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aliilman's review against another edition
4.0
Not the most spectacular nor the most boring book I’ve ever read.
It’s a story of an elderly lady who moved to a house that sits opposite of a house to let. She thought the house for let is haunted as she’d seen an eye.
Minus the filler poetry and the second-to-last chapter, ‘twas a decent read.
It’s a story of an elderly lady who moved to a house that sits opposite of a house to let. She thought the house for let is haunted as she’d seen an eye.
Minus the filler poetry and the second-to-last chapter, ‘twas a decent read.
bibliofeel's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Strange vignettes loosely tied together. An interesting listen but perhaps better read in print!
astrangerhere's review against another edition
3.0
Another collaborative work between Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Procter. I did not enjoy this quite as much as A Haunted House, but still I enjoy the bouncing about between authors. I'll now start attacking Dickens in earnest.
jbrito's review
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
marystephanos's review against another edition
3.0
First published in 1858, this short little oddity of a book is really a compilation of tales written by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, and poet Adelaide Anne Procter. Each of the stories centers around a single theme, the mystery behind a house that no one will rent. In the end, there is not much mystery, and it's the cooperation among the authors that is the attraction rather than the stories themselves, which in most cases are a little slight. Procter's poetic chapter is rather interesting, however. Recommended for fans of Dickens, Collins, and Gaskell.
mchandler's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
3.5 star book, brought up by Gaskell's chapter
em_beddedinbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this book as a part of a weekend group read (with a dozen or so close bookish friends) that I am addicted to. Charles Dickens is one of my better liked authors and I love themes with older women who investigate mysteries, and seeing that this involved a haunted house gave it great charm.
Added to all this was the fact that it was a combined effort by four authors including Wilkie Colins and Elizabeth Gaskell, both of whom I am partial to.
But I can't say that I liked it much. My interest proponentially dwindled with the coming chapters, chapter 1 being the best of the lot, and the last chapter which revealed the facts behind the house which wasnt being let , the most dramatic.
All in all, a short and readable novel, and to me it doesn't seem like one among the famous works any of the authors, though I am unable to comment upon Anne Procter as I haven't read her works before.
Added to all this was the fact that it was a combined effort by four authors including Wilkie Colins and Elizabeth Gaskell, both of whom I am partial to.
But I can't say that I liked it much. My interest proponentially dwindled with the coming chapters, chapter 1 being the best of the lot, and the last chapter which revealed the facts behind the house which wasnt being let , the most dramatic.
All in all, a short and readable novel, and to me it doesn't seem like one among the famous works any of the authors, though I am unable to comment upon Anne Procter as I haven't read her works before.
ini_ya's review against another edition
4.0
An empty house and it's many occupants form this story written by many authors. The writing style and form varies and the effect is good. I connected to Gaskell's and Procter's chapters more. Still it was all good old solid storytelling.
3 star for the plot. 1 start for the form.
3 star for the plot. 1 start for the form.
ketutar's review against another edition
4.0
It was interesting. It's a collective work, written by Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell and Adelaide Anne Procter. Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins started it, very nicely. Elizabeth Gaskell wrote the next part and I like that part the least. It kind of has nothing to do with the rest of the story and Wilkie Collins had to work hard to make any sense of it :-D Adelaide Anne Procter's little poem in the middle... uh. Well. Then Dickens and Collins finish it wonderfully off. All in all, it's a very entertaining story.