The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson – Book Review
The name “Hill House” has definitely become more popular in the last year, in part thanks to the release of the Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House. But before it was a 10 part series, it was a book by Shirley Jackson. Moreover, it was considered one of the scariest horror novels of the 1950s and 60s.
Shirley Jackson was an American author who doubled as a housewife. Stories were her way of keeping herself entertained. And not only did she succeed to keep herself entertained but so too the countless of readers of her books.
I picked up The Haunting of Hill House after watching the Netflix series late last year. Part of me was sure that because I had seen the series and had enjoyed it so much, I would not get the same enjoyment from the book. Mostly because I thought I knew what was going to happen. Finding out that the story was so wildly different was a pleasant surprise. Moreover, finding the story to be so well-written and immensely engaging was a delight.
The novel tells the story of three strangers (Eleanor, Luke and Theodora) who are called to reside in Hill House for a summer at the request of Doctor Montague, a doctor of philosophy, who is hoping to investigate the rumours of haunting and the horror around the house. However, though the novel presents all the hallmarks of a good haunted house (strange whispers, unexplained noises, expansive houses and grounds) the true tale of the novel is about the women.
Most of the novel follows Eleanor who until now has been on the backburner of her own life. Tending to her ailing mother, and under the shadow of an obstinate sister, Eleanor sees Hill House as an escape, a route to freedom. Freedom of choice, expression and happiness. She is eager to expand outside of the boundaries that have limited her life and emotions.
More interestingly however, is how both Eleanor and Theodora seem to possess supernatural tendencies. And yet, the tension of the novel comes not from the potential interactions with the supernatural, but rather the connection they have with each other and the outside and inside world, as women. The tale of female friendships and female life in the 1950s is a fundamental cry desperate to be heard from the novel. From these women coming to spend their summer in freedom at Hill House, to the original sisters who lived in the house, the novel delves into female trauma, missed ambitions and loneliness as much as the paranormal.
The writing of the book mimics the tone and speed of the events, taking you along in the discovery of Hill House along with its inhabitants. The Haunting of Hill House is a distinct kind of horror story that is worth reading. And unlike myself, I suggest reading it first (it’s a very quick read) before getting into the Netflix series for the full experience of Hill House.
