Evening Reads

Now we're all in lockdown, I decided to make a serious effort to read those forgotten books that have lived next to my bed for a good few months (more like a year) and first on my list was The Haunting of Hill House (1959)  by Shirley Jackson.  I didn't really know what to expect when I bought this book. I'd read Jackson's We have always lived in the Castle and the book was a rollercoaster of twists and turns so I didn't really expect a traditional 'haunted house' story and the book  definitely fulfilled my expectations. The book is ultimately centred around Dr Montague, who decides to investigate Hill House for potential spiritual activity with the aid of three others; Eleanor, Theodora and Luke. The predictability of a typical 'haunted house' book comes in the night with the ghosts and phantom arms that aren't really there. But, the unexpected nature of this book is the psychological road it takes you down.  The psychological el...