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eerie_iri's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Confinement
kingcrookback's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Peace, Eleanor thought concretely; what I want in all this world is peace, a quiet spot to lie and think, a quiet spot up among the flowers where I can dream and tell myself sweet stories.
About 70% into this book, I suddenly had the thought, "It feels like this book is reading me"--which I realize is melodramatic, but it's the most precise way I can phrase the way Shirley Jackson constructs Eleanor's train of thought and the description of the happenings in Hill House. The descriptions are vague, which to me amplifies the atmosphere of dread and pressing anxiety because Jackson leaves quite a bit to one's imagination. The reader is complicit in the hauntings; it's a back-and-forth engagement between audience and text. (I actually had some very strange dreams while I was reading this book, tried to finish it as fast as I could partially because of this.) I kept thinking of this book in film terms, for some reason--"zoomed out," "just offscreen," "soft focus," etc. It might be because while it isn't told in excruciating detail, I still found Jackson's writing to be very evocative in the sense that it's impressionistic. We feel Eleanor's loneliness not merely in the sense that she longs to belong to something but largely through her habit of concocting narratives to try to fit herself into--and the failure of these narratives to come to fruition.
As far as the type of horror goes, I think it's apt to say YMMV. I don't think it'll do what people looking for a "haunted house" story might want it to do. If what you're looking for is something more creeping, psychological, and character-focused, I think this might satisfy.
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
rodent_scribbles's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Definitely a more psychological horror where the presence is more felt than seen that might not appeal to everyone but I enjoyed it.
The characters are interesting and Jackson's prose is fantastic.
Highly recommend this book for fans of Gothic and psychological ghost stories.
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Suicide, Car accident, and Death of parent
monicaa_d's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Enjoyability ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Impact ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Moderate: Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Alcoholism
itskenzcarter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Murder, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Emotional abuse and Alcohol
madelinequinnee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
3.5
I did find this slightly boring but i think that’s more because i’m not a huge fan of classics. The writing, however, was beautiful.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicide, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
writteninmagic's review against another edition
2.0
Minor: Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
poirot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Blood, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol
tixdixl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Suicide and Alcohol
cheazcakeguy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*MAJOR spoiler ahead*
Would like to re-read someday to see if I pick up on anything I missed the first time.
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol