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mockingjayx16'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? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Homophobia and Racial slurs
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: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Suicide
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, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Blood
Minor: Addiction, Homophobia, Miscarriage, and Abortion
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: Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Confinement and Abortion
lmclar12's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
One thing that struck me is how much he actually respects his female characters. They’re definitely not stupid. They think for themselves and use their own agency to try to save themselves.
Also I can’t imagine how shocking it must have been to readers (especially because I imagine most horror readers were male) to see menstruation casually portrayed. And not as soemthing yucky or female problems but just as something that happens.
This book portrays so well psychological and emotional abuse, marital rape, and isolation.
This book was a dark horse for me and I will definitely be continuing reading Levin’s work.
Graphic: Emotional abuse
Minor: Rape
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: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Vomit
smolhandsdan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
carlytenille's review against another edition
- 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: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
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: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Cannibalism
kbaker45's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting