(no subject)

[ksmith]

Someone posted this entry on the Shirley Jackson Fan Page on Facebook. The opening lines from The Haunting of Hill House :

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.

To say something like "Good stuff" sounds trite as hell, but it is. Good stuff. Very good stuff indeed.

Comments

[ginmar.livejournal.com]

That book scared the absolute crap out of me. I finished reading it one night at about one AM and I realized I would have to turn off the light, and put my feet on the floor in front of the couch, and then go upstairs---in the dark. Nope. Spent the night on the couch with my feet up, thanks.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

The best horror sinks roots.

Must dig it out from the stacks...

[ginmar.livejournal.com]

It was so subtle. That was what got me; it got me to do half the work myself. She hinted, she gave you enough rope, she drew up closed, but never hit you over the head. No gore, no blood, nothing.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

it got me to do half the work myself.

That's the essence of really good suspense. The reader gets so wrapped up in the tale that their mind starts picking up threads and running with them.

[jessica-de-milo.livejournal.com]

that is really beautiful prose in addition to the brilliant suspense of what she's saying

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

You try to do both--well, I do, anyway--and it's so hard.