The Diary Of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life At Rose Red
This associational material to the Stephen King miniseries Rose Red is packaged as if it were the edited diary of Ellen Rimbauer, mistress of the haunted Seattle mansion Rose Red, and edited by parapsychologist Joyce Reardon, another character from the miniseries. The entries cover the period 1907-1928, with framing material and “editorial” notes dated to 2000. It is essentially a haunted house story, with light historical interest.
Fans of Stephen King will note a few clever in-jokes, such as references to firestarting girls and possessed dogs, but the restrictive nature of the diary format creates a distancing effect, so the book does not really succeed as a horror story. Strong interracial lesbian themes, sexual violence, and racial attitudes accurate to the period are depicted and implied. No actual author is given for the work, nor is a familiarity with the miniseries necessary to read and appreciate the book. (Note from TJ: in late June, Ridley Pearson was announced to be the author.)
