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stephanieanneauthor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As someone who's lived through it, I love stories that involve gaslighting as it adds to the tension and discomfort. And I wanted to scream at some of the obstacles Rosemary encountered. In those early chapters, I wasn't too sure how I would feel about her, but I came to love her character arc. I've also noticed recently that I tend to be more drawn to domestic horror stories. There's something delightfully unsettling about home life gone wrong, and situations that should be safe and comforting, but are not.
Can't wait to watch the movie now!
Graphic: Suicide, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Rape, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Child death, and Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Abortion, Miscarriage, and Homophobia
alex60517's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Child death, Homophobia, and Vomit
sunbearbeam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, and Rape
Moderate: Child death
servemethesky's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ira Levin writes with short, punchy sentences that give you just the right amount of information to feel immersed in this world and time. As much as this book is a product of the 60s, it still feels shockingly relevant today. I knew the plot was about Satanism and giving birth to Satan's child, but I didn't know how much the themes would actually be about bodily autonomy and women's rights.
I saw some reviewers ranting that Rosemary is unbearably passive and a terrible protagonist, but it feels spot on to me that she would behave this way. We forget that women had so little autonomy, even as recently in the 60s! Women couldn't even get their own credit card until 1974! No wonder Rosemary felt she had to keep seeing the best in her husband. It was terrifying to see how trapped she was.
It's also an excellent story of being trapped in a toxic/abusive relationship and family system, where in this case, Minnie & Roman and their friend group/coven is the family system. Everyone is constantly gaslighting Rosemary, dismissing her concerns and doing their utmost to convince her that all of this is absolutely normal and fine. It's hard to break out of a system that's hurting you when you don't know anything else!
The last 20-30 pages were thrilling!
And then that ending!!! I think I'd heard the ending a podcast but totally forgot it.
This book is so funny in such small ways, and was delightful all around. For those who read this book a little too seriously, it's worth noting that Ira Levin himself had misgivings about the novel's impact on society and culture ever since. He said, "now: if I hadn't pursued an idea for a suspense novel almost forty years ago, would there be quite as many religious fundamentalists around today?" Yikes. Now there's a scary idea! Dude didn't even believe in Satan and now right wingers are still Satanic-panicking in 2023.
Highly recommend picking up this book if you've never read it! It holds up quite well in 2023. Excited to watch the movie for the first time soon :)
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Body horror, Suicide, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Cannibalism
catriona176's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Gaslighting
Moderate: Medical content, Murder, Rape, and Suicide
Minor: Child death
kbaker45's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Medical trauma, Rape, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicide, Abortion, Addiction, Cannibalism, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Child death, Infertility, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
notthatcosta's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Even more so than The Stepford Wives, the book is pretty much a mirror of the film's plot, with the exception of a brief trip that Rosemary makes to Hutch's cabin (which doesn't feature in the film). I was impressed at how much more concise the book is than the film, but both feel equally weighty and intricate.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Gaslighting, Death, and Rape
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical trauma, Child death, Confinement, Medical content, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Addiction and Homophobia
rumade's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Rape and Suicide
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Vomit, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical trauma
Minor: Blood, Addiction, Abortion, Child death, and Alcohol
There is a scene where a husband is very dismissive of him raping his wife the night before when she was passed out drunkaquariusvintage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Homophobia and Racial slurs
Minor: Vomit and Child death
scarlettreadsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Body horror and Pregnancy
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Child death, Alcohol, and Blood