Scan barcode
A review by highleyginger
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Haunted-ish...
Doc preaches about how the house will show it's true colors, it sort of does, but that part wasn't as dramatic as horrifying for me.
Everyone seems very high strung, especially the Doctors wife and her companion. I believe someone else said "like a bunch of hipsters talking about the journey they are having, instead of just having the journey" and I feel like that really encompasses my thoughts.
Eleanor is the only true personality of this book. She's absolutely bonkers and the ending is incredible. I feel like she was already a bit mad before entering but in a delightful way but as the hauntings progress, she's not so much frightened as alone among the crowd and I can't help but feel immense sympathy for that. I've been there. Maybe the house did drive her to her demise, maybe it was the isolation and having no home other than the house that genuinely welcomed her. Very heartbreaking.
The concept overall is intriguing, and maybe I would have appreciated it more if I hadn't read The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer first. Similar concept, but much more coherent for me.
Doc preaches about how the house will show it's true colors, it sort of does, but that part wasn't as dramatic as horrifying for me.
Everyone seems very high strung, especially the Doctors wife and her companion. I believe someone else said "like a bunch of hipsters talking about the journey they are having, instead of just having the journey" and I feel like that really encompasses my thoughts.
Eleanor is the only true personality of this book. She's absolutely bonkers and the ending is incredible. I feel like she was already a bit mad before entering but in a delightful way but as the hauntings progress, she's not so much frightened as alone among the crowd and I can't help but feel immense sympathy for that. I've been there. Maybe the house did drive her to her demise, maybe it was the isolation and having no home other than the house that genuinely welcomed her. Very heartbreaking.
The concept overall is intriguing, and maybe I would have appreciated it more if I hadn't read The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer first. Similar concept, but much more coherent for me.