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dragonlilly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
This was a fantastic work of horror and an exploration of the mind, identity, and grief. There are also multiple ways to interpret the book and the ending, and all of them are interesting and valid. It was funny, because about halfway through the story I found myself wondering when something scary would happen, and then it of course did and was done amazingly. One scene specifically stuck with me terribly and made it difficult to sleep, but my imagination easily runs wild after consuming horror media, so people without an active imagination would probably sleep soundly. Nonetheless, the horror scenes are not only eerie, but also interesting and very clearly described. The characters themselves are quite charming, except for the ones that are deliberately meant to not be liked, and the dynamic between the characters is even more fascinating, and even fun early on. Over time, things get more complicated, especially with our narrator Eleanor who forms a very strong connection to the house. There is a lot in this short book, and I was satisfied with the ending, even if I expected it a little bit - although the ending was much more perfect and haunting than I could have imagined. In general, there is a ton to think about, and a lot to explore within the story.
I have some thoughts I want to note about the interpretations:
We know Eleanor may have some sort of power that could have caused the rocks raining on her house when she was a child, and this is likely why the doctor called her to the house (same as with Theodora). I think it is quite possible that perhaps the house was straight up haunted and negatively affected the group while also desiring for them to stay in the house. Strangely the house latched onto Eleanor especially and this culminates in Eleanor possibly being possessed and wanting to be a part of the house, ending with her death when the group tries to send her away for fear of her health. However, there are lots of little strange hits spattered throughout the story that may point to Eleanor possibly using her own powers, and maybe even experiencing intense mental illness. Eleanor is wracked by depression, a lack of identity, grief and guilt over her mother, an intense feeling of being alone as well as an outcast, and possibly schizophrenia. Over time, some of the characters seemingly chuckle at her and act oddly towards her, and some of this could be the effect of and weight of the house (like when Theo got very mad at Eleanor after discovering the red liquid), but it was to such an extent that I also wonder if Eleanor was misinterpreting things or even seeing things that were not truly being expressed by the other characters. She starts to watch the other characters to see if they talking badly about her, and of course they do not. Either the house is twisting her against them, or her mind is overwhelmed by the fear of being an outcast, or both. I feel like not all of the haunting experiences were caused by Eleanor, but perhaps some at the end really were. There is just so much to consider when exploring this book, and it is so fascinating. Regardless of what the true interpretation is (or maybe there isn't one and Shirley Jackson intended all of them in a way) Eleanor no doubt develops a strange connection to the house that has many parallels throughout the book, either from her deep grief and powers causing the happenings, or the house seeing what Eleanor does not have and finding a way to give it to her. I sort of see it as both.
I have some thoughts I want to note about the interpretations:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent
m_delaney's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Suicide
tita_loves_literature's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Child death and Violence
babudarabu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide
Minor: Child abuse, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
thesupermassive's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“Journeys end in lovers meeting; I have spent an all but sleepless night, I have told lies and made a fool of myself and the very air tastes like wine. I have been frightened half out of my foolish wits, but I have somehow earned this joy; I have been waiting for it for so long.” (136)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse and Death of parent
savvy999's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Devastating inexplicable sadness that comes with a lost youth and the frustrating isolation of grasping at love wherever it appears.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse
filipa_maia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
So... I was expecting a little bit more from this book. Being my favorite genre and so acclaimed (this book was the inspiration for the Netflix series) I was expecting pure, dark horror.
Don't get me wrong, the book is good: a haunted house and a bunch of people living in it is the perfect plot to a great book. We get all the classics: knocks on the doors, footsteps when nobody is around, people acting in a very weird way. But that was not enough. The dialogs are long, superficial and, sometimes, very confusing - almost as if it was written to be a script and not a actual book. The characters are annoying and you never, truly, understand if that's how they really are or if that's part of the house's influence. Maybe that's the intention, after all. But we will never find out.
For me, there is a lot of talking and not enough action. I hear very nice thing about the series so I'm going to give it a try.
Don't get me wrong, the book is good: a haunted house and a bunch of people living in it is the perfect plot to a great book. We get all the classics: knocks on the doors, footsteps when nobody is around, people acting in a very weird way. But that was not enough. The dialogs are long, superficial and, sometimes, very confusing - almost as if it was written to be a script and not a actual book. The characters are annoying and you never, truly, understand if that's how they really are or if that's part of the house's influence. Maybe that's the intention, after all. But we will never find out.
For me, there is a lot of talking and not enough action. I hear very nice thing about the series so I'm going to give it a try.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident
Minor: Alcohol
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
i wouldn't say i found it scary or tense at all, just a lil spooky at times. it started off strong but kind of fell into a lull for the last third until the very end. i wanted to see the house's control over Eleanor play out longer; it was definitely a slow burn but there wasn't much payoff.
also, no, this book doesn't have any queer undertones. they are so blatant they're fucking overtones.
also, no, this book doesn't have any queer undertones. they are so blatant they're fucking overtones.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Car accident
Moderate: Child abuse and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
impeachnixon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Blood, and Car accident