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automatic_rae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Suicide
b00murded's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Suicide, Rape, Infertility, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Grief, Death, and Murder
Minor: Abortion and Confinement
thegayestghost's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death, Sexism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racism and Homophobia
Minor: Vomit
vbarsi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual violence, Death, Medical content, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Rape
carlytenille's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Gaslighting, Rape, Suicide, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Religious bigotry
bdingz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
The real horror story here is medical gaslighting!
Graphic: Gaslighting, Rape, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Blood, Kidnapping, and Confinement
Minor: Ableism, Religious bigotry, Death, Homophobia, Vomit, and Racism
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
jaimc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
Graphic: Gaslighting, Suicide, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Racism and Confinement
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
jrs_55's review
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Rape, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Racial slurs, and Death