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judyjudyjudy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
Fun and sharp, and I liked that it was told from the perspectives of multiple unreliable narrators. The ending didn’t land so much for me and, as always with Jackson, the core mystery of the book remains casually unanswered.
majesticmermaid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cpestepp's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
2.5
I thought this book would definitely lean more towards the style/plot of Hangsaman so I was disappointed to see that it just blatantly antagonized someone with a mental illness.
Jackson is still a killer writer. This one’s just not for me.
Jackson is still a killer writer. This one’s just not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent
Portrayal of a girl discovering she has DID in a way that makes her out to be villainous and distrustful.leahlattanzi's review against another edition
4.0
This book is captivating and Shirley Jackson’s writing is impressive. I was pulled in easily despite some of the slower middle parts. I thought her ability to write about DID was fascinating and from what I’ve heard, fairly accurate. I was disappointed by the ending, and was hoping for something a bit more sinister.
bunsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? Yes
3.0
nightsdecay's review against another edition
4.0
As with all of Jackson’s work, this was artfully unsettling. I had no idea what the story was about when I began, and as the events unfolded I was more and more surprised. Definitely qualifies as psychological horror, I’d be interested to see this adapted for film. Would recommend.
marshalls_library's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Elizabeth Richmond at first glance seems like an ordinary young woman, doing all of the quiet and normal things that seemingly normal women do in the world of Shirley Jackson's imagination. It's never that simple though, because part of what makes Jackson so fascinating is her ability to create chaos and tension that bubbles under the surface until her characters slowly and inevitably unravel.
In the case of Elizabeth Richmond, her unraveling takes the form of four distinct personalities sharing the same headspace that scheme against and sabotage each other, much to the chagrin of her emotionally damaged aunt/caregiver, and her overly confident psychologist. The way her different personalities jockey for power and play her aunt and doctor against each other is equally entertaining and horrifying.
The Bird's Nest is the story of Elizabeth's mental illness, and examination of how dangerous and scary our minds can be if they betray us. Even the ending (which might appear to be happy to some) is dripping with dread and reminds us how fragile our sanity really is.
It's also a clear example of how versatile Jackson's writing was. More than just a horror writer (and I don't mean that as a slight), Jackson is most importantly the godmother of the sad, messy girl literary fiction books that so many of us devour today. You'll find that here, with The Sundial, and especially with Hangsaman.
This is a dense and slow paced book that demands your attention, so don't approach this thinking it's a fast and easy read. Of her four novels prior to The Haunting of Hill House, The Bird's Nest was actually my least favorite of the bunch, but that's more of a testament to how good the other three books are, and not about anything lacking here.
Please do yourself a favor and work your way through her earlier works!
In the case of Elizabeth Richmond, her unraveling takes the form of four distinct personalities sharing the same headspace that scheme against and sabotage each other, much to the chagrin of her emotionally damaged aunt/caregiver, and her overly confident psychologist. The way her different personalities jockey for power and play her aunt and doctor against each other is equally entertaining and horrifying.
The Bird's Nest is the story of Elizabeth's mental illness, and examination of how dangerous and scary our minds can be if they betray us. Even the ending (which might appear to be happy to some) is dripping with dread and reminds us how fragile our sanity really is.
It's also a clear example of how versatile Jackson's writing was. More than just a horror writer (and I don't mean that as a slight), Jackson is most importantly the godmother of the sad, messy girl literary fiction books that so many of us devour today. You'll find that here, with The Sundial, and especially with Hangsaman.
This is a dense and slow paced book that demands your attention, so don't approach this thinking it's a fast and easy read. Of her four novels prior to The Haunting of Hill House, The Bird's Nest was actually my least favorite of the bunch, but that's more of a testament to how good the other three books are, and not about anything lacking here.
Please do yourself a favor and work your way through her earlier works!
swirly_may's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced