Customer Reviews

The Diary Of Ellen Rimbauer

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(75)
3 star:		(32)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(24)

 

 

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.

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. YOU START TO PICTURE THE HOUSE, PEOPLE AND EVENTS. I HIGHLY RECOMEND IT.

By now almost everyone knows that the "Diary" is really fiction and was written by Ridley Pearson, not Stephen King. Even though it's a tie-in to a television mini-series, it works just fine as a stand-alone piece. I haven't seen the television show for which this is a prequel and am in no hurry to do so. Nonetheless, I found this book to be an enjoyable and relatively quick read.

As it's title indicates, the story is told through entries in the supposed diary of the main character, Ellen Rimbauer. It starts out innocently enough, although even the first entry has hints of the darkness to come. Attacted by his wealth and social status (as well as by his physical presence), the virginal and seemingly innocent young Ellen puts her doubts aside and marries a richer, older man. He proceeds to control her life, dominate and debauch her sexually, and generally make her miserable. They spend their lives at Rose Red, the grand house he begins building at the beginning of the novel and whose construction continues through it. Ellen's premarital misgivings are quickly proven to be true, and her marriage disintegrates. Inexplicable acts of violence and disappearances punctuate the novel, as the massive house assumes an increasingly evil personality of its own. Much of the story focuses on trying to figure out why these things are happening and what the house wants. It becomes increasingly apparent that the house and Ellen are inextricably linked.

"The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer" owes much to the traditions of Gothic literature, especially as regards the focus on the "innocent" heroine, the spooky house, and the repressed violence in the husband's character. Many of the standard elements of modern horror are there as well--the disturbed Indian burial ground on which the house was built, the African maid who possesses mysterious powers, the lost child, and the more explicit handling of sexual matters. Pearson weaves them together fairly skillfully. This may not be the best work of horror ever written, but it's certainly good enough to while away a few hours.

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. Ellen relates the deviant behavior she learns from her older, disreputable husband and her unhealthy relationship with her foreign maid.

It also shows how a house is constructed against all odds and its deadly consequences. Murders occur which are never explained and people disappear.

I want to think that this is a true story, but how could a well brought up woman write such filth? It is not easy to read unless you want voyeur feelings into the lower life of the very rich and the things they can get away with.

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 historic place. This story sort of dragged on about the house and the history, but watching emmery made it all worth while, seeing a person who has no money see paranormal activity was great, I wish I could too. All the characters have different kinds of powers that don't help until it's too late. Thats why this book/ movie strikes me so well. It also strikes me because the details are given more crisply in the book, than in the movie, but the only problem is it ends with a sort of " happily ever after. "

Ridley Pearson, not Stephen King wrote it. Rose Red is really Thornewood Castle.

The background story of the "Diary" is here: http://www.thornewoodcastle.com/tnt10.htm

It is a beautiful place, and the movie crew did an excellent job of restoring it to its original splendor. In any case, none of this "real life" information should detract from the enjoyment of a good ghost story.

you would think a diary would contain serious introspection & detailed depictions of personal events. not here. you would think that a tie-in to a ghost story which is supposed to be a ghost story itself would be scary, spooky & spend lots of time detailing supernatural phenomena in depth. not here. here you get boring and repetitive narration full of cliches, & where it touches on the supernatural, it is cliched as well. a waste of money.

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. I highly recommend this book!