I think this will be an interesting new series on the blog. I’m going to do a test run and see how it goes.

Since late 2022 and onward, I’ve been on a very interesting reading journey. And I’ve read some great classics, young adult horror, sci-if and so on. And I may do thorough reviews here as well from 2022 and 2023. If you missed the last post of December, I’ll link that here if you wanna see what I’ve been up to. 

But we’re in 2024 and the first book read and finished is a definite classic in horror. By the title, you know the film which is a great adaptation and while reading, I kept picturing the film. I’m going to talk about 1967’s classic Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin.

Spoilers kind of??

I started this book on January 1st and concluded on the 15th so we’re looking at 2 weeks of reading. I found Rosemary’s Baby thrifting and it was going to take me a while to get to this book but I am so so happy I read it. Like I mentioned before, if you’ve seen the movie, it’s essentially the book for the screen but I enjoyed the book for the immersive quality. 

I think the biggest takeaway for me is being in Rosemary’s world and wanting to protect her. I really like how Rosemary is written. She just wants to be a mom and be a good wife and a good person, sweet, head on her shoulders, smart, and the rest of the characters coddle her to the point of making her feel like she’s an invalid. And all throughout the book, I’m just visualizing Mia Farrow. Like everything going on, it was her, her face and presence, I just see her. And it helped the visualization process of reading. I do have a question… when you read, do you “see” it play out in your head or not? Is it just words for you? I’m curious!

And we know why they are doing that but anything or anyone of interest that cares for her or likes her, hangs out with her, it’s like they are immediately shunned or “killed” or they “disappear” in order to alienate Rosemary and make her feel dependent on the crowd around her. It’s a good recipe for alienation, depression, gaslighting, weaponized incompetence and vulnerability. I wanted to leap into the pages and just smack everyone who wasn’t Rosemary, ha. I cheered for her when she started piecing things together and having those thoughts of un-sureness when it came to her neighbors, her husband, or how she got pregnant.

To be inside her head and read her conflicts and emotions is what I absolutely loved about this book. The writing of the characters is great as well, setting up little clues and Easter eggs of what is to come and if you pay attention and take notes, you’ll see it. And it’s been a while since I felt very invested in a book where I’m on a rollercoaster of emotions. And that’s what makes this story special, the emotional connection. I love to read and some books lack the emotional connection (like Goosebumps or The Last Orgy of the Divine Hermit) and there are some that I’ve read where I think about it, still, well after I read it (Tender is the Flesh, The Vampire Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451) and Rosemary’s Baby fits the latter.

Looking at my notes, I pretty much covered everything here. I can pretty much gloat about this book but I don’t want this to be too long! If you are interested in horror classics, Rosemary’s Baby is a definite must read. Even if you have seen the film many times, please read the novel if you can. I believe Ira Levin also wrote The Stepford Wives so I’d love to read that one as well. I gave Rosemary’s Baby a 5 out of 5 stars and if you’re interested in anything else Rosemary’s Baby on the blog, check out this post as well.

I’ll see you guys next time when I dissect and review the many essential tales from HP Lovecraft.