From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

The Turn of the Screw

Henry James

Start date: February 1, 2020

Finish date: February 29, 2020

Discussion leader: Rosemarie

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What Members Thought

Nov 09, 2021 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books, classics, read-in-2021, gothic-lit, american-lit, 60-before-60

I started this book at least once before and it just didn't grab me, but I have included it on my list of 60 books to read before I turn 60 in October 2022, so this time I stuck with it.

My rating is between 3 and 4, somewhere...

Henry James' prose is difficult for me. It is very structured and tight, which makes it difficult for me to connect. And the tone of the story is dramatic, emotional, and personal, which I find very interesting. The combination of very different style and tone is quite un ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 22, 2015 Lisa Black rated it liked it

It is with great trepidation that I dare to criticize such an illustrious piece of literature...but...this is Goodreads so I guess it's okay. This book is well written and terribly structured, however, structure that today would be considered terrible was completely normal then. It's all telling and not showing, dancing around details that are never given, takes too long to get started and ends, well, 'abruptly' would be a vast understatement, and uses a completely unnecessary framing device. Th ...more

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Nov 24, 2021 Natalie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics

A gripping tale of a governess who sees evil spirits trying to attack the boy and girl she watches over. The main character is sympathetic. She is bold despite the frightening situation. The gentleman of the house is oddly absent whenever she sees the evil spirits and the children are oddly not afraid of them. The tale seems to be about a growing evil but the notes from literary critics in the second half of the volume I have reveal it is actually growing insanity. This twist on the story makes ...more

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