tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post2923597886128416182..comments2024-03-06T11:11:48.095-08:00Comments on Too Much Horror Fiction: Psycho by Robert Bloch (1959): Motel Money Murder Madness Will Erricksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285306262078600804noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-76909492022659531372015-08-21T10:26:06.342-07:002015-08-21T10:26:06.342-07:00Belatedly commenting on this, as I only just read ...Belatedly commenting on this, as I only just read the book for the first time myself. Pleased to see I'm not the only person for whom the library scene stood out; kind of a charming reminder of Bloch's youthful Lovecraftian roots. Wonder if the Necronomicon was among Norman's occult volumes...James Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02458973377509956909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-12327438707360683982013-11-01T08:33:39.836-07:002013-11-01T08:33:39.836-07:00Yep, I bought a few Iain M Banks SF novels off eBa...Yep, I bought a few Iain M Banks SF novels off eBay a few years back and found he'd signed them! Seller didn't note that, so it was a nice little surprise. Will Erricksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16285306262078600804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-79700291573369599632013-10-28T22:56:08.903-07:002013-10-28T22:56:08.903-07:00I searched to see if you had a post on PSYCHO HOUS...I searched to see if you had a post on PSYCHO HOUSE, but couldn't find one. I recently purchased a Tor paperback edition of PSYCHO HOUSE at a used book store to complete my trilogy. I opened it up today, and found that it was autographed by Robert Bloch on the title page! I googled his signature and it certainly looks authentic. Not a bad buy for $2.48.<br /><br />At the same book store, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-27969363172223617392012-12-07T13:32:35.108-08:002012-12-07T13:32:35.108-08:00The photo of Bloch at the typewriter is now one of...The photo of Bloch at the typewriter is now one of my favorites ever. I have never seen a picture of him when he was younger.<br /><br />What really struck me about the novel vs. the movie is how unsympathetic I found Norman to be in the book. He is a very well drawn character, but he came across to me as a much more creepy person than Anthony Perkins portrayal. Kevin Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12018428110302687291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-80026573553617808662012-12-07T11:15:45.162-08:002012-12-07T11:15:45.162-08:00I was able to "reimagine" Norman Bates w...I was able to "reimagine" Norman Bates while reading this superb novel. Stefano and Hitchcock did it justice by staying very close to Bloch's story.<br /><br />Robert Bloch was a disciple of H.P. Lovecraft although Bloch was much more prone to venturing into science fiction. Psycho was transformative for Bloch in that he almost completely eschewed sci-fi and horror for suspense Brian Schwartzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08410190999338150569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-36420168685456405202012-12-06T06:07:23.864-08:002012-12-06T06:07:23.864-08:00I actually find the novel scarier than the film, w...I actually find the novel scarier than the film, which is fine in its own right.Doug Brunellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557590754803213897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-81926404247419756132012-12-05T18:06:04.881-08:002012-12-05T18:06:04.881-08:00That pic of Bloch became my favorite horror writer...That pic of Bloch became my favorite horror writer photo ever within, oh, 5 seconds of first seeing it.Will Erricksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16285306262078600804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-61091599181616691872012-12-05T17:20:49.241-08:002012-12-05T17:20:49.241-08:00Oh, man. Always enjoy your reviews, but that pict...Oh, man. Always enjoy your reviews, but that picture of Bloch killed me. That may end up as my desktop background. Thank you.Jeff Lesterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07491842493808938908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-64503284525316938792012-12-05T12:27:12.432-08:002012-12-05T12:27:12.432-08:00The novel is excellent. I could read it imagining ...The novel is excellent. I could read it imagining the characters created by Bloch, especially Norman Bates, that is very different than Anthony Perkins. The problem was that I couldn't feel some twists in the story. The surprise is lost when you've seen the movie so many times. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-55923002275913403922012-12-05T09:51:27.314-08:002012-12-05T09:51:27.314-08:00Aside from a few changes in characterizations (Nor...Aside from a few changes in characterizations (Norman's appearance, for instance), I felt that Hitchcock was extremely faithful to the source material. So much so that the uninitiated may be unable to tell if the film was an adaptation of the book or vice versa. As good of a book as it is, it's impossible for it to NOT be overshadowed by the film version, I think. Which is something ofAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-64361187480315421092012-12-05T07:21:58.060-08:002012-12-05T07:21:58.060-08:00I read this a long time ago. While I liked it, I h...I read this a long time ago. While I liked it, I had the same trouble you mentioned with the visual casting, especially with Norman. His portrayal alone makes for a very different experience, compared to the movie.Bob/Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07830145891314387373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-92217363690587679102012-12-05T07:00:52.129-08:002012-12-05T07:00:52.129-08:00Weird, but even though I read th sequel when it ca...<br />Weird, but even though I read th sequel when it cam out back around 84 or so, I've never read this even though I have half a shelf of his stuff. I also love the photog from the historical society.<br />And to steal a cooment from you, this is one of the few Bloch titles that doesn't carry the blurb "from the author of PSYCHO!",<br /><br />take care.<br />DougDoughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10899692178606630762noreply@blogger.com