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venusianbabie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
bayrayj's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
This book was so so fun. I picked it up not expecting to blow through it in a matter of days, but once I got into the action of the story I literally could not stop myself from finishing it. The characters are sweet and imperfect and often feel very vulnerable in the context of Hill House. The description of the house and surrounding area became my favorite part. Mike Flanagan said when adapting the book that Hill House itself is a character and I felt that in the original story. The ending felt a little bit quick but otherwise a pretty epic book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death
madelinequinnee's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I picked this up because i’m a huge fan of the Mike Flanagan TV adaptation, but i knew this wasn’t really going to be much like the show. I did enjoy noticing little things that were included in the show, such as the cup of stars, the Grattan poem and the quotes that were used throughout.
I did find this slightly boring but i think that’s more because i’m not a huge fan of classics. The writing, however, was beautiful.
I did find this slightly boring but i think that’s more because i’m not a huge fan of classics. The writing, however, was beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Child death, Death, Suicide, and Car accident
lizdaniii's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide and Car accident
Minor: Death of parent and Death
dev921's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, Suicide, and Medical content
mattyvreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I’m obsessed with this book. Shirley Jackson’s writing is impeccable. I love that the book feels so modern, despite being written in the late 50s. It is an impressive and utterly horrifying piece of literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Confinement, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Violence, Gaslighting, Murder, and Suicide
nightisareader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, and Suicide attempt
the_cheerful_necromancer's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Ported over from my now-abandoned Goodreads:
There is nothing like this book in the world; I've never known language used so richly and vividly, I've never known horror done so masterfully. It seems that Shirley Jackson crafted every single sentence with perfect, meticulous care. The characters are wonderfully, beautifully real. The book may or may not scare you, but it weaves a perfect feeling of slow and creeping dread that will stick with me for a long, long time.
(Also, always points for lesbian homoeroticism, even if probably unintended.)
There is nothing like this book in the world; I've never known language used so richly and vividly, I've never known horror done so masterfully. It seems that Shirley Jackson crafted every single sentence with perfect, meticulous care. The characters are wonderfully, beautifully real. The book may or may not scare you, but it weaves a perfect feeling of slow and creeping dread that will stick with me for a long, long time.
(Also, always points for lesbian homoeroticism, even if probably unintended.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent and Blood
Beware especially that mental illness, paranoia and unreliable narration are a MAIN theme of this book.alisonvh's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this classic. It’s as good as everyone says it is. The main character got on my nerves at times, but I also felt sorry for her at other times. Jackson does such a good job of portraying mental illness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Death of parent
omair's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
For anyone coming to this after watching the Netflix series, you absolutely must be able to treat each work individually. While some threads may feel similar, the stories are different, unique, and masterful in their own ways.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Death of parent