The Haunting of Hill House
by Shirley Jackson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Shirley JacksonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1984-06-05
ISBN: 0140071083
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)
Book Reviews of The Haunting of Hill House
Book Review: "HIll House, not sane" - it isn't really horror, but it's brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
There are (not many, but some) reviews of this book where readers gave it only one star and said things like "it's boring, it's not scary". It definitely isn't boring - I was gripped from those first opening sentences, which have to be the single best opening paragraph of any novel ever written - to the end; but if you're after horror with monsters, or ghosts, or bizarre historical weirdnesses, this is not the book for you. This is a book about atmosphere; about character and sadness and life's unfairness and human nature. It's more creepy than frightening, although I personally found the way poor Eleanor's mind worked frightening. Jackson writes this marvellous, sparse, ambiguous but vivid prose. A few times in the novel, characters discuss how it feels like Hill House has become their whole world, that there is no other place outside of it - and Jackson really evokes that claustrophobic, dreamlike atmosphere perfectly.
It won't make your skin crawl but it should make you feel weak and woozy and leave you feeling haunted yourself - it did me. I loved the way so MUCH of this novel is left open to speculation - I loved the bizarre dialogue (and yes, some people do talk like this) and I loved the marvellous casual insertion of absolutely hysterically funny moments. Some of the scenes with Mrs Montague and Arthur are the funniest things I've ever read!
Every time I go back to this book to reread it's like being immersed in another world - like walking into Hill House. Other than to say that the writing is wonderfully skilled, I can't explain why I love this book so much, but I think that's it's one of those magical, inspired things that just can't be rationalised. Those opening lines really are the best ever written, I think.
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