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A review by ladypuercoloco
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I can't remember exactly how this book came on my radar; I remember it was mentioned in the author notes of a book I liked but I have no recollection of what book that was. Regardless, this is a classic Gothic horror and I have a long love of those - though this classic was published in 2009.
I also just found out a couple of days ago that this was made into a movie in 2018 so I'll be checking that out soon as well. Since I've never heard of it until now I'll not be too hopeful that the movie will hit quite like Alfred Hitchcock's amazing film version of Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca, but those are extremely well done examples of both Gothic literature and film versions of such. They are also the catalyst for my love of all things goth.
This one has a twist to many of the Gothic tales I have read in that the man, Dr Faraday, is the poorer outcast obsessed with the crumbling manse, Hundreds Hall (or simply The Hundreds), and it's inhabitants - matriarch Mrs Ayers, son Roderick who was disabled in World War 1 (I believe - it's early and I don't remember the exact time frame but it feels more 1 than 2) and spinster daughter Caroline. Dr Faraday is considerably older than Roddie and Caroline, but has fond memories of the grand parties once thrown there, particularly one he attended as a boy, with his mother, who had once been a nursery maid there, for the most oldest daughter who had passed at an early age. The other character in residence is Betty, a young (14-15-ish?) maid from a much lower class. A lot of the book focuses on the dwindling upper class, but definitely has themes relating to class throughout.
Maybe it's my deep love of old mansions, but The Hundreds is the true star of the book to me, and the reason I am anxious to see the movie - hopefully they were able to bring its crumbling walls to life in a way that does justice to the way I have imagined it.
As for the story itself, there are also asylums, ghosts, and a slow building romance between Caroline and Dr Faraday. I still have some questions as to what really happened in the end, but it's a good twist regardless. Of all the Gothic books I have read written in more modern times this is the one that feels most like it could have been written almost a century ago. Many kudos for the way it truly captures a time so long past, and characters who were almost relics in that time. I can't say that I ever really loved Caroline or Dr Faraday - though I found it easier to empathize with the good doc overall. Roddie and Mrs Ayers I found more likeable, but the dog Gyp was easily the most loveable character of all, followed closely by The Hundreds.
I also just found out a couple of days ago that this was made into a movie in 2018 so I'll be checking that out soon as well. Since I've never heard of it until now I'll not be too hopeful that the movie will hit quite like Alfred Hitchcock's amazing film version of Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca, but those are extremely well done examples of both Gothic literature and film versions of such. They are also the catalyst for my love of all things goth.
This one has a twist to many of the Gothic tales I have read in that the man, Dr Faraday, is the poorer outcast obsessed with the crumbling manse, Hundreds Hall (or simply The Hundreds), and it's inhabitants - matriarch Mrs Ayers, son Roderick who was disabled in World War 1 (I believe - it's early and I don't remember the exact time frame but it feels more 1 than 2) and spinster daughter Caroline. Dr Faraday is considerably older than Roddie and Caroline, but has fond memories of the grand parties once thrown there, particularly one he attended as a boy, with his mother, who had once been a nursery maid there, for the most oldest daughter who had passed at an early age. The other character in residence is Betty, a young (14-15-ish?) maid from a much lower class. A lot of the book focuses on the dwindling upper class, but definitely has themes relating to class throughout.
Maybe it's my deep love of old mansions, but The Hundreds is the true star of the book to me, and the reason I am anxious to see the movie - hopefully they were able to bring its crumbling walls to life in a way that does justice to the way I have imagined it.
As for the story itself, there are also asylums, ghosts, and a slow building romance between Caroline and Dr Faraday. I still have some questions as to what really happened in the end, but it's a good twist regardless. Of all the Gothic books I have read written in more modern times this is the one that feels most like it could have been written almost a century ago. Many kudos for the way it truly captures a time so long past, and characters who were almost relics in that time. I can't say that I ever really loved Caroline or Dr Faraday - though I found it easier to empathize with the good doc overall. Roddie and Mrs Ayers I found more likeable, but the dog Gyp was easily the most loveable character of all, followed closely by The Hundreds.