Not the First Haunting on this Hill: A Haunting on the Hill Book Review

This is a spoiler-free review of A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand.

I have to admit that I haven’t yet read Shirley Jackson’s original The Haunting of Hill House, so as of right now I’m reviewing this as a stand alone novel (which it is) and not basing it on a comparison to Jackson’s Hill House. I will definitely be reading it soon, because I’d like to know what parts of Hand’s novel draw from Jackson’s. I did read the wikipedia entry on the original Hill House (just to get an idea of the plot) and of course I’ve seen Mike Flanagan’s miniseries, so it’s time I finally read the book that has inspired all of these Hill Houses. Plus, it’s a horror classic!

I believe the theater aspect to this novel, is unique to itself, and not part of Jackson’s Hill House. The main character’s, who are all theater people, are unfortunately, quite unlikeable. It’s definitely not because they are theater people, because the background characters who are not theater people, are also very unlikeable, albeit much more mysterious.

Holly is so obsessed with her play that she either hasn’t noticed or doesn’t care about what’s going on between her girlfriend and her best friend. Nisa is absolutely obsessed with the sound of her own voice. Amanda is full of insecurity fueled by the younger performers and is determined to be star of this show, and then there’s Stevie who becomes possessive over the strange little door in his bedroom.

If you prefer horror where everything is explained in the end, this is absolutely not for you. Run far, far away from Hill House. The worst part is that half of the characters know exactly what’s going on and won’t say. A lot of stuff is alluded to and we as the readers are supposed to come to our own conclusions. I like to wonder through most of the book, but in the end I like to be told what’s going on. You don’t get that here at all. 

Despite not knowing was going on, and honestly, not very much of anything happened throughout most of the book, I still enjoyed reading it for some reason. I don’t know if it was simply because it was well written, or because It kept giving me the false sense that everything would be explained in the end, but I had no trouble getting through this novel. It does have a very spooky, confusing atmosphere, that keeps making you think it’s going to be great, only to be left confused and yearning for answers in the end. 

A Haunting on the Hill
A Haunting on the Hill

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