A review by jedore
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

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? It's complicated

3.75

To learn what we fear is to learn who we are.

I finally got around to reading this book after watching the movie adaptation on Netflix several years ago. I have to say, the book is a classic for a reason.

The story follows four people who come together at Hill House, a mansion with a mysterious and creepy past. Dr. Montague, an investigator of the paranormal, invites three others to join him in his study: Eleanor, a shy woman with a troubled past; Theodora, a bohemian artist; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. As they settle in, the house’s sinister nature starts to reveal itself, particularly to Eleanor, who becomes increasingly affected by the house’s eerie presence.

The Haunting of Hill House is considered one of the best ghost stories ever written and has influenced countless other works in the genre. Shirley Jackson’s ability to build suspense and a sense of dread without relying on cheap scares really sets this book apart. It’s more about what’s happening in your mind than what’s jumping out at you from the shadows.

While I found the book interesting, I couldn’t help but notice it doesn’t dive too deeply into the characters’ inner lives. I mean, there’s definitely some psychological complexity, especially with Eleanor, but the writing feels a bit distant. Maybe that’s because it was written in the 1950s, and that kind of character intimacy just wasn’t as common back then. To me, it felt like a less sophisticated version of “Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier—similar gothic vibes but without quite the same depth of character exploration.

That said, I really enjoyed the complex psychology that’s woven into the story. If you’re in tune with what’s going on in the characters’ heads, the plot becomes pretty predictable, but that didn’t bother me too much. The psychology is so much bigger than the ending itself that it almost doesn’t matter where the story ends up. 

This is definitely a must-read for anyone who’s into gothic horror. It’s more about atmosphere and psychological tension than anything else, and Jackson does that so well. 
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