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It seemed the household functioned around that sound, that it was the linchpin and the director of all activity: if she was typing, that took priority over anything else.Young couple Rose and Fred Nemser are taken in by the Jackson-Hyman household and enter a year of habitual insanity. Rose, enamored by the house and its matronly figure, befriends Shirley and her fluctuating moods. She is lead towards witchery and thrust into the mistery surrounding the disappearance of a college student attending the classes of Jackson's husband. Like a prolonged dinner party, the plot teeters at the edge of insanity but never really crosses it.
As a fan of Jackson, I decided to work my way through her catalogue of stories this year. Hesitant to read this book, I was pleasantly surprised of Merrell's respectfully handled creative liberties. She has woven facts about Jackson's life into an engaging Gothic tale that I am sure Jackson herself would find amusing, at the least. It highlights the eccentricities and persona of Jackson without exploiting her, at the time rather negative perception, to garner cheap scares. Sadness and honesty permeates the prose and even though I found the resolution slightly lacking, it was fitting to the tale perhaps Jackson might come up with herself.
I am sure this book holds its own as a Gothic tale but I also know it is that more enjoyable when you know about Shirley's life and personal habits. If you can't find the time to read this, a film adaptation comes out in June with a stunning performance by Elisabeth Moss, so at least check that out.