August Group Read #2: Hell House by Richard Matheson

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

Hell House by Richard Matheson will be our 2nd Group Read in August. This is the place where the discussion happens. Buy, borrow, read, discuss and please remember to use spoiler tags, page numbers, chapters or % read. Have fun, everyone!

[Nancy]

Awesome!

[Alissa]

Loved this book! Not ready for a re-read though, so I'll stick to the first author reads this month.

[Alissa]

*guest, not first.

[Anne (w/ an E)]

This has been on my TBR list for a while :)

[Latasha]

I might re-read this. I find it so disturbing.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

I only got partway through last time I tried, I think I got distracted by something shiny. I do love my haunted house books, though. I'm in for this one.

[Anne (w/ an E)]

Latasha wrote: "I might re-read this. I find it so disturbing."

Ooh! I love disturbing! Count me in :D

[Nancy]

I put it on hold at the library.

[Greg]

This was an excellent read. Unfortunately I felt the films of the time could not do the book justice.

[Matt]

I struggled to get through this one the first time...not a re-read for me.

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

I own this one, and read about 20% a few months ago, but was struggling to 'get into it'. I put it aside thinking, 'maybe one day it will be a group read....' and THE DAY HAS COME! --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Kimberly]

Re-read!

[Moonbird]

I Am Legend was cool Richard

[JL]

I actually started reading this on Monday. Great coincidence.

[[deleted user]]

The story is structured well and held my interest throughout, but the writing style was rigid and lacked immersion IMO. The segues were often confusing, especially at the beginning of chapters. The character development was fairly good, particularly the psychic Florence, but the obscure elderly couple bringing foodstuffs rated more description

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

I am only on page 70 or so, but the story is really starting to 'pick up' in pace. I am reminded of Flesh Gothic by Edward Lee ...I think Lee read THIS book and then wrote HIS haunted house book purely about all the debauchery hinted at thus far in 'Hell House'!! --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Greg]

I loved Flesh Gothic that is an absolutely smutty disgusting haunted house stories and easily one of my favorite. Another favorite haunted house story of mine is The Loveliest Dead by Ray Garton.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

I think one of the reasons I like haunted house books so much is the history of the house is usually interesting. A lot of ghost stories used to have good background on the ghosts, but some of them now just think ghosts are scary and don't need a history.

[Kimberly]

Mixofsunandcloud wrote: "I think one of the reasons I like haunted house books so much is the history of the house is usually interesting. A lot of ghost stories used to have good background on the ghosts, but some of them..."

The history of the house MAKES the story, imho. Delving into past events to find out what brought it to its current state... :)

[Nancy]

I'm starting this tonight

[JL]

Mixofsunandcloud wrote: "I think one of the reasons I like haunted house books so much is the history of the house is usually interesting. A lot of ghost stories used to have good background on the ghosts, but some of them..."

I agree. He did a good job of actually creating a disturbing backstory for the house and why it's tainted. If you don't nail that everything else falls flat.

[Kimberly]

Joshua wrote: "Mixofsunandcloud wrote: "I think one of the reasons I like haunted house books so much is the history of the house is usually interesting. A lot of ghost stories used to have good background on the..."

That's what gives the lingering "meaning" that readers will think about afterwards. :)

[Nancy]

I finished this today. I really enjoyed it. Lots of good creepy and ende of your seat moments.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

I'm kinda having trouble liking most of the characters. Fischer, I like. Edith, I feel sympathy for. It does seem a little bit like Moby Dick with three Captain Ahabs all after different whales.

[Katy]

Nancy wrote: "I finished this today. I really enjoyed it. Lots of good creepy and ende of your seat moments."

Agree. There was lots of creepy stuff.

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

Once I started reading, I could not put this book down- loved it, although the ending REALLY needed to be better than THAT, in my opinion- anyone else agree? Also- this novel felt much more current than what it actual is...I think it was written in 1971 or so, but it felt much more modern! I love when a book succeeds in NOT being dated and can withstand the test of time. Even the technology used doesn't make the book seem as old as it actually is, so kudos to the author on that front....but that ENDING....damn, what a shame, eh? --Jen from Quebec :0)

[JL]

I'm almost done with it. It's definitely picked up. I agree with everyone else on here who's on the Fischer fan club. He's my man.

[Latasha]

I'm on team Planchette lol :p

[Rachel]

I'm still waiting on my library copy, might be a while before i can get to this, :(

[Mixofsunandcloud]

I finished last night. I'm disappointed in the ending, but not entirely sure why.

[JL]

I've heard a few people comment the ending was lackluster. I'm almost there, haven't had time to finish it, but I'm interested to see how I feel about it.

[Will]

I, too, would like to hear thoughts on the ending?

[Katy]

Will wrote: "I, too, would like to hear thoughts on the ending?"

I read this last fall so I'm curious to hear what people think about it.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

In that case, I'll expand on what I said before, a bit.
(view spoiler)[For the explanation of the haunting, the ending fits, incredibly well, which was why I wasn't sure why I was disappointed. I've tried to see what might have been missing. We don't really know why Barrett was so obsessed with proving there isn't 'survival'. While we know some of what happened to the the earlier expedition, I'm not sure we found out what it was that drove Ben into a coma. Edith doesn't really get a resolution to her issues that came out in the house. (hide spoiler)]
I'm not actually sure if any of these are the reason I was disappointed. The last one certainly wouldn't do it on its own. Maybe it's just one of those things when you read a book with a lot of hype.

[Nancy]

Mixofsunandcloud wrote: "In that case, I'll expand on what I said before, a bit.
[spoilers removed]
I'm not actually sure if any of these are the reason I was disappointed. The last one certainly wouldn't do it on its own..."

Regarding Barrett (view spoiler)[he was a parapsychologist. He didn't believe in ghosts. That's why he was obsessed with proving there wasn't survival after death. He believed everything happened due to the people at the house and past energy stored in the house. He believed in things like telekinesis, extra sensory perception, etc. He didn't think a ghost had attacked him in the dinning room. He thought it was Florence using telekinesis. He was into science not spiritualism. (hide spoiler)]

[Mixofsunandcloud]

Regarding Barrett: (view spoiler)[ I do know that he was a scientist. But his level of obsession was more than just disbelieving. He made it his life's work to disprove them. He was quite willing to put people's lives in danger to show he was right, including his wife. That basically screams to me that there's more to the story. (hide spoiler)]

[Nancy]

Barrett: (view spoiler)[I didn't think he was that obsessed. Of course it was his life's work, that was his career. It wasn't something he did on the side. His wife always accompanied him to these haunted houses. I think for him, this was no different than any other house they had done this at. I don't think he ever realized the real danger they were in, that ghosts do exist and can harm you. Parapsychology as field of science isn't taken seriously so I can see him wanting to prove his theories and legitimize his field as a proper science. (hide spoiler)]

[11811 (Eleven)]

Jennifer Lynn wrote: "I am only on page 70 or so, but the story is really starting to 'pick up' in pace. I am reminded of Flesh Gothic by Edward Lee ...I thin..."

I loved Flesh Gothic because I loved Hell House.

[Spyros]

Finished it yesterday night. I really liked it, the scariest book I've read so far.

[JL]

The ending did feel a little flat. With all the insanity leading up to it, I expected the payoff to be a little better.

[Rachel]

my copy is finally in transit at the library!

[Will]

I've just finished it. Three things come to mind, in the order I made notes.

1) I was surprised by the use of the word 'tarn' which I thought was quite specific to the UK (quite willing to be told I'm wrong here)? Is Matheson an anglophile?

2) The style and language felt suited to a book written in the late 50s, so I was slightly thrown by the level of sex in the text, and actually went back to check the publication dates. Anyone else felt that disconnect?

3) The ending was just poor and unconvincing. Either rushed, or Matheson couldn't work out how to do it effectively. Left me disappointed.

[Canavan]

Will wrote (in part):

The style and language felt suited to a book written in the late 50s, so I was slightly thrown by the level of sex in the text, and actually went back to check the publication dates. Anyone else felt that disconnect?

I don’t recall the exact source (it may have been the introduction to the PB edition that I once owned), but Matheson himself once commented that he viewed Hell House as two books melded somewhat unsatisfactorily into one. As best I recall there wasn’t much elaboration on this point, but I assumed that he was more or less referring to the misgivings you expressed. Personally I liked the book more than you, but concede that stylistically it was a bit “bumpy”.

[Canavan]

Will wrote (in part):

was surprised by the use of the word 'tarn' which I thought was quite specific to the UK (quite willing to be told I'm wrong here)? Is Matheson an anglophile?

I don’t know about Matheson’s personal views, but I don’t see much in his writing that indicates he might be an Anglophile. Most critics describe him as having a definite American voice. I remember thinking that his use of the word “tarn” might have been influenced by the famous Hugh Walpole story, “The Tarn”.

[Rachel]

I finally got my copy. Won't start it for a few days but I'll definitely get to it soon.

[Rachel]

Started it! I'm at page 47. I like it so far. At the point where (view spoiler)[they've entered the house and had a walk around. The scene with the chapel was cool. I was surprised when I read about the crucifix having a big penis, lol. and there was a painting of a crazy orgy. it made me chuckle a bit but it also creeped me out. (hide spoiler)]

[Rachel]

page 130 (43%)

(view spoiler)[Florence is crazy walking around the house all alone lol. i'd be more scared if i was so attuned to the spirit world. was shocked at the son's ghost biting her breasts. i didnt know this book would be so sexual. i like the sexual tension though, it adds to the creepiness. (hide spoiler)]

also barrett is annoying.

[Mixofsunandcloud]

(view spoiler)[ The book is VERY sexual. It will just get more so as it goes. (hide spoiler)]

I'm glad you're enjoying it.

[Latasha]

Rachel wrote: "page 130 (43%)

[spoilers removed]

also barrett is annoying."

(view spoiler)[ yes it is very sexual., (hide spoiler)] the first time I listened to this ,i was sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails off. when it was over, my mouth was just hanging open and I remember thinking, my sisters can never ever read this! neither of them read so they should be ok. I like very much but it surprised and disturbed me.