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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This is a classic of the horror, ghost genre. It was written long ago but is still a great book to read by the fire in October!
No one writes horror like Shirley Jackson.
Quick read with a good story but not very scary. Just as the action begins the book abruptly ends. Would be better if the book was longer and scarier.
A classic.
Four people arrive at Hill House for different reasons. However none are prepared for the terror the house is intending to bring.
This was good, I had seen the movie and television show though. I will say it was a bit slow in places but the last part of the book is where the story really transforms.
This is the scariest book I have ever read (and the movie terrified me at age 8)! I think this was my first scary book. It grabs you from the very first paragraph. It is the greatest horror story of all time, IMHO!
Very good.
Sorry…I didn’t like this book as well as I’d hoped or as well as the 1963 movie!
Terrific intro to Shirley Jackson’s skillful blend of storytelling and terror building. You care for the characters and feel the palpable menace that consumes them and the house.
It is written by Shirley Jackson; what’s not to like?
I was not scare at all.
I guess I missed this timeless appeal of this ghost story. The ending is “telegraphed” like the Detroit Thanksgiving Parade. And I had a hard engaging, let alone caring, about any of the characters.
This one is probably a better movie/TV series to watch.
it was nothing like the netflis show
First 3/4 of the book was excellent. Lots of forebodingl subtly scary. The last quarter didn’t live up to the stage that was set but all in all a good read.
Hard to read and unfulfilling… nothing happens till last 40% of book
Not to be read alone on a dark night. Leaves one wondering what Hugh Crane must have really been like. I have read this book many times over the years and each time is leaves me feeling like I need to look over my shoulder when I think I am alone.
Interesting reading but the plot was slow. Characters were not defind well..
Over all it was a good book for a rainy
Day.
I read this because I liked the show. They are nothing alike. And the characters are not particularly likable.
I read The Haunting of Hill House many years ago but it still stays (haunts) me. Very frightening and spooky!
Perhaps I’ve read too much horror in my lifetime so far, but I went into Ms. Jackson’s classic novel expecting to scared shitless. I think I can count a few instances where the story was genuinely creepy, but overall, this was not the nailbiter I expected. The environments were well described, especially the oppressiveness of Hill House, but I can’t recommend the book. Perhaps it was genuinely scary at the time of publication, but I’ve been spoiled by the many better horror offerings that came after and really raised the bar.