Rating: 
Summary: You will never look at your neighors the same way
Review: A hard-luck actor. An average, charming housewife. And neighbors that you love and trust, even though they are a tad nosey. These are the basic elements of a classic book that should be required reading for everyone who wants to be an author.The characters of "Rosemary's Baby" are so well written, so sincerly believable, that it's a shame the book ends. Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, a young couple looking for a place to stay, buy an apartment that seems to good to be true. Enter Roman and Minnie Castevet, an elderly couple that seem to be mothering Guy and smothering Rosemary. When she finds out she's pregnant, the Castevets couldn't be happier. They happen to be witches, wanting to find a young, loving woman to raise the son of Satan. What makes this book so good, so great, is that Minnie and Roman don't ride broomsticks or have large pointy hats on their heads - they're an average couple that just seem to need companionship. The horror isn't blood and guts, the type that you'll find in a cheap paperback - it's the horror of knowing much more than Rosemary does. It's not a plot spoiler to say that Guy joins the coven, because it's obvious. You just want to say "Rosemary, don't go in there!" or "Rosemary, don't drink that!"This is the way a book should be - entertaining, while all the same absorbing. It's a one sitting, white knuckle read that will make you say "I hope Ira Levin writes a sequel!" However, nothing could ever compare to this unbelievably timeless classic.
Rating:
Summary: A Spooky Shocker Classic
Review: Why am I giving this book 5 stars when the writing isn't especially great? Because Ira Levin hit every right note in "Rosemary's Baby" and made it into an instantaneous horror classic. On one level, it's a great horror story; on another, it's also a kind of morality play: God has a son; what happens when the devil gets jealous and wants one too? Enter Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, almost-newlyweds, new tenants in an old, luxury building called "The Bramford", famous for its high ceilings and working fireplaces, notorious for its unsavory happenings (dead baby wrapped in newspapers abandoned in the basement). They are warned off by Hutch, an old friend of Rosemary's who knows all about the building's sordid history, but disregard the omens. Rosemary is a housewife (yes, back in the day there actually were such things) who wants to be a mother. Guy is an actor and a rising star whose talent is overshadowed only by his unlimited ambition. Next door are the Castevets, Minnie and Roman, a delightfully ditzy old couple who just happen to head a coven of witches who have made a pact with the devil. Rosemary wants a baby; Guy wants a leading part in a hit play; the witches want... well, all the ingredients are there for a devil's brew that sets the pot boiling wonderfully for 260 pages. After a nightmarish impregnation, Rosemary goes through a hellacious pregnancy, presided over by Dr. Sapirstein, a famous "society" obstetrician who assures Rosemary that her pains will go away in a day or two. Hutch's death after a long, suspicious illness jolts Rosemary out of her cocoon of trusting ignorance, and here Levin builds the horror up ever so insidiously until it hits you like a sledgehammer. Rosemary discovers who her neighbors are; that they have drawn her husband into a diabolical plot, and when she runs to Dr. Sapirstein for protection, she finds out that he too is... well, if you can't trust your husband and your obstetrician, who can you trust? Rosemary is left alone to try to save her baby from what she fears is a plot against his life and safety, remembering that dead baby in the basement; there's a plot afoot, all right, but what it is, is something neither Rosemary or the reader could possibly imagine until they stare at it, literally and figuratively, in the eyes. Levin is one terrific storyteller and he manages to time the action to coincide perfectly with the story line; Rosemary conceives, ironically, on the night of the Pope's visit to New York in early October, and the baby is born, fittingly, right after midnight, "exactly half the year around from you-know". Some readers have complained that the ending is lame after all the shock and horror, and they have a point, but it's fun to wonder, how else could Levin have ended this story? It's a perfect psychological horror fantasy, no blood, no gore, no things that go bump in the night, but just the ordinary neighbors next door that can and do raise all kinds of hell. It's a classic that has stood the test of time; after 35 years, it's still a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Hauntingly chilling classic horror
Review: Rosemary's Baby is the story of a young newly-wed couple who happen to move in to a building with a history of unfortunate and strange occurences. Rosemary is ready and willing to start a family, but little does she know she'll end up carrying the baby of, not her husband Guy, but rather Satan himself. This is a story of witches and devil worship coupled with real-life events and occurences. This fact is what made this novel so ground-breaking when it first came out in the 60's. It places horror in the home, and in someone's womb, as opposed to something slightly more abstract (ie-"Swamp Thing" or "The Blob"). "Fear where we never thought to look before." Is Rosemary being a worried soon-to-be mother? How many of her suspicions are rooted in fact? Does Rosemary need to protect her child from others, or is it everyone else who needs protection from him? For Rosemary, the line becomes blurred between fear and reality and she can trust no one as she struggles to discern the truth. Levin weaves the plot elements together so masterfully and intricately that the story is indeed flawless. The characters are believable, and the suspense very real. The twists are intriguing and exciting. I cranked this book out yesterday, so it's fair to say that Rosemary's Baby is an easy and fast-paced read. However, though this is a great suspense-type horror book, it is not really necessarily "spooky" or nail-biting per say. If you are looking for a suspensful page-turner that is a quick and simple read, then give this one a try!
Rating:
Summary: A pregnant woman discovers a satanic sacrifice plot
Review: Rosemarys Baby is extremely easy to read and you will get through the book in no time at all. It is short, about 200 pages and is pretty much more of a novella than a full bloodied horror manuscript. None the less - it is still extremely satisfying and the size and depth of the story is particularly suitable for the subject matter at hand. The plot revolves around the newly wed Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse who have moved into a huge apartment in a building known as the Bramford in New York. Rosemary wants children and Guy, an actor, wants to further his career. Hutch, a friend of Rosemary, tells her that the Bramford is a "danger zone" because of previous murders, suicides and diabolical deeds that have gone on there in the past. Sure enough many of these atrocities slowly begin to unveil themselves much to the dismay of Rosemary. Guy sees these events as just a coincidence and the elderly occupants who live in the Bramford seem to be all too innocent to be involved in plotting murders or faking suicides. Eventually everything settles down and Rosemary gets pregnant during a nightmare that has her confused but she gradually calms down to prepare for her new born but not without the smothering attention of her neighbors who pop around twenty times a day to help her out. Rosemary casually begins to notice things in the Bramford or about its occupants in passing and slowly suspicion begins to develop in her mind that all may not be as it seems. There is a classic mystery lurking behind the more horrific avenues found in this great story as Rosemary slowly unravels the unknown which seems to have a diabolical nature. Doctors hint that her pregnancy may be causing undue stress and the reader is left guessing right up until the last few pages as to if there is a plot to sacrifice her baby or if she is going mad in some sort of prenatal depression. The ending is a total shock to the uninformed reader! Roman Polanski also directed the film version of this book. Both the film and book are excellent choices of entertainment. Highly recommended original horror!
Rating:
Summary: A good plain tale.
Review: Horror stories are best when they creep up on you. It is not necessary to resort to gutwrenchingly gross images or so much as spin your head around. Horror is about primordial feelings and emotions. Shirley Jackson knew about this. Here, Ira Levin takes an age-old idea -- the mother pregnant through supernatural means -- and puts a modern spin on it. We are drawn in so subtly that we think we're reading a plain novel, but the hints are scattered all through. We come to understand the nature of Rosemary's pregnancy long before Rosemary begins to suspect that anything is untoward. And when she does learn the truth about her neighbours, she jumps to an understandable erroneous conclusion that ensures the coven's success. We are left to wonder: do they ever actually perform the ceremonies that Rosemary fears? Brilliant. Read this, see the movie (closely based on the book) and leave "Son of Rosemary" quite alone.
Rating: 
Summary: Chilling
Review: Rosemary and Guy move into the Bramford, an old but prestigous apartment in New York. Their friend Hutch warns them not to do this because there have been so many tragic accidents in the building. Once they move in Rosemary befriends a young woman, Terry Gionoffrio. Unfortunately this friendship doesn't last long; Terry commits suicide. After this tragic accident, Rosemary learns that Terry lived next door with Mr and Mrs. Castevet, who treated her like their daughter. Rosemary begins to have strange dreams and hears strange noises and Guy becomes remote and distant. Then Rosemary becomes pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbours have special plans for her child.
She has a new problem - the protection of her forthcoming child. But it may not be the child that needs protection.
This book was fantastic! Nothing grusome or scary but it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing.
Review: I found this book to be a letdown. The plot was slow and painful. The story seemed too simplistic to be truly frightening or even slightly creepy. And the ending was extremely simple and anti-climactic. While one would expect Rosemary to have a terrible reaction to her baby, she instead calmly accepts the kid. Not very scary. I just wasn't impressed with this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Bad But...
Review: So I'm sitting here wondering about what I loved about this book and what I hated about it. The plot moves swiftly and the suspense is well painted throughtout making the reader move fast from page to page, as a suspense novel it's great as a horror novel it falls short and I'm not to sure what Ira Levin was aiming for. The ending leaves a lot to be desired but after reading it your not exactly kicking yourself for doing so due to the fact it isn't a huge book to read, the ending although a little weak does not detract altogether from this book cause it's still a good book, but it isn't for those searching for edge of your seat stuff, this is a suspenseful thriller and the ending wasn't gripping enough for me to run out and buy the sequel THE SON OF ROSEMARY, those of you who are looking for a suspense with more chilling results should look to the EXORCIST. As for Rosemarys Baby it reaches for the above average score and holds it firmly.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully creepy
Review: This story is so effectively creepy because it seems so normal. Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse are in many ways your typical young couple (albeit in 1966). He's handsome, she's pretty, they hang out with friends, have a healthy sex life and generally enjoy each other's company. The main difference between the Woodhouse's and your average couple is that Guy aspires to be an actor, and Rosemary is so head over heels in love with him that she ignores his caddish, self-centered behavior. The events in this novel have been described at length by previous reviewers, and I will not repeat the summary here. I will add that the dialogue and descriptions of every day life are wonderful. The neighbors are well-characterized and seem like they could be your neighbors anywhere. This straight-forward storytelling method for me just adds to the creepiness--awful things are happening in broad daylight and being performed by the sweet grandma and grandpa next door. And to this poor unsuspecting young pregnant woman to boot! I read this book a few years ago and recently re-read it. On my second read, I was surprised that I didn't pick up on Guy's involvement sooner. But this time, since I knew what was coming, I noticed all the subtle details planted throughout the story that are each little strokes of genius (the missing glove, Guy's trip for ice cream, etc.) Ira Levin is a master storyteller, and here he delivers a story so disturbing that gorier, less artful horror stories cannot compete with it. If you get a chance, check out the movie. Mia Farrow's portrayal of Rosemary, and the depiction of Minnie and Roman are flawless. Plus, the movie lifts the dialogue almost word-for-word from the book. This is the perfect book to read when you want to be thoroughly disturbed in the blandest of settings.
Rating: 
Summary: What the devil?
Review: My school librarian recommended this book to me. I had know idea what she was thinking. I did not enjoy it at all. To be honest I was falling asleep through the the first paragraph. The authors writting was horrible. Save your money and buy an amazing book like Dracula or BackRoads.
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