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3.18 AVERAGE
3.18 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
The one thing that I feel confident in saying about this book is that it is big on mood, and it was a mood that I really enjoyed.
Our main character is a governess for two orphaned siblings. She’s tasked to watch over them in a gothic British mansion by the surviving uncle who wants nothing to do with them. Everyone but the uncle is obsessed with their beauty in a profoundly unsettling way. Then suddenly, ghost!
The plot is enshrouded with mystery. What happened to the previous caretakers? Was there something suspicious between them and the children? Why was the boy kicked out of school? Are the ghosts real? Are the kids conspiring, or are they possessed?
I legit loved the setup and seeing it all unfold. But, the author was really committed to ambiguity. Honestly, It’s probably the reason why this has become a “timeless classic” as people will want to reread this and discuss this looking for answers. For me though, I was annoyed by the lack of follow through.
Combine an unclear story with overly verbose, wildly punctuated prose that weaves in on itself to hide its meaning and you get something of a beautiful muddled mess.
Despite being a bit of a slog sometimes, I did enjoy reading it. But, I feel dissatisfied by its absolute inconclusiveness. What’s this book about? Who can say. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if that ol’ trickster Henry James didn’t have a clue either. It’s possible that he just prattled off some episodic pieces for a magazine to get a paycheck. “You want me of all people to write a horror story? Sure here you go.”
Anyway I choose to believe the story I like best and that’s good enough, I guess. Maybe if you don’t commit to anything as a writer you make more people happy because the audience fills in the story they want. Whatever.
Our main character is a governess for two orphaned siblings. She’s tasked to watch over them in a gothic British mansion by the surviving uncle who wants nothing to do with them. Everyone but the uncle is obsessed with their beauty in a profoundly unsettling way. Then suddenly, ghost!
The plot is enshrouded with mystery. What happened to the previous caretakers? Was there something suspicious between them and the children? Why was the boy kicked out of school? Are the ghosts real? Are the kids conspiring, or are they possessed?
I legit loved the setup and seeing it all unfold. But, the author was really committed to ambiguity. Honestly, It’s probably the reason why this has become a “timeless classic” as people will want to reread this and discuss this looking for answers. For me though, I was annoyed by the lack of follow through.
Combine an unclear story with overly verbose, wildly punctuated prose that weaves in on itself to hide its meaning and you get something of a beautiful muddled mess.
Despite being a bit of a slog sometimes, I did enjoy reading it. But, I feel dissatisfied by its absolute inconclusiveness. What’s this book about? Who can say. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if that ol’ trickster Henry James didn’t have a clue either. It’s possible that he just prattled off some episodic pieces for a magazine to get a paycheck. “You want me of all people to write a horror story? Sure here you go.”
Anyway I choose to believe the story I like best and that’s good enough, I guess. Maybe if you don’t commit to anything as a writer you make more people happy because the audience fills in the story they want. Whatever.
Gripping at certain points. Flowery prose with some great scenes and a solid ending. I had heard it was a story marked by ambiguity, and I agree upon completion. Beside the main ambiguity, though, there’s not much to pick apart. Glad it’s short, because it packs a punch but would have dragged had it continued much longer.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
I love this short story. Loved it when I read it in a “Magic and Realism in Literature” college course ten years ago, and I have enjoyed it just as much re-reading it now.
The story is gripping, and the ambiguity works to enhance the tale. Is the narrator saving the children over which she cares? Is she losing her mind? Did something actually happen between the children and the house’s earlier occupants, or is the narrator projecting her own prior experiences (or imaginings) onto them?
And the writing! Who doesn’t love some dense Victorian Gothic every now and then?!? Yes, true, you need to be in the mood, but once you grasp James’ intricate syntax, the story reads quite smoothly.
The story is gripping, and the ambiguity works to enhance the tale. Is the narrator saving the children over which she cares? Is she losing her mind? Did something actually happen between the children and the house’s earlier occupants, or is the narrator projecting her own prior experiences (or imaginings) onto them?
And the writing! Who doesn’t love some dense Victorian Gothic every now and then?!? Yes, true, you need to be in the mood, but once you grasp James’ intricate syntax, the story reads quite smoothly.
La condanna dell'amore
"Chi è quell'uomo sulla sommità della torre? Perché continua a fissarmi?"
"Cominciai ad avvertire, pur senza vederla direttamente, la lontana presenza di una terza persona. I vecchi alberi, i fitti cespugli, facevano un'ombra alta e piacevole, ma tutto era soffuso dal fulgore di quell'ora calda e quieta.
Allora alzai lo sguardo e affrontai quel che dovevo affrontare."
Meravigliosa storia sulla necessità di amare.
Laddove viene meno la possibilità di proteggere chi amiamo - e forse non godere delle attenzioni che tanto si desiderano - emergono vuoti colmabili da fantasmi, rappresentanti di ciò che si combatte e anela al contempo.
La forza autodistruttiva dell'amore corrode i recessi più profondi della persona; sconfina nell'egoismo affinché il nobile sentimento ne esca puro e vincitore.
Opera raffinata, purtroppo inficiata da un ritmo decisamente compassato.
P.S. The innocents, del 1961, diretto da Clayton, è una trasposizione fedele e felicemente ambigua nel mutuare su pellicola la complessità dell'opera cartacea.
P.S.S. The Haunting of Bly Manor, diretta nel 2020 da Flanagan due anni dopo l'ottima The Haunting of Hill House, cerca di conciliare l'orrore gotico con un afflato romantico. Seducente nella commistione di generi, ma narrativamente pasticciato.
"Chi è quell'uomo sulla sommità della torre? Perché continua a fissarmi?"
"Cominciai ad avvertire, pur senza vederla direttamente, la lontana presenza di una terza persona. I vecchi alberi, i fitti cespugli, facevano un'ombra alta e piacevole, ma tutto era soffuso dal fulgore di quell'ora calda e quieta.
Allora alzai lo sguardo e affrontai quel che dovevo affrontare."
Meravigliosa storia sulla necessità di amare.
Laddove viene meno la possibilità di proteggere chi amiamo - e forse non godere delle attenzioni che tanto si desiderano - emergono vuoti colmabili da fantasmi, rappresentanti di ciò che si combatte e anela al contempo.
La forza autodistruttiva dell'amore corrode i recessi più profondi della persona; sconfina nell'egoismo affinché il nobile sentimento ne esca puro e vincitore.
Opera raffinata, purtroppo inficiata da un ritmo decisamente compassato.
P.S. The innocents, del 1961, diretto da Clayton, è una trasposizione fedele e felicemente ambigua nel mutuare su pellicola la complessità dell'opera cartacea.
P.S.S. The Haunting of Bly Manor, diretta nel 2020 da Flanagan due anni dopo l'ottima The Haunting of Hill House, cerca di conciliare l'orrore gotico con un afflato romantico. Seducente nella commistione di generi, ma narrativamente pasticciato.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was boring i almost fell asleep while reading it. Wasn’t scary at all.