Reviews

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

bookish_fish's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

martinaferro's review against another edition

3.0

There were two main points in the story which really scared me, and that's quite impressive seeing as I have already watched the film for this book.
I enjoyed this book a lot :)

jp_priestley's review against another edition

4.0

If you are a lover of ghost stories, then you would certainly want to add Susan Hill's 1983 novel The Woman in Black to your reading list, assuming you have not already read this exceedingly well-written work.

Rather unusually for me, I watched the 2012 supernatural horror film of the same name before reading Hill's book. I have often found that books do not translate well to film, often leaving one rather disappointed. Often, though, this is due to poor handling of the adaptation to film by screenwriters, producers and directors. It is refreshing, therefore, to acknowledge that for me (at least) this second film rendering of Hill's book was exceptionally well crafted, adding substantially to the story. I will not speak more of film adaptations of the book here, except to state that the 2012 film, produced by Hammer Film Productions and others and starring Danielle Radcliffe in a first-rate performance, was marvellously atmospheric and full of nerve-tingling moments; indeed, several cuts from the original film were made and it still attracted a 12A certification!

I read the Vintage (Penguin Random House) 2016 reissued edition of Hill's book, with striking cover artwork by Jamie Clarke. At 200 pages, the book can be read in a day or two if you maintain focus and are left undisturbed. Do not let the compactness of this book deceive you, however, as it contains much! Hill's mastery of language conjures evocative images of the times, and takes the reader hand-in-hand with Arthur Kipps on an enthralling journey that builds to a crescendo at Eel Marsh House near the Edwardian English village of Crythin Gifford, and beyond.

A resounding thumbs-up, then, from me for The Woman in Black, a classic English ghost story!

akouznetsov's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

4.5

steph0611's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

sleeping_jem's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

It's a good, ghostly little story. Potential readers be aware that this is more of a sad, slow burn horror story than a gripping thriller. 

If you enjoy Victorian novels you will probably find yourself very at home with this one, but anyone hoping to be frightened might consider watching the film adaptation instead. 

maribooked's review against another edition

4.0

Είχε αρκετές ανατριχιαστικές σκηνές και μου άρεσε πολύ η ατμόσφαιρα του. Απ ΄όσα βιβλία του είδους έχω διαβάσει ίσως ήταν αυτό που με ''τρόμαξε'' περισσότερο!

“Whatever was about, whoever I had seen, and heard rocking, and who had passed me by just now, whoever had opened the locked door was not 'real'. No. But what was 'real'? At that moment I began to doubt my own reality.”

lucyisreading's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

peachy__'s review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

susie_d_d_130's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0