THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (1959) by Shirley Jackson
I had heard many good things about this novel - Stephen King has praised it - and I had seen the movie adaptations before I finally read it. (Haven't seen the Netflix series, though.)
And I think it's a remarkable piece of fiction - a successful fusion of psychological horror and the "haunted house" story.
The novel centers around the character Eleanor, who starts out with a clear hint of mental problems... and grows increasingly unhinged as she stays in the haunted Hill House. Somehow Hill House comes to haunt Eleanor, until she loses her mind. How this happens is never really explained, but it works perfectly as an uncanny tale.
One detail struck me: Even for a novel written in the late 1950s, all the characters have way too good manners. No one swears, whatever happens - and they're Americans! (I've grown so used to Americans cursing all the "effing" time...)
A recurring theme in THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE is parental issues. Eleanor seems to have been psychologically damaged by having to take care of her sick mother. Hill House was designed by a terrifying, creepy father figure. One character laments that he "never had a mother." I leave it to you to figure out how the parental issues are woven into the haunted house itself...
Another striking subtext - not a value judgment, just an observation - is how "gay" the principal characters are. Not one of the male characters seem the least bit sexually interested in women, but the female ones flirt with each other repeatedly and become infatuated with each other.
(I'm not sure how important this subtext is to the story. In any case I assume it was too sensitive for 1950s audiences and had to be "masked" somewhat.)
As for the ghosts, the reader never gets to see them. Rather it is the house itself that is evil.
THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE is both a psychological thriller about a disturbed, lonely person and a weird, modern ghost story. It will make a lasting impression on you. Highly recommended.
#bookreviews #bookreview #shirleyjackson #thehauntingofhillhouse #horror #classics #literature #supernatural #paranormal
A.R.Yngve's "Notes Towards Becoming A Better Writer"
Författarblogg om mitt skrivande, mina böcker och annat.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Monday, October 09, 2023
ArtStation Portfolio Open!
I have opened a portfolio page on Artstation.com where you can see a showcase of my work:
https://artstation.com/aryngve
#artwork #artist #graphicdesign #illustration #scifi
Friday, October 06, 2023
FREE EBOOK WEEKEND: "The Argus Project" (Complete Science Fiction Novel)
FREE EBOOK WEEKEND:
My old space-opera novel THE ARGUS PROJECT is available for FREE ebook download from Friday, October 6, PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)
to the end of October 8, 2023.
Link:
(NOTE: In European time zones, the offer lasts until Oct.9.)
About THE ARGUS PROJECT:
ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR...
In the distant future, Planet Earth has become the seat of an interplanetary empire. It wages war on its own colonies to gain control of the Solar System and its precious energy resources.
Two lovers are caught up in this colossal power struggle. They join forces to win back their freedom... and each other. In their way stands the military forces of an entire empire... and the last politician.
This complete 100,000-word science fiction novel has previously been released as a Web serial.
#scifi #sciencefiction #space #books #freebooks #scifibooks #literature #kindlebooks #freebook #bookpromo #bookpromotion #spaceopera
Thursday, October 05, 2023
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Read a sample from PRECINCT 20: DEAD STRANGE
Read a sample from my "horror noir" book
PRECINCT 20: DEAD STRANGESunday, September 17, 2023
EBOOK GIVEAWAY DAYS (Sept.22-24): "SNIPER, VIPER..."
EBOOK GIVEAWAY DAYS
September 22-24, 2023 (Pacific Daylight Time):
Download my "paranormal crime" story
SNIPER, VIPER...
for free. Follow this link:
For lovers of "The X-Files" and weird fiction.
NOTE: This offer valid until September 25 in European time zones.
#books #horror #crime #sciencefiction #literature #giveaway #giveaways #freebooks #freebook #TheXFiles #paranormal #crimefiction #weirdfiction
Thursday, August 24, 2023
BLOOD & SWINE: A Comedy of Terrors
Meet your new boss.
He's a PIG.
He's a BLOODSUCKER.
He's a MONSTER.
For real...
BLOOD & SWINE: A Comedy of Terrors
Buy the book here:
https://www.amazon.com/BLOOD-SWINE-Terrors-R-Yngve/dp/1549847120/
#horror #vampires #comedy #vampire #horrormovies #books #horrorbooks #satire #literature
Merch For Sale!
My merch shop is now offering "Captain Ishtar" t-shirts and posters of various sizes. Go to:
The title Captain Ishtar Vs. the Federation's Most Wanted is a C64 retro game in the works - not yet released. It's the sequel to Captain Ishtar, released in 2022 by Psytronik Software (UK).
Read more about these game projects on my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/ARYngve
#retrogames #retrogaming #retrogamer #retrogame #c64 #commodore64 #gamer #c64games #CaptainIshtar
#retrogames #retrogaming #retrogamer #retrogame #c64 #commodore64 #gamer #c64games #CaptainIshtar
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