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ageekybibliophile's review
2.0
My first book of Newman, it wasn't a bad read really. It started to lose me near the end and didn't pick up again for me anyways but I saw it through to the end and did enoy the ending. Interesting story but the characters can get a little annoying.
ariadne_exc's review
4.0
Really interesting spin on what could easily have been a stereotypical family-moves-into-haunted-house type of story. First of all, the Englishness I felt was comically comforting. I enjoyed the story all-throughout and really liked the ending and how the author presents the merge between real world and otherness. As per fear, on the tensest point of the novel I was actually feeling paranoid and anxious, imagining presences in corners and such, but then the novel left me with a heartwarming feeling, it is not plain scary and I loved that.
Mild(?) spoiler: I’d probably like it a bit better if the author had actually done something about the father’s chauvinistic attitude. It was very violent and, without turning it into social justice fanfiction, he could’ve easily been taught better ways to deal with himself.
Mild(?) spoiler: I’d probably like it a bit better if the author had actually done something about the father’s chauvinistic attitude. It was very violent and, without turning it into social justice fanfiction, he could’ve easily been taught better ways to deal with himself.
krobart's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I am always looking for a good ghost story, but at some point this wasn’t it. It seemed promising. Newman did the buildup really well. However, when the horrors got going, they just seemed silly to me. I always find horrors that seem possible a lot scarier than things that are invented just to be scary. For me, the events during the haunting didn’t make sense, although there was logic in the overall idea.
To read my complete review, see https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/review-2336-an-english-ghost-story/
To read my complete review, see https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2024/04/01/review-2336-an-english-ghost-story/
thetamari's review
4.0
This was an excellent Halloween read in my favourite genre, ghost stories. Newman manages to work in several essential traditions of the classic ghost story, while managing to be inventive at the same time. I thought it was cleverly done, especially how it chose basic human truths to twist into the most frightening elements of the story.
blodeuedd's review
3.0
I liked this. It was not HORROR, but it was indeed horror. Now what do I mean with that? It was more subtle, and it grew and grew until I was all, I sure hope my house is not haunted.
A dysfunctional family, wait a moment. I just have to say that this family should have been in family therapy and the parents should have gotten a divorce. Toxic! Anyway, the family wants to move, to improve their relationship and then they see the house. See there it starts, the subtle strangeness. They freaking love the house, they want to marry the house and dance around it singing. And the house feels it.
We have a mother who was dependent on a friend. A father who wanted to rule. A sister with an eating disorder. And a son who plays soldier. But everything changes. The house is amazing, they are all happy. They eat pancakes and smile. But, the house knows. The house is watching, and there are ghosts playing around.
Slowly we see that there is something going on. Things move on their own. And as the family realizes this, everything starts to fall apart. It goes from happy to chilly to creepy. Subtle...English. Because sometime it's you who are the dark one.
A nice ghost story :)
A dysfunctional family, wait a moment. I just have to say that this family should have been in family therapy and the parents should have gotten a divorce. Toxic! Anyway, the family wants to move, to improve their relationship and then they see the house. See there it starts, the subtle strangeness. They freaking love the house, they want to marry the house and dance around it singing. And the house feels it.
We have a mother who was dependent on a friend. A father who wanted to rule. A sister with an eating disorder. And a son who plays soldier. But everything changes. The house is amazing, they are all happy. They eat pancakes and smile. But, the house knows. The house is watching, and there are ghosts playing around.
Slowly we see that there is something going on. Things move on their own. And as the family realizes this, everything starts to fall apart. It goes from happy to chilly to creepy. Subtle...English. Because sometime it's you who are the dark one.
A nice ghost story :)
pixie_d's review
4.0
This was on the "new books" shelf at the library. Since I had not read any reviews, I had no idea if it would be worth reading, but it was! Well written, good characters, good story.
meggreadsxo's review
1.0
I wanted to love this book so bad. It had all the ingredients for a perfect "ghost" story. What started out great easily fell into a confusing, overly hyped and odd book. The characters were so unlikable I found myself wishing desperately for their end. The events were built up so highly only to conclude like an exhale. This book took such an odd turn of events; (and not in a good way,) that I ended up DNF-ing it. Save yourself the disappointment and skip over this flat novel.
ashleylynne920's review against another edition
2.0
Did not care for this. I have a new recent obsession with gothic horror, and this just didn't fit what I wanted. Towards the end, there was some hate reading. I had to know how it ended. And eh. Do not recommend.