Psycho: Amazon.ca: Robert Bloch: Books

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"Robert Bloch is one of the all-time masters."

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The classic chiller that inspired the spine-tingling Alfred Hitchcock film. Everyone was scared to death when they saw the movie Psycho. But before the film was even a glint in Alfred Hitchcock's eye, award-winning author Robert Bloch put real fear into the minds of readers with his unforgettable portrait of a very polite young man who proves that evil lurks just beneath a smile. When the Bates Motel loomed up out of the storm, Mary Craine thought it was her salvation. The rooms were musty but clean and the manager Norman Bates seemed like a nice enough fellow, if a little strange...Then Mary met Norman's mother - and the butcher knife. The nightmare had just begun...

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Inside This Book (Learn More)
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First Sentence
NORMAN BATES heard the noise and a shock went through him. Read the first page

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Concordance

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

40 Reviews

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (40 customer reviews)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Bates is open for buissness, May 26 2004

By	Vagabond77 (Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psycho (Mass Market Paperback)

This was an interesting piece of late 50s pulp fiction that is not bad, and ordinarily would not have been really remarkable, except it was the basis for one of the greatest horror movies of all time. I know what you are thinking; but this is Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho"! Well, no it isn't. It is Robert Bloch's novel. The plot is the same as the movie; Marian Crane steals money from her boss, and runs away to be with her boyfriend. She ends up in a small rundown motel run by shy but odd Norman Bates (who is described as fat with glasses here). Well, the rest is history. The book is a little different in the level of violence that was in the book that was missing in the movie, and I thought that was pretty cool. The problem is that almost everyone in the world has seen the movie, so the end is kind of ruined. But it dose offer a little more insight into Norman; he likes books on voodo and hypnotism, as well as adult magazeens. He is a lot less sympathetic here than he was in the movie, but that is ok. It is a fast read, and it offers a little more insight into the movie.

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3.0 out of 5 stars a curious piece of 1950s pulp fiction.., Oct 4 2003

By	lazza (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psycho (Mass Market Paperback)

'Psycho' by Robert Bloch would most certainly be long forgotten and probably out of print if it weren't for its brilliant film adaptation. Actually it is one of those unusual cases where the film is actually better than the book; the film's screenwriter (Joseph Stephano) did a great job. So what does the book offer?

While all the major elements found in the film 'Psycho' are also in Robert Bloch's original novel I found the book to be relatively poorly written. Great premise with a not-so-good execution. For much better psychological/criminal character studies I recommend 'The Killer Inside Me' by Jim Thompson, or one of the many early works of Patricia Highsmith. Robert Bloch simply doesn't have the same literary strength, and the characterizations are fairly thin.

However it is very interesting to note key differences between the film and the book, and so I believe fans of Hitchcock's film will enjoy reading Robert Bloch's novel. At least it's a short read, the perfect sort of book to carry on business trip.

Bottom line: the book that spawned Norman Bates. Somewhat disappointing but most will find some reading enjoyment from it.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Good read !, Jul 14 2003

By	Jean-Marc M Salama (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book to see how close the film was to the original story. In fact it was a very faithful interpretation, so there was absolutely no surprises.
One plus. The author is better able to get us into Norman (or is it Norma ?) Bate's mind than Hitchcock could do in the film. Otherwise it's a great story (derived from a real news event). It's too bad I already knew the end. Good read, though...

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Awsome book!!!!
This is a really cool book about a crazy gut who thinks he is his dead mother some times. It's a cool book. Shower seanne is awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Published on April 30 2004 by Lauren B. Floss

2.0 out of 5 stars Third Rate Pulp Trash
My recently-purchased copy of Robert Bloch's PSYCHO features a cover photograph of Janet Leigh screaming and a quote from film director Alfred Hitchcock: "PSYCHO all came... Read more

Published on Jul 4 2003 by Gary F. Taylor

3.0 out of 5 stars overrated
it is certainly not my fault this is considered a classic. horror. thriller. not great, but good, either way. simple plot. superficial descriptions. Read more

Published on April 8 2003 by jan erik storeb�

3.0 out of 5 stars Average rating, but it's still good.
I've always wanted to read this book ever since I saw Hitchcock's famous thriller movie that created the slasher film genre (true fact!). Read more

Published on Nov 5 2002 by DJ Heinlein