The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (2002, Hardcover)

I LOVE the premise of this book. If you are crazy for haunted house stories chances are that you will love it too. Although I give you fair warning that the book contains many sexual overtones. If this is something that makes you uncomfortable, you will probably not be able to enjoy the storyline.

Set in the early 1900's a young and naive Ellen falls in love with and marries a much older and very powerful oil tycoon, named John. However, soon after thier marriage her feelings of love and admiration for him turn into love/hate, as she discovers numerous marital indiscretions and that he has an unsatiable and depraved sexual appetite. She wants his love and attention, yet it is always just out of her reach. She also begins to feel ashamed by her own feelings of sexuality- feelings that being with John bring out in her... Then strange things begin to happen. It begins when one of John's mistresses disappears in her house (which she has affectionately named, Rose Red). At first she believes that the house is acting as her allay- to punish those who have betrayed her. But later she realizes that the power that lies in the house is much deeper and darker than she could ever have imagined...

If you like this book I highly recommend following it up with Steven King's movie adaptation called Rose Red. Although the main focus of the movie is the house (rather than the life of Ellen) it allows you to look at Ellen's life from a different perspective (without all of the sexual overtones)...
(*NOTE that King also helped create a movie based on this book called, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer.*)

If you loved the movie "Rose Red" you will love this book. "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer" is a book written to provide a background for the movie, and is the diary of the original mistress of the house. The reader is drawn in as Ellen recounts the terrible mishaps that occurs in the house, including changing rooms and disappearences. This chilling tale will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read about the many terrible things that happen to Ellen, including losing her beloved daughter.

For anyone who does not yet know this: Stephen King is not the author of this book. Ridley Pearson is the author. I loved the movie Rose Red as I love most of King's movies and many of his books. However, I was not fond of Pearson's book. There was definately a masculine tone to the entries and it was very easy to pick up that this was not written by a woman and unfortunately, the details were more nightmarish than the story. Tense kept changing and lines seemd forced. A+ for effort, but overall this is definately not a book I would suggest on the grounds of a "good read."

I love this book. i bought it because i have the movie rose red which tells about the life of ellen rimbauer. and i didnt know before that there had also been a book about her life and about the house. so i just had to find it and buy it.there is even a website that is told you in the end of the book. i strongly urge anybody that is into mysterious and spooky things to watch the movie but get this book first.

I love this book because is a movie by one of my favorite authors and it has a well written. It has all the twists and turns of a good, excellent thriller. And the ending will be a surprise to those who are reading this book for the first time. I would highly recommend reading this book to anyone who is a true Stephen King fan.