Rating: 
Summary: Oh how clever is our beloved Mr. King!
Review: Oh how clever is our beloved Mr. King! While the mini-series, Rose Red, Stephen King created for ABC fell way, way short of expectations, his foray into the mind of an early 20th-century socialite is well, well, done. I love ghost stories about old houses and this is what drew me to the first two hours of the mini-series and to the novel, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red. And what a fun read it is, creepiness and all!The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red is supposedly edited by a real-life paranormalist, Joyce Reardon, but the rumor mill in the industry claims that Reardon is none other than the King of Creepy (no pun intended), Mr. King himself! I couldn't find a trace of the actual existence of a John and Ellen Rimbauer, although I admit that I didn't do a heck of a lot of research, so they may or may not be formerly real people. But the diary does paint a twisted scenario that is truly worthy of King's abilities. In the forward Reardon/King tells us that she found the diary at an estate sale in 1998 and became so fascinated with the house (Rose Red) and the household that she will lead an psychic team into the abandoned, sprawling Seattle mansion, which then becomes the basis for the mini-series. The diary begins with the courtship and extreme naivete of Ellen, whose last name the reader is never given (It may or may not be Gilchrist, as that is name of Ellen's great-grandmother.), and John Rimbauer. Anyway, as Ellen is lusting after her much-older suitor, she confides her thoughts to the pages of her diary. John is building a grand mansion---such as to match his fortune and his ego. On Ellen's first visit to the construction site, a man is killed right before her eyes, which eventually only becomes one of many deaths. John and Ellen marry and embark on a yearlong, around-the-world honeymoon where they buy and buy and buy furnishings and decorations for their new home. The honeymoon is also the beginning of John's controlling nature and Ellen eludes to many debaucheries in the name of sex, but mercifully does not go into intimate detail---as a woman of her breeding and statue would dictate. While in Africa, the Rimbauer's hire Sukeena, who becomes Ellen's personal maid. Upon returning to Seattle, the newlyweds settle in and begin to enjoy an active social life, beginning with a huge inauguration party. But soon after the party, Rose Red seems to come to life. Desperate to find an answer, Ellen visits a physic that tells her that she is safe---that the STD she contracted from John in Africa will never return, her fears of insanity and her fear of another STD from John's continued infidelity are groundless---as long as she continues to add to the house. And so begins the construction; the eerie disappearances of several friends and servants; the oddities of John's sexual inclinations; and the unveiling of Ellen's own excursions into what could be deemed as sexual perversions. The disappearance of Ellen's second child, April, pushes the story to a dramatic conclusion that is just past the point of Ellen's sanity. Reardon/King does a remarkable job in giving the readers just enough clues to let his/her own imagination run rampant, which makes The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red even more frightening. You won't be going to bed with the lights out with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Upset by Deceptive Synopsis
Review: I am extremely disappointed that the author of this book chose to deceive buyers by pretending that this is a true story. I prefer nonfiction, and purchased this ... book after reading the back review stating that this is a true story about a diary found in Washington. I eagerly read the first chapter, and immediately had serious doubts about the integrity of the author's description. Soon, I realized that the book was a complete fabrication, full of paranormal garbage, and I returned it immediately. I find it strange and sad that the author must lie to the audience to dupe people into buying this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Quick Read
Review: I read through the 252 pages very quickly - not because I could'nt put it down, more that it was just a very simple story that did not require much concentration. I am a Stephen King 'Constant Reader' and did not feel that King had written this one. One thing that bothered me was that the book leads you to believe that Ellen had an affair in 1946 with an actress who disappears in Rose Red but goes on to say that she was age 70 in 1950 - just find it hard to swallow that a 66 year old Ellen was having a lesbian affair (in her younger years, ok - but at 66!).
It is not like King to throw something so unbeliveable into the mix at that point in the story. It was an enjoyable story - not spellbinding or anything near that but somewhat entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: Silly book
Review: This book is a parody of the Winchester Mansion story, and not even a very good one.
Rating: 
Summary: "Life at Rose Red" lingers in your mind...
Review: I have not seen the movie Rose Red, though I obsessed over it when it first came out to see on TV. The commercials disturbed me a bit, so I decided to just wait till May 14, when it comes out on Video and DVD.
I have been looking for this book since it first came out, and I was very excited when I saw it at the Waldenbooks in my local mall.
I started reading it the next day, and I found myself unable to put it down. The woman, Ellen Rimbauer (depicted in the movie as a walking decaying mummy ghost...thing...) seems to become more otherwordly and disturbed as the book goes on.
With its forever depressing and disturbing tones, it's not exactly a book for a Picnic (but is anything by Stephen King like that?).
...the only problem with this book is that it seems to go on and on, when it becomes long-winded. At one point, I wondered how many of the questions written in this diary would remain rhetorical...a very scary thought, indeed.
The book certainly left an impression on me. After reading this book, you might think twice about checking the closet or under the bed...and it has certainly gotten me prepped for when I will buy the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth reading
Review: Ok, I went into this looking for a nice read, possibly by the producer of the tv show, Mr. King, and found myself trapped in a boring book. Unbelievable voice-for a supposed diary of a turn of the century sheltered wife, it winds up resorting to cheap tricks to make any attempt at hooking the reader--her unexpected lesbian yearnings for her assistant, stupid pop culture references to upcoming inventions, etc. Heavy handed. Drawn out. The same story over and over and over again. Pass this one by. It is rare that a television mini series is better than the book, but, in this case, there are few things worse than the book.
Rating:
Summary: I could've skipped this one
Review: Not Stephen King's best work. And a little bit pointless. If I'd've missed this one and the made-for-TV movie, I wouldn't have missed much. Buy it if you're an SK fanatic, or have a haunted house 'thing'. Otherwise, don't waste the time.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!!
Review: I recently watched the made for tv program Rose Red. After watching this I wanted the book, but did not get it b/c i am not big on reading. After a recent trip to Seattle, Wa. I decided to pick up the book for the return trip. I paid the publishers price of 22 dollars...and Wow! I totally do not regret the money i spent..I find the book rather small so I limit how much i read each night...I am a male and the book is in a females point of view...(female problems, love, etc.) Kinda like a romance novel but in a horror prespective. I recommend this book to everyone. Yet I will add that is for more a mature audience, w/ some sexual notations..this book is wonderful and will have me reading more books in the future.
Rating:
Summary: LOST
Review: The movie was good and so was the book except the missing pages I can not find on the internet. If I could find them then the book would be so much better. I went under the site and got some pages but not of the maid and Ellen. Is there such pages???
Rating:
Summary: This book is not worth the money.
Review: I was very disappointed with this book. This is a haunted tale, please. This book should have Fabio on the cover instead. There is nothing scary about this book. If you want to read a better book read Burnt Offerings, or the Other by Thomas Tyron. This book reminds me of a poor-mans 'Burnt Offerings' mixed with a one of Fabio's novel. Bad, Bad, BAD.
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