bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Confinement
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
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
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
mandi_lea'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, and Confinement
elliexreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Death, Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Murder, Gaslighting, and Violence
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.
Spoiler
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.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
jaedia'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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Death, Religious bigotry, and Suicide
lydiavsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
I think I have a soft spot for the very niche tropes of a) creepy culty appartment blocks and b) exploring how shitty men treat women and mothers, and this combined the two perfectly. A true classic of the genre, it's cool to be able to see the influence this book has had on so many others since.
Graphic: Gaslighting and Rape
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse