A review by oddly
Slade House, by David Mitchell
5.0
David Mitchell is one author I think everyone should be reading. He is an indescribably good writer, not only because he has interesting ways to say things, but because the things he says are new and interesting themselves. No one is writing books quite like his.
I waited for this book (most impatiently), having read THE RIGHT SORT as Mitchell published it on Twitter (Here's the link in case you're interested: https://twitter.com/SceptreBooks/timelines/488586138048004096). The book does not disappoint.
Haunted house stories are something I hold near and dear, I think there are so many unexplored corners of houses, their psyches, and the interactions with their visitors and owners that can be delved into in new and interesting ways, and there are so many great haunted house books. Obviously, Jackson's [b:The Haunting of Hill House|89717|The Haunting of Hill House |Shirley Jackson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327871336s/89717.jpg|3627] tops this list, and probably always will--some houses are just born bad, you know--but here are another few that I think are definitely worth throwing out there (to be discussed more fully at a later date). [b:Burnt Offerings|897717|Burnt Offerings|Robert Marasco|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297539225s/897717.jpg|882910] is a great out of print haunted house novel that is highly undervalued. Everything from the plot, to the characters, to the writing is innovative and chilling. Highly recommended. I'd also like to put [b:The House Next Door|10616|The House Next Door|Anne Rivers Siddons|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1256664264s/10616.jpg|2886217] on my list. This is an intriguing outsider's perspective on the deterioration of people who live in a house where not all is quite right. Though not technically a house, I'd be remiss to leave off [b:The Shining|762530|The Shining (The Shining, #1)|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377161001s/762530.jpg|849585], which doesn't need much introduction. Finally, I'll add a newer book, out just earlier this month in fact: [b:Little Sister Death|24998972|Little Sister Death|William Gay|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438047773s/24998972.jpg|44669089]. This book is a beautiful Southern Gothic, styled in a way only William Gay is capable of, and I think it's worth mentioning (1) because you should read it and (2) because it is a true contemporary of SLADE HOUSE.
Though the books have little in common stylistically, plotwise, or genrewise, they are both haunted house novels at their cores and you can truly see the influences that books like the above, along with so many others, have had on modern writers.
But not to stray too far from the task at hand! Mitchell's newest is quite shorter than most of his books and it burns brightly and quickly. I definitely could have devoured it in one sitting, but I stretched it out over a couple days because I didn't want to leave it, but mostly because the book ends in history on the last Saturday in October 2015, and I do like the synchcronicity of finishing it on that day. This book lives in the same universe as his last novel, [b:The Bone Clocks|20819685|The Bone Clocks|David Mitchell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398205538s/20819685.jpg|26959610], so there are hints of that dropped here and there, but nothing that you'll miss if you haven't tackled THE BONE CLOCKS yet.
In classic Mitchell form, the book spans decades and multiple casts of characters, all centering around the mysterious Slade House. Suffice it to say that this book combines the best of high literature with the best of speculative writing and, I can proudly say, horror. Mitchell doesn't claim any specific genre, and no one has really been able to stick him in one, which is refreshing. I hope people read SLADE HOUSE and not only want to take on Mitchell's more difficult literary works, but that they are also not afraid to try Shirley Jackson or William Gay, both extremely brilliant writers who have horror novels--or at least novels with horrific elements.
A beautiful work that bears cherishing and re-reading, this book adds something entirely new to the oeuvre of haunted house novels. Please also note the brilliant and lovely book design by Peter Mendelsund, which is just another great reason to buy this book and add it to your collection!
I waited for this book (most impatiently), having read THE RIGHT SORT as Mitchell published it on Twitter (Here's the link in case you're interested: https://twitter.com/SceptreBooks/timelines/488586138048004096). The book does not disappoint.
Haunted house stories are something I hold near and dear, I think there are so many unexplored corners of houses, their psyches, and the interactions with their visitors and owners that can be delved into in new and interesting ways, and there are so many great haunted house books. Obviously, Jackson's [b:The Haunting of Hill House|89717|The Haunting of Hill House |Shirley Jackson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327871336s/89717.jpg|3627] tops this list, and probably always will--some houses are just born bad, you know--but here are another few that I think are definitely worth throwing out there (to be discussed more fully at a later date). [b:Burnt Offerings|897717|Burnt Offerings|Robert Marasco|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1297539225s/897717.jpg|882910] is a great out of print haunted house novel that is highly undervalued. Everything from the plot, to the characters, to the writing is innovative and chilling. Highly recommended. I'd also like to put [b:The House Next Door|10616|The House Next Door|Anne Rivers Siddons|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1256664264s/10616.jpg|2886217] on my list. This is an intriguing outsider's perspective on the deterioration of people who live in a house where not all is quite right. Though not technically a house, I'd be remiss to leave off [b:The Shining|762530|The Shining (The Shining, #1)|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377161001s/762530.jpg|849585], which doesn't need much introduction. Finally, I'll add a newer book, out just earlier this month in fact: [b:Little Sister Death|24998972|Little Sister Death|William Gay|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1438047773s/24998972.jpg|44669089]. This book is a beautiful Southern Gothic, styled in a way only William Gay is capable of, and I think it's worth mentioning (1) because you should read it and (2) because it is a true contemporary of SLADE HOUSE.
Though the books have little in common stylistically, plotwise, or genrewise, they are both haunted house novels at their cores and you can truly see the influences that books like the above, along with so many others, have had on modern writers.
But not to stray too far from the task at hand! Mitchell's newest is quite shorter than most of his books and it burns brightly and quickly. I definitely could have devoured it in one sitting, but I stretched it out over a couple days because I didn't want to leave it, but mostly because the book ends in history on the last Saturday in October 2015, and I do like the synchcronicity of finishing it on that day. This book lives in the same universe as his last novel, [b:The Bone Clocks|20819685|The Bone Clocks|David Mitchell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1398205538s/20819685.jpg|26959610], so there are hints of that dropped here and there, but nothing that you'll miss if you haven't tackled THE BONE CLOCKS yet.
In classic Mitchell form, the book spans decades and multiple casts of characters, all centering around the mysterious Slade House. Suffice it to say that this book combines the best of high literature with the best of speculative writing and, I can proudly say, horror. Mitchell doesn't claim any specific genre, and no one has really been able to stick him in one, which is refreshing. I hope people read SLADE HOUSE and not only want to take on Mitchell's more difficult literary works, but that they are also not afraid to try Shirley Jackson or William Gay, both extremely brilliant writers who have horror novels--or at least novels with horrific elements.
A beautiful work that bears cherishing and re-reading, this book adds something entirely new to the oeuvre of haunted house novels. Please also note the brilliant and lovely book design by Peter Mendelsund, which is just another great reason to buy this book and add it to your collection!