A review by will_foster
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I'm in conflict about The Haunting of Hill House. I can see how it's a classic story that people would study, and the depiction of social anxiety is the best I've read.
The first 100 pages or slow were brilliant, then it slowed and started to irritate me as things happening seemed to be happening that I felt wasn't explained fully. I don't want things explained too much, but I'm also far too literal a reader to realise what's happening deep under the surface. This is just me, however, many parts I just didn't get it 😅.
I understood why events were happening by the end of the Novel, but that didn't prevent my annoyance at character actions and things that were said that didn't seem to make sense. I came so close to putting the book away, but the fact that there were only 70 pages left by my most annoyed states made me want to get to the end.
I am glad I did, the ending was very good, and very suitable for the story and character dynamics as the story went along. I think I was just expecting something else. The scary parts were few but very effective. Ult mately, I think I wanted more of that.
The first 100 pages or slow were brilliant, then it slowed and started to irritate me as things happening seemed to be happening that I felt wasn't explained fully. I don't want things explained too much, but I'm also far too literal a reader to realise what's happening deep under the surface. This is just me, however, many parts I just didn't get it 😅.
I understood why events were happening by the end of the Novel, but that didn't prevent my annoyance at character actions and things that were said that didn't seem to make sense. I came so close to putting the book away, but the fact that there were only 70 pages left by my most annoyed states made me want to get to the end.
I am glad I did, the ending was very good, and very suitable for the story and character dynamics as the story went along. I think I was just expecting something else. The scary parts were few but very effective. Ult mately, I think I wanted more of that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness