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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
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
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Conosciamo tutti la storia di Psycho, c'è poco da ricamarci sopra per fare una recesione.
Il libro si fa leggere, è carino, ma ammetto che è invecchiato un po' male - un po' perché ci sono terminologie e definizioni datate dal punto di vista psicologico e psichiatrico, un po' perché alle volte pecca di innocenza rispetto all'horror/thriller psicologico e tutta la strada che ha fatto dal 1959 a oggi.
Grossissimo pro: non ci sono tempi morti.
Il libro si fa leggere, è carino, ma ammetto che è invecchiato un po' male - un po' perché ci sono terminologie e definizioni datate dal punto di vista psicologico e psichiatrico, un po' perché alle volte pecca di innocenza rispetto all'horror/thriller psicologico e tutta la strada che ha fatto dal 1959 a oggi.
Grossissimo pro: non ci sono tempi morti.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"It's not like my mother is a maniac or a raving thing. She just goes a little mad sometimes. We all go a little mad sometimes."
Psycho - Robert Bloch
Psycho - Robert Bloch
I’ve read Robert Bloch’s most famous novel many times, and every single revisit feels like slipping into the heat of a summer night, the kind of when the air is thick, the shadows feel longer than they should, and danger seems to hum just out of sight. To me, this book has always carried the atmosphere of a summer horror story, where the daylight can’t quite banish the unease.
For those unfamiliar, "Psycho" begins with a young woman on the run, arriving at the remote Bates Motel. There she meets Norman Bates, a shy, awkward man who lives with his reclusive and puritanical mother in the house overlooking the property. What follows is a tightly wound psychological thriller/horror novel that blends quiet domestic scenes with sudden bursts of dread, creating a sense of creeping danger that never fully lets up.
This time around, I decided to annotate the book as I read, focusing on four themes: insanity and mental illness, the duality of humanity, good vs. evil, and the moments that were so disturbing or vividly described they made my skin crawl. Bloch handles the subject of mental instability in a way that is both unsettling and deeply human, he invites you inside a mind where reality and fantasy bleed together. The duality of humanity is everywhere: in the contrast between hospitality and menace, innocence and corruption, the façade we present and the darkness we conceal. Good and evil aren’t drawn as simple opposites; they slip into one another in ways that leave you questioning where one ends and the other begins.
And then there are the truly terrifying moments, the ones that sneak up on you, made all the more chilling because Bloch doesn’t rely on gratuitous violence. Instead, he plants small, razor-sharp images and quiet revelations that cut far deeper than gore ever could.
Even after multiple reads, "Psycho" remains a masterclass in psychological suspense. The pacing is lean, the tension builds without mercy, and the writing is as sharp as ever. My annotations only deepened my appreciation for Bloch’s ability to evoke dread from the smallest detail. It’s a book that rewards rereading, proving that true horror lies not in what is shown, but in what is suggested and in the unsettling truths about human nature that linger long after the final page. So come in, relax, take a shower!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Torture
I really enjoyed this book, I didn't think I would but it was a quick read for me. I was confused for some parts of it, but once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the explanation at the end of the book.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Ableism
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't know why it has taken me so long to read this book, as I have seen the film quite a few times.
If I am honest, I am slightly disappointed with the book. I thought it was going to be more gruesome and scary, and even have more victims. The genius of Alfred Hitchcock obviously took this story to another level when it got to the silver screen. Not sure what that says about me!
I guess we need to remember this book was first published in 1959. I am sure in those days the book was horrifying and a revelation.
Whilst reading the story I can't help but hear the sound effects from the movie in my head. Especially the famous shower knife scene.
If I am honest, I am slightly disappointed with the book. I thought it was going to be more gruesome and scary, and even have more victims. The genius of Alfred Hitchcock obviously took this story to another level when it got to the silver screen. Not sure what that says about me!
I guess we need to remember this book was first published in 1959. I am sure in those days the book was horrifying and a revelation.
Whilst reading the story I can't help but hear the sound effects from the movie in my head. Especially the famous shower knife scene.
I've never watched the film and I steer clear of horror/thrillers, so this was a bit of a change.