origin. His dream is to become a hotel bellhop. I hope that one day I’ll have a dream/goal that I’m as passionate for as Chauncey is about the bellhop profession. The charming and humorous style of the Klune’s writing reminded me of a famous TERF’s prose (a.k.a. J.K. Roachling). Klune includes excellent positive themes in the story. My main takeaway is those that are different than society’s norm should not be isolated or hidden away but celebrated and included.

As I mentioned the plot is very predictable. Most readers will likely see the climatic twist a mile away. But the appeal of the book is the wonderful children and Linus’s positive character development. The predictable plot can be overlooked.

Lapvona

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
Published by Penguin on June 21, 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Historical, Horror, Literary, Magical Realism
Pages: 320

Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh is disturbing and wild. The dark and twisted events in Moshfegh’s latest work were right up my alley. The novel gave me A24 horror movie vibes, specifically Robert Eggers’ The Witch. Nearly every character in Lapvona is unlikeable. I did not leave the story feeling good about humanity. The novel is a wonderful hodgepodge of genres: horror, magical realism, fantasy, and historical fiction.

Lapvona takes place in a medieval village where life is extremely rough. Marek is the motherless son of Jude, a shepherd. Jude is abusive to Marek and has an intense attachment to his sheep. In the forest lives a witchy, blind woman named Ina (my favorite character), who has nursed many of the village’s children, including Marek. The lord of the village, Villiam, is deranged and supported by the problematic village priest, Father Barnabas. Marek goes to live in Villiam’s wealthy home after an unexpected tragedy. Meanwhile the villagers suffer from the effects of a harsh drought.

I realize the above synopsis is vague, but I do not want to spoil all the shocking WTF moments in the story. This book is not for everyone, but fans of horror will be pleased. Nothing is off limits in this highly irreverent book. I really enjoyed Moshfegh’s writing. Her word choice is clear and direct without superfluous phrases, making Lapvona a fast read. I struggled to find significant themes or the point of this novel. But I do think the story works as a criticism of the United States government. I found the buffoonery of Villiam to be very reminiscent of President number 45. Villiam has no concern for the well being of his people and spends his free time doing outrageous stunts. The contrast between the those living in Villiam’s manor and the starving villagers reminded me of the disconnect between the US government and the people it serves. Ina is an amazing character. Her arc is fantastic, and I wish more of the book had been told from her perspective.

Overall, I enjoyed the shocking moments of Lapvona and its overall vibe. I wish the book was more focused or had clearer themes. I felt like much of Moshfegh’s message went over my head. Or perhaps she just wanted to write a book with loads of shock value? Nonetheless, I certainly plan on checking out more of Ottessa Moshfegh’s books soon.

Mistborn: The Final Empire

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
Published by Macmillan on April 1, 2010
Genres: Epic, Fantasy
Pages: 544

Time to pop my Brandon Sanderson cherry! I’ve started my journey through Sanderson’s Cosmere universe with Mistborn: The Final Empire. I loved this book! Vin is an excellent female protagonist. The magic system is exciting and inventive. And the team of heroes form a found family, which is one of my favorite literary tropes. I think this is a great gateway book for readers looking to delve into the fantasy genre for the first time.

Mistborn takes place in a dystopian world where the villain has already won. Centuries ago, the Lord Ruler vanquished The Darkness, but now rules as a ruthless tyrant. Ash continuously falls from the sky killing vegetation. At night, mists, which are believed to be deadly, roll in. The people are separated into two social classes, the nobility and the oppressed skaa. Skaa and nobility are not allowed to have children to keep the Allomancy powers out of the skaa gene pool. Allomancy is a magic system where different abilities are accessed by ingesting and “burning” different metals. Each Misting has only one metal they can use, but Mistborns can use all metals. This first book in the trilogy follows a team of heroes plotting to overthrow the Lord Ruler. The team is led by Kelsier, a skaa Mistborn who escaped the Lord Ruler’s Pits of Hathsin. An unexpected and powerful addition to the team is Vin, a young thief.

There are many strengths to this story! Allomancy may be my favorite literary magic system. I loved how Sanderson unveiled the different Allomancy abilities without being too info dumpy. And the action scenes are well written. The scenes involving iron and steel Allomancy were so clear and cinematic in my mind. The worldbuilding strikes a perfect balance for me. I never felt bored or bogged down by sections detailing the world’s history. And I also didn’t think the world building was overly simplistic. This made for a very immersive read. I will instantly fall in love with characters that form found families. So, I was pleased with how well The Final Empire used the found family trope. Vin is an excellent protagonist. I think fans of YA fantasy, which heavily features strong female protagonists will enjoy Mistborn because of Vin. Sazed, who acts as a bookish mentor to Vin, was my favorite character. Sanderson has no hesitation of killing off loveable characters, which is essential for me in epic fantasy. Main characters need to die for the stakes to feel high. The romantic story line was probably the least interesting part of the story for me, but I can see that being a highlight for other readers.

I have few complaints about the Final Empire. A little past the halfway point the pacing does slow down and drag a bit. The story is very PG-13, which didn’t bother me. But, if you enjoy edgier fantasy, with lots of sex (like A Song of Ice and Fire), this might not be your cup of tea.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Published by Simon and Schuster on June 13, 2017
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Women
Pages: 400

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (4 out of 5)

I devoured The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Evelyn Hugo is a wonderfully complex character. She is driven, calculated, and stubborn. The story of her rise to fame was tough to put down. This is the perfect book to get you out of a reading slump. Unfortunately, my reading experience was diminished by too high of expectations (thanks a lot Bookstagram).

Evelyn Hugo is a major bombshell Hollywood actress from the 1950’s to 80’s. Off the screen Evelyn was frequently in the tabloids because of her tumultuous love life, which included a whopping seven marriages. In the present-day Evelyn selects a seemingly unknown journalist, Monique, to conduct her first interview in years. At their first meeting Monique is shocked when Evelyn tells her she doesn’t want her to write a magazine article, but instead wants to share her entire life story, to be written as a tell-all book. Monique cannot turn down this career-changing opportunity, but she also wonders why Evelyn selected her to write her biography. The novel then follows Evelyn’s retelling of her scandalous life including the story behind each of her seven marriages.

This is my favorite story that focuses on the price of fame. Evelyn’s story is so salacious and fun to read. Reid includes gossip articles interspersed between chapters of the book, which I thought was a nice touch. Comparing Evelyn’s true story with what was reported in gossip columns showed how she excelled at controlling her public image. She even hides her ethnicity to appeal to the mainstream. Evelyn is Cuban, but has herself remade in appearance, accent, and name to pass as white. Reid writes Evelyn as a morally ambiguous character. I respect her drive and determination to be a famous and successful movie star. But I am also frustrated by her repeatedly choosing to damage her relationships to further her career. She denies herself romantic relationships with people she loves in favor of toxic marriages that grow her stardom. I also enjoy how Monique is influenced by Evelyn’s story and changes over the course of the novel. Lastly, the story has LGBTQ representation, which I always appreciate.

Don’t be mistaken, this is a great book, but I question whether it deserves all the 5-star reviews on Goodreads. It is impossible to avoid this book’s massive hype. So unfortunately, I was expecting a lot. Have high expectations ruined your reading experience? Some of the book’s twists were predictable. Also, the formula of telling the story of each of Evelyn’s marriage becomes a bit repetitive by the end. By the fourth marriage I was thinking: we get it; Evelyn marries to advance her career, not for love. And sometimes I was irked by Reid’s blatant teasing of the reader. Many chapters ended with lines like this: “I have no idea that in less than a week, Evelyn Hugo will finish her story, and I’ll find out what this has all been about, and I will hate her so much that I’ll be truly afraid I might kill her.” I admit these lines were effective because I kept reading, but they also felt like cheap tricks. My husband says that these lines read like a 11-year-old’s first attempt at creative writing(!)

Despite this book being overly hyped, it is worth the read. This is the perfect choice for a light read at the beach or while on vacation. Evelyn Hugo is certainly an unforgettable character.

Her Body And Other Parties

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
Published by Graywolf Press on October 3, 2017
Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Stories (single author), LGBT, Women
Pages: 245

Her Body and Other Parties, by Carmen Maria Machado, was a thoughtful birthday gift from my husband. This short story collection has many of my favorites: weird plots, beautiful writing, and layered themes. Machado’s stories focus on women and crimes committed upon their bodies. There is a wide variety of story formats and genres throughout the collection. One of the weirdest stories, Especially Heinous, features episode synopses of the first 12 seasons of Law & Order SVU. The main characters’ names: Benson and Stabler, remain the same, but Machado introduces supernatural and science fiction elements that become progressively wilder. Reading Especially Heinous reminds me of time I’ve spent reading episode synopses of shows on Wikipedia. Another one of my favorite stories was Real Women Have Bodies where a dress shop sells dresses with human souls sewn into the fabric. And in Eight Bites a woman makes the horrifying decision to surgically remove a portion of her GI tract to decrease her appetite and have a thinner figure. As a foodie this story was highly disturbing. The pressure placed on women to maintain a certain figure leads this character to sacrificing one of life’s greatest pleasures: eating.

But the standout of this anthology is The Husband Stitch. If you do not have the time to read this entire book, I implore you to make time to read this one story. It is a literary feat that deserves multiple readings and enthusiastic discussion. You cannot read this story without thinking about the horrendous possibility that SCOTUS may soon overturn Roe v Wade. The story follows the life of a married woman and eventual mother. The woman wears a green ribbon around her neck. She never removes the ribbon, and its purpose is not revealed until the story’s conclusion. This ribbon is the only part of her body that is off limits to her husband. The husband can’t stand not knowing the secret of the ribbon. I loved The Husband Stitch so much. I want to share my interpretation of the story (mind you this is a man’s interpretation of a story that is very much centered on women’s issues). Spoiler Warning for the Remainder of the Review!!!

I believe the ribbon represents the woman’s privacy. This was the one piece of her body she kept off limits from her husband. It was only for her. And like many straight males, the husband can’t stand part of his wife’s body being off limits to him. Even though the wife freely gives every other part of her body to her husband, he’s unsatisfied. At the end of the story the wife finally relents and allows the husband to untie the ribbon. Her head falls to the floor, and she dies. Are women really living if men have control over their bodies?

The husband stitch scene was hard to stomach. A husband stitch is an extra stitch the doctor puts into a women’s vagina after vaginal tearing from childbirth. The extra stitch is meant to create more tightness for the husband’s sexual pleasure. This is vile. Minutes after giving birth the wife helplessly listens to her male doctor and husband decide to surgically alter her body, without her consent. This reminds me of all the recent news stories of red states creating legislation that limit women’s access to abortions. These news stories are often accompanied by images of solely male politicians signing the bills that limit women’s access to healthcare.

There is a scene from the woman’s childhood when she spots a toe mixed in with the produce at the grocery store. She is insistent that she saw a toe, but no one takes her seriously. Her father explains that the male shop owner would never allow toes to be mixed in with his produce. This reminds me of how women are often not believed or taken seriously when they bravely come forward to share stories of sexual assault.

Afterparties: Stories

Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So
Published by HarperCollins on August 3, 2021
Genres: Asian American, Fiction, Literary, LGBTQ, Short Stories
Pages: 272

Hey, you! Stop reading this and go add Afterparties by Anthony Veasna So to the top of your TBR…Welcome back! This short story collection is perfection. These nine stories center on Cambodian American characters living in California. Many of these stories feature queer characters, which was my main motivation to read it. I learned a lot about Cambodian history and culture and was blown away by So’s writing talent. So has mastered bringing out a range of emotions in his readers. A few times, while reading a single page, I found myself laughing and then suddenly heartbroken.

The stories feature Cambodian Americans that are the children of refugees. One story focuses on two daughters and their mom running a doughnut shop. Each night a mysterious man visits, only to buy an apple fritter and sit in silence, leaving the pastry uneaten. Another story features a down on his luck high school badminton coach and struggling grocery store owner trying to get a much-needed win by beating his star player. The story that inspired the collection’s title takes place at a drunken wedding afterparty where two brothers try to expose their dubious uncle for neglecting to gift money to the bride and groom. In my favorite story, The Shop, a gay son works at his dad’s car shop after failing to find a job after college.

So does a great job of creating a cohesive collection with many overlapping themes. The most prominent commonality I noticed was every character had inherited trauma from their parents. From 1975 to 1979 between 1.5 and 2 million Cambodians were killed in a genocide under the communist leadership. The number of people killed equaled about a quarter of Cambodia’s population. The characters in So’s stories are the children of the refugees that escaped to America to avoid losing their lives. Even though the children were not present at the genocide their lives are heavily impacted by the events. Another part of Cambodian culture that is featured in the stories Maly, Maly, Maly and Somaly, Serey Somaly is the Buddhist belief in reincarnation. The queer characters in this collection have the added pressure of seeking acceptance from their families. The Shop was my favorite story, not just because the main character is gay, but So perfectly captured the loss of direction some young adults experience after college. All of So’s characters are flawed. I found some, especially the main character in Human Development (what a prick)to be highly unlikeable. But these unlikeable characters felt authentically human, so the stories were still a pleasure to read.

Unfortunately, I am going to end this review on a sad note. Anthony Veasna So tragically passed away at the age of 28, due to an accidental drug overdose. The literary community has lost a great talent too soon. While it is sad that So will not get a chance to share more beautifully written stories with the world, I am comforted that his voice will live on through this magnificent short story collection. Do your self a favor and read Afterparties.

Rose Madder

Rose Madder by Stephen King
Published by Viking on 1995
Genres: Fiction, Horror, Thrillers
Pages: 420

A magical painting, a deranged abusive husband and a menacing bull can all be found in Stephen King’s, Rose Madder. Overall, I enjoyed this novel. It is a unique entry in King’s bibliography. Rose Madder reads as a thriller, with some magical elements, inspired by Greek mythology. Norman Daniels might be the most evil and terrifying villain King has written. This was a fun read that I’d place in the middle tier of my King rankings.

Rose Madder begins with a brutal prologue that details a violent moment of domestic abuse between Rosie and her husband, Norman. The novel picks up years later, on the day Rosie decides she’s had enough. While Norman, who is a cop, is away at work, Rosie steals his bank card and leaves, hoping to never return. Upon arriving at a new city, Rosie finds refuge at the Daughters and Sisters Shelter and eventually finds a job and apartment. Meanwhile, Norman is hell-bent on locating Rosie and getting his revenge. The magical elements of the story come into play when Rosie finds a painting that catches her eye at a consignment store. However, the painting ends up being more than it seems.

I really enjoyed the tension that King maintained throughout the book. I was scared for Rosie as Norman closed in on her location. There were passages that had me at the edge of my seat. My favorite character in the story was Gert, another woman at the shelter. Gert teaches the women self defense and is the key character in my favorite scene. Norman was a great villain you love to hate. The passages told from Norman’s perspective were so disturbing and twisted. I felt unsettled reading those. I also enjoyed all the Greek mythology King wove into the story.

The magical sections of the book felt jarringly placed. It didn’t feel like I was reading the same book at times. I wish King had more smoothly integrated the magical elements into the real-world sections.

I have two problems with Rose Madder that I’d like to see reworked if it’s ever adapted for the screen (spoilers to follow). Norman Daniels is a twisted, evil man. For some reason King decided to add gay elements to his violent tendencies. King also suggests that Norman’s behavior originates from his dad molesting him when he was young. The gay serial killer trope is overdone and harmful. One does not become gay because they were molested by someone of the same sex and gay people are not any more likely to be serial killers than anyone else. Norman Daniels would have been plenty terrifying and deplorable without the addition of these gay elements. My second gripe is with the role of the black woman in the painting. This woman is one of the few black characters in the novel She appears to be Wendy (a previous victim of Norman). In the painting she acts as a servant to the blonde women. The optics of this are not good.

I enjoyed my time with Rose Madder. I find this to be one of King’s most unique novels. I had no clue where he was going with the painting and enjoyed the book’s suspense.

Trigger Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Miscarriage, Lots of Violence