Vertigo

“Had not she haunted him day and night? Had not her image been perpetually before his mind’s eye, like an icon? He could have recognized Madeliene with his eyes shut, from her presence alone.”Vertigo opens with one man, Paul Gevigne asking one of his old friends, Roger Flavieres an unusual request: keep an eye on my wife because she has been acting rather oddly, not like herself. At first reluctant to do this favor, Flavieres ultimately accepts and begins to follow Madeleine. When Flavieres later saves Madeliene from drowning, it sets in motion a rather complex mystery of identity.I thought this book was very brilliantly crafted. In fact, to me, Vertigo is a definitive model of a psychological thriller in its unique and best form. And, while a great psychological thriller, this book is hard to plug into one specific type as it carries elements of noir, mystery with it as well. I think one must go into this read knowing that the book Vertigo and the Hitchcock classic, Vertigo, are quite two separate animals with some commonalities and elements in theme. In some ways, I think the novel reaches a deeper level of character study that cannot possibly be matched by the book. And the book is much darker in many ways, whereas the film is a bit lighter in presenting the case and mystery, definitely more Hollywood flavor. I also do believe that this book—because of the film-- gets undersold and is vastly underrated.One thing is clear: this duo of authors has an uncanny knack for presenting a case, a dilemma, a mystery and let it slowly unfold and get inside one character’s head. The reader takes the point of view oftentimes from the character of Flavieres, and we are left wondering whether was seemingly is real could possibly be illusion, or vice versa. Flaveries becomes more and more immersed and invested in this mystery, and we see things play out from his vantage point, and become immersed in it as well.I think one mark of a brilliant book is that you could go back and reread and pick up many key points that foreshadow things to come, and this book does just that, as there are many elements of interpretation within plot and narrative. Vertigo is a well-constructed mystery, expertly written and plotted, and quite adept at being a character study as well.

Plot twists you won’t get out of your mind. Excellent characterization. Fabulously visual. Can’t wait to read the next one

I've seen Hitchcock's Vertigo many times but didn't know it was a novel first ( shame on me for not reading the credits). This is one of the few times the movie was better than the book. SMHO.

This a book of historical importance. It is quite different from the movie and tells us a lot about Hitchcock. It is a lot more intelligible credible and disturbing than the movie. It shows great originality and was a new step in thrillers.

Not since The Haunting of Hill House have I seen such a beautifully, subtly, insidiously portrayed account of a person's descent into madness. I have NOT seen the Hitchcock film that was made from this book and now I probably won't because no matter whether you read a book or watch the movie adaptation of it first, most of the time it ruins the other version for you (in my experience, at least. Jaws was an exception. But I digress). I saw reviews, before I started reading, from people who were fans of the film and they hated the book. If you have seen the movie and really love it, you might want to take that into consideration. Otherwise - WOW!!!