Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

13 reviews

itskenzcarter's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Ugggh. This book. What a whirlwind. It’s so different from the show. Both equally great, but the book just has something about it that I can’t quite describe. The writing was brilliant. Shirley Jackson is a fantastic author and knows how to paint a picture. But, because the book was so different from the show, it was hard to see where it was going. I couldn’t put it down and had to finish as soon as I started. This book focuses, primarily, on Nellie, more so than the actual haunting itself. However, it worked. It had a lower level of spookiness, but the parts that were spooky were so descriptive and vivid. It definitely makes your heart race at parts. I do think the book finished a little quicker than it could have. There could have been additional paranormal focuses. Other than that, I have no real negative thoughts about it. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants something horror related. It dances on the psychological horror side of things. Now, if you are wanting to read this because of the show, please note, it’s vastly different. This book is amazing, and I think it should be on every horror fans shelf.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, Death of parent, and Suicide

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Murder

Minor: Alcohol and Emotional abuse

seapotatohowisitalrtaken's review

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Blood, Car accident, Death, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts

another_dahlia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Domestic abuse, Toxic friendship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Car accident, Toxic relationship, Death, and Suicide

eric1992's review

mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide, Mental illness, Blood, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Death, and Alcohol

bexi's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I'd probably rate this higher after a re-read. It was very atmospheric, which I enjoyed. However, I found it hard to follow at times. I believe that was intentional, and a smart choice on Jackson's part considering the direction she took the story in.
 
It wasn't very scary, more creepy and unsettling. Which is what I was hoping for because I am a soft, anxious marshmallow and need to be careful about the content I consume. If you're not a fan of gore/murder/body horror in spooky books I think this is a good option, but do check out the content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic relationship

Minor: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death, Terminal illness, Abandonment, and Suicide attempt

chaoticnostalgia's review

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Death

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Toxic friendship, Car accident, and Toxic relationship

taleofabibliophile's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Mental illness, Suicide, Death, and Bullying

Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent

Minor: Child death and Murder

lynssss's review

dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Jackson wrote this before We Have Always Lived In the Castle and it's great but maybe this protagonist, Eleanor, isn't as developed as Marricat, but definitely just as unreliable of a protagonist. The characters that are invited to the house are very realistic and engrossing to come to understand and read about. But the standout star is the protagonist, Eleanor. Need to reread it again sometime.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Toxic relationship

Minor: Suicide

heavenward's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

5.0

One of my favorite books of all time. I loved it soo much I started collecting the various editions and as of January 1st I own 20 different copies of the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, and Car accident

botanicpanic's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Car accident and Suicide

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Death of parent

Minor: Confinement and Gaslighting

In the final pages of the book, Eleanor commits suicide by driving her car into a tree.