The Haunting of Hill House

Shirley Jackson's classic novel is one of the best-known haunted house stories, probably second only to THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. But despite that, it's a story much less about ghosts and more about the flawed characters reacting to the stress of staying at a house that may or may not be haunted.

Unlike the Netflix series, there's a lot of ambiguity here. We largely see things through the perspective of Eleanor and as the book goes on, it becomes clear that her perspective can't be trusted.

HILL HOUSE is about loneliness and identity. It's about wanting loved ones and somewhere that feels like home, even if that home might be deadly.

There are some scary moments, but the frights are few and far between. What the book does have is compelling characters, beautiful prose, an air of mystery, and an overwhelming feeling of dread. It's the archetype for countless haunted stories that have come since and it's worth a read for its influence and expert storytelling alone. Just don't expect jump scares from Bent-Neck Lady...