I read this novel for the Classics Club Spin #22. Previously, I had avoided reading anything by Ira Levin because his books are mostly horror and very tense. But I am finding it easier to try new things in my reading. For me it was not a fun read, but it was rewarding.The story starts with a young man and woman, both college students, discussing their future. She is pregnant, and she wants to get married immediately. He doesn't. That doesn't sound too unusual, but in this case the situation eventually leads to the young woman's death.
The young man in this story is a World War II veteran with dreams and ambitions, but he wants to take short cuts to get to his goal. He doesn't want to finish college and find a job and work his way up the ladder. He wants to marry a young woman who has lots of money. That becomes his goal in life and he will let nothing get in his way of getting what he wants.
That is all I want to say about the plot because it is best to come into this story knowing very little.
My thoughts:
I don't do well with psychological suspense. This book was very intense for me, and there was a point where I just wanted to stop reading it. But I persevered and shortly after that it got less tense and more interesting.The story is divided into three sections and each has a different feel, or mood, even though the main character remains constant throughout. There is tension in each part of the story, but handled in a different way, and I admired the author's ability to do this. The story has a fantastic twist, and it happens midway through the book. It took my breath away.
More about the book and the author:
In a New York Times review of A Kiss Before Dying, Anthony Boucher wrote that “Levin combines great talent for pure novel writing -- full-bodied characterization, subtle psychological exploration, vivid evocation of locale -- with strict technical whodunit tricks as dazzling as anything ever brought off by Carr, Rawson, Queen or Christie.”The New Yorker said:
"A remarkably constructed story depicting an inconceivably vicious character in episodes of thrilling horror."
A Kiss Before Dying has been adapted for the screen twice. The 1956 adaptation starred Robert Wagner, Virginia Leith, Joanne Woodward, and Mary Astor. The second adaptation was produced in 1991 and starred Matt Dillon, Sean Young, Diane Ladd, and Max von Sydow. I haven't seen either of the films but I understand that the 1956 film adhered closer to the plot in the book.
Ira Levin wrote a total of seven novels. Among them were: Rosemary's Baby (1967), The Stepford Wives (1972), and The Boys from Brazil (1976)... all of those also had film adaptations. He also wrote plays, several of which had film adaptations.
These reviews have more details about the plot:
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Publisher: Pegasus Books, 2011 (orig. publ. 1953)
Length: 265 pages
Format: Trade Paperback
Setting: USA
Genre: Suspense / Inverted Mystery
Source: I purchased my copy in June 2018.
21 comments:
I'm glad you found this to be worth the read, Tracy. Levin does build psychological suspense very effectively, I think. And as you say, he includes some really well done twists.
This was a very good read, Margot, but at this point I still don't plan to read any of his other novels.
And the movie with Robert Wagner is very good.
I thought I'd read this, but from your description, I guess I haven't, nor does it sound like something I want to read. Perhaps I'll keep my eye out for one of the films, particularly the one Patti mentioned.
OFF TOPIC
How many pages do you give a book before deciding to give it up? I started a new one, and at 60 pages I'm still waiting for something interesting to happen. So far it's been all descriptions of setting and characters, but nothing in the way of an event. I appreciate the author setting the stage, but...
Patti, I do plan to watch that adaptation with Robert Wagner soon.
Rick, I don't often give up on books. But if I did, I would probably give a book at least a hundred pages. Most readers don't wait that long though... they say 50 pages or even less is enough. I just read a book where the crime did not even happen until 100 pages in (out of 250) and the detective did not show up for another 40 pages, but honestly in that case, the first half was the best and the end kind of fell apart.
Page 90 still nothing, except - and it's a big one - the author's misuse (as I see it) of the plural pronoun for the singular., They instead of she, them instead of her. It stopped me in my tracks. The book is self published, and I know that usage is gaining traction, but still. I'm going to give it another 20 pages or so, but if it doesn't get better... out.
I haven't read the book or seen the movie, but oh, Rosemary's Baby! Whew. There are whole scenes from the film etched in my mind. Mad Magazine (I think) called it Rosemia's Boo Boo. haha
Nan, I saw the films for both Rosemary's Baby and Stepford Wives. Both were horrifying in different ways. I don't want to read either book. Even knowing most of the story, I would get too caught up in the story.
Rick, sorry to hear that the book is not improving. I agree that usage (they instead of she, etc.) would bother me and affect my reading. One book I did quit on was a 400 page chick lit mystery (which I normally would not read) with no characters I could believe in. I hung on until page 200 because it was a local author, then just decided I could not read 200 more pages of that... so gave up.
I just gave it up on page 147. More poor grammar, slow moving plot, and as you say, no characters I could believe in, or at least care much about. I wrote a "review" on it that will pop Monday.
I am looking forward to that post, Rick.
When I wrote it yesterday I was a bit miffed, I'll no doubt tone it down before posting.
I loved this book for its twist, which I always claim is the best I have ever come across in any book. I have seen both films and enjoyed them. I keep meaning got reread the book - I wonder how I would find it, knowing the plot?
Moira, I don't plan to read the book again, but I think it could be an interesting reread, even knowing the plot. I often find that my memory has played tricks on me when I go back to a book later. And there are always new things to notice.
And yes, that was a very effective twist. We plan to watch the film with Robert Wagner tonight.
I have had this on the shelf plus some of his other books for a few years now. They've survived a few culls, but I have never really contemplated reading them. Maybe I ought to.
Col, you should try at least one of Ira Levin's books, although they are not much like your usual reading. Maybe Boys from Brazil would come the closest. Or this one.
Tracy, thanks for the review. I have not read anything by Ira Levin though I have seen the film version of his book "The Stepford Wives" and have been wanting to read "Rosemary's Baby" before watching the namesake movie.
Prashant, I was reading some reviews of Rosemary's Baby and it sounded interesting. Probably still too tense for me, but you would probably enjoy it.
I once read somewhere that a good rule of thumb is 50 pages, minus one page for each year you’re 50+
I stop reading all the top. Life’s too short for a book that’s not working for you when they’re are so many others to choose from!
I confess to never having heard of this author...until you listed some of his other works. I like the idea of a big surprising twist though - they’re hard to pull off.
Brona, I agree with you on the 50 page rule, except at my age if I subtracted a year for any over 50 there would not be many to judge by. I have been grateful that I have finished a lot of books that started out bad for me, so I have a hard time giving up. Of course if a book is really long, then more leeway could be given.
Ira Levin is one of those authors that is famous for the films of his books as much as for the books, and he wrote plays.
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