Finally! My first five star read of 2024! And now I have a major book hangover. Anyhow, let’s review Rosemary’s Baby.
Synopsis
Rosemary Woodhouse and her struggling-actor husband Guy are thrilled to move into the Bramford, a sought-after Manhattan apartment building prized for its Victorian details and gargoyled facade. Yet as they learn of a darker side to the building’s history–and become acquainted with their overly attentive neighbors, the Castevets–unspoken tensions enter into the young couples’ relationship. Matters improve when Guy lands a major role, and Rosemary at last becomes pregnant. But as her pregnancy takes frightening turns, Rosemary begins to question if her neighbors’ heightened interest is strictly innocent, or if their motivations–and those of Guy himself–portend terrifying consequences for her, and her unborn child. Is Rosemary “…going mad, or going sane”?
My Thoughts on Rosemary’s Baby
I LOVED this book. I didn’t expect to love this book. But you can’t judge a book by your perception of it. And it’s a classic for a reason. Rosemary’s Baby started out with a newlywed couple that had a chance to rent an apartment in a highly sought after gothic building that has a minor reputation of a morbid past. Despite her friend’s warnings they move in anyway. Everything seems normal in the beginning. It’s very slice of New York life. They have an almost perfect existence minus a few job and health struggles, but otherwise its idyllic.
Then positive things begin to happen. A new job and a new baby come into their lives. All of the things that the main character wished for, but despite the happiness there was always an undercurrent of negativity. It starts very subtly and sinks deeper into the plot. Suddenly, I was right there with Rosemary. I was suspicious of everyone. But then there would be glimpses of sanity and I wondered if she was a reliable narrator. Nothing was ever certain until the end when it all came to a horrifying halt. The book gave me emotional whiplash in the best way.
My Rating: 5/5
Discover more from Wildwood Reads
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Sadly, I didn’t know this was a book until after I had watched the movie. But the movie is pretty good too.
I haven’t seen the movie, but I’m interested to watch it now.
I remember reading this at school many years ago and it was such a scary read. It stayed with me for a long time. I’m glad that it hasn’t lost its impact over the years.
Wow, it’s been so many years since I read this, but I know it blew me away! I went on a bit of an Ira Levin binge way back when. He has so many amazing thrillers!
I’m doing the same thing right now lol. I just finished The Stepford Wives.
That’s such a good one! I think my first was actually The Boys From Brazil (which blew me away at the time), and I also loved A Kiss Before Dying.