First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a "haunting"; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                

This is considered in many horror book fans to be The Book on haunted houses. And I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. A cursed house from the moment it was built Hill house sets the tone for a Dr in the paranormal field and his 3 guests. From whom the Dr Montague has invited to stay with him and study their reactions as well as document it all in the pursuit of the paranormal.

 

 

Right off the bat, I noticed how well Shirley adores the written word and it clearly shows in the Psychological twist she takes you on. Especially with the char Eleanor. Poor Eleanor, With the repeating mantra of "Journeys end in lovers meeting"

 

To me personally reading this after I had read the We Have Always Lived in the Castle it didn't quite pack that whoa punch and left me with a sense of what??!...Even though I really did like the ending, I expected more. However the ending was shocking and nothing at all as I expected. With chars like Mrs Dudley too this makes for a chilling haunted Psychological tale that i highly recommend reading by candlelight Now to try and grab the classic Movie to it! :D

Ellen and her brother Corey have been asked to play roles in the haunted house at the local historical society. Both agree to do so, with Corey being the most eager. He's wants everyone to hear just how good he can scream when he gets his head "chopped off". Ellen, however has a strange feeling about the mansion where the historical society is. She's had feelings like this before and they never end well.On their first visit, Ellen experiences feeling cold and she doesn't know what it is. She really doesn't know what to do when the mansion's ghosts begins appearing to her. Who will believe her? And what does exactly the ghost want with Ellen?I think the book started a little slow, but it definitely got better. Ellen and Corey were likable, even if Corey was a tiny bit annoying. Ellen's experiences were definitely interesting parts and the book kept me guessing. It was a mystery and a ghost story all in one! I also liked reading about the haunted house and the part Ellen played.I also think the book teaches a good lesson and that's not to fear what you don't understand. If you don't understand something, it is best to research and not make any judgments beforehand. I thought it was a good book. It's one I will be buying and reading again.