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A review by vickiireads
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
5.0
The book that inspired films such as The Haunting and Rose Red, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House tells the chilling tale of four strangers who stay and observe the supernatural accounts within an abandoned mansion.
As a big horror fan, this book does not disappoint. Stephen King lists it as one of the finest horror novels of the late 20th century. The mood is set from early on. Things don't start going bump in the night as soon as they get to the house. They start slowly unweaving and you start getting this sense of dread every time the dark approaches. Jackson’s storytelling ability only heightens the eerie atmosphere - you feel every disembodied knock, shiver at every chill, and hear every voiceless whisper.
The most intriguing aspect of this classic ghost story is in trying to separate the madness of the house from the madness of Eleanor, its principal victim. While I didn’t particularly like any of the characters (especially Mrs Montague), you are constantly left puzzled as to whether the others are purposely nasty or if that is how the house is manipulating Eleanor to perceive them.
No gore here, but all the same, this book it terrifying.
As a big horror fan, this book does not disappoint. Stephen King lists it as one of the finest horror novels of the late 20th century. The mood is set from early on. Things don't start going bump in the night as soon as they get to the house. They start slowly unweaving and you start getting this sense of dread every time the dark approaches. Jackson’s storytelling ability only heightens the eerie atmosphere - you feel every disembodied knock, shiver at every chill, and hear every voiceless whisper.
The most intriguing aspect of this classic ghost story is in trying to separate the madness of the house from the madness of Eleanor, its principal victim. While I didn’t particularly like any of the characters (especially Mrs Montague), you are constantly left puzzled as to whether the others are purposely nasty or if that is how the house is manipulating Eleanor to perceive them.
No gore here, but all the same, this book it terrifying.