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The Haunting By Shirley Jackson ISBN: 0 14 028743 4

Originally published under the title of The Haunting of Hill House in 1959, the Haunting is one of the truly frightening books I have ever read.

Dr John Montague a doctor of philosophy with an avid interest in the analysis of supernatural manifestations had been searching for a house like Hill House all his life. A truly haunted house where he could conduct his research, in order to do this he needed some assistance, so he sent out invitations to anyone he could find that was still alive that had experienced what he thought might be true psychic phenomena at some time in their lives. Eleanor Vance and Theodora (Theo) were the only two respondents to his call and a member of the family who currently owned the house Luke Sanderson along with Doctor Montague arrived at Hill House on a summer’s day.

Although the house was dark and foreboding and upon arrival each had an urge to turn around and go home they all elected to stay and the first night in Hill House was uneventful and even quite pleasant. Each woke on their first morning in Hill House feeling happy refreshed and eager to explore, but there was evil lurking in Hill House and it was biding its time, learning the names and the secrets of its guests, biding its time. Hill House had been standing for 80 years and it new how to be patient.

Exploring the house that was always dark, and doors never seemed to stay open, the four guests became friends quickly, the two women Theo and Eleanor, formed a strong bond, Theo’s carefree way was exactly what Eleanor wanted for herself. Eleanor had spent most of her life caring for her dying cruel hearted mother, and now for the first time she found herself free of the oppression that had shaped her life she was determined that Hill House was going to be her new start.

Meanwhile Hill House had decided that it wanted one of them for its own, and began its routine of seduction and terror. Shirley Jackson captures the spirit of Hill House perfectly and as I read I would find myself suddenly releasing a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding in relief. I would feel the hairs on the back of my neck rising in fright goosebumps would literally prickle across my skin as the atmosphere of Hill House escaped the pages of the book and the confines of my imagination. I would laugh at myself for being frightened and put the book up for a few moments while I made a cup of coffee and came back to my senses.

A must read for any true fan of horror, but more than a story of the macabre it is a true work of literature. Shirley Jackson uses language and the written word in a way that seems to have been forgotten by many modern writers of this genre she does not rely on gory scenes or shockingly gruesome explanations to scare her readers. A good old-fashioned ghost story scares the hell out of you and gives you nightmares without being bloody and disgusting.

Now as I sit here I feel a little silly. It has been a few days since I put the book down and reading over the notes I made while reading the book to quote Eleanor, ‘I know that I was frightened, but I can’t imagine actually being frightened’ (pg 138). I almost want to read it again to see if maybe I wasn’t imagining it, but I know from past experience that I didn’t, I feel the same way each and every time I read the book. So go ahead pick it up and give it a read…. Hill House is waiting for you.

Review by Amanda Johnstone

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