A review by andipants
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
4.0
This is a ghost story in the classic English tradition, right down to beginning with swapping stories around a fireplace on Christmas Eve. All the gothic elements are here, including an isolated village full of close-mouthed locals, a big old house full of long hallways and locked doors, and a mysterious specter with a tragic backstory whose appearance portends doom. If the notes are mostly familiar, they are nevertheless masterfully played, making for a delightfully creepy atmosphere and some wonderful chills.
If you've seen the 2012 movie, you will recognize most of the characters and events here, but it is not entirely the same story; some plot points were changed and several elements added or significantly expanded for the film (not entirely surprising, given the book's brevity -- my edition clocks in at a svelte 164 pages). This is not to say either is better than the other -- I liked them both quite a lot -- but merely an admonition against building too many expectations for one on the basis of the other. Regardless of your opinion on the movie, if you're in the mood for a good old-fashioned gothic chill as we head into the Halloween season, this one certainly deserves consideration.
If you've seen the 2012 movie, you will recognize most of the characters and events here, but it is not entirely the same story; some plot points were changed and several elements added or significantly expanded for the film (not entirely surprising, given the book's brevity -- my edition clocks in at a svelte 164 pages). This is not to say either is better than the other -- I liked them both quite a lot -- but merely an admonition against building too many expectations for one on the basis of the other. Regardless of your opinion on the movie, if you're in the mood for a good old-fashioned gothic chill as we head into the Halloween season, this one certainly deserves consideration.