Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

30 reviews

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.5

I think perhaps it was intentional, but this book was so disjointed that I had a hard time enjoying it. There were bits and pieces that I found enjoyable but overall it was confusing and strange. I think the possession of one of the characters affected their interactions with the others but I can’t be sure because it’s never clearly stated. If I hadn’t seen the show first, I think my expectations would’ve been different or less and I may have enjoyed this more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Toxic friendship, Classism, Gaslighting, Violence, Abandonment, Child death, Car accident, and Confinement

dylpickles's review

challenging funny mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Gaslighting

mallory10100'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? No

5.0

i wanted to pick this up because i’m a huge fan of the netflix show and i’m so glad i did!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicide

row3's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Body horror and Bullying

_pluviophilic_polymath's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a great proto-queer gothic horror novel and definitely deserves a read. Beautiful writing and compelling characters. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Suicide, Alcohol, Car accident, and Gaslighting

eep's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

5.0

This book is an investigation into the mind of a character who’s thoughts and feelings would usually remain closed to the outside world. It’s a great depiction of the complexities of mental illness written during the 1950’s.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Minor: Car accident

The dark topics of the book are very well done. I am triggered by the trigger warnings above, but I found it to be so well done and almost comforting, so it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Nonetheless, this book is very dark and I wouldn’t recommend it if there isn’t mental space for the triggers :)

botanicpanic's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident and Suicide

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent

Minor: Confinement and Gaslighting

In the final pages of the book, Eleanor commits suicide by driving her car into a tree.

linesiunderline's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

It’s all about the dread in this classic horror story. All the gothic atmosphere, a brilliantly unsettling opening, bumps in the night, paranormal happenings, and a small cast of characters who prove to be quite captivating and elusive. The way Jackson crafts Eleanor and her unraveling is masterful. I love that you’re constantly unsettled throughout and left at the end with more questions than answers. I’m glad I finally read this one as well as We Have Always Lived in the Castle. I’d be hard pressed to choose a favourite between the two. The audiobooks narrated by Bernadette Dunne we’re very entertaining listening experiences. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Car accident, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness

rinitealeaf's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Gaslighting, and Medical content

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Mental illness

Minor: Blood, Child death, and Bullying

delphine_'s review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Suicide

Moderate: Toxic friendship