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casparquarius's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
bookbelle5_17's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Review of Rosemary’s Baby
By: Ira Levin
Rosemary and Guy are a young happy couple eager to move into the famous Bramford apartment. When they move in, they meet this elderly couple, Roman and Mini Castavets, who are very willing to insert themselves in Rosemary and Guy’s lives. Rosemary finally gets pregnant the Castavets help Rosemary with it, but she begins to suspect they have wicked intensions for her baby.
Rosemary’s Baby focuses not only on the occult and devil worship, but also on the fears of expecting mothers. Am I harming my child before its born? How do make I sure my baby is born good? It is one of those horror stories where our protagonists’ sanity is put to the test and can any of the other characters can be trusted. Rosemary is constantly gaslighted and is condescended to by her husband, Guy, and she is so submissive to him in most of the story. The Castavets are written in a way that makes them seem like they mean well, but they’re trying too hard to be involved with Rosemary’s pregnancy, especially when she barely knows them. The horror is written in a subtle way where the reader doesn’t know for sure of what’s going on. I found myself getting frustrated with Rosemary, because I wanted her to stand up for herself and not trust the Castavets. Unless you don’t believe in the devil, this possibility is absolutely terrifying, but also even if you don’t believe the idea of these, who do believe is quite frightening as well. This is an older novel published in the 60s and has casual racist mentalities.
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Suicide, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
lianne_rooney's review against another edition
dark
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? No
4.5
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
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.
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 drunk
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