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sparrowhearted's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Unmoored in life after the loss of her mother, Eleanor Vance follows the summon of psychologist Doctor John Montague to spend a summer in Hill House, a property mired in tragedy. Alongside Doctor Montague, the self-important, charming heir to the house Luke Sanderson, and the temperamental, lively artist Theodora, Eleanor embarks on a task to uncover the root of the supposed supernatural that haunts the halls of Hill House.
But Hill House is hostile to its very foundation, and soon Eleanor starts to find herself slipping as it feels like no one else quite experiences the things she does…
A disorienting, sad and occasionally chilling read. On technical merits alone I'm not sure this constitutes a five star read; but the lingering thougths and feelings left behind are enough for me to consider it one for myself. Would perhaps be careful recommending unless I know I'm talking to someone who shares very similar preferences in media, but I'm very glad I read it.
I should preface this review by making it very clear that I'm not the right audience for horror. I get easily scared and can't stomach that particularly well, and I only decided to read The Haunting of Hill House because I don't believe watching the Netflix series of the same name is going to do my mental health much good (as much as I'd love to; I've heard excellent things about it).
As such, I might also not really be receptive to the impact Jackson's work has had on the horror genre as a whole, though I'm aware of it on a theoretical level.
What struck me most about this book, however, was that I didn't find it particularly scary at all. There were chilling moments and there is one particular scene that I find really beautifully executed and terrifying, but for most of the part what Hill House is, that is a profoundly sad novel.
None of the protagonists are particularly likeable, we only know them for the brief amount of time we spend at Hill House with them, and even then only through Eleanor's lens, and Eleanor Vance, our only access to the events that unfold in Hill House, is nothing if not an unreliable narrator.
It's not hard to believe that even outside of her limited view neither Dr. Montague, Theodora nor Luke are pleasant people to deal with but burdened by her own fragile mental state the lines between what is real and what is Eleanor's perception of reality blur.
I didn't find it difficult to understand why Eleanor grew uncomfortably attached to Theodora so quickly, nor did I struggle to see why she felt about Luke and Dr. Montague the way she did even when I found her thought processes and actions worrisome or repulsive. Eleanor is sad, desperate and deeply lonely and never quite manages to fit in — it's always just a matter of time until she makes a fool of herself, as the book puts it, saying the wrong thing, not reacting the right way, letting her interpretations of what she's being told take her down paths that make it hard to parse whether she was right or unfair to do so.
Her sadness and desperation to belong are a central part of the book. Once she doesn't find this idealized sense of belonging she is chasing it's Hill House instead, 'not sane, […] holding darkness within' to quote the opening paragraph, that catches her instead, wearing her down until… well, something has to give.
Shirley Jackson's prose is lovely and whimsical and suits the not-quite-real setting of Hill House very well, but the pacing often drags and only really picks up in perhaps the last fifth of the book.
Not much happens throughout The Haunting of Hill House, either, and when there is tangible, lasting action it's often things happening to the characters rather than them exerting their agency.
A lot of these 'flaws' that made reading Hill House feel like a bit of a chore at times, even if I understand that they were purposefully placed there. That kind of makes me believe that the execution might not be quite as tight as it might have needed to be at times.
I understand why this book might feel empty or pretentious to some, but I personally found it a fascinating look into Eleanor's psyche and its deterioration and enjoyed it for that exact reason.
I also, and I understand that to someone who might be looking for a hair-raising read this will be a deterrent, really appreciated that it isn't a book that is going to make me lose sleep for a week after reading it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Suicide
Moderate: Blood and Death of parent
Minor: Gun violence
I think it's worth noting that a lot of the treatment Eleanor faces from the other three most prominent characters might read as the belittling and alienating treatment neurodivergent people might receive, and as such might be upsetting to some who have experienced similar social situations.glacialis's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
grave_liminal's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
beccaand's review against another edition
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: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Blood and Car accident
euhfubeuh's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
The Haunting of Hill House is a classic of the modern gothic horror genre. In my opinion, it seems to take loose inspiration from the best parts of Dracula and turn them into a chilling, yet entertaining, short story that provides a new experience with every reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Toxic friendship
9inchnailzzz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death of parent
dragonlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
This was a fantastic work of horror and an exploration of the mind, identity, and grief. There are also multiple ways to interpret the book and the ending, and all of them are interesting and valid. It was funny, because about halfway through the story I found myself wondering when something scary would happen, and then it of course did and was done amazingly. One scene specifically stuck with me terribly and made it difficult to sleep, but my imagination easily runs wild after consuming horror media, so people without an active imagination would probably sleep soundly. Nonetheless, the horror scenes are not only eerie, but also interesting and very clearly described. The characters themselves are quite charming, except for the ones that are deliberately meant to not be liked, and the dynamic between the characters is even more fascinating, and even fun early on. Over time, things get more complicated, especially with our narrator Eleanor who forms a very strong connection to the house. There is a lot in this short book, and I was satisfied with the ending, even if I expected it a little bit - although the ending was much more perfect and haunting than I could have imagined. In general, there is a ton to think about, and a lot to explore within the story.
I have some thoughts I want to note about the interpretations:
We know Eleanor may have some sort of power that could have caused the rocks raining on her house when she was a child, and this is likely why the doctor called her to the house (same as with Theodora). I think it is quite possible that perhaps the house was straight up haunted and negatively affected the group while also desiring for them to stay in the house. Strangely the house latched onto Eleanor especially and this culminates in Eleanor possibly being possessed and wanting to be a part of the house, ending with her death when the group tries to send her away for fear of her health. However, there are lots of little strange hits spattered throughout the story that may point to Eleanor possibly using her own powers, and maybe even experiencing intense mental illness. Eleanor is wracked by depression, a lack of identity, grief and guilt over her mother, an intense feeling of being alone as well as an outcast, and possibly schizophrenia. Over time, some of the characters seemingly chuckle at her and act oddly towards her, and some of this could be the effect of and weight of the house (like when Theo got very mad at Eleanor after discovering the red liquid), but it was to such an extent that I also wonder if Eleanor was misinterpreting things or even seeing things that were not truly being expressed by the other characters. She starts to watch the other characters to see if they talking badly about her, and of course they do not. Either the house is twisting her against them, or her mind is overwhelmed by the fear of being an outcast, or both. I feel like not all of the haunting experiences were caused by Eleanor, but perhaps some at the end really were. There is just so much to consider when exploring this book, and it is so fascinating. Regardless of what the true interpretation is (or maybe there isn't one and Shirley Jackson intended all of them in a way) Eleanor no doubt develops a strange connection to the house that has many parallels throughout the book, either from her deep grief and powers causing the happenings, or the house seeing what Eleanor does not have and finding a way to give it to her. I sort of see it as both.
I have some thoughts I want to note about the interpretations:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent
draven_deathcrush'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
2.5
It was cool, but it wasn't super special to me. The characters really ended up annoying me by the end of the book, and I've never really been into haunted house stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
Minor: Blood
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ever since the Netflix series was released in 2018, The Haunting of Hill House has been an annual re-watch for me. Hill House is warm and comfortable. Hill House is home. I knew that the series was only inspired by the book and the stories would be very different, but I still felt like I needed to read the book that started it all. I’ve put it off for years, though, because I’ve never been a fan of the classics. I’ve always found them terribly dull, terribly disinteresting… I will die on the hill that many “classics” truly are not good, there just wasn’t anything better at the time. I’m happy to report, though, that the Hill House portrayed on page is as familiar as that on screen. I knew this house, and, somehow, I even knew these characters. The origins of Hill House are as familiar as ever.
A surprise for me was the not at all subtle sapphic undertones. BOLD for 1959. Had Hill House been written today, I can only imagine how much more I might’ve enjoyed it lol
On a more personal note - My birthday is the 21st of June. That date being mentioned twice - the only date specifically mentioned in the whole book - made me feel, in a small way, like Hill House calls to me too.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, and Grief
julianh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, and Death of parent