Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Hare House by Sally Hinchcliffe

5 reviews

diana_raquel's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Mental illness, Blood, and Grief

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, and Sexism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship

piareadss's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Car accident

Moderate: Eating disorder and Gun violence

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

five_rats_in_a_trenchcoat's review against another edition

dark 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? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement and Death

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Self harm, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent

livlostinstereo'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? It's complicated

3.0

I found this book in my local library and the premise piqued my interest. Hinchcliffe’s writing is beautiful. Honestly, this woman can turn a phrase with the best of them. Her descriptions of the Scottish countryside and her metaphoric style are all lovely. She creates tension like a pro. 
However, the reason I’m giving this a 3 star rating: the resolution of the supernatural/mysterious causes of all the strangeness going on is lacking. The characters aren’t particularly lovable(though I must admit, we all know a Janet), which isn’t an issue, but the resolution doesn’t quite answer any of the questions. I have my theories but I would have loved a more thorough answer to some of the questions presented.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, and Car accident

Moderate: Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

caitsidhe's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Hare House is a well-written and characterised Gothic set in the modern day. Our main character is a repressed, haunted woman escaping from a traumatic event. She moves to Hare House and become embroiled in the emotional difficulties of Grant and Cass, who live in the manor house.

I really liked this book. The prose fits the story well and the unnamed narrator is a great gothic protagonist - she resembles the main character in the Turn of The Screw, being an unreliable narrator with a history, repressed sexual desire, and notably a hatred of the blooming sexuality of young women. 

The tension in Hare House builds slowly through careful use of atmosphere and horrific events. Cass is a fascinating character and very accurate for a traumatised 17 year old - in equal parts charming, annoying, and disturbing, all of those filtered through the faulty interpretation of the narrator.

The ending is creepy, and it doesn't leave everything nicely wrapped up and explained.

Recommended.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, and Car accident

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Classism