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notthatcosta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
I watched Rosemary's Baby for the first time in 2021 and I became besotted with it quite quickly. It's worth saying that my original reference for the film was Tyra Banks' obsession with Mia Farrow's haircut in the film, which she proceeded to force on a season 5 contestant (and then a season 6 contestant) of America's Next Top Model.
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.
While the book is highly disturbing and frustrating in equal measure, the most salient aspect is the resolve and determination of Rosemary, which Mia Farrow channels excellently in the film adaptation. The way she is surrounded/smothered by people who are almost all conspiring against her and using her body to carry Satan's child (spoiler alert), and yet manages to figure out the plot and intervene is a testament to Ira Levin's ability to craft dynamic heroines in the most wild of circumstances.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Addiction and Homophobia
queenkath32's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
jaedia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
rumade's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Probably one of the first explorations of pregnancy as a horrifying experience and the alienation and pain that can come with it. Rosemary is a likeable character and easy to root for- a normal Midwestern girl almost estranged from her huge Catholic family back in Omaha as she lives with her WASP husband in New York and longs for a baby. I wish I could have read this without knowing the premise; so I could feel the tension build up more and more. Even if you roughly know the story, it's worth a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Blood, Abortion, 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 drunkbpgorence's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Minor: Abortion
aquariusvintage's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Personally, I found the writing outdated. A lot of harmful tropes and slurs added. Appreciate the creepiness of the story line. A horror that is horrifying because it so closely mirrors reality. The book is considered a classic so there wasn't any jump scares or major twists in the storyline. Seemed pretty predictable. Didn't realize there would be a cliffhanger because the book is the beginning of a series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Homophobia and Racial slurs
Minor: Child death and Vomit
livthatsme's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
Minor: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Stalking
kryskross's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, and Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
gabberjaws's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
Firstly, I wanna say that I hate that I enjoyed the movie adaptation of this book (fuck you, Polanski).
Secondly, there's a reason why this book and its movie are talked about as much as they are. They're good.
The general ... oddness of the events that take place in this book, as well as Levin's matter-of-fact writing make this a very tense novel. Watching this horror that Rosemary was forced to go through unfold was deeply disturbing and even sickening at times.
I'd seen the movie before I read the book, so I'm not entire sure if this was just because I was coming into things with the knowledge of how things played out, but not once did it feel like I, the reader, was supposed to believe that Rosemary was imagining things. I don't know what it was, but something about Levin's writing made it crystal clear when the villains were lying or manipulating Rosemary. You could sense their panic when something was going wrong with their plans. I appreciated that - especially in a story about a woman being gaslit and manipulated from almost the very first page, it's nice that the narration was able to say, "yeah, no, this is fucked up. These people are evil."
I also appreciated how the book highlighted Guy's shitiness. The movie sorta focused more on the Castavets, but the book is constantly showing us how fucking awful Guy is, and I for one am glad because that man is an absolute shitstain of a human being and does not deserve to have his actions downplayed.
All in all, this book was great at evoking strong feelings of discomfort, disgust, unease, and visceral hatred. Just what you want in a horror novel.
Secondly, there's a reason why this book and its movie are talked about as much as they are. They're good.
The general ... oddness of the events that take place in this book, as well as Levin's matter-of-fact writing make this a very tense novel. Watching this horror that Rosemary was forced to go through unfold was deeply disturbing and even sickening at times.
I'd seen the movie before I read the book, so I'm not entire sure if this was just because I was coming into things with the knowledge of how things played out, but not once did it feel like I, the reader, was supposed to believe that Rosemary was imagining things. I don't know what it was, but something about Levin's writing made it crystal clear when the villains were lying or manipulating Rosemary. You could sense their panic when something was going wrong with their plans. I appreciated that - especially in a story about a woman being gaslit and manipulated from almost the very first page, it's nice that the narration was able to say, "yeah, no, this is fucked up. These people are evil."
I also appreciated how the book highlighted Guy's shitiness. The movie sorta focused more on the Castavets, but the book is constantly showing us how fucking awful Guy is, and I for one am glad because that man is an absolute shitstain of a human being and does not deserve to have his actions downplayed.
All in all, this book was great at evoking strong feelings of discomfort, disgust, unease, and visceral hatred. Just what you want in a horror novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Rape, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Homophobia and Racial slurs
tysuckz's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
Quite possibly one of the weirdest books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The ending was marginally disappointing but despite the absolute bizarre nature of it, it was easy to read, having finished the whole thing in a matter of 3 hours or something close.
Felt bad for Rosemary but also felt absolutely furious for her too with the way everyone was so against her except Hutch. Was so frustrating to feel that kind of struggle alongside her, especially as she is/was a pregnant woman.
Didn't get 5 stars based on the ending alone. I wish there would've been more to it and maybe some kind of resolution for the horrible things that happened to her based on everyone's opposition to her. It is the least she deserved!!
Having said that, the gaslighting from Guy especially is so intense. I knew quite a bit about the book in the first place since it was recommended to me by my partner, but even still I felt like Rosemary was going crazy and was genuinely just having paranoid delusion about Witches!!!
Felt bad for Rosemary but also felt absolutely furious for her too with the way everyone was so against her except Hutch. Was so frustrating to feel that kind of struggle alongside her, especially as she is/was a pregnant woman.
Didn't get 5 stars based on the ending alone. I wish there would've been more to it and maybe some kind of resolution for the horrible things that happened to her based on everyone's opposition to her. It is the least she deserved!!
Having said that, the gaslighting from Guy especially is so intense. I knew quite a bit about the book in the first place since it was recommended to me by my partner, but even still I felt like Rosemary was going crazy and was genuinely just having paranoid delusion about Witches!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Rape