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97th out of 807 books
—
2,386 voters
The House Next Door
Their love would never be the same. Colquitt and Walter Kennedy enjoyed a life of lazy weekends, gathering with the neighbors on their quiet, manicured street and sipping drinks on their patios. But when construction of a beautiful new home begins in the empty lot next door, their easy friendship and relaxed get-togethers are marred by strange accidents and inexplicable ha...more
Paperback, 352 pages
Published
February 1st 1995
by HarperTorch
(first published 1978)
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Nov 11, 2007
Stephanie
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anybody stupid enough to follow a knife-wielding psychopath into the basement
Shelves:
meh
WARNING!!! THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS PLOT SPOILERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!
Trin's review was right on. I, too, picked up this book after reading Stephen King's rave review in Danse Macabre. And while I loved the beginning (Pie's miscarriage was truly horrific), my admiration turned to disbelief as the house made everybody in town stray from their spouses and have sex with somebody else. Just so you know it's really a curse and not plain ol' horniness that's gotten hold of these people, the au...more
Trin's review was right on. I, too, picked up this book after reading Stephen King's rave review in Danse Macabre. And while I loved the beginning (Pie's miscarriage was truly horrific), my admiration turned to disbelief as the house made everybody in town stray from their spouses and have sex with somebody else. Just so you know it's really a curse and not plain ol' horniness that's gotten hold of these people, the au...more
There is a popular tendency, following Stephen King's passages in Danse Macabre to treat this interesting title as "the making of a haunted house". However, and I do not talk up King lightly, this is probably a mistake and one that King does not himself make. Looking at Shirley Jackson's more famous work, I think both women share the practice of treating their famous houses as live organisms, but in Siddons there is no traditional haunting that follows (perhaps not in Jackson's work either) and...more
2 likes · like · see review
Another book where I really dug the first third and then became progressively more and more annoyed. Narrated by a woman with the improbable name of Colquitt (forgive me if this actually IS a popular name Down South; I'm clearly an ignorant Westerner/Yankee, yo), this is a haunted house story that I'd heard was fantastic from several sources, including Stephen King—not in his usual, I'll-blurb-anything fashion, but in long passages of "Danse Macabre," (the title of which GoodReads seems determi...more
12 likes · like · see review
Another scary book! Couldn't put this one down! It kind of sneaks up on you...
I thought this book offered a fresh take on the "haunted house" subgenre of the horror genre. The main problem with a haunted house story is the characters' logic, or lack thereof: if the house is haunted, why don't you just leave? "The House Next Door" solves that problem by telling the story from the point-of-view of the next door neighbors, who watch as one house destroys three separate families.
The first family to move in is a young couple, newlyweds who are very much in love and who want t...more
The first family to move in is a young couple, newlyweds who are very much in love and who want t...more
I had a lot of things to do today but instead I sat on the porch and read this whole thing, cover to cover. I couldn't stop. I was gripped - in the fiendish hands of an unholy obsession to find out just what was going to happen to these mid 70s upper middle class people and the House of Doom. Modern architecture! It is evil! It will reach out and get you, particularly when it's been created by the fevered brain of a young architect who isn't really from the upper middle class. No, he is (gasp!)...more
I downloaded this book because I read somewhere how much Stephen King loved it. While this story of a haunted modern house is written in lavishly lavender prose, I couldn't put the damn thing down until I finished it in two days. Besides shivering at the schlocky shock value of how each family who lives in the house is systematically destroyed, I very much enjoyed picking out the details that marked this book as being published in 1978. There are lots of parties thrown with hostesses wearing sil...more
I really loved parts of this book, but at the same time, I wanted to throw it across the room.
The build of eeriness was fantastic. Having read the back cover, I knew it was about an evil house. Reading the house slowly destroying lives was great. There were some scenes that were truely horrifying.
Then the end came...
And I wanted to throw it. There were a couple of comments that made me unsure if the two main characters were really who they said they were throughout the book (or even human). But...more
The build of eeriness was fantastic. Having read the back cover, I knew it was about an evil house. Reading the house slowly destroying lives was great. There were some scenes that were truely horrifying.
Then the end came...
And I wanted to throw it. There were a couple of comments that made me unsure if the two main characters were really who they said they were throughout the book (or even human). But...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
2 likes · like · see review
wow, this was so close to being a really amazing book! still pretty damn good, just not... legendary good. but hey.
i love haunted house books, and that's what this is, only stripped of all the usual genre crap. there's no ancient decaying victorian, no history of ghosts and weird noises, no creepy old lady peering out through the blinds... it's a thoroughly modern, realistic, SANE and not-tongue-in-cheek account of a middle-aged couple and the events that transpire when a new house goes up next...more
i love haunted house books, and that's what this is, only stripped of all the usual genre crap. there's no ancient decaying victorian, no history of ghosts and weird noises, no creepy old lady peering out through the blinds... it's a thoroughly modern, realistic, SANE and not-tongue-in-cheek account of a middle-aged couple and the events that transpire when a new house goes up next...more
I'm currently reading this and I'm about halfway through. I really have to comment on some of the absurdity of this. I haven't gone through a lot of the reviews yet but so far I haven't seen this one mentioned. Ok...so Pie miscarries, and the neighbor goes over and see's the baby's body, and knows it was a baby boy and then..and then throws "a load of sand over everything". Um. Wait. WHAT?!
Later, this same neighbor jokes to Colquitt (ugh, that name..), after the second couple that lives there s...more
Later, this same neighbor jokes to Colquitt (ugh, that name..), after the second couple that lives there s...more
I wasn't terribly impressed by this book. The author's voice is pretentious--the artsy references alone are enough to send a level-headed reader running for the hills. The eeriness of the house (the one next door, that is) never quite crosses the line into reality. The main characters call themselves crazy, and, well, I agreed with them. The final blow--the speculation about the architect--isn't as powerful as the author probably hoped.
I found myself sighing a lot as I read the dialogue in this...more
I found myself sighing a lot as I read the dialogue in this...more
This book is a re-release of the original, published in 1978 – so it has an authentically 1978 feel. It’s set in the south, in a neighborhood full of comfortably wealthy people who know the meaning of community. The main characters have a wonderful marriage, are in their mid-thirties and intentionally without children. When the empty lot next to them is sold and a gorgeous house goes up designed by a friendly, brilliant architect, the horror begins.
At least it's supposed to be a horror story, al...more
At least it's supposed to be a horror story, al...more
1.5 stars, if there is such a thing. Extra half star because I could read it really fast - literally skimming paragraphs and pages at a time and not missing anything important. This is not the kind of book I usually read. I did not become enthralled with the pretentious characters or the upscale setting. The plot and the characters felt forced - While Siddons has published many books, presumably some good ones, I could almost hear her thinking, "I've got to make something happen now....Throw a p...more
Feb 01, 2010
El
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to El by:
Rhonda
Shelves:
late20th-centurylit
Colquitt and Walter Kennedy live in a nice, friendly, safe American suburb. They're a little put-out when the empty lot beside their nice, friendly, safe home goes under construction and POOF! - a new house is in its place. They're grumpy, but reach out to their new neighbors and get to know the "house next door". And when the new neighbors have a tragedy pushing them from the house, and new neighbors move in, Colquitt and Walter try to reach out to them as well. It soon becomes evident that the...more
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Four and a half stars, actually. An amazing little mystery, not really Siddons' genre (although maybe it should be), about a new, contemporary house built in an affluent neighborhood that systematically breaks down and destroys its inhabitants. Colquitt Kennedy is the main character, and along with her husband Walter and their two cats, she lives in the house next door, and she narrates the story. Some of the new house's owners are so annoying, you're glad to see them get it, but with others the...more
This is a modern possessed house classic.
I first read this when I was about 10 or 11 and remember that it really creeped me out. So, now thirty years later I've reread it.
It still is a very creepy tale, not in your face horror but a more old fashioned(it came out in 1978)kind full of tension, and a genuine escalating feeling of eerieness. The evil is evident throughout.
The author writes with an assurance that is uncommon with first novels
and rare with these kind of atmospheric horror novels. It...more
I first read this when I was about 10 or 11 and remember that it really creeped me out. So, now thirty years later I've reread it.
It still is a very creepy tale, not in your face horror but a more old fashioned(it came out in 1978)kind full of tension, and a genuine escalating feeling of eerieness. The evil is evident throughout.
The author writes with an assurance that is uncommon with first novels
and rare with these kind of atmospheric horror novels. It...more
I discovered this book in an article I read a while back about horror novels that would make great movies. A good haunted house story should be mostly atmospheric with some shocking revelations thrown in, in my opinion. I am so happy to say that this book achieves both atmosphere and shock. I loved this book.
Our narrator lives a comfortable life in a country club neighborhood suburb of Atlanta in the late 70's. People are well off and personable. Appearances mean a lot. Colquitt and her husband...more
Our narrator lives a comfortable life in a country club neighborhood suburb of Atlanta in the late 70's. People are well off and personable. Appearances mean a lot. Colquitt and her husband...more
This book is one I waited a whole month to get and read. It was a source of great anticipation which I found rather amusing because it isn't a new release. In fact, I saw the movie for it years ago and never knew it was based on a book.
Goodreads describes the book as:
Thirtysomething Colquitt and Walter Kennedy live in a charming, peaceful suburb of newly bustling Atlanta, Georgia. Life is made up of enjoyable work, long, lazy weekends, and the company of good neighbors. Then, to their shock, co...more
Goodreads describes the book as:
Thirtysomething Colquitt and Walter Kennedy live in a charming, peaceful suburb of newly bustling Atlanta, Georgia. Life is made up of enjoyable work, long, lazy weekends, and the company of good neighbors. Then, to their shock, co...more
This was an odd read for me. For the first third of the book, I was pretty sure it was going to get just one star, two at the most. The major problem was that it felt dated. Details often lend an air of authenticity, but in this book, they just annoyed me and made me feel like I was watching a made for tv movie from the early 80's. Early references to some of the plot situations intensified this. (If you read the book, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.) I was hoping the evil house woul...more
I understand that this was a departure for the author from her usual genre. Without having read any of her other works, this is the best assessment I can give. The writing for this seemed more appropriate for slow southern fiction, the kind where people sit on the porch with glasses of sweet tea and look out at the world. I'm not sure the author's style is well suited for horror. It also seemed a little disjointed at times and contradictory. The author writes pages to make sure the reader knows...more
Jan 23, 2013
Alexandra
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Alexandra by:
Stephen King's "Danse Macabre"
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Colquitt & Walter Kennedy are a comfortable couple living out their dreams in an affluent suburb and then the lot next to them is sold . . . It has some very sinister undertones and I'm looking forward to discovering what happens next.
Later: This was a great book. I remember picking it up because it was on Stephen King's recommended reading list in Entertainment Weekly a few years back. It's a story about a group of upper class people who have lived charmed lives until construction begins in...more
Later: This was a great book. I remember picking it up because it was on Stephen King's recommended reading list in Entertainment Weekly a few years back. It's a story about a group of upper class people who have lived charmed lives until construction begins in...more
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I thought this was ok, but I think Siddons tried a little too hard here. She's at her best when she's effortless (Outer Banks, Downtown) but something seemed forced and unbelievable here, not supernatural.
Don't get me wrong: I've been reading her for 20 years and fell in love with her when I first read Outer Banks. However, this one seemed stressed in its delivery. I think she tried to make this a very upper class horror story, but it didn't work, to me. Maybe it's just that I had a hard time s...more
Don't get me wrong: I've been reading her for 20 years and fell in love with her when I first read Outer Banks. However, this one seemed stressed in its delivery. I think she tried to make this a very upper class horror story, but it didn't work, to me. Maybe it's just that I had a hard time s...more
This was a fun, quick, creepy read! I haven't dabbled too much in the "scary" genre, but I really enjoyed this. I will tell you, that I wasn't really "scared", but I was definitely entertained and the book had me curious the whole time.
I may want to check out other books by this author. Apparently there is a Lifetime movie based on this book starring Mark Paul Gosselar (AKA Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell!) but I haven't seen it. I would like to check it out, though to help me imagine a lot o...more
I may want to check out other books by this author. Apparently there is a Lifetime movie based on this book starring Mark Paul Gosselar (AKA Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell!) but I haven't seen it. I would like to check it out, though to help me imagine a lot o...more
I always liked Anne Rivers Siddons' books but for some reason had never heard about this one until a few days ago. I immediately downloaded it on to my Kindle and within 36 hours I had finished it! I simply could not put it down. It is the type of horror that really gets to me because everything that happened COULD have an alternate, rational explanation and it's up to us to decide whether to accept the rational explanation and stay in our comfort zones or whether to accept that there is true ev...more
Found this in the "Horror" section of my library and I really believe that it should just be shelved with the general fiction collection. While reading it, I only experienced about 2 or 3 chills, not enough for a 350+ page book. The things that were happening in the house honestly weren't worth the overly dramatic reactions of the narrator. I also disliked the way the reader learns things through neighbor gossip, which seems to take up the majority of the book. The author's unique take on the tr...more
I recently read this book, partly as research for a book I myself am writing. But I found I absolutely loved it. The first person POV. The characters. The story. I deliberately didn't read too much about the novel before reading it - I wanted to be surprised, and I certainly was.
Anne Rivers Siddons is now a new fav. author of mine and I am actively looking for her other books, though I know some of them (most of them?) are not the type of book 'House' is, that is they aren't categorized as horr...more
Anne Rivers Siddons is now a new fav. author of mine and I am actively looking for her other books, though I know some of them (most of them?) are not the type of book 'House' is, that is they aren't categorized as horr...more
I had no idea what to expect going into this book. This isn't the edition I read, but since the one I read isn't on here I'm choosing the Stephen King Horror Library one because that is the entire reason I checked out this book (this is the second book I'm reading from his "Horror Library." The first was Rosemary's Baby.) Anywho...this book centers around a woman and her husband who live a quiet, boring life until someone buys the plot of land next to their house and builds "The House Next Door....more
A super-creepy and beautifully written tour-de-force, detailing the Atlanta suburbs as you've never seen them before. Few authors I have read have detailed the complex inner currents of modern Southern friendships as Anne Rivers Siddons does in this book. The only thing more frightening than the house, which I think is an obvious metaphor for community and relationship destruction via modern society's materialism, are the characters who populate it. The slightly overwritten first chapters and so...more
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“Walter loves the sea, and I need it in some elemental way that I cannot even come close to verbalizing. I become dim and shriveled somehow at my very core if I am away from the sea too long. When I return to it I seem to fill up and overflow with it, soaking in the vast, sighing wetness of it like a parched vine in a long, soft spring rain.”
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“You wouldn't maintain a house like that' you'd feet it and water it. You'd have to give it nourishment and love it to keep it alive and healthy.”
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3 people liked it
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