Rating: 
Summary: Don't expect a King ripper.
Review: This fictional "diary" was inspired by the Stephen King-penned miniseries Rose Red, which aired earlier this year. Supposedly edited by Dr. Joyce Reardon, the ghost researcher who was the main character in the miniseries (and met a very bad end), and written by Ellen Rimbauer, the character who haunted the mansion, Rose Red, the diary details the early years of the haunted house that was the subject of the miniseries. There has been some debate as to whether this book was actually written by King. I have read everything King has written, most of it more than once, and I would really doubt that he wrote this book -- although there is no question that he sanctioned it. Rather, I think that he sketched out an outline for the events of the diary that some unnamed ghost writer got to write. This is only my opinion, of course, based on the fact that the writing is sometimes clumsy and doesn't seem to follow King's trademark style. All that makes the "diary" merely a curiosity, a collectible for avid King fans. If you want a good story or even a good King story, I would advise you to look elsewhere, though.
Rating: 
Summary: Creepy, freaky, and everything in between;
Review: 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. "
Rating: 
Summary: And the Author Is...
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: So good, even you were fooled!
Review: OK, someone beat me to it. I haven't found a single shred of evidence that Stephen King WROTE this diary, clues maybe. Being as though I am NOT single minded, the possibility that someone else (Tabatha King? Someone associated w/ the movie?) wrote this to coincide w/ the movie is a very real one! Stephen King is being judged for something he might not have even wrote. "Stephen King cannot write women." I am waiting patiently to judge YOUR book. "Delores Claiborne", "Gerald's Game" and "Rose Matter" were not his normal style, this is true, but I couldn't put them down either. They were a little drawn out but not REALLY bad. They sold didn't they?
As for the diary, I loved it! I too wish I could've read it before watching the mini-series. It provides a solid history giving insight to the happenings during the "expedition." I don't care WHO wrote it, I couldn't put it down. I am left wanting more; I want EVERY day of the diary! I want Tina's diary too! I think it was an excellent marketing strategy! Never have I seen such an elaborate scheme: book, web site, movie! King is the master of creativity! (or maybe those who work w/ him!) Ha-Ha to those of you who are upset and fooled. Duh, since when has King written a "documentary?" Just goes to show, he's so talented he has the power to fool the public! For us that enjoyed the ride, BRAVO! And thank you Mr. King! It was very easy to climb into "Rose Red's" world.
Note: I just compled reading ALL the other reviews. I'm happy to see that I feel as MANY others do and that my suspicions are also similiar.
Rating:
Summary: A house of horrors.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting companion to the upcoming mini-series
Review: This fictional diary is a companion to the upcoming ABC mini-series - Stephen King's Rose Red, to air three nights at the end of January. Stephen King wrote the original teleplay about Joyce Reardon, PhD, who investigates a long-believed haunted house in the Seattle area with the help of an autistic 16 year old girl. This diary provides additional background to the story, supposedly written by Ellen Rimbauer, mistress to Rose Red, the haunted mansion. It is written in the tradion of The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer, of Twin Peaks fame. I would be extremely surprised to discover that Mr. King himself wrote this account, due to the overly dramatic, extremely feminine tone and viewpoint. Mr. King's writing is much more straight forward,and usually his stories are told with a distinctly male voice. I enjoyed this book. Because it is in journal form, it is easy to forgive the overly dramatic nature of some of the passages, and some of the writing problems. It is, in my opinion, a brilliant marketing stragegy a la the Blair Witch Project on the part of Hyperion Books and the producers of the mini-series. The book comes complete with references to a website for the fictional university where Dr. Reardon holds her chair, and provides pictures and additional background. As a fan of Haunted House stories, and horror in general, I was very satisified with the overall experience of The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer.
Rating:
Summary: coudnt put it down
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A good, but not great piece of Gothic horror
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: And the Author Is...
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: prepare to be bored
Review: 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.
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