Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Die Geheimnisse von Hill House: Roman by Elizabeth Hand

4 reviews

chaisquarelatte's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed aspects of this book, some parts were really well done, and other parts I think could’ve been done better. I will be thinking about the story for a long time.

The four people who stay at the house have a vested interest in remaining in the house when things clearly are not right. There is jealousy, toxicity and promise of renewed careers and it seems that the play that has bought these people together is doomed. The thing that kept me going was waiting for the metaphorical car crash to happen. But when it did happen, it didn’t really pan out in a way that made sense.

Stevie was the one that was supposed to go and while it was in some way an interesting twist that Nisa’s spoilt attitude made her fall victim instead, the fact there is no body really makes no sense given the House’s history/MO

. I also think the epilogue was unnecessary and actually made the ending worse. 

I know this review sounds quite scathing for a 4 star, but I really enjoyed the build up, the ending fell flat. Also, as I listened to the audio book, I really have to give kudos to the production. I don’t think I would’ve been so invested if I had read a physical copy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Blood, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Child abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Blood, and Alcohol

Minor: Death and Car accident

ash_bees's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was more frustrating than scary.  And I say this as a person who doesn't like scary stories.

The climatic scene was essentially a scene from "A Bug's Life":

"Don't go into the light."
"But it's so pretty."
*zap*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

obsetress's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Car accident, and Pandemic/Epidemic

chezler24's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

It's a tough act to follow up on such an iconic tale as Shirley Jackson's Haunting of Hill House, but I think that Elizabeth Hand did a pretty great job. The story feels unique to itself while having the foreboding Hill House looming in the background. Hand captures the dread and foreboding elements Jackson produced yet plays to her own strengths in creating a new, modern chapter in the house's history. Holly, Nisa, Stevie, and Amanda have all made their way to this place to work on Holly's play as actors, sound designers, and singers. Against all warnings, they decide to stay here for a month to have the creepy essence of the house serve as a backdrop for workshopping their supernatural-themed play.  Hill House feeds on the anxieties and doubts of its guests as they slowly realize the house is more aware of their presence than they could ever have imagined. 

The only aspect that seemed strange to me was that of the hares running around and more "witchy" aspects. It ended up working out in the end but I suppose we did have some magic/seance action in the original novel so, in hindsight, I shouldn't have been that surprised by these supernatural elements. 

Please listen to Fern Maddie's "Hares on the Mountain"! Songs/singing are a key part of the plot and ambiance and the author noted that this version has the same essence as the character Nisa put into it. I listened to it after I finished the book and it felt very nice as an "end credits" song in a sense.   

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Drug use, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, and Pandemic/Epidemic