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

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

i knew that this was a horror novel, but i was not prepared for it to be so achingly sad. there was a lot to think about while reading the haunting of hill house; the resounding lifelong effect of an abusive childhood, the empty loneliness of a young woman unsure of who she is and where she belongs, a house with a history of leading its inhabitants into great misery and misfortune, and so on. 

i do think that if anyone goes into this expecting it to be like the netflix show, then they are going to be extremely disappointed because it has nearly nothing in common with the show, with the exception of some names, perhaps. this book is a work of its own, and will be staying on in my mind for a good long while.