Welcome to Litsy!

A beautifully atmospheric novel. The stories of Holly, Nisa, Stevie, and Amanda are diverse but diverge together in a refreshingly realistic portrayal of intergenerational relationships in a community. These relationships are at the heart of the story, and are at constant risk of being devoured by their individual desires for success.

I am very happy with this follow up to one of my favorite books of all time. A playwright, her musician girlfriend, their sound engineer friend, and a washed-up actress get together to rehearse a play in Hill House. Hill House doesn‘t want them there… or maybe it really, really does. There‘s a number of highly satisfying callbacks to the original novel. It‘s not as subtle, but I think it‘s stronger for not trying to precisely emulate the master.

This queer horror novel is the first authorized return to Shirley Jackson‘s iconic queer horror The Haunting of Hill House from 1959. Same setting, new characters. I had high expectations and they were pretty much met (I wanted a bit less action pre-house and a little more buildup to the climax). But Hand does an amazing job creating a spooky atmosphere and I found the borderline unlikable characters and their relationships fascinating.

Stopped by the bookstore after dinner out today and picked this up on a whim - it‘s a little spooky already and so far a great fuzzy blanket/cat lap read 😸

Here I was about a week ago patting myself on the back because I didn‘t check out any library books. This is my stack from today. I only went in to pick up my hold for the tagged and the picture books. 🙂

Except for the picture books, I won‘t get to any of them before the new year! 🫣

Note: I have already read the first two Tearling books, but that was 8 years ago so I can‘t decide if I need to reread them before Fate.

So, I like this one, but it's not as good as Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, which is one of my favorite scary books. This one veered into a kind of Amityville Horror realm that I find less compelling than the place where Jackson kept her Hill House. Still, it's scary and, I think, stays true to the ideas that animate Jackson's novel. And I do love the "haunted house as metaphor for the internal self" motif.

This book was kind of a mess. The ghost story part wasn't developed enough for me, and I disliked all the characters. The cover art is fantastic, though.
#GhostsOfXmas #WinterGames
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While I did not find this one scary, I still really liked it. It doesn't compare to the foreboding paranoia I felt while reading Shirley Jackson, but Elizabeth Hand has done an incredible job of creating interesting, flawed characters.

The house itself wasn't as big of a character as I would have liked, but Hand still has some great descriptions of it in her writing.

Less than 20 minutes left in this book and nothing remotely thrilling nor "haunting" has even happened... ??

I'm just reading about people being paranoid, insecure, and mostly obnoxious. But I oddly still find this interesting ?

This is a very soft pick for me. I wasn‘t a fan of any of the characters - they were all pretty self-centered and mildly unlikable - and the whole putting on a play/singing angle just didn‘t appeal to me. The audiobook was good, though, in that it had lots of creepy background noises and a good narrator to keep the scare factor up. All in all just an ok story. 🌟🌟🌟💫

I thought I was someone who is easily frightened by horror stuff, but aside from some creepy moments, this was largely mild imo. Being compared to Shirley Jackson is a disservice to any writer, but because this is a spin on Hill House, the comparison will be made. Jackson's novel still gives me a cold feeling when I think about it. She created an unnerving atmosphere that lodges somewhere in your mind without having to use overt horror tropes.

Moral of the story? Don‘t workshop a play without a director, stage manager, or dramaturg, especially in a malevolent house.
https://youtu.be/e7N0u8Wo9pc?si=9O9t-6ELKC0M4qJR

This was a terrific read, the right amount of tension, creepiness and general malificience of Hill House. The mc were good, flaws and cracks appearing as the house draws on their weaknesses.
A wonderful tribute to Shirley Jackson 🖤

Book 188📚 2.8⭐️

It was a neat story but I just feel like there wasn‘t enough spook or oomph to the spooks that there was. Only 1 was really neat but it happened very late so there was much after that.

Up next 🎧

1/3 in and thoughts so far:
Workshop a play in a haunted house? 🤷‍♀️
Workshop a play without a director or dramaturg? 😱

I re-read Shirley Jackson‘s The Haunting of Hill House. It was much more haunting this time. I‘m so glad I reread it. I then learned about the authorized sequel/companion book, A Haunting on the Hill. It is good so far! In it, they refer to GIRL MURDER BALLADS, which reminded me of a book I had heard about last year, so that will be my next read, The Ballad of Laurel Springs.

https://youtu.be/HAq9VvC321s?si=vql4Xbd3sBzJKFWP

Just a queet horror reader excited about her next read! 🎃👻🏚😱

Bk9 of #Scarathlon & Bk2 of #OutstandingOctober #Readathon is done. Thank god! That was one of the most ominous books I‘ve read. It starts quietly but once it gets going it‘s like a hand just hovering over the back of your neck. Creepy as f**k. #31x31 #Falling4Books #Rushathon #Spookaween #AfterDarkBingo #BodyCountBingo #ISpyBingo #Witchathon #PromptMaze #NaturalitsyBingo #ErasGhostBingo #BookspinBingo #OneMoreChapter👇 #SpookyGhostClub 3031pts

This is seriously creeping me out! Has anyone else here read it yet? Is it just me??🫣 #Scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub 1pt

About a third through this one as my 9th book for #Scarathlon & 2nd for #OutstandingOctober #readathon it starts off slow but now, it‘s definitely giving the creeps. I‘m a big horror reader & don‘t normally get uneasy with them but this is giving me OG Stephen King or The Exorcist vibes. Very unsettling. Should‘ve saved it for Halloween!🎃 #SpookyGhostClub 1pt

Honestly, idk if it's my mood or the book, but I DO NOT CARE at all about the characters or the story. I think the narrator is at least part of the problem. Her voice is very unique, which means all the characters sound basically the same, and none of their voices suit how I picture them. I'm pretty bummed because I was looking forward to this for MONTHS. I think I'll try again one day, but for now, I'm over it.

Started this brand new #BookMail as Bk7 in #Scarathlon #readathon. A sequel to The Haunting Of Hill House written by a new author, so far it‘s going well. Playwright Holly Sherwin is close to her big break. With a grant to develop her next play, she stumbles across Hill House & decides it‘s perfect for a creative retreat with her troupe of actors. But they soon find themselves at odds with each other & with the house itself. #SpookyGhostClub 1pt

Oh man. This book. Definitely shouldn't have finished this in bed right before midnight 💀☠️👀. So. So. Creepy. Highly recommended.

Also my #bookspin for October.

#scarathlon #TeamBOOklovers #promptmaze @TheAromaofBooks @Bookwormjillk

I'm enjoying this one, and I like that the audiobook includes background noises to build atmosphere. My one complaint is that I wish it was a full cast. The narrator has such a distinct voice that it's impossible for her to give all the characters unique and distinct voices of their own.

Sigh... at least rainy days are great for chores and audiobooks 🎧 📖

Most houses sleep, and nearly all of them dream, of conflagrations and celebrations, births and buckled floors, of children's footsteps and clapboards in need of repair, of ailing pets and peeling paint, wakes and weddings and windows that no longer keep out rain and snow, but welcome them, furtively when no one is home to notice.

#FirstLineFridays What a mouthful! Really sets a tone, though. Perfect for a rainy day like today 🌧

I forgot to post this yesterday, but my library copy of this came in and I'm so excited to find the #ghost in this one!

#scarathlonphotochallenge Day 4. @Clwojick @StayCurious
#TeamBOOklovers @Bookwormjillk

#ScarathlonPhotoChallenge #Ghost
@Clwojick @StayCurious
#SpookyGhostClub

Once I finish Hemlock Island, this one is next for the #Scarathlon. The first authorized book to return to the world of Hill House.
#SpookyGhostClub
@Clwojick

Mom is currently reading through Elizabeth Hand books. Of course I started reading her in the 80s 😝. This one comes out on the 3rd. Has anyone read it yet?

A new Elizabeth Hand book is like popcorn. This one returns to Hill House. It comes out Oct. 3, perfect timing for the #Scarathlon.