The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Haunting of Hill House is a classic horror story, no getting around it. Shirley Jackson is a true master of taking something that seems everyday and turn it into a vision that stays in your dreams. I read this book a while ago, and even though I knew the twists and turns, it still kept me reading and taut with tension.

If you don’t know the story, it’s a step above your run of the mill haunted house story. Hill House has a long history, and the villagers nearby won’t stay there at night, and most won’t approach it in the day. Dr. Montague wants to figure out why there are bumps in the night at Hill House, so he invites some people who have had some sort of psychic experiences to come and stay at the house for the summer, to help him record any unusual happenings. Eleanor, or Nell, has cared for her mother for years and now, for the first time, is out on her own. She’s your typical wallflower and is very unsure of her place in the world. Theo is vivacious, self-centered, artistic; she is used to being the center of attention. Luke is there because he will one day inherit Hill House. You could describe him as a liar and a rake. These strangers are brought together and different petty jealousies erupt. Is it the house playing tricks on them? Are the loud noises and cold spots they feel a true haunting or their imaginations?

The Haunting of Hill House is tightly written, full of suspense. The characters are well built. The haunting scenes are tense and while you read them you are on edge with the characters. It doesn’t surprise me that Stephen King, among many other writers, cite Shirley Jackson as an influence. I recently read We Have Always Lived in the Castle, another of her novels, and it was almost as good as this. I now have a mission to hunt her other work down.

Rating: 5 Purrs for haunted house perfection