A review by lunarpancakes
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I went into this one knowing I was going to enjoy it. I had watched the Netflix series beforehand and was curious as to how Mike Flanagan lifted the material from the original text -- even though I knew this came first, I had a small inkling I was going to have enjoyed the Netflix series more. Not the case -- because they feel immensely different. In "Monster She Wrote," the author talks about how the Netflix series is an adaptation from the bare bones of The Haunting of Hill House -- and I agree. 

Something that I found out after I read it was that
It may very well be an allegory for familial abuse -- namely, the relationship between Shirley Jackson and her toxic mother. The house bears down on Eleanor and whittles at her until she collapses under the pressure of it. The house -- though physically cozy -- psychologically preys on Eleanor's trauma. 

Another interesting interpretation that I actually had myself while reading was that Eleanor was doing all of this to herself. Not intentionally, obviously, but that Eleanor was actually the cause of the shower of stones on her childhood home. The idea that, when Eleanor faces some kind of emotional intensity or trauma or the like, she psychically manifests things i.e. the blood on Theodora's door and all over her dresses.


This book is such a slow burn with rich language that makes you savor every bite. Every character was fully realized, spoke with charming and realistic dialogue, and at the same time, would disappoint you in ways that real humans let you down. A fully engrossing read that left me just. sitting there. After I finished. Bravo. 
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