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jamiezaccaria's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting read but the fact that they're trying to pass it off as non-fiction is confusing.
sanchan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty
adventuresbetweenpages's review against another edition
1.0
I stopped at page 102. I tried real hard to finish but I couldn't. Started strong and then fizzled. I heard there is a movie. Maybe that will be better. Nothing against this author and as long as it's true that this is the manuscript from the dad to the daughter and was written back in the 1800s then it makes sense and to the boring parts of the story. I really wish it would have been better. I love spooky stories.
libbysjoutnal's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
ashtheaudiomancer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
I cannot believe I bought that this was a "true story" for so long. After actually starting to read, it took me maybe a dozen pages to go, "Oh, okay, this is bullshit." Which isn't to say it's not a compelling story, just not the reason I picked it up; I wanted a historical account of the actual Bell family, not an embellished tawdry melodrama with waaaaaay too many racial slurs even accounting for the time period. Fortunately, the appendix pointed me towards a few titles that might be more in that vein, so I will probably check those out eventually.
Worth mentioning that I saw the movie, "An American Haunting," beforehand, many years ago, and had kind of forgotten the "twist" that explains who and what the "witch" actually is, but there's plenty of foreshadowing to figure it out. And by "foreshadowing" I mean "this narrator has no idea how much he's giving away by being creepy about a thirteen-year-old."
Recommended only for devoted followers of American folklore who want to fill out their collection. I got my copy out of a library discard pile.
Worth mentioning that I saw the movie, "An American Haunting," beforehand, many years ago, and had kind of forgotten the "twist" that explains who and what the "witch" actually is, but there's plenty of foreshadowing to figure it out. And by "foreshadowing" I mean "this narrator has no idea how much he's giving away by being creepy about a thirteen-year-old."
Recommended only for devoted followers of American folklore who want to fill out their collection. I got my copy out of a library discard pile.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, and Incest
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
The content warnings are also kind of a spoiler here, so keep that in mind. These are the main themes upon which the twist is built.crysdale's review against another edition
5.0
I checked out the Bell’s version of The Bell Witch from the library so many times that the book fell apart and had to be rebound, so I definitely didn’t expect to learn anything new from this one.
WHAT! AN! ENDING!
I’m already ready to reread it.
WHAT! AN! ENDING!
I’m already ready to reread it.