The Lottery, one of the most terrifying stories written in this century, created a sensation when it was first published in The N...
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Nov 08, 2011
Shawn
rated it: 
Well, who couldn't love this collection? There may be some who, knowing "The Lottery" and Ms. Jackson's reputation for that classic tale and sa handful of other "weird stories", and with no thanks to the packaging ("a literary sorceress" proclaims the back, "the most haunting writer of our time" proclaims the front), come to this expecting it to be all strange and weird, if not actual horror. And they would be disappointed, because the majority of the st
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Aug 05, 2008
Jessica
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In mentioning Shirley Jackson's name, I have found that there is a surprising number of people who have never heard of her, nor "The Lottery," her most famous short story. It's a shame that she remains in the margins of the American canon, while the more prettier and flashier writers such as Sylvia Plath get all the attention. Although Jackson's stories hold a deeply cynical view of the world, she also reveals compassion and empathy for other people's suffering that is missing from her
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Dec 16, 2009
Rachel
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The Lottery is one of my favorite short stories. It is so twisted, like The Crucible, I think it is a great commentary on how groups of people are infinitely more dangerous than individuals because mass hysteria, dogmatic thinking, and a lack of personal responsibility prevents anyone from speaking out against atrocities.
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Jul 27, 2010
Tyler
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Shirley Jackson gives readers glimpses into the exceptional aspects of ordinary lives and events. Her unusual style runs consistently through 25 stories in this 300-page book, stories ranging from four to 22 pages each.
Though sometimes categorized under horror, this collection contains little of that genre. The exception is The Lottery, ten pages that anticipate Stephen King. But people focus too much on it. Far and away, the stories involve a moment -- an instant of realization d More...
Though sometimes categorized under horror, this collection contains little of that genre. The exception is The Lottery, ten pages that anticipate Stephen King. But people focus too much on it. Far and away, the stories involve a moment -- an instant of realization d More...
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Jan 18, 2011
Thanh
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An ENG 284 review:
This might be just another stoning story for some people, but upon multiple readings the implications in the story becomes a bit frightening. The story is set in a same village. They have an annual tradition called “the lottery” in June. All the village people gathers together and would select a piece of paper in a box, whoever has the slip of people that has a black dot would be stoned to death by the other villagers (family members of that unfortunate person might More...
This might be just another stoning story for some people, but upon multiple readings the implications in the story becomes a bit frightening. The story is set in a same village. They have an annual tradition called “the lottery” in June. All the village people gathers together and would select a piece of paper in a box, whoever has the slip of people that has a black dot would be stoned to death by the other villagers (family members of that unfortunate person might More...
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Aug 12, 2008
Jamie
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The Lottery is lauded as being an example of the perfect short story. Having not defined what "perfect" means in relations to the literary form of short stories, I can't really say whether or not I agree. However, The Lottery was extremely interesting. Jackson skillfully sets dread and curiosity up as two opposing forces that will inevitably intersect, meanwhile you're caught in the middle where the tension is tangibly building. The setting is an innocuous village where everyone is pre
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Aug 08, 2008
Todd
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Shirley Jackson is my favorite author. I love her short stories in particular, where she creates scenarios where everything might seem cozy and normal and very laid-back for about 2 minutes. Then she moves over into mankind's sneakier nature, which for the suthor is either a very amusing thing or a very frigtening thing. And always a surprise. I liked the short story "The Lottery" a lot, but my favorites in this collection are "Like My Mother Used to Make" and "Tri
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Jan 18, 2011
Emily
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As it is with most kids, this was required reading for me in school (although I don't remember which grade). I enjoyed it at the time, as it was a shocking and interesting short story. Lately I've been really interested in Shirley Jackson's novels. I absolutely love her writing style and her material.
I reread this story last night, and just as before, It was shocking and interesting. It's done very well, because throughout the story all of the characters act normally (because the lot More...
I reread this story last night, and just as before, It was shocking and interesting. It's done very well, because throughout the story all of the characters act normally (because the lot More...
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Jan 25, 2011
trishtrash
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This collection of Shirley Jackson’s short stories is a subtle store of tension and under-played drama, absolutely enjoyable in small doses, and rather overwhelming when read straight through.
I thought Jackson was a gifted storyteller in the 'gothic' tradition after reading both The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, but to create such atmosphere in small, often seemingly trivial pieces of writing lifts her above ‘gifted’ and into the realm of genius. The More...
I thought Jackson was a gifted storyteller in the 'gothic' tradition after reading both The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, but to create such atmosphere in small, often seemingly trivial pieces of writing lifts her above ‘gifted’ and into the realm of genius. The More...
Dec 20, 2011
Roberta
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Nei suoi racconti Shirley Jackson scrive dei pericoli nascosti nella vita di tutti i giorni; dello scontro di personalità all’interno di una famiglia, di una comunità, di una stessa persona; di pregiudizi, neurosi ed identità. Nonostante sia molto conosciuta come autrice di racconti e romanzi “soprannaturali”, la maggior parte della sua produzione si occupa in realtà semplicemente di psicologia e società, di persone insomma. Persone disturbate, persone che non capiscono, persone che si torturano
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Sep 23, 2011
Kristopher
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Read this collection because I think The Haunting of Hill House is one of the greatest horror novels ever written. The twenty-five stories collected here are not exactly horror, but they're usually dark enough to suggest that even if creepy things aren't happening in these rooms, horror is never that far down the hall.
"The Lottery" is still probably the best in the collection, although I might prefer "Flower Garden," which is a nicely nuanced story about racism in More...
"The Lottery" is still probably the best in the collection, although I might prefer "Flower Garden," which is a nicely nuanced story about racism in More...
Sep 02, 2011
Rowena
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this is my favorite story collection to date! (ok i haven't read that many.) i bought this sort of without thinking. what a great purchase!! the type is interesting, especially italicized (i wonder if it's an entirely different font, but probably not as that would have been a huge hassle). beside the point, but it is always a good sign!
i bought this because i thought i should read more of shirley jackson's writing as she seemed to be a potential favorite author and i was right! i reall More...
i bought this because i thought i should read more of shirley jackson's writing as she seemed to be a potential favorite author and i was right! i reall More...
May 12, 2010
Paula
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‘The Lottery and Other Stories’ is the third book by Shirley Jackson, following on from ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ and ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle , two books I enjoyed reading.
All the stories in the book are different in their own ways but have the common theme of the main character trying to justify who they are, mainly what type of woman they are and given the time the book was written in and the fact that Shirley Jackson was a strong feminist, this book is somewhat pro More...
All the stories in the book are different in their own ways but have the common theme of the main character trying to justify who they are, mainly what type of woman they are and given the time the book was written in and the fact that Shirley Jackson was a strong feminist, this book is somewhat pro More...
Mar 02, 2010
John
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Although of course I'd read the title story -- more than once, I'm sure -- this has been my first major exposure to Jackson's work: a bumper collection of 25 stories and a pome. Many of the stories focus on middle-aged, middle-class women, often hypocritically prim and poisoned by their own prejudices, operating within and reacting to their limited social circles. They tend to be told in a sort of deadpan, sustainedly simple, slightly trivializing style that adds to the telling; I found quite of
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Nov 11, 2009
rachel
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Nov 06, 2009
Terri
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This is not your neat little collection of short stories with a bow wrapped around each one. Many times as I'm reading these short stories (and they are short, some just a page and a half and up) I feel like Ms. Jackson manages to cut off the action right when the story was getting good. I then go back to reread some startling turn of phrase, or an outrageous character, and I come to peace with the idea that we have to come to our own decisions about the story.
They are mostly tales of the More...
They are mostly tales of the More...
Oct 02, 2010
Koen
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Good American writers are few and far in between, but I think Shirley Jackson probably qualifies.
I can see why these stories could be classified as horror, though they're nothing like those of a certain other New England writer who was nearly her contemporary. Instead, they're about the casual cruelties of modern life, where ``modern'' is roughly the mid-20th century. Most of them require a peculiar mindset to appreciate, and that mindset is probably getting rarer as society is getting rid More...
I can see why these stories could be classified as horror, though they're nothing like those of a certain other New England writer who was nearly her contemporary. Instead, they're about the casual cruelties of modern life, where ``modern'' is roughly the mid-20th century. Most of them require a peculiar mindset to appreciate, and that mindset is probably getting rarer as society is getting rid More...
Feb 23, 2011
Emily
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While “The Lottery” is probably Shirley Jackson’s most famous (and possibly best) short story, this collection offers up less well-known but equally disturbing tales. The horrors in Jackson’s stories are not as graphic or explicit as other writers like Poe, Lovecraft or even King…you won’t have nightmares from her stories. Instead, she works very subtly, exposing a hidden layer of horror in everyday, mundane situations – blink once and you might miss it. What appeals most about Jackson is her
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Jun 14, 2011
Fox
rated it:
Shirley Jackson is truly adept at writing short stories. She strings her plots along with a surprising grasp of the disturbing, and an unexpected amount of good humor. Her eye for detail both intrigues and lulls one into a false sense of security.
The Lottery and Other Stories was originally dubbed with the surtitle 'the adventures of James Harris', something it should probably still contain. The second story in the collection "The Daemon Lover" sets the bar which nearly More...
The Lottery and Other Stories was originally dubbed with the surtitle 'the adventures of James Harris', something it should probably still contain. The second story in the collection "The Daemon Lover" sets the bar which nearly More...
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May 09, 2011
Brennan
rated it: 
The Tooth:
In "The Tooth", a woman is at a bus station about to leave her husband, and headed in to the city. She is leaving to go have her tooth extracted, because the tooth had been giving her trouble for quite some time. On her way she meets a strange man, who role in the story is never explained.
This story is about how, when we are in pain or under great stress, our reality can change in an instant. One phrase the woman said was, "I feel like I am all tooth. More...
In "The Tooth", a woman is at a bus station about to leave her husband, and headed in to the city. She is leaving to go have her tooth extracted, because the tooth had been giving her trouble for quite some time. On her way she meets a strange man, who role in the story is never explained.
This story is about how, when we are in pain or under great stress, our reality can change in an instant. One phrase the woman said was, "I feel like I am all tooth. More...
Mar 21, 2011
ben
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I've been working my way through Ms. Jackson's fictions for the last few months (only 1 novel and 1 book of short stories left to go) and I think I understand her enough to make some general statements about her writing. She has three distinct phases to her fiction. This collection is mostly the early phase. It consists of realistic stories of middle class women living in and around New York, themes of love, loneliness, prejudice. I hated her first novel which fell in with this group, but he
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Aug 15, 2010
Alice
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Once again, I find it difficult to rate a collection of short stories. There are definitely some that felt like something of a waste of time to read, but then, in a collection with the most famous short story in the 20th century, it's difficult to compare.
Interestingly, "The Lottery" wasn't my favorite story in this collection. That honor goes to "After You, My Dear Alphonse," a commentary on racism that fails to come across as dated, even for having been publishe More...
Interestingly, "The Lottery" wasn't my favorite story in this collection. That honor goes to "After You, My Dear Alphonse," a commentary on racism that fails to come across as dated, even for having been publishe More...
Sep 23, 2009
Caris
rated it:
You know, you'd think that knowing the end would make the rest of it easier to swallow. You'd think the shock factor would be taken down at least three notches. At least.
Instead, knowing what was going to happen made the mundane opening details even more awful. Even more disturbing. This story leaves me with this disgusted feeling inside. I'm bothered that I'm bothered by it and I'm having a hard time fathoming that this sort of thing has actually happened. Perhaps not in this specif More...
Instead, knowing what was going to happen made the mundane opening details even more awful. Even more disturbing. This story leaves me with this disgusted feeling inside. I'm bothered that I'm bothered by it and I'm having a hard time fathoming that this sort of thing has actually happened. Perhaps not in this specif More...
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Jun 10, 2009
Ash
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So you want to know about the lottery, do ya? Well i'll tell you this, it's a book of some sort of dissapointment. I honestly thought this book had potential to be great towards the ending, I mean afterall it was a twist story but the twist was, well absolutely redundant. Of course I won't spoil it for ya because if your willingly happy to waste your time reading this trash, so be it and if you like it well i'd be happy to slap you. Of course you would say I myself am acting very incompetan
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Jul 07, 2010
Shirley Jackson's collection The Lottery and Other Stories was by far my favorite of the four books I finished on my recent vacation, but I've been having trouble getting my thoughts about it down. Part of the issue is that writing about collections of essays and short stories is always more difficult for me than writing about a single, cohesive narrative like a novel or a nonfiction history. In this case, though, the twenty-four stories in Jackson's collection (the only one to be compiled and
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Apr 19, 2009
Megan
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I honestly hated it. It was ok written I guess, but just the end of it was so awful.
Basically what happens is this town of 300 people have a "lottery" every year. The families have their head of the house, which is normally the father, pick a paper from a black box. If one family gets the paper with a dot in pencil on it, then everyone from the family picks again individually. So the Hutchinson's get the pencil dot on their paper, and all the family members have to pick again (, More...
Basically what happens is this town of 300 people have a "lottery" every year. The families have their head of the house, which is normally the father, pick a paper from a black box. If one family gets the paper with a dot in pencil on it, then everyone from the family picks again individually. So the Hutchinson's get the pencil dot on their paper, and all the family members have to pick again (, More...
Mar 01, 2010
Kirsten
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The Lottery: And Other Stories is a collection that actually deserves the title "collection"-- there are definite thematic threads weaving themselves through all the stories and the book is organized into 5 parts that I'm still thinking about because I don't get it yet. (That's a good thing.) This collection is like yellow gingham check fabric: cheerful and light at first glance and slightly menacing with a closer look. And that yellow gingham has a startling, single blue thread wov
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Aug 02, 2009
Sue
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This book was given to me by my sister for the sole purpose of reading the final story in the collection called the Lottery. It is an extremely well written story with an eerie feeling. It didn't help that the main character , so to speak, was Billl Hutchinson and family-my father's name. It gave me an extra jolt while reading. The rest of the stories are also well crafted and carry themes of great importance to women, showing the beginnings of the feminist movement a decade or two before i
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Dec 27, 2011
Bryce
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I'm going to hazard a guess and say that most people only know Shirley Jackson from "The Lottery," that mainstay of high school English textbooks the country over. And it's a great story; short, quick and with a twist that M. Night Shyamalan can only dream of. What's interesting is that story is utterly unlike any of the other pieces in the book; it borders on "speculative fiction" -- genre even! -- while everything else is firmly rooted in reality.
The other stor More...
The other stor More...
Aug 16, 2008
Valerie
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When I as a teen, between Poe and Hitchcock there was Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. They attempted to do a movie based on it, which didn't translate so well, but was still gruesome in design. An interesting twisted concept. Great thriller/horror read.
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