First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson’s has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a “haunting”; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the … the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.
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Creepy, weird, unsettling. I didn’t care for how the book was written. Sometimes I wasn’t real sure what was happening or if the characters kept interrupting each other or someone thought they spoke out loud, but didn’t. It was odd. I guess I will now watch the series on Netflix and see how that goes.
While I thought that I had read this book before, I don’t remember any of it during the reading. So with some fresh eyes on an old tale I would have to say that I was disappointed. This is supposed to be one of the scarier haunted house stories out there yet I hardly found it that scary at all.
The story is about four people that go stay at a haunted house in order to investigate it. And while a few freaky and scary things do happen, the four of them pretty much ignore and downplay the events. Things pick up a bit with the arrival of the doctor’s wife who is so annoying of a character I was hoping that the ghosts would kill her off. The ending was pretty quick and didn’t leave me feeling resolved at all. I can see why this would make it as a book to be studied in classes though. The characters and symbolism within the book probably make for hours and hours of analysis. Unfortunately as a book read purely for fun, I would have to say that it was lacking. Considering how much of a classic book it is and how seminal it is to horror, I should probably try it again at some point and see if my thoughts are the same.
Loved it. Great writing and a wonderful story filled with creepy, atmospheric gloom, a nice psychological slow burn classic.
I first read The Haunting of Hill House as a child when I happened on it at the library. It changed the course of my reading and my own writing. I’ve reread it half a dozen times over the years. Recently, after at least a fifteen-year hiatus, I read it again.
It’s as wonderful as ever, and it held a few forgotten surprises, too. The 1960 movie is very true to the book but it leaves out a mysterious scene that happens late in the book. Theo and Eleanor go outside and encounter a child’s birthday party. They see a dog; perhaps the same creature that leads the men away from the house early in the book. And then they see something else that sends them running back to Hill House in terror. The chapter ends there and when it picks up it’s obvious they’ve told the men what they saw – but Jackson never informs the reader. I don’t know how I ever forgot about this delightfully creepy twist, but now it haunts me. What did they see? I’m going to read the book yet again very soon because of it.
I had just turned 11 the first time I read it and I was struck by the stone lions and the cup of stars almost as much as the scrabbling at the doors and the phantom handholding. I saw only a ghost story back then and I adored it. Later, I understood the psychological aspects as well as the sexual ones but preferred to remember my more innocent impressions. This time, in full maturity, I loved it for everything it contained. It’s a beautiful, elegant tragedy and probably the best ghost story ever written.
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson 1959
A paranormal investigator rents Hill House for a summer, inviting guests who have had past paranormal encounters.
https://chadschimke.blogspot.com/2017/11/horror-fiction.html
The Haunting of Hill House (Penguin Horror)
Not what I thought it would be. I was looking for a very scary. NOT
The Netflix translation is way easier to enjoy.
Despite being a horror fan, I never read this supposedly seminal horror story until I watched the Netflix series. The show was better which is something I never say. Ever. I liked this story but it’s more weird fiction than horror.
I think this was a let down for me because I expected it to be really scary. It was just too slow for my taste.
After watching the Netflix adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House, and thoroughly enjoying it I decided to delve for the first time into Shirley Jackson’s original book. Throughout, I’ve found many moments of delight, though overall I’ve not been as wowed as I was with the series.
Part of the difference, through no fault of the book, is that some of the shocking reveals of the book were telegraphed, or portrayed directly in the adaptation. Thus, I give the book a lot of credit for execution though my experience has been a bit flat. I’ll also give credit that the book was likely a pioneer for a haunted house tale, particularly one that pokes at the ridiculousness of Spiritualism, and pits skeptic against believer, however, having read and seen many stories like that over the years, that too fell a bit short. (I’ve even written a book like that myself.) Thus some of the books punch may have faded into time and all the copycats at no fault of its own.
The other significant difference I’ve experienced between the book and the recent series is in the book’s limiting the perception to mostly one character where the adaptation took time specifically to show each character’s point of view. For the series, all the pieces of the puzzle only came together once we’d seen how each of the seven characters remembered the house. I have to say I found that variety more satisfying.
In any case, it is a well written and eerie story, which if nothing else provided a superior foundation for the adapted story I enjoyed so much. I’m certainly glad I read it, I on;y wish I’d read it sooner, maybe then I’d be giving five stars.
It’s a classic. Read it!
The four main characters have you right away. When the house starts changing like rooms in other rooms tension builds. Then you realize that the house is gaining power from them. It became so spooky and twisted you are waiting for someone to end up dead
Didn’t enjoy this book. Not scary. Not engrossing. Not recommended
This book is hard for me to rate and review. It was just ok for me but at times I didn’t like it then I did. It took me a long time to get into and it felt like it took a long time for the main story of Hill House to start. It was spooky for me but not scary and only a couple parts. Maybe I’m a little disappointed because I already started watching the Netflix series and THAT scares me. There were parts of the show that confused me but after reading the book I’m like “Ok, I see what they did there.” But there were parts of the book that didn’t get explained and confused me. All in all it was ok and I don’t regret reading it. I’m glad I borrowed it from my library.
Eleanor and Theodora both experienced supernatural events in their pasts, so Dr. Montague has asked them to join him at Hill House for an experiment. He is eager to write a book about a true haunting. Joining them is the future owner of Hill House, Luke, who will inherit it one day. What starts off as a fun adventure for Eleanor, the first she has ever had, soon turns deadly.
I enjoyed the book and the mind games the house played on Eleanor, but I was a bit disappointed by the lack of true suspense. I guess that happens sometimes when you watch the movie first. Anyway, the book takes place over the course of a week and much happens. The house seems to focus on Eleanor. I feel as if the house wasn’t so much haunted by ghosts, but possessed as a whole and it messes with Eleanor’s mind and makes her see and hear things that aren’t there. I wasn’t a fan of Theodora either. She came across as fake and not really a true friend to Eleanor.
Overall, it was a fun, quick read that I’m glad I finally got to. I have always enjoyed Shirley Jackson’s writing and this is no exception.
A classic haunted house mystery!
I read my freshman year of high school. I can remember parts of the book, like that none of the walls are at a 90’angle. Avoid the Liam Neeson mess and wait for the series !
I don’t get the 5 star ratings. I’m sorry, but this was really bad. This was not scary. creepy or even interesting. The characters were weak, unlikable and downright stupid. Who brings a gun for defense against a house full of spirits? What good would that do? There are much better haunted house stories out there.
Jackson’s Haunting of Hill House is the quintessential haunted house story. This somber yet moving tale of Nel experiencing a “journeys end in lovers meeting” is exquisitely told. Yet who is her “love” ? Luke? The Dr? Or perhaps the house itself?
The horrors of Hill House are always at the periphery of your vision and things are not always as they seem at Hill House. The cold spot near the nursery is eerily described and experienced by those who are staying the night in Hill House and the secret scratching and subsequent poundings in the hallway are truly felt and terrifying.
I highly recommend this beguiling tale. It will stay with you for a long while.
Great read for a winters night curled up in front of an open fire.