The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red [Hardcover]

 

 

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From the moment I pick up this book I couldn't put it down. The way Ellen discribes the things that go on in her life from her marriage to John Rimbauer through to the birth of April and on to the disapperance of Sukeena and so on I found to be very gripping. This book was way better than the movie based on her diary entries. I also found it interesting how in some instances I could almost see the evnts she was discribing as if I was there when it happened.

This is a book, a life worth reading about. It is both gripping and unnerving. Intreging (sorry about the spelling) and mind-boggling. A definate must read.

Built on a Native American burial ground in Seattle in the early 20th century, Rose Red was to be a Queen among houses. Built as a wedding gift by John Rimbauer for his wife Ellen, Rose Red claims a victim even before the foundations are laid. A foreman is shot to death; his death would only be the first, however and would be far from the last.

People begin to disappear. First a maid, then another woman. Ellen knows there is something wrong within the walls of Rose Red. Sukeena, Ellen's maid, knows there is evil within the walls too. She is an African witch woman and knows the face of evil. Ellen keeps a diary to document the events surrounding Rose Red. It becomes her confidant and the stuff of nightmares.

Wanting to find answers for the strange goings on in her house, Ellen hires a medium to hold a séance. John Rimbauer scorns this event, but it changes Ellen's life forever. The medium receives a message from the house, from Rose Red. She tells Ellen that as long as the house continues to be built, Ellen will never die.

Preparations begin the next day for new wings to be added to Rose Red. Strange things begin to happen in Rose Red. There are noises at night time; rooms exist where no room existed before. As more people continue to disappear, Ellen can't quite get over the idea that the house seems to be building itself.

Then someone is found dead. More dead bodies follow, always men. Women only disappear in Rose Red. Men are killed savagely. With each new death and disappearance, Ellen's world is plunged into turmoil. She knows she must stop the force within the house before something else happens. She is too late; Rose Red has taken her daughter.

For those of you who don't already know, "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer" was actually written by Ridley Pearson as a movie tie in for Stephen King's three part, six hour miniseries "Stephen King's Rose Red" that aired in 2002. Stephen King has this to say on his web site:

Now it can be told--the actual author of The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer is suspense novelist (and Rock Bottom Remainder bass guitarist) Ridley Pearson. Ridley did a great job--I couldn't have done better myself..."

If you haven't seen "Stephen King's Rose Red," I urge you to do so as it is the epitome of the modern haunted house movie. One would think a movie tie in novel would be an awful rewrite of the story with no depth behind it or anything worth reading. I held back on picking up the book for so long as I was afraid that the novel would be found lacking when compared to the movie. I was happily surprised to find that I was very wrong indeed.

The novel was written as a companion to the movie. In fact, it explains more within its pages than the movie does. Several things in the movie are left without an explanation. There are explanations a plenty of the haunting at Rose Red within the diaries pages. There is even a web site that relates to the diary and the miniseries. There are pages of the diary that are only published on the web.

Apart from being part of a brilliant multi-media advertising campaign, "My Life at Rose Red - The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer" is an incredible, beautiful work. It examines the power of fear and what happens when someone is pushed to far. It takes a chilling look at the human condition and the stresses of the unknown.

What was surprising were the subplots of the novel. Ellen is a young woman in a terrible marriage. There is also the issue of lesbianism between Ellen and her maid Sukeena; Ellen examines her budding sexuality and tries to find herself, even while she is struggling with the evil that is going on around her.

The novel is more about personal discovery than anything else. It takes a look at what scares us, what torments our dreams. It is a beautiful, darkly gorgeous novel and can be read on its own apart from "Stephen King's Rose Red." Even if you don't watch the movie, read "My Life at Rose Red-The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer."

It will leave you breathless and in awe of the beauty found in the dark. Just make sure you always bring someone with you into the darkness...you may be liable to disappear.

RARLEY do I read mystery/thrillers...but a friend mentioned she wanted to read this, and after looking it up, it sounded really good. I'm so glad I bought it! This book kept me up very late for 2 nights in a row...but it was worth it. I love the format of the book, being all journal entries from Ellen's diary...starting in 1907 (age 19) till 1928.

It's a fascinating and riveting journey into the life of Ellen and her philandering husband John, and one cannot forget Rose Red herself. You go on to read about the demise of Ellen's sanity, and how their palace of a house starts to take on a life of it's own. It's an excellent book all around. I highly recommend it. To those who read thriller/mysteries all the time, this is probably no big deal...tame stuff. But for someone like me...it was the perfect amount of suspense and creepiness.

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3.0 out of 5 stars This should have been the Miniseries!
I picked up "My Life at Rose Red" right after seeing the Stephen King Miniseries on TV. At the time I wasn't sure if this was a Stephen King book or not. Read more

Published on July 14 2004 by Graboidz

5.0 out of 5 stars coudnt put it down
THIS IS IS A VERY INTERESTING BOOK. IT KEEPS YOU INTO IT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE BOOK. IT PUTS YOU IN THE PLACE OF ELLEN WITHOUT EVEN REALIZING IT. Read more

Published on Jun 5 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars A good, but not great piece of Gothic horror
By now almost everyone knows that the "Diary" is really fiction and was written by Ridley Pearson, not Stephen King. Read more

Published on May 19 2004 by abt1950

2.0 out of 5 stars A house of horrors.
This is an account of a diary, a real one this time. Yet it is not like one you would enjoy as it is so sordid. Read more

Published on April 21 2004 by Betty Burks

4.0 out of 5 stars Creepy, freaky, and everything in between;
This diary that became a movie shows how evil anything can be. This book shows how a paranormal killing house and how a child with amazing autistic powers can destroy a legendary... Read more

Published on Feb 5 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars And the Author Is...
Ridley Pearson, not Stephen King wrote it. Rose Red is really Thornewood Castle.

The background story of the "Diary" is here:... Read more

Published on Nov 3 2003 by Feywild

1.0 out of 5 stars prepare to be bored
you would think a diary would contain serious introspection & detailed depictions of personal events. not here. Read more

Published on Oct 26 2003 by justice_is_blind

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
Ridley Pearson, the real author of this book lures you in then traps you there,as any good horror book should! Rose Red is a mansion with a unthinkable curse. Read more

Published on Oct 24 2003 by poetressflame

5.0 out of 5 stars crazy
I liked this book alot but one thing i never got was weather it was real or not. i thought it was but then i remember some thing on a web site that this book wasn't real and it... Read more

Published on Oct 23 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful lie
I recently watched Stephen King's Rose Red on DVD. Unfortunately, I had missed the mini-series when came on ABC, so I ended up getting the DVD from a friend to watch, who never... Read more

Published on Sep 21 2003 by T. L. Walker

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