Amazon.com
In the second of the "Merlin Missions"--hardback additions to Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series--plucky heroes Jack and Annie must once again must travel back in time to rescue Camelot from looming danger.
One wonders why Merlin can't handle this sort of thing himself, but then of course we wouldn't get a chance to see Jack and Annie have another seat-of-the-pants adventure, getting mixed up with shape-shifting magic, armies of birds, a puzzling gem of power, and all sorts of other trouble. With the help of their old pal Teddy (Morgan le Fay's apprentice, last seen in dog form in four earlier Tree House stories), the two "Master Librarians and Magicians of Everyday Magic" must solve the mystery behind a castle full of ghosts and a menacing army of ravens. Not surprisingly, half the trouble comes in unraveling Merlin's riddles and helping Teddy use his rhyming magic correctly.
Osborne doesn't challenge readers overmuch (including the constant restatement of plot elements, perhaps worried that kids might otherwise forget or lose interest) and many parts of the story barely convince (like Teddy's "period" dialogue, e.g., "'Tis cool indeed"), but fans of the Magic Tree House will no doubt love another installment. (Ages 6 to 9) --Paul Hughes
Book Description
The intrepid Jack and Annie are summoned once again to the fantasy realm of Camelot. There, Merlin the Magician tells them that the Stone of Destiny has been stolen. The answer to its disappearance lies within a haunted castle. With a young magician named Teddy, Jack and Annie take on the challenge in an adventure that takes them to new heights and places they couldn’t even imagine!
a Stepping Stone Book™
Customer Reviews:
Another great book.......2007-02-09
Mary Pope Osborne has done it again with this book. A great book for children.
haunted magic.......2007-01-22
I love the magic tree house series!!! I greatly enjoy reading these with my daughter!!!! Keep bringing them on.............mommytess
Haunted Castle on Halllows Eve.......2007-01-16
Book review of
Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve
If you like magical places this is the book for you. The ages are 7-11. Jack, and Annie, and teddy have to finish a mission. That they were assigned by sorcer. They have to restore a castles order.
Jack, Annie, and Teddy have to restore a castle to normal. Jack is the leader. Annie helps and takes to animals. Teddy is a young sorcer. Teddy has rims to make the magic work.
Jack, Annie, and Teddy have to work together to save the castle. Teddy comes up with a plan to get the diamond. Jack found the diamond right away and flew to the castle. They help each other to protect the diamond. These three have to work together to over come obstacle.
The story takes place in a castle, tree house, and a nest. The castle is hunted. The tree house is failed with books. It can also transport you almost any ware. The nest is failed with jewelry and rare items.
Jack and Annie have to get back. Sometimes supped up on the ledge. It was the raven king. He had Teddy in a bird cage. You will have to read it to find the rest out.
READ THIS BOOK PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-11-07
If you like adventure books, than read this book. This book is about three kids who go to a castle and try to help a family, while trying not to be too scared. This is a really good book for anyone to curl up and read. It also has easy text for young readers to read and understand. Maybe you will like this book if you read it too.
Great series. .......2006-11-04
My son absolutely adores this series. He just turned 7. I still am reading the stories to him, but he can pick up some words and phrases as I read to him. We read the series in order and now are beginnning to reread them.
This story can be read individually, but I recommend reading the earlier ones to get to know the characters. Jack and Annie are very likeable. They try to achieve their goal with the assistance of clues given to them by the magician Merlin. It is good for problem solving and also has alot of educational tidbits.
Average customer rating:
- Great Pop-up Book!
- Mommy?
- Never had this much fun getting scared!
- Great pop-up
- MOmmy
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Mommy?
Maurice Sendak ,
Arthur Yorinks , and
Matthew Reinhart
Manufacturer: Michael di Capua Books / Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Action & Adventure
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Yorinks, Arthur
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Adele & Simon
ASIN: 0439880505
Release Date: 2006-09-26 |
Book Description
They're all here! Everybody's favorite monsters are just going about their business when a plucky little boy wanders into their cuckoo house. And what does he want? He wants Mommy!
No matter how scary these monsters are, there's no besting a little boy who's looking for his mommy. In one hilarious pop-up extravaganza after another, this kid shows them a thing or two.
Customer Reviews:
Great Pop-up Book!.......2007-08-23
This is probably the greatest pop-up book I've ever seen. I just recently got this as a birthday gift from a friend and I really love it. It seems a little fragile though...not sure if I would let a kid play with it...they would rip it apart in a few minutes.
Mommy?.......2007-07-27
I am a big Maurice Sendak fan and have a great collection of Pop Up Books. I am thrilled to have this as an addition to my collection. The art work is truly amazing!
Never had this much fun getting scared!.......2007-07-25
My 6 yr old loves this one, keeps it under her bed. The pop-ups are too cool!
Great pop-up.......2007-03-29
This book is amazing and It has great illustrations. You'll have to look at the book over and over just to see everything in it. I wouldn't recommend it for small children unless you are doing the handling.
MOmmy.......2007-02-19
Enchanting. So lovely I ordered more as gifts for teachers I work with.
Book Description
Annie Wilder suspected the funky 100-year-old house was haunted when she saw it for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the mischievous and downright scary antics that take place once she, her two children, and her cats move into the rundown Victorian home. Disembodied conversation, pounding walls, glowing orbs, and mysterious whispers soon escalate into full-fledged ghostly visits-provoking sheer terror that, over time, transforms into curiosity. Determined to make peace with her spirit guests, she invites renowned clairvoyant Echo Bodine over and learns fascinating details about each of the entities residing there.
Wilder's gripping tale provides a compelling glimpse into the otherworldly nature of the lonely spirits, protective forces, phantom pets, and departed loved ones that occupy her remarkable home.
Annie Wilder (Minnesota) is a mother and writer. She continues to bravely live in her spooky old house with three cats and numerous ghosts. This is her first book.
Customer Reviews:
Not Good........2007-09-01
A. Wilder must have been on some heavy drugs or something. This book started off fairly decent, then progressivly worse and worse. That astral BS simply turned me off completely. Grave's End was a lot better..
House of woo-woo.......2007-08-07
I found Wilder's account interesting not so much for the ghost story as for her complete credulity and confidence in her own abilities-- not only to understand spiritual entities, but to *control* them.
She assumes spirits respond to her every thought and action, protect her home and family as requested, and go away when she says. Wilder always thinks she's accurately perceived and interpreted the spiritual "energy" in her home; she believes without hesitation pretty much anything she's told about the supposed haunting; and she assumes her dreams are real. She's awesome, but not really in a positive way-- more in a "good god, Annie, your hubris is absolutely outrageous" kind of way.
The visual phenomena she describes aren't uncommon-- many people see geometric light shapes and patterns when half-awake-- there are medical explanations for that (Wilder thinks the lights are sent to teach her something in the spiritual realm).
Great reading!.......2007-06-22
I had heard about this book so I decided to give it a try. I was NOT disappointed. Annie Wilder is a talented and BRAVE lady. I would love to meet her one day just to hear more about her encounters. Read this book and you won't be able to put it down.
Love it!.......2007-05-15
This book was fascinating from the beginning. I read it in two sittings. I've had experiences with ghosts since I was a child. In fact, the house my parents lived in when I was born was haunted by the couple who lived there before them. This mystery of a book not only intrigued me, but brought back memories as well. A fine book worth anyone's shelf.
readers will be hooked.......2007-05-05
Some houses call to us and we just know it will become our home; some houses have spirits that do the calling. Can a haunted house be home? Of course it can, and probably more so than some others if you can get along with the previous residents. After all, the spirits don't want to leave their home so it must be the perfect place! Annie Wilder finds out just how haunted her new home is, and shares her experiences with readers in her book "House of Spirits and Whispers."
Leon was the previous owner of the house and he wasn't ready to move out when he passed on. It seems Leon was quite picky about who was to move in because out of all the people who were shown the house, Annie was the chosen one. She respected Leon's presence right from the beginning and in the end was grateful for his being there. A good number of spirits frequented Annie's house. Some were former residents of the 100-year-old home, and others were just passersby, perhaps visiting from the funeral home across the way. Annie gives testament to the numerous goings on that she and her children, and her friends and family experienced.
From knocks on the wall in the middle of the night, to whispers coming through the radiators (even in the summer), from a timely touch on the shoulder to appearances at parties, spiritual happenings were frequent. Through the years Annie developed her own abilities and even astral traveled in the house only to meet up with two sister spirits who apparently disapproved of her practice. If you realize that you live among spirits you become more attuned to them, and Annie certainly did.
The story is quite interesting. Who doesn't wish to discover the secrets of their home? The author openly shares what she finds and right from the beginning readers will be hooked. A fascinating tale, well told.
Book Description
At first glance, decorator Erin Gilbert fell in love with the charming little bungalow on a quiet street in Crestview, Colorado. Until she stepped inside. There, eccentric widow Helen Walker has created a maze of bric-a-brac, papers, and just plain junk that she won’t throw out. Even worse: two bizarre deaths have convinced Helen she is being stalked by a serial killer–and that any one of her nosy friends and neighbors might be to blame.
Erin has been hired to bring the home back to life–and she’s not going to back down, even when her insufferable, irresistible competitor, Steve Sullivan, barges in. But it doesn’t take long for Erin to realize that there is a method to her client’s madness. A murderer does haunt this makeover. And somewhere in the clutter is at least one thing to die for.
Customer Reviews:
Really Reaching.......2007-04-14
The problem with so many cozies these days is that authors try to be innovative in the jobs they give their main characters, and they end up giving us characters whose involvement in murder makes no sense.
The book is best summed up by a line from the character of Steve, talking to the main character, Erin: "You were acting like a member of the family instead of their designer."
Erin is hired to declutter a house. In less than 12 hours, she's the homeowner's confidante, rushing to her aid at all hours, sticking her nose into family business that has nothing to do with her. She puts her livelihood on the line, as well as Steve's, without a second thought, and then defends herself when there really is no defense. The fact that Steve would even want to partner up with someone who has no concern for him and his business was completely unbelievable.
Also, the Gilbert and Sullivan thing has already been done by Selma Eichler -- that made it doubly annoying to me.
charming cozy .......2007-03-04
Colorado Interior decorator Erin Gilbert enjoys walking through a house that she is seeing for the first time and redesigning each room in her head. So when she first observes the outside home of Helen Walker, Erin is euphoric as the Crestview bungalow is a designer's delight. Euphoric as this seems, it is also a nice easy job though she knows she must show proper respect to the grieving owner. Then she steps inside; to her horror she concludes the cluttered home needs weapons of mass destruction as Helen and her recently deceased sister kept anything and everything. The surviving sibling refuses to toss out what is classic junk clutter.
Still Helen tries to organize, mess and pitch what is obviously worthless in terms of money or sentiment. The problem is Helen insists everything has sentimental value. Helen's neighbor Rachel and Erin's two friends Teddy and Kay support the surviving sister' frustrating Erin who may dump her so-called pals if they don't mind their business. However, these intrusions are irritants; the fourth invader causes colossal issues as that unknown visitor leaves behind murdered bodies amidst the clutter.
The fourth Domestic Bliss mystery (see DEATH BY INFERIOR DESIGN and MANOR OF DEATH) is a charming cozy especially when Erin is cleaning the house or furthering her relationaship rivalry with competitor Steve Sullivan. However, that is also the weakness of the story line as the homicides come across as just additional clutter to clean up when the heroine gets around to it. Still Leslie Caine provides a fun domestic tale starring a harassed heroine struggling with saving a house on the verge of being KILLED BY CLUTTER, something this reviewer can relate to.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
- Is this a Horror story? Or Soft Porn?
- hell house
- A very good book
- Couldn't put this one down
- Better If You Haven't Seen the Movie
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Hell House
Richard Matheson
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States
| Horror
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Matheson, Richard
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ASIN: 0312868855 |
Book Description
For over twenty years, Belasco House has stood empty. Regarded as the Mt. Everest of haunted houses, its shadowed walls have witnessed scenes of unimaginable horror and depravity. All previous attempts to probe its mysteries have ended in murder, suicide, or insanity, but now a new investigation has been launched, bringing four strangers to Belasco House in search of the ultimate secrets of life and death. Hell House, which inspired the 1973 film The Legend of Hell House, is Mathesons most frightening and shocking book, and an acknowledged classic of the genre.
Customer Reviews:
Is this a Horror story? Or Soft Porn?.......2007-09-24
The potential for Hell House to scare you is there. It has all the elements: darkness, psychics, a great back story (and haunted house), and intriguing characters, but explain why the story seems to get stale and go no where? The major theme of sexuality are very strong, at times bordering on pornographic, but instead of uplifting the plot it just suppresses it. While reading I had to double check the title and back cover to make sure I was reading a "horror story", and not "gothic erotica" (a better genre choice for this book).
And that is as far as "Hell House" goes. Nothing is explained. Revelations and insights fall on deaf ears and are hardly surprising because you are numbed by undefined dialogue and little detail.
The truly horrifying thing about "Hell House" is the fact that the reader never finds any answers for herself and is left to put scattered and buried clues together. The conclusion is not satisfying. At least one that settles well with you. Wait to you find out what is actually haunting the house. You would either laugh or say "duh!".
Like I said, the elements to scare you are there, but it just doesn't feel completed. Unless you find lesbianism, mutilation of the female body, and misogyny horrifying, I guess you might have some bad dreams. Other than than...three stars
hell house.......2007-02-20
This book is definitely not the best "haunted house" book I have ever read, but I guess it still holds a place within the genre. I was expecting a lot more to be honest. A lot of the possessions revolved around sex, but it seemed more an exercise in shock value than any real substance. One of the problems there is that it's not exactly shocking in this day and age. I also had a problem with the 2 women being the only characters to be taken over by their carnal desires. Somehow, the men survived that part.
The end was pretty snooze worthy. The story kept building to a seeming climax, but the supposed mystery was pretty easy to figure out. One of the characters even surmised the answer to the mystery of Hell House about halfway through, but, of course, it fell on deaf ears. I hate to say I was pretty glad to be finished with the book. It really wasn't even that scary. I'd try "The Shining," "The Fall of the House of Usher," or "The House of the Seven Gables" is you want a haunted house story.
A very good book.......2007-02-12
First, let me respond to the other reviews. Apparently some people found that the sexual aspect of the book was too much. Well everyone has their opinions but I think some people just failed to understand what the point was. These are not the sick fantesies of the author no more than someone who writes a fictional account of the Nazis is himself a Nazi. If people can't write about such things then what's the point? We'll just have cute bunny rabbits and rainbows.
Seriously, it's a horror novel about a haunted house and what made it haunted? Matheson, both in this book and in I Am Legend looks at the subject in a different way. Rather than have your usual ghosts who were murdered by some random killer haunt a place until justice is done and the ghost can go away.
Is it so hard to believe that someone with alot of money would delve into perverted acts? Just look at the Imperial families of Tiberius, Nero and Caligula and you'll understand. Belasco lived like a modern-day Nero except that he delved into the paranormal...hence the haunting. Yes imagine that, a perverted sexually-driven guy turns out to be evil and his spirit haunts a house.
And yes, the sacrilige is pretty horrible but Belasco was evil, so you'd kind of expect that sort of thing from the guy. It wasn't intended to be some smear against religion at all, only to accent how twisted the villian was.
Now, the book isn't the best book you'll ever read but it's entertaining and will definitely keep you up at night. Some people have mentioned various haunted house movies...they aren't the same, sorry. Even the film adaptation of this book doesn't come close. If you're looking for an easy read and an entertaining horror book, pick this one up and enjoy. If you prefer light stuff that doesn't delve into true horror and darkness...you better stay away.
Couldn't put this one down.......2007-01-30
This book was incredibly eerie, I couldn't put it down. Although a little cheesy in some parts, I had chills the entire time. If you're a scary story buff, you can't miss out on this book.
Better If You Haven't Seen the Movie.......2006-11-06
Since there are numerous reader-reviews located here, I'll try to keep this short and just summarize some of the points I think are relevant to consider before purchasing Hell House. I have long appreciated the movie and wanted to read this book to gain detail and background where the movie fell short. For those that have seen the movie and recall the storyline, the book does provide background and detail but not to the extent you would expect. In fact, it appears Matheson had a screenplay in mind when writing this (as described in other reviews contained here). Whether it is worth it to you acquire and read it knowing it won't yield much story beyond the movie is your choice. I am straddling the fence on on whether that was the case, myself.
The story tells of a investigation of the house haunted by the vile former owner, Emeric Belasco. Good, old Emeric was of such evil nature that he used the house as his own evil proving ground and, therefore, created the Mt. Everest of haunted houses through his design. (Think a perverted Josef Mengele on LSD). Anyway, several of the reviews written here accuse the book of being based on soft porn. While I do agree that it might have gone a little far in sexual content, I do think it was relevant in developing the sexual deviance and evilness of the hauntings. If a sexual act or body part descriptions bother you, don't read the book. They don't permeate the storyline, but the hauntings revolve on their theme.
I thought it was a great read, but wish I not seen the movie first.
Book Description
Revisit — if you dare! — one of the best-loved pop-up books of all time, now more gleefully ghoulish then ever with the addition of several spooky surprises.
Come in, Doctor. Yes, it is a quaint old place-chilly, though. . . .
The owner of the Haunted House is unwell, and it's not surprising. There's a ghoul in the cupboard, an octopus in the sink, a crocodile in the bath, and in every room, a sinister black cat watching it all with roving eyes. Every page of this thrilling pop-up book is packed with spine-tingling surprises, culminating in a spectacular final spread complete with a creepy creaking saw.
Since 1979, hundreds of thousands of readers have taken this scared-silly tour of one of the best-selling pop-up books of all time. This is one Haunted House that remains as innovative and exciting today as it was twenty-six years ago-but now offers even more tantalizing twists:
— Stunning new holographic foil cover!
— Scary new surprises, announced on front cover with a removable sticker! Brand-new elements have been added to four spreads, including a ghost in the closet, a cockroach in the oven, and vampire teeth in the nightstand!
— Great new price! This perfect Halloween and year-round treat is available for only $14.99.
Customer Reviews:
What a Great Book!.......2007-09-24
This is a fun read anytime of the year but it just seems fitting here at Halloween. Looking for something to give the little one other then candy this year? Give this book! It will last a lot longer and they will love it even more.
Both of my kids love this book! I was not sure how well it would hold up at first but after two years and a lot of abuse (pulling tabs to hard and having the monsters chase little hands) it is still in great condition. EXTREMELY well made pop-up book with little people in mind.
haunted house.......2007-01-23
I was surprised at how quickly the book I ordered was sent to my house. Thank you for your quick response. Terri
This haunted house is a SCREAM!.......2006-04-23
I bought this fun book after I read the favorable reviews here, and I am a halloween nut. My kids and I love this book! The pop-ups are awesome and the quality of the book is excellent. What I am not quite sure of is the dialoge/storyline that goes with it. I have looked at and read this book numerous times and still have no clue who the "doctor" is...is it Dr.Frankenstein? Dr. Doolittle perhaps? I am left anxious with no idea who the mysterious doctor is and in the last page, just where did he go? I am thinking he is in the wooden box heading for Translyvania and trying in vain to saw himself out - yet when I peek into the box, I see no doctor, just a bomb with a lit fuse! Cool pop-ups but pretty bizarre story to go along with it.
Ages 3 and older will relish this scary pop-up title .......2006-01-14
Ages 3 and older will relish this scary pop-up title which is recommended for parent acquisition, as it probably won't withstand the rigors of library lending unless it's used as a display on a top shelf. Haunted House opens with a spooky pop-up staircase and moves to cover monsters and even an octopus in the bathroom. It arrived too late for Halloween mention but deserves pick as a 'keeper' for next year.
THE EPITOME OF POP-UPS.......2005-08-15
Multi-talented doesn't begin to describe Jan Pienkowski. Born in Poland in 1936 he made his first book when he was only 8-years-old. It was a gift for his father. Due to the war his family left Poland and eventually settled in England where he would attend Kings College. It seems that his interest in stage design developed while he was there.
Since his college days he has worked in publicity, advertising, and done stage designs for The Royal Ballet and Disneyland, Paris. Here, in America, we probably know him best for his amazing paper art. His pop-up books don't just spring forward, but swirl as in an octopus busily doing dishes or soar as in three geese flying across a mantel. Youngsters will be delighted to find this and so very much more in Haunted House.
This is a place where ghosts hide under the stairwell and a portrait of La Gio Conda watches with the touch of a tab. Refrigerator doors swing open to reveal a very Muenster-like kitchen, while King Kong holds forth in the living room.
Each double page is an amazing array of spooky sights just waiting for young fingers to release them. Haunted House is the epitome of pop-ups, a prototype for all budding paper artists.
- Gail Cooke
Book Description
It was an irrational decision. Despite having just moved into a beautiful new house, the Williams family gave in to an odd, overwhelming desire to purchase and move into a Victorian home they had come upon by chance. They were curious, of course, as to why the house had, in the past, had such a high vacancy rate - no one ever seemed to live in it for a long period of time. But that curiosity didn't last long, because shortly after moving in, strange things began to happen. It became abundantly clear that the home's past owners had all had a reason for leaving: fear. The Williams' new home was haunted. At first, the family tried telling themselves there were logical explanations for the strange things they all were witnessing. But before long they came to accept the fact that they were sharing their home with ghosts. Haunted is the Williams family's story from the point of view of the mother, Dorah. Through her chilling reminiscences, we witness the all-too-real goings-on in the house. And we join the family as they seek a way to bring an end to the paranormal events that were occurring with ever more frequency and intensity, and learn why the events began in the first place.
Customer Reviews:
Very good Read! .......2007-09-16
I loved this book! It was a full, flowing story, with an engaging plot. The only thing that was negative is the way the author described her feelings towards her impending divorce. It sounded to me as if she was trying to hard to elict sympathy from the reader. EVERYONE KNOWS DIVORCE IS UGLY, SAD, AND DEVASTATING. It took away from the book, and almost made me wonder if all of the bad chi was making the paranormal events happen. That was the only thing negative. The story in itself was gripping, interesting, and believeable to me. I think that it is facsinating that she is still living in the house! I went through the book in one day, since it flowed very easily. In fact, that is what sold me on the book in the first place, since I decided to "take a look inside" via amazon. I loved this book. Worth purchasing!!
A KEEPER!.......2007-09-07
YOU WILL WANT TO KEEP THIS ACCOUNT OF THE PARANORMAL---IT IS WELL WRITTEN AND BRINGS YOU INTO THE HOME AND LIVES OF THE FAMILY- A BRAVE FAMILY!
Good n Scarry........2007-03-01
If you're like me and can't seem to get enough of the paranormal then you might as well add this one to your list. It was a great fast read (one night for a fast reader) but really kept my attention. I'm not really a "read in one night" type of person but this stuff really interests me and read really fluently.
HAUNTED.......2006-11-03
I ENJOYED THE WAY SHE GOT TO THE POINT WITH THE STOREY. SHE WAS ALSO VERY DETAILED WITH EVENTS AND FINDINGS.I ENJOYED READING THIS BOOK AND WILL RECOMEND IT TO OTHERS.
A good true ghost story.......2006-07-28
If you have read many books about true ghost stories, you will find that few of them are very exciting, and this one will definitely not keep you on the edge of your seat. To really be interested in a book like this, you need to be interested in the actual experience of living in a haunted house and not in being scared by supernatural events as you would be with a novel. Books like these are written by novice writers, so the style is not all that good either.
With those things aside, I liked this book very much because it was written by the people who experienced it, which is what I am interested in. I am not interested in reading academic explanations or speculations of supernatural happenings or folklore from long ago. I want to read about the experiences of people who have lived in haunted houses or have had encounters with the supernatural, and this book delivers just that.
One reviewer here wrote that he was not convinced the that the hole thing was not made up. This is one problem that you may encounter with books on true hauntings. I have read many of these books over the years and I am sure that I could sit down and write a fictional account about a true haunting that would fool the vast majority of its readers. The reason for this is that real hauntings usually involve low key events, that can be scary from time to time or disruptive to family life, but that generally follow similar patterns. It starts with hearing strange sounds at night, usually foot steps or the sound of doors opening and closing or furniture being moved. It can progress to further stages, like the feeling of being watched, seeing ghosts or apparitions or noticing that some of your possessions are out of place or missing. Or the mysterious sounds can simply vanish, leaving no trace that anything was ever out of the ordinary. Most people who have experienced real hauntings never find out why their house is haunted and some never even realize that it is or was haunted. Generally, there are no neatly wrapped up endings or story lines in true ghost stories that would help sell books. Usually, the haunting just stops and the people go on with their lives.
If reading about the first hand experiences of people who have lived in a haunted house interests you, then you will enjoy this book.
Average customer rating:
- Disturbing, terrifying, a classic.
- Creepy
- Classic Horror Genre
- Jackson's Finest Work.
- Interesting novel study; not scary at all
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The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Jackson, Shirley
| ( J )
| Authors, A-Z
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Ghosts
| Horror
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
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Ghosts & Haunted Houses
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ASIN: 0140071083 |
Amazon.com
Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has unnerved readers since its original publication in 1959. A tale of subtle, psychological terror, it has earned its place as one of the significant haunted house stories of the ages.
Eleanor Vance has always been a loner--shy, vulnerable, and bitterly resentful of the 11 years she lost while nursing her dying mother. "She had spent so long alone, with no one to love, that it was difficult for her to talk, even casually, to another person without self-consciousness and an awkward inability to find words." Eleanor has always sensed that one day something big would happen, and one day it does. She receives an unusual invitation from Dr. John Montague, a man fascinated by "supernatural manifestations." He organizes a ghost watch, inviting people who have been touched by otherworldly events. A paranormal incident from Eleanor's childhood qualifies her to be a part of Montague's bizarre study--along with headstrong Theodora, his assistant, and Luke, a well-to-do aristocrat. They meet at Hill House--a notorious estate in New England.
Hill House is a foreboding structure of towers, buttresses, Gothic spires, gargoyles, strange angles, and rooms within rooms--a place "without kindness, never meant to be lived in...."
Although Eleanor's initial reaction is to flee, the house has a mesmerizing effect, and she begins to feel a strange kind of bliss that entices her to stay. Eleanor is a magnet for the supernatural--she hears deathly wails, feels terrible chills, and sees ghostly apparitions. Once again she feels isolated and alone--neither Theo nor Luke attract so much eerie company. But the physical horror of Hill House is always subtle; more disturbing is the emotional torment Eleanor endures. Intense, literary, and harrowing, The Haunting of Hill House belongs in the same dark league as Henry James's classic ghost story, The Turn of the Screw. --Naomi Gesinger
Book Description
The classic supernatural thriller by an author who helped define the genre
First published in 1959, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror. It is the story of four seekers who arrive at a notoriously unfriendly pile called Hill House: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of a “haunting”; Theodora, his lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable phenomena. But Hill House is gathering its powers—and soon it will choose one of them to make its own.
Customer Reviews:
Disturbing, terrifying, a classic........2007-10-02
I saw the brilliant movie version of this novel (The Haunting, 1963, directed by Robert Wise) as an adolescent in the mid-sixties. I didn't sleep for three nights. Reading the novel as an adult didn't cause me to lose sleep, but nevertheless this is a very disturbing, psychological story of the occult. It hints at possible aspects of life and death that I for one would rather not think about, and yet I am drawn to stories like this like a moth to a flame. The book describes a small gathering of diverse people called together by a parapsychologist to test some of his theories in an old house shunned for years because of its evil, diseased reputation. This book was heading for my top twenty list until the author inexplicably introduced a character at about 2/3s of the way through that devastated the mood, turning the atmosphere from one of unremitting terror to one of farce. Maybe Jackson was cracking under the horror of her own story and just had to relieve the tension some way. Nevertheless it is still the best ghost novel I have ever read.
Creepy.......2007-09-25
Most books are better than the movies, this is one of them. I've had The Haunting of Hill House on my must read list for a while, I'm glad I finally read it. The book lets you get more into Eleanor's mind, the movie made her seem more cheesy than anything, when you read the book you get a better understanding over whats going on in her mind. Overall this book is a fun read with moments that will make your hair stand on end, let your imagination take you into Hill House.
Classic Horror Genre.......2007-09-15
The Haunting of Hill House is a classic representation of the horror genre; however, we must remember that it was released in 1959 when the things that spooked us were quite different from that which scares us today. Think about the old Bela Lugosi Dracula movies and how they differ from the horror movies of today. To read Jackson's mesmerizing novel is to be drawn into a very different world pre-9/11, pre-Bay of Pigs, pre-21st Century warfare. Today, with reality being the scariest of all, we seek more blood, more gore, more overt physical aspects of a good scare. The Haunting of Hill House is more a psychological treatise on that which scares us. I found the novel particularly frightening and disturbing, not for its physical hauntings but for the main character's emotional vulnerability and how this plays out as the novel progresses. (Don't want to give anything away here.)Not everyone can relate to staying in a haunted house and taking part in an experiment relating to the paranormal but we all can wonder what would happen if we lost our tenacious grip on reality and this is the most delicious scare of it all.
Jackson's Finest Work........2007-08-26
I have recently became a new fan who admires Ms. Jackson very much. After reading The Lottery and We Have Always Lived in the Castle I was *really* excited to read her most celebrated novel. I have to say The Haunting of Hill House is my favorite by Jackson.
This story is unlike your typical haunted house story. With realistic characters and perhaps a more realistic type of haunting. We follow Eleanor on her journey on the invite of a Dr. Montague who wants to investigate Hill House over the summer. Soon she is joined by Luke (who is going to inherit the house one day), and another Theodora. Eleanor and Theodora have had paranormal experiences in the past and Dr. Montague was hoping to get Hill House to open up again with a little bit of help. Other characters include the two care takers of Hill House, and Dr. Montague's rather annoying, wannabe "ghost hunter" wife and teacher friend who appear at the end of the book.
We do learn of the mysteries of Hill House and how a family has been haunted and had tragic bad luck ever since the house was built. The house's past really revolves around two feuding sisters. My thoughts originally were that as we follow through Eleanor's journey Theodora and Eleanor (who have called themselves 'like cousins' in the beginning) start acting childish and take on the attributes of the spirits of the sisters. With the love and hate relationship that the past sisters have had and now Eleanor and Theodora have for each other as they grow to know each other day by day. Later, Theodora and Luke end up calling the two women sisters, and Eleanor tries to correct them by saying cousins. They also feud over the attention of Luke just like the previous sisters had in the past. I am sure I have a different take on it then most readers of this particular book. That's the beauty of books though or own individual theories. Your mind will certainly be in full thought while reading this book!
The other interesting thing with Hill House is that Jackson seems to take on the haunting as perhaps a 'psychological' aspect. Meaning is it fear that's driving (mostly) Eleanor or Theodora? With the red (blood) coloring all over Theodora's clothes and room at one point then is somehow not there in the end? Or is Eleanor somehow creating or helping the house with her growing madness because she is trying so hard to fit in and to be accepted now that she is finally apart of something that she never wants to leave? There are other clues as well I believe that Eleanor could actually be behind it all.
At any rate you still feel for Eleanor (mainly because I think we all secretly feel the same way she thinks and feels for the most part) and perhaps the other main characters too - they are at least likeable. After picking up the book I could not stop reading it! It really is one of her easiest reads with a lot of originality and a really interesting and shocking ending that will leave you captivated in thought!
Interesting novel study; not scary at all.......2007-08-22
I was disappointed in this book. I expected it to rival "The Turn of the Screw" but I found myself rushing to finish it just to see if there actually was "a scary part." The characters and point of view are interesting; Jackson creates unique characters and voice. The images and relationships among characters and the best part of the book, but I must admit it's boring when it comes to creating fear. I wish I could have loved it as much as many readers do, but I'm giving it away because it's so disappointing to keep looking at it on my bookshelf.
Average customer rating:
- For two years.....
- ...and my kids only 6
- This book tells many stories with amazing illustrations
|
Haunted Castle
Leo Hartas
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Spine-Chilling Horror
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0789424649 |
Customer Reviews:
For two years............2003-12-25
...I have been reading this with/to my grandson. He absolutely loves the intricacy and details shown and drawn... Frankly, I have NOT followed the "interactive formula" but just let him choose his favorite pages... EVERY time we read it together (usually just before bed)he and I find something we have not seen before. There is so much there that this is one of the rare books that has staying power over the years... I am fairly sure he will be looking a this when he is 18, and again when he has children of his own. It is magnificent! I will purchase anything this author chooses to draw in a similar vein.
...and my kids only 6.......2000-02-26
Every time we walk into our neighborhood bookstore, my son runs over to find "Haunted Castle." I guess it started when the book originally caught my eye, and so I picked it up. I'm an artist, and the drawings are so detailed and intruiging that it drew me in immediately. To top it off, there's a game to be played throughout the book that both my son and I found extremely innovative. In it, Johnny and Jodie have to find their Uncle Barnaby, and so the journey takes you through the many twists, characters, and wonderful drawings where in the end you really don't know if you're going to actually find him. Because my son is not at the reading level the book displays, it's a great way to spend some quality time together without the TV on! I would reccomend "Haunted Castle" to you if you're one to appreciate tallented illustration, great ideas in writing, and enjoy sharing story time with your children.
This book tells many stories with amazing illustrations.......1999-08-16
Haunted Castle is a book that lets you choose your own path through a terrifying castle. Every time you read the book, the story changes because of the decicions you make. The richly detailed illustrations will keep you entertained for hours and every time you look at an illustration you notice something new. Some of the first rate drawings include a graveyard full of restless spirits, a mad scientist's laboratory, a sunken pirate ship, and a dungeon. Once you finaly find your way out of the castle, there is a surprise that explains the whole mystery!
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