From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

The Haunting of Hill House

Shirley Jackson,

Laura Miller (Introduction)

Start date: May 1, 2025

Finish date: May 31, 2025

Discussion: The Horror of it All

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The Horror of it All

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What Members Thought

Jan 17, 2012 Linda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Scariest book ever, even the third time through. A great Halloween read!

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2019 Lynn rated it it was amazing

I read this book in high school and thought it was OK. I picked it up again just recently, having read a wide variety of horror in the ensuing 30+ years, and I can't believe I didn't think more highly of it back then. (Of course, who has time for something like this when you're saving up your babysitting money to buy the next installment in the Sweet Valley High series?)

This has to be one of the best ghost stories I've ever read. The horror here is entirely psychological. It's very subtle, build ...more

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Aug 20, 2016 Peter rated it it was ok

Shelves: disappointing, classics, read-2017, horror, reviewed-sort-of

"Journeys end in lovers meeting" we get to hear a dozen times, well, the journey of me and Shirley ends here.
Everyone keeps fawning over her prose. Sure, her descriptions are intriguing.
But her characters? Oh, dear god! The only book I can think of that had more dull characters is her first book I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

Seeing as I don't want to get bored to death I won't be reading any more of Shirley Jackson.
...more

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Oct 31, 2018 Jim Townsend rated it liked it · review of another edition

A classic, but there are degrees of classic. This book wasn't really scary: four people gather into an old house which may or may not be haunted. Most of the book describes the instigation of the gathering, the journey of Eleanor, the area, the house, and briefly the other three people. One horrific scene, but mostly just hints of fear. A strange, rather dull book. ...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Zuly rated it really liked it

*SPOILERS*
An interesting slow build of the tension in the house and in Eleanor, and in what she perceives about the others and what they are able to see in her. Each character is a curious piece of the puzzle. Shirley Jackson presents a credible release of control in this one and in The Lottery.

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