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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read the full review at http://classiclit.about.com/od/sciencefiction/fl/House-of-Stairs-1974-by-William-Sleator.htm
William Sleator has done it again with a completely compelling narrative I read in one sitting. Despite it being for a younger audience, even as an adult it has gripped me, and it makes you think. It was incredibly symbolic and a great glimpse into the human psyche.
There are many ways though that, today in 2020 as I write this review, that it can be seen as problematic. Many of the five characters feed into harmful stereotypes like fat-shaming (Blossom) and the weak damsel who only thinks about boys (Abigail). It's a harmful stereotype many today are fighting, but I really think this novel shouldn't be faulted for it. Rather, I think its important to talk about it so the themes of the book come though - which are thoughtful, interesting and educational - rather than being forgotten or ignored, which is what feeds the harmful stereotypes.
*SPOILERS BELOW*
Every character in this book is a caricature of real life: Blossom is manipulative fat and greedy because she represents the rich and powerful. It is her whole background. How they remain at the top by putting others down, lying. And her cruelty only makes her bigger. Abigail is the beautiful submissive woman: used for her beauty by the man (Oliver) and told that her sexuality is a sin but also her only virtue. She is most innocent, but also the first and easy victim. She gets sucked in because she can never get over her need to please Oliver. Oliver is the man who desperately wants to keep the power. He suffers from his own ego and needs to be the leader because he's a man dammit - even when he's wrong and it hurts him. He actually is fearful and resentful of responsibility, he can't commit to Abigail because he can't handle it, and yet he still wants the responsibility and resents any force that takes it from him. He can't find his true potential by leaning into his gifts and contributing to the larger group. Lola is the epitome of the working class. She's smart, resourceful but disadvantaged. Even when she is right, she can't communicate like Blossom can to keep them all in order, and she suffers for it. She too is occasionally mean and cruel, but ultimately tries to do good. And she helps Peter see that good. but even she, at the end almost succumbs because she still wants to live. At the end of it, she's still just trying to survive as painlessly as possible. And Peter is child-like, needing to be guided. But, when taught, he becomes strong and independent, truly compassionate and a real leader equal to Lola. I could go on and on really about how well I thought this story was put together.
There are many ways though that, today in 2020 as I write this review, that it can be seen as problematic. Many of the five characters feed into harmful stereotypes like fat-shaming (Blossom) and the weak damsel who only thinks about boys (Abigail). It's a harmful stereotype many today are fighting, but I really think this novel shouldn't be faulted for it. Rather, I think its important to talk about it so the themes of the book come though - which are thoughtful, interesting and educational - rather than being forgotten or ignored, which is what feeds the harmful stereotypes.
*SPOILERS BELOW*
Every character in this book is a caricature of real life: Blossom is manipulative fat and greedy because she represents the rich and powerful. It is her whole background. How they remain at the top by putting others down, lying. And her cruelty only makes her bigger. Abigail is the beautiful submissive woman: used for her beauty by the man (Oliver) and told that her sexuality is a sin but also her only virtue. She is most innocent, but also the first and easy victim. She gets sucked in because she can never get over her need to please Oliver. Oliver is the man who desperately wants to keep the power. He suffers from his own ego and needs to be the leader because he's a man dammit - even when he's wrong and it hurts him. He actually is fearful and resentful of responsibility, he can't commit to Abigail because he can't handle it, and yet he still wants the responsibility and resents any force that takes it from him. He can't find his true potential by leaning into his gifts and contributing to the larger group. Lola is the epitome of the working class. She's smart, resourceful but disadvantaged. Even when she is right, she can't communicate like Blossom can to keep them all in order, and she suffers for it. She too is occasionally mean and cruel, but ultimately tries to do good. And she helps Peter see that good. but even she, at the end almost succumbs because she still wants to live. At the end of it, she's still just trying to survive as painlessly as possible. And Peter is child-like, needing to be guided. But, when taught, he becomes strong and independent, truly compassionate and a real leader equal to Lola. I could go on and on really about how well I thought this story was put together.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first look into psychology when I was 14. I just reread it again at 37 after a BA in psychology and it still holds up for me. I love the mystery of it. The little explanations for character motives weren't realistic to me, as I doubt the characters could be that insightful, but I really found them interesting and they gave a nice level of depth to the situtions. The end always gives me a sad chuckle.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Fatphobia
I remember loving the mad weirdness of William Sleator's books when I was a teen. I have particularly fond memories for Interstellar Pig (a book I still want to revisit, but am slightly hesitant because I don't know if I'll be able to embrace the bizarre as well as I did when I was 14), so I'm glad that KC forced me to read this with him!
KC and I decided to read it out loud together, which was an excellent choice. This book started out feeling a little like The Maze Runner, or even the movie Cube, which meant I instantly felt enamored of it. After the initial set up, however, the book totally surprised me by morphing into something different!
This is actually a pretty fascinating psychological character study -- the way the characters interact with each other, and the way their behavior is modified by their surroundings, becomes the core of the story. It felt a little bit like an intro to psychology for teens, but somehow managed to not really feel that dated (esp. considering this book was original published in 1974. I'm curious to see if contemporary teens will like it -- I think they'd be sucked in by the setting, and stay in for the characters.
KC and I decided to read it out loud together, which was an excellent choice. This book started out feeling a little like The Maze Runner, or even the movie Cube, which meant I instantly felt enamored of it. After the initial set up, however, the book totally surprised me by morphing into something different!
This is actually a pretty fascinating psychological character study -- the way the characters interact with each other, and the way their behavior is modified by their surroundings, becomes the core of the story. It felt a little bit like an intro to psychology for teens, but somehow managed to not really feel that dated (esp. considering this book was original published in 1974. I'm curious to see if contemporary teens will like it -- I think they'd be sucked in by the setting, and stay in for the characters.
I've read this book several times since 1985. This time around, I came back to it after reading The Maze Runner. Sleator's book is not as well written (or ominous), but the story is still an interesting application of the psychological concept of conditioning and introduces the same kind of question about the morality of using humans for our own ends.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-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