Hell House by Richard Matheson Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Hell House
Book Review: A hell of a book
Summary: 5 Stars
A lot of people seem to say that this book isn't what they expected. The trick is not to expect anything. I didn't really know what to expect, having only read one other Matheson novel (I Am Legend, awesome book). This book started off a little slow, yes, but many books do that so as to develop the story. It also helped build up the tension; the more that things started to happen, the better and better it got. When everything starts to really come out and come together, this book gets to be relentlessly creepy, borderline disturbing at some parts, it was awesome. Yes, there are overtones of sometimes gruesome sexuality, but it is a part of the story, and it does fit. If you want to read a book that will really hit you hard, get this book.Book Review: Excellent haunted house novel
Summary: 4 Stars
The first 50 pages or so are a bit dull (but then that's the case in most books) but suddenly it gets going and it is a really creepy and frightening book. I haven't read a "horror" book since 2001 when I read the dreadful "Dreamcatcher" which really put me off but this has made me want to read more again.
The characters in Hell House can be a bit irritating - the sceptical doctor who gets hit on the head by a ghost but still won't believe in them, his pathetic mouse of a wife, the "loony" medium, and the do-nothing loner who....does nothing. But all together they make for a good read.
I would have given this book 5 stars if it wasn't for the silly ending, but aside from that this book is well worth reading!
Book Review: Is this a Horror story? Or Soft Porn?
Summary: 3 Stars
The potential for Hell House to scare you is there. It has all the elements: darkness, psychics, a great back story (and haunted house), and intriguing characters, but explain why the story seems to get stale and go no where? The major theme of sexuality are very strong, at times bordering on pornographic, but instead of uplifting the plot it just suppresses it. While reading I had to double check the title and back cover to make sure I was reading a "horror story", and not "gothic erotica" (a better genre choice for this book).
And that is as far as "Hell House" goes. Nothing is explained. Revelations and insights fall on deaf ears and are hardly surprising because you are numbed by undefined dialogue and little detail.
The truly horrifying thing about "Hell House" is the fact that the reader never finds any answers for herself and is left to put scattered and buried clues together. The conclusion is not satisfying. At least one that settles well with you. Wait to you find out what is actually haunting the house. You would either laugh or say "duh!".
Like I said, the elements to scare you are there, but it just doesn't feel completed. Unless you find lesbianism, mutilation of the female body, and misogyny horrifying, I guess you might have some bad dreams. Other than than...three stars
Book Review: hell house
Summary: 3 Stars
This book is definitely not the best "haunted house" book I have ever read, but I guess it still holds a place within the genre. I was expecting a lot more to be honest. A lot of the possessions revolved around sex, but it seemed more an exercise in shock value than any real substance. One of the problems there is that it's not exactly shocking in this day and age. I also had a problem with the 2 women being the only characters to be taken over by their carnal desires. Somehow, the men survived that part.
The end was pretty snooze worthy. The story kept building to a seeming climax, but the supposed mystery was pretty easy to figure out. One of the characters even surmised the answer to the mystery of Hell House about halfway through, but, of course, it fell on deaf ears. I hate to say I was pretty glad to be finished with the book. It really wasn't even that scary. I'd try "The Shining," "The Fall of the House of Usher," or "The House of the Seven Gables" is you want a haunted house story.
Book Review: A very good book
Summary: 4 Stars
First, let me respond to the other reviews. Apparently some people found that the sexual aspect of the book was too much. Well everyone has their opinions but I think some people just failed to understand what the point was. These are not the sick fantesies of the author no more than someone who writes a fictional account of the Nazis is himself a Nazi. If people can't write about such things then what's the point? We'll just have cute bunny rabbits and rainbows.
Seriously, it's a horror novel about a haunted house and what made it haunted? Matheson, both in this book and in I Am Legend looks at the subject in a different way. Rather than have your usual ghosts who were murdered by some random killer haunt a place until justice is done and the ghost can go away.
Is it so hard to believe that someone with alot of money would delve into perverted acts? Just look at the Imperial families of Tiberius, Nero and Caligula and you'll understand. Belasco lived like a modern-day Nero except that he delved into the paranormal...hence the haunting. Yes imagine that, a perverted sexually-driven guy turns out to be evil and his spirit haunts a house.
And yes, the sacrilige is pretty horrible but Belasco was evil, so you'd kind of expect that sort of thing from the guy. It wasn't intended to be some smear against religion at all, only to accent how twisted the villian was.
Now, the book isn't the best book you'll ever read but it's entertaining and will definitely keep you up at night. Some people have mentioned various haunted house movies...they aren't the same, sorry. Even the film adaptation of this book doesn't come close. If you're looking for an easy read and an entertaining horror book, pick this one up and enjoy. If you prefer light stuff that doesn't delve into true horror and darkness...you better stay away.