The Haunting of Hill House

[Hazel]

Hill House has stood empty for 80 years and the local villager, in Hillside, do not speak of it. Legend has it that it is haunted. So Dr. Montague with an interest in the paranormal asks 3 others to come stay at the house, in order to record any paranormal events or manifestations. Eleanor, a youngish, naive 32 year old escapes from her mundane life under her sister's careful control. She comes to find herself, find her life, her purpose, an adventure in Hill House. Theodora, a beautiful, confidant woman comes for an adventure. And Luke, who stands to inherit Hill House. All are brought to the house under the request of Dr. Montague.

At first the house is just ugly, old and cold and the intrepid four make jokes about what they will find. But slowly, the house begins to plot against them, trying to separate them and slowly drive them mad. It singles out Eleanor as a focus of it's malevolent fun.

Though a 3rd person narrative, the narrative occasionally slips into something akin to 1st person. (through focalization, free direct speech etc.), to make the readers see through Eleanor's consciousness. And this is where Jackson's real skill lies - in getting the reader firmly into Eleanor's consciousness, I was never quite sure if what Eleanor was experiencing was real or created by the house. It actually felt as if I was losing my mind a little. Were the others in the group plotting against her? Were they being mean? Were they playing tricks to make her go mad? You really never quite know. At times, I was a little scared reading this at night - the narrative and Eleanor struggling to keep control is quite terrifying.

This is a great read, really 5 star, and a timely, perfect read for Halloween. I will definitely be picking up more Jackson books in the very near future.

[Holly Golightly]

This book sounds great, I like scary books like this, thanks for the recommendation will definitley get this book. :)

[katrina]

The gothic number follows that plight of four people as they come together in a scientific study on a haunted house. The previous tennants of the house have always left after a few days on sudden business to be elsewhere.
The main character Eleanor, a woman who has spent much of her life looking after a sickly woman, connects with the house and all its mysteries.
This book creates a great atmosphere, and while it was never scary it certainly grabbed my attention. The oddly angled house, the strange relationship between the characters, the housekeeper and the goings on in the novel have confirmed that I need to read more Shirley Jackson.

[Grammath]

Hazel has, of course, expressed praise for this novel already. Threads merged.