My Stephen King Collection Ranked - The Worst SK Novel of All Time!

In my journey experiencing every Stephen King book, there is only one that I actively hate.

This one.

My pick for the worst Stephen King book of all time!

[MossArchive]

Just finished it! I had no expectations and was quite surprised. The thing about Rosie's agency in regards to the ending is that Rose Madder (the entity in the painting) exists somewhere "within" Rosie. She represents Rosie's repressed rage that she could not face. Her ultimate trial was acknowledging her rage inside. I think the painting was a portal (thinny) into her soul, which is where she devours him, hatred and all. That's why she needs to plant the seed which is a metaphor for the way abuse transcends generations.

[manastus]

I just finished Rose Madder for the first time. I can say that I did not despise it, but it was not near the top either. I think the book is important for both men and women to read because of the effect of domestic violence in the extreme. I will say with the horror of Rose miscarrying-- I was glad that she did because no telling what Norman would have done to that child-- being as evil as he was. It was a lesson in "you can't fix evil", and "evil just gets worse" and finally "people do die living with evil". Rose wold have died if she would have stayed. I believe this is the most important lesson of all. It is almost a warning that is with the volume on 10--- loud and clear. It did cross my mind, in fact, if Tabitha did not have a hand in this one (and others) that deal with women's issues. He caught the "battered woman syndrome" so perfectly-- perhaps too perfectly in a way a male could almost not even perceive. Now the bad-- OMG with the voices in Rose's head-- Ms Prim and Proper or whatever her name was. I was getting tired of that. Also-- the bull and Viva Ze Bull (could this link to Bool from Lisey's story?) The book should have ended when Rose found out that she was pregnant. That would have been a powerful ending-- coming full circle. Instead we went down the road with Rose mistreating Bill and becoming at least part of the nearly dangerous individual that Norman was. it was almost like a sickness that infected Rose and never did go away-- even living with someone totally good like Bill. Bill also falls off the radar and the least scene we see of him-- she was thinking of throwing scalding water in his face. And then we never hear from him again. This book, I think-- I am just going to throw it out there. I think Tabitha wrote the first part. Up until Rose meets Bill and then Stephen took over and botched it. He did botch this one-- it is not as bad is Cujo to me-- but definitely up there as far as problematic.

[TheBurntOrange]

Great vid. Also, I completely agree with your take on the narration of SK where he voices Norman and at times it comes across as somewhat humorous

[DaveShaves]

This book definitely got messy and weird but I still liked it. Right in the middle of the pack for me. Only books I actively hate from SK off the top of my head are elevation and regulators and Cujo

[thebossman]

Of the 60 novels and collections i have read my least favorites are Tommyknockers and From A Buick 8.

[heartsbane]

From a Buick 8 was my least favorite for years...and then came Holly. Rose Madder is in my bottom 10, for sure. You have some great insights into the book.

[jimmy]

I agree I hated the supernatural element being introduced. I wish he had kept it a straight in this one. Same with the Mercedes trilogy. And same with quite a few others for that matter. I here for supernatural but not when it’s only used because you can’t think of how to progress the story.

Toss up between this, Buick 8 and Insomnia in terms of worst for me I think.