Reviews

The Turn of the Screw and Other Ghost Stories by Henry James

superturtle's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

Had to read this book for school as summer reading, I can appreciate that the writing is high quality and the atmosphere that Henry James created is magnificent but I just couldn’t get into it, I had to force myself to read it when usually I can’t put books down. Also a variety of qualities and styles for the short stories. My gut says to rate this book lower but the quality of the writing hold me back. The one thing that really brings it down is how old it is, I’m sick of hearing how people are ejaculating and are so “queer”. If you want to read ghost stories there are better options.

cblueweaver's review against another edition

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3.0

James's collection here is by turns lushly atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful. The best effects linger, dreamlike, and the stories that I find myself most drawn toward are cyclical and obsessive. Not all of the stories here captured me (some feel a little too enamored with their own ghostly conceit, although this may be more due to age than anything), but those that did will pull me in again and again.

bellaroobookworm's review against another edition

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3.0

I've always found James to be a bit dense to get through, but these short stories were worth the read. "The Jolly Corner," especially, left me shivering.

micmezle's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

fudgeelizabeth9's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

laceydaisy's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

3.0

sir_oscar_the_pompous's review against another edition

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3.0

The stories start out so promising but I often find myself bored by the end of them... Soz!

jackalopeboi's review against another edition

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The first of the three stories I wouldn't even call "ghost stories," and they were not redeemed by the fact they they were very uninteresting and mundane.

reynoldsreads's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

2.5

bethanye92's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • 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

4.0