Scan barcode
crumpkl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ambrose_7's review against another edition
4.0
This is what I wanted "The Haunting of Hill House" to be. It was creepy, pretty graphic, and very fast-paced. The plotline was about some 20-something-year-olds who used to be in a friend group and are now staying in a haunted mansion in Japan to host the wedding of two people in the friend group.
I was surprised to see so many negative reviews of this when I was checking them out before I wrote this review, I thought the pros were witty, and the friends bickering was the reason the horror worked. These were people that should have moved on from each other long ago, I think that's the point. They drove each other to the climax of the book, and you can say that the house was the cause of it, but I think it just kindled a fire that was already built up and ready to burn. I like that the fact that the plot was supernatural but psychological at the same time.
I liked the main character to the contrary of a lot of other people, I think she was maybe a little too intuitive to be realistic, but some of the things she thinks are really fascinating. They made me think about the way I interact with people and why, and to get that from a horror novella was pleasantly surprising.
Everyone is raving about other books by Khaw and if I liked this one a lot I don't see why I won't like her other works more so I have that to look forward to.
I was surprised to see so many negative reviews of this when I was checking them out before I wrote this review, I thought the pros were witty, and the friends bickering was the reason the horror worked. These were people that should have moved on from each other long ago, I think that's the point. They drove each other to the climax of the book, and you can say that the house was the cause of it, but I think it just kindled a fire that was already built up and ready to burn. I like that the fact that the plot was supernatural but psychological at the same time.
I liked the main character to the contrary of a lot of other people, I think she was maybe a little too intuitive to be realistic, but some of the things she thinks are really fascinating. They made me think about the way I interact with people and why, and to get that from a horror novella was pleasantly surprising.
Everyone is raving about other books by Khaw and if I liked this one a lot I don't see why I won't like her other works more so I have that to look forward to.
fromtiffany's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
fangslibris's review against another edition
3.0
I don't have strong feelings about this one way or the other.
I liked the audiobook narrator, and some of the writing had a musicality to it. There were phrases and descriptions strung together so lovingly they sang, but ultimately never managed to make something truly compelling.
Yes, the characters are unlikeable, but that's not typically a turnoff for me. The MC was tolerable enough to overlook all the others anyways.
At 2.5 hours long for the audiobook, I don't feel like I wasted any time on it, but I also might not go back to it.
I liked the audiobook narrator, and some of the writing had a musicality to it. There were phrases and descriptions strung together so lovingly they sang, but ultimately never managed to make something truly compelling.
Yes, the characters are unlikeable, but that's not typically a turnoff for me. The MC was tolerable enough to overlook all the others anyways.
At 2.5 hours long for the audiobook, I don't feel like I wasted any time on it, but I also might not go back to it.
vavocado's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
Felt thin, good concept but I would have enjoyed it more if it had been fleshed out further.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, and Murder
hniereads's review against another edition
2.0
Abit disappointed in this book, i always love haunted houses but this simply did not deliver.
wildflower_liv_'s review against another edition
5.0
So, so good, definitely not for those who don’t like gore.
colormeember's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
The characters weren’t likable, the plot jumped like crazy and the story got muddled. I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt and I shouldn’t have done that. I would give it one star because it ended.
b_jones's review against another edition
2.5
I feel like there was more potential than what came to fruition in this book. The prose were very visceral and vivid and evocative but also lacked coherence?!?
I often found I had a challenging time understanding what was happening and also found that our characters were poorly developed and lacked realness.
I often found I had a challenging time understanding what was happening and also found that our characters were poorly developed and lacked realness.