The Haunting of Hill House is my first Shirley Jackson, and also my first book for the RIP VI Challenge. I’ll definitely be reading more Jackson!
The story involves a professor who is researching paranormal phenomena and is intrigued by the history and rumors of Hill House, an abandoned home in a rural area. Dr. John Montague has invited two twentyish women for the experiment, Eleanor and Theodora, as well as the future heir of the estate, Luke.
The story builds extremely slowly. We learn the personalities of the guests, particularly Eleanor, as well as the history of the house and its previous occupants. I didn’t mind at all that it took a long while before anything happened. All the background information really set the stage for the scary parts.
I loved the book, and it was particularly great for RIP VI. I don’t really like ‘horror,’ but I like books like these that are scary in an old fashioned way. And about what happens at the end — do I think the house was responsible? YES!
Highly recommended.
1959, 246 pp.
I really want to read this. I should see if my library has it. I have read The Lottery and We Have Always Lived in the Castle and really enjoyed both of them.
Kailana recently posted..‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ Read-Along – Part 2
I haven’t read the book, but the movie version of this was totally creepy.
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Ooooh I’ve always heard such good things about this and this is about the only time of year I read scary stuff so I may have to check it out. Yes, the movie was really scary!!
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I really think all three of you would enjoy this!!
I love Hill House. I first read it when I was 12 and I re-read it every few years.
I haven’t read this either but it is already on my wish list!… and yes.. the movie was creepy!
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Your review made me think of Waters’ The Little Stranger…I have this on hold for me at the library as I type, and now I really want to read it. Thanks for the great review!
(I don’t normally enjoy horror either, but once in awhile, in the autumn? It’s a fun escape.Especially if there’s an old fashioned quality as you said.)
Bellezza recently posted..Don’t Look Now by Daphne du Maurier
I just reviewed this too! I liked it enough to look out for more Jackson books. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to ‘discover’ her. I also liked that it was not ‘horror’ but more just really good suspense and supernatural.
This sounds like an awesome read. And I hope I will like it too
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This is one of my favourite novels! I try to reread it once a year. I particularly love how the book is almost entirely atmospheric and subject to readers’ interpretations…makes it different for me every time.
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