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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
trigger warning: transphobia
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
Of course I'm comparing this book to the Hitchcock film... it's impossible not to!
In fact, I may have given the book a higher rating if I didn't already know the "twist." But you can't un-know what you already know. Therefore, I spent much of my reading time looking for instances where Bloch used subtle clues and literary devices to build his unreliable narrator. And I'm honestly not sure if I would have been able to guess the big reveal or not. He does do a good job peppering the novel with subtle foreshadowing and some misdirection.
Also the novel was so short (more of a novella than a novel) that I would have appreciated some more character development or a slower build up. Surprisingly, the Hitchcock film seems better paced with more drawn out tension. In fact, the film actually feels longer and more fleshed out than the book.
However, Psycho the film is NOT perfect. The whole psycho-babble info dump at the end of the film where the doctor goes on and on ad infinitum about Norman and his condition is handled much more briefly and succinctly in the book.
In fact, I may have given the book a higher rating if I didn't already know the "twist." But you can't un-know what you already know. Therefore, I spent much of my reading time looking for instances where Bloch used subtle clues and literary devices to build his unreliable narrator. And I'm honestly not sure if I would have been able to guess the big reveal or not. He does do a good job peppering the novel with subtle foreshadowing and some misdirection.
Also the novel was so short (more of a novella than a novel) that I would have appreciated some more character development or a slower build up. Surprisingly, the Hitchcock film seems better paced with more drawn out tension. In fact, the film actually feels longer and more fleshed out than the book.
However, Psycho the film is NOT perfect. The whole psycho-babble info dump at the end of the film where the doctor goes on and on ad infinitum about Norman and his condition is handled much more briefly and succinctly in the book.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-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
This was a short, fast-paced book that you could read in one sitting. It was interesting to see Norman point out his flaws, but yet do nothing about it the entire time. It was also very frustrating knowing what you know, and all of the men wanted to dismiss Mary's sister's feelings the entire time.
At first, I was concerned that knowing this plot, thanks to the movie, would ruin my experience of reading the book for the first time. However, the opposite proved to be true. Knowing what happens enhanced my reading, allowing me to pick up on slight clues throughout the plot and to appreciate how clever the writing truly is. An overall fun read of a great classic.
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced