October is here, and with it comes one of my favorite times of the year. I'm talking, of course, about spooky season. It's the perfect excuse to binge all the horror reads I haven't made it to during the rest of the year—not that I need an excuse!
I thought I'd kick off the season with a horror classic, Robert Bloch's Psycho. Alfred Hitchcock's film adaptation is a classic in its own right, but despite watching it every year, I'd never actually read the book that started it all. That, combined with reading Leah Rowan's brilliant reimagining Marion earlier this year, finally gave me the push I needed. It was time to see how Norman Bates and the Bates Motel first came to life on the page.
You know the plot. The book's been around for more than sixty years, and it all happens pretty much the way I expected it to. If you've seen the movie, much of this will feel very familiar. There are a few differences here and there, with Norman himself being the most notable. He's an obese, middle-aged man here, quite different from the thin, unassuming figure Anthony Perkins portrays in the film. We also get a bit more insight into Norman's past and the childhood trauma that helped shape him. But beyond that, I knew most of the beats before they happened.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one aspect of Psycho that hasn't aged well. Bloch connects Norman's cross-dressing with the horror of his character, treating it as another indication that there's something wrong with him. As a gay man, that kind of othering of people who don't conform to traditional ideas about gender or sexuality is hard for me to overlook. I know the book was written in 1959, when attitudes were very different, but it's still an uncomfortable element to encounter today.
So, you're probably wondering, what did I actually think of the book?
It's hard to say. Psycho didn't really feel like horror to me, at least not as I'd classify the genre today. And because I already knew every major turn before it happened on the page, I didn't experience the shocks that a reader encountering this story for the first time might have. What I could appreciate was finally reading the novel that became such an important part of horror history.
But appreciating its importance and loving the experience of reading it are two different things. I'm glad I finally read Psycho, especially after all these years of watching Hitchcock's adaptation, but I can't say I'd urge everyone else to rush out and do the same. For me, Psycho was ultimately more interesting as a piece of horror history than as a book I actually enjoyed reading. And I think I'm okay with that.
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(2026, 79)
I see what you mean. Even the fact that the original protagonist was obese and middle-aged was probably supposed to make us despise him more...It's always hard to read books from distant decades and don't cringe for whatever reason.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, remember the problem with typing in the comment window I mentioned when you changed your blog's look? Well, it only occurs when you're the first to comment (like me in this case).
Interesting. That's actually super helpful. I'll play with it a bit and let you know when I think I've found a fix. I fear it may just be Blogger being Blogger lol
DeleteI've never read this book, though I did read a biography of Ed Gein once that was a little chilling. And I love the movie Hitchcock which is all about the making of Psycho. (I also like the movie Psycho, though it's not my favorite of Hitchcock's movies.) And it's hard for a book to have any kind of suspense when you know the story so well.
ReplyDeleteI was happy to read it for the sake of comparing it to the film, but I agree that even the movie isn't Hitchcock's best. I did love the movie about them making it, though!
DeleteI've never read the book but I have seen the movie a few times.
ReplyDeleteI think you're safe to keep never reading it, honestly.
DeleteI started watching the movie Psycho after I finished reading Marion, and I have to say I liked Marion more! I've watched several of Hitchcock's movies and that was one of my least favorites. I never did read this book and probably won't after reading your review. It sounds like it didn't age well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Psycho is a classic film, and I usually watch it at least once a year. That said, it's definitely dated and far from Hitchcock's best. Marion, though, was a fantastic modernization of the story.
DeleteI have never watched the movie, or read the book. I guess there is time
ReplyDeleteThe movie is worth the watch, especially around this time of year!
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