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baebebluejay's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Overall, this book was incredibly dull and disappointing. There was nothing scary about this book at all and the writing made it unenjoyable to read. James would start a sentence with an idea, drag it on with endless commas and then end the sentence with an unrelated idea that left you completely disorientated. Some writers can do that really well and add to the atmosphere of the text but with James it just came off as if he didn’t know how to write. This book comes no where near any Shirley Jackson (particularly the haunting of hill house) who is a true master of the horror genre. The recent Netflix series created off this text was also extremely boring and tedious that I could not finish it. The only reason I finished the book was because it was under 200 pages, otherwise I would have totally DNF’ed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse
liesthemoontells's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
I can see why this novella has stood the test of time in terms of its atmospheric dread, the creepiness of it's supernatural themes, and the compelling narrative of innocent children being lured by evil, not to mention the brilliance of the unreliable narration. I, for one, am completely on Team The Governess is Clearly Going Insane.
That being said, the prose in this novel is SO dense. The run on sentences are so exhausting that just trying to keep up with the plot is a challenge at times, which really takes away from the atmospheric horror of it all.
That being said, the prose in this novel is SO dense. The run on sentences are so exhausting that just trying to keep up with the plot is a challenge at times, which really takes away from the atmospheric horror of it all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, and Child death
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship
xkrille's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.0
I read this for university. I cannot deny that it is good. Definitely. But I do not think I understood it fully. I had to read some analyses and interpretations before I got it. As I said, I did enjoy it. I wish I had understood it while I read it because I definitely would have found it more spooky. All in all, it is my own fault that I did not enjoy it as much. The language was difficult for me, sorry!!! Maybe I did not concentrate hard enough. Whatever, it was a nice story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Classism, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content, Child abuse, and Death of parent
hanpil98's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Classism, and Child abuse
epeolatrist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Turn of the Screw is an alluring and confusing mystery that often brings more questions than answers. In one of the most classic ghost stories, Henry James accomplishes the perfect mystery. There are few things that confirm the governess's ghost sightings, other than her own visions and recollections. There is far more evidence that supports the fact that she has gone mad, in my opinion. In the end, we are left wondering whether Miles truly saw the ghost of Peter Quint or if he somehow knew of the governess's terror regarding Quint and Miss Jessel.
Henry James leaves plenty of hints in reference to motifs of sexuality, madness, terror, and malevolence. I read this for class and found it far more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Personally, I believe that the governess had gone mad from hallucinations of ghosts fueled by her loneliness and her desire to meet an attractive man, possibly the children's uncle, on the grounds (in a Jane Eyre sort of manner). Her observations of the children trying to trick and manipulate her are manifestations of her own fear and, essentially, false reactions that she has created in her own mind.
The Turn of the Screw is both fantastic and nightmarish. It is a book that will keep you constantly looking over your shoulder, fearing that you may too stumble upon Peter Quint or Miss Jessel.
Henry James leaves plenty of hints in reference to motifs of sexuality, madness, terror, and malevolence. I read this for class and found it far more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Personally, I believe that the governess had gone mad from hallucinations of ghosts fueled by her loneliness and her desire to meet an attractive man, possibly the children's uncle, on the grounds (in a Jane Eyre sort of manner). Her observations of the children trying to trick and manipulate her are manifestations of her own fear and, essentially, false reactions that she has created in her own mind.
The Turn of the Screw is both fantastic and nightmarish. It is a book that will keep you constantly looking over your shoulder, fearing that you may too stumble upon Peter Quint or Miss Jessel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual content and Child abuse
seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Classism, and Mental illness
jacobmarley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Abandonment, Child death, Stalking, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, and Gaslighting
kurumipanda's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Mental illness, Child abuse, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
coolfijiwater's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Classism, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Child abuse
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? No
4.0
It could be confusing and slow at times, pacing was a bit disjointed with how some of the descriptions were written. I ended up lost in the prose and having to reread passages.
I liked that the narrator is unreliable. The book takes an Interesting look at the corruption and death of innocence paired with attempts at heroism going wrong. I
I liked that the narrator is unreliable. The book takes an Interesting look at the corruption and death of innocence paired with attempts at heroism going wrong. I
also enjoyed the subtlety of the horror, it’s creepy and unnerving as you try to figure out what’s real and try to find answers to the character’s secrets.
The ending was a little open ended, leaving it to the reader to decide what happens in some aspects. It was satisfying but also somehow underwhelming.
Overall a perfect creepy, gothic horror story! But one I probably shouldn’t have read before bed 😂
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Minor: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship