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Matthew's Reviews > The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House
by
by
Matthew's review
bookshelves: own, 2019, completist-book-club, classic, horror, supernatural, mystery
Nov 22, 2019
bookshelves: own, 2019, completist-book-club, classic, horror, supernatural, mystery
I was hoping for more from this book. I wanted a thrilling and suspenseful story of a creepy haunted house that would end up keeping me up at night. It was not bad, per se, but that is not what I got.
Instead it was a somewhat tedious and repetitive decent into madness. The writing was disorienting – and I think that was intentionally so in order to help the reader feel the house taking over the minds of the characters. Clever . . . but almost headache inducing at times.
The characters were the most interesting part to me. Each one had a specific personality and role; some of them amusing, some of them infuriating, but all of them great for the story. At times, and I think it was because of the characters, this book reminded me of the game/movie Clue.
In summary: Not all that scary but disorienting instead. Tedious. Interesting characters that might make you laugh out loud or shake your head in disgust. Many have rated this highly as a classic of horror, but I have also read some reviews that felt like I did. I am glad I read it, but for me it was just okay.
Instead it was a somewhat tedious and repetitive decent into madness. The writing was disorienting – and I think that was intentionally so in order to help the reader feel the house taking over the minds of the characters. Clever . . . but almost headache inducing at times.
The characters were the most interesting part to me. Each one had a specific personality and role; some of them amusing, some of them infuriating, but all of them great for the story. At times, and I think it was because of the characters, this book reminded me of the game/movie Clue.
In summary: Not all that scary but disorienting instead. Tedious. Interesting characters that might make you laugh out loud or shake your head in disgust. Many have rated this highly as a classic of horror, but I have also read some reviews that felt like I did. I am glad I read it, but for me it was just okay.
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Reading Progress
October 29, 2018
– Shelved
October 29, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 26, 2018
– Shelved as:
own
October 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
2019
October 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
completist-book-club
October 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
classic
October 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
horror
October 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
supernatural
October 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
mystery
November 13, 2019
–
Started Reading
"
November 22, 2019
–
Finished Reading
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Tbirdplanstoread
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rated it 1 star
Nov 22, 2019 07:04AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt this way! You were much more generous with your rating than I was, though, lol. I kept hearing how scary it was and it just wasn't at all scary to me. I was disappointed, really. I guess that's what I get for reading so much Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Dean Koontz...hahahaha
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Tbirdplanstoread wrote: "I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt this way! You were much more generous with your rating than I was, though, lol. I kept hearing how scary it was and it just wasn't at all scary to me. I was ..."I was checking out a few other reviews and it seems like those who don't care for it feel the same way and those who love it REALLY love it. Interesting to see the dichotomy. I recently finished reading a truly terrifying book (Hell: The Possession and Exorcism of Cassie Stevens) and that may have affected my feelings on this book.
That sounds interesting! I may look into that one. Thanks!
Tbirdplanstoread wrote: "That sounds interesting! I may look into that one. Thanks!"I hope you do! It is great and an independent author worth supporting!
Ah, I’ve been meaning to read this book for years now. But seeing a less than glamorous review from you makes me apprehensive about whether I’ll actually enjoy the book!
Ad Rocks Socks (semi hiatus) wrote: "Ah, I’ve been meaning to read this book for years now. But seeing a less than glamorous review from you makes me apprehensive about whether I’ll actually enjoy the book!"Well, it all depends . . . you may end up being one of the "5 star - book blew you away" reviewers! You never know until you try ;)
Great review, Matthew! I loved the Netflix series and so I decided to read the book. I expected so much more. I don't understand how it's considered to be one of the best horror novels of all time. :/
So said this in my own review but this is a remarkable book to listen to because its such a cerebral story. I absolutely agree that it isn't your standard haunted house story, I probably call it more psychological horror than anything else. Maybe because I was hearing all of Eleanor's thoughts and feeling that descent as the house took her over it had more of a mental and emotional impact. Though I certainly got some genuine thrills. That night she hears the child crying? Yikes. I think, like the miniseries, the horror is more in Eleanor abject loneliness and how that makes her susceptible to whatever force is in Hill House. I totally agree about the characters. Theo is an especially wonderful conundrum. I love the suggestion of her powers and the sort of open question of her sexuality. Sooo much to unpack!
Shruti wrote: "Great review, Matthew! I loved the Netflix series and so I decided to read the book. I expected so much more. I don't understand how it's considered to be one of the best horror novels of all time. :/"Thanks, Shruti!
Someone saw that I was reading the book and said they read it before watching the series and they were very different. I will have to watch it now.
And, I seem to remember watching a movie before based on this book and it was nothing like this.
Sara wrote: "So said this in my own review but this is a remarkable book to listen to because its such a cerebral story."I read this line and thought . . . oh, when I go and like it, she wont have to write a review. However, I just went to look at it and it is blank . . . Do I dare click "Like" and start the ball rolling? :)
I was wondering about listening to this - and I could very easily see it be an entertaining radio play. The Doctor's wife and her companion . . . along with the maid - they were all hilarious (maybe the maid was supposed to be creepy, but the fact that she kept showing up to remind people of the food schedule made me laugh every time!)
Oh god did I NOT write a review for this!?
Good review. I gave it 3.5 stars and waffled between rounding up and rounding down. I think I rounded up because I felt like the audio contributed to my somewhat lukewarm reception. For me it was a bit creepy, but I also lost track at various points and wondered if I was listening to the tracks out of order. All I can say is that the book did not blow me away, but I did give it benefit of the doubt when I rounded up.
I felt much the same when I read this Matthew.....a good, fair review. ❤😍📚
Sara wrote: "Oh god did I NOT write a review for this!?"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :)
Eileen wrote: "Good review. I gave it 3.5 stars and waffled between rounding up and rounding down. I think I rounded up because I felt like the audio contributed to my somewhat lukewarm reception. For me it was a..."Thanks, Eileen!
That "Tracks out of order" feeling - I am positive that you are referring to the same thing I was thinking when I mentioned it being disorienting. I thought my book was missing chapters!
Matthew wrote: "Eileen wrote: "Good review. I gave it 3.5 stars and waffled between rounding up and rounding down. I think I rounded up because I felt like the audio contributed to my somewhat lukewarm reception. ..."Okay, so it wasn't just me! I kept thinking that surely this recording must be abridged (it wasn't) because it felt so out of order. Maybe that was deliberate on the part of the author, since it WAS a psychological horror rather than supernatural horror, but I dunno. I'm planning on giving Hell a try on your recommendation. And I'm going to let this book sit with me for a while longer, but funny thing is that I'm STILL waffling on that 3 or 4 star, ha! Actually, the other reason I rounded up is because the maid made me laugh so much.
Sandy *The world could end while I was reading and I would never notice* wrote: "I felt much the same when I read this Matthew.....a good, fair review. ❤😍📚"Thank you, Sandy! :)
For me I think my expectations were set too high... the Netflix series was so well done and the book didn’t resonate nearly as much with me.
Matthew wrote: "Ad Rocks Socks (semi hiatus) wrote: "Ah, I’ve been meaning to read this book for years now. But seeing a less than glamorous review from you makes me apprehensive about whether I’ll actually enjoy ..."Just gotta suck it and see, then. ^_^
Good review Matthew. Now that you mention it I can't say that I've found any of the (supposed) horror/creepy books scary. Maybe I've been avoiding for no reason.
Pat wrote: "Good review Matthew. Now that you mention it I can't say that I've found any of the (supposed) horror/creepy books scary. Maybe I've been avoiding for no reason."Thanks again, Pat! This one was definitely more odd than scary.
I also agree, it was overrated. I liked it but it was not particularly compelling.
Marvin wrote: "I also agree, it was overrated. I liked it but it was not particularly compelling."After I finished and wrote this review, I have been seeing some other material about this book that is helping me appreciate it more - not that I am ready to change my review or anything! :)
Stephen King writes a very long chapter about it in his book Danse Macabre and I just so happen to be reading it right now - what are the chances I would read that so closely after this book!? Spooky!
I was really disappointed with her story, "We Have Always Lived in a Castle" so I didn't feel compelled to read this one... now I know for sure I won't!
Janice wrote: "I was really disappointed with her story, "We Have Always Lived in a Castle" so I didn't feel compelled to read this one... now I know for sure I won't!"It's tough . . . kind of mirrors the discussion you and I are having on The Recognitions. This is considered a classic by many so I wanted to love it. But, sometimes the classics just are not right for everyone.
Matthew wrote: "It's tough . . . kind of mi..."Yes, very true. Like most poetry, unfortunately I can't "appreciate" most of it, I just don't "get" it!
Janice wrote: "Matthew wrote: "It's tough . . . kind of mi..."Yes, very true. Like most poetry, unfortunately I can't "appreciate" most of it, I just don't "get" it!"
Exactly!
dude, this is the third review in a row of this book that ive seen on my feed. i better read it 😂
gab wrote: "dude, this is the third review in a row of this book that ive seen on my feed. i better read it 😂"I noticed this one a lot in my feed too . . . usually their is a surge of this one in my feed around Halloween. I wonder what is prompting it now?
Great review, Matthew! I felt the same way about the book - I only gave it three stars as well. There were no scares for me in this book unless it takes a lot to scare me! lol :)
Marie wrote: "Great review, Matthew! I felt the same way about the book - I only gave it three stars as well. There were no scares for me in this book unless it takes a lot to scare me! lol :)"Thanks, Marie! :D
I don't necessarily scare easily, but I think I can usually tell when someone is doing a good job of trying to scare me!
Never mind Matthew, I found this one a little more scary than you did!!
Mark wrote: "Never mind Matthew, I found this one a little more scary than you did!!"Glad it creeped you out more than it did me! 🙂
Finally someone gets it!!
Shaina wrote: "Finally someone gets it!!"😊😊😊 Thanks, Shaina! 😊😊😊
I too think the writing was disorienting on purpose. Many dialogues made no sense or were completely meaningless. I had an awful time reading this.
