another one for the dnf shelf. maybe i just don't like kim newman??

This story was not what I expected. When one hears mention of a ghost story, one imagines the unsettling creak of a floorboard, lights that flicker as though from faulty wiring, an escalation of scares, and spectres at every turn, not a subtle disintegration of family that’s almost a metaphor. The tale begins with the family finding the perfect home and weaves an enchanting picture of country life that’s something out of a Victorian romance, creating the perfect escape the characters seek. What isn’t so clear is they cannot escape their own flaws, weaknesses the power within the house focuses on and brings alive to disturbing extremes. Does it work? To an extent, although I think the readership will be one who also appreciates more literary subtext and likes classic works. If looking for an easy scare, this won’t be the book. I’ve not read much of Kim Newman, particularly in recent years, but this interested me enough that I may look up some of his other titles. ( )

Discounting last year’s ANNO DRACULA: JOHNNY ALUCARD (I do so hesitantly, but it was largely an assemblage of previously published novella pieces with new connective tissue pulling the storyline together) it has been roughly 15 long years (LIFE’S LOTTERY 1999) since we’ve had a new novel from Kim Newman. Sure, we’ve had plenty of incredibly fun novellas and short story collections in the ANNO DRACULA and DIOGENES CLUB and MORIARTY vein to keep us occupied, and every one of them a pop-culture laden fanboy joy, but no full-length standalone explorations of theme. Happily, AN ENGLISH GHOST STORY has made the wait more than worthwhile. What we have in this new novel is a skilfully crafted piece of work from a writer who is clearly at the top of his game. Kim gives the traditional ghost story, specifically the haunted house theme - a fragmented family moves into what turns out to be a haunted house and weird stuff happens - his own spin. Familiar tropes? You bet. Kim hasn’t entirely eschewed the Victorian/Edwardian or 60s/70s pop-lit culture influences that characterize so much of his work. We are in a world where Catriona Kaye and Drearcliffe Grange (of the ANNO DRACULA and DIOGENES CLUB stories) are referenced in rewarding fashion, and there’s no escaping Henry James’ THE TURN OF THE SCREW, or the film influences of THE HAUNTING or LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, but it’s all explored and delivered with a surprising sensitivity, emotional depth, understanding of human foibles in relationships and a maturity of voice I’ve not seen in Kim’s previous work. There’s a hint of commonality with Neil Gaiman’s deft working of light in darkness and the late Graham Joyce’s nostalgic warmth that permeates and elevates this book. It’s the voice telling the story, as much as the story itself, that makes a read worthwhile. Sure, there are scares galore, a measured ratcheting up of tension and a creepy atmosphere that work beautifully throughout, but the underlying driving force is in exploring the human relationships, the love that binds us in our family relationships, about recognizing who we are, who we need, how we fit together to flourish as human beings. This is everything I hoped it would be, and was surprised to get what I wanted and more, which is to say this is Kim Newman at his best and it’s exactly what it says on the wrapper…it’s AN ENGLISH GHOST STORY. ( )

Kim Newman's ever changing geography of horror always promises new discoveries. Here he re-examines the concept of "ghosts" and provides a tale of redemption. Hugely enjoyable on many levels. ( )

I liked this. It was not HORROR, but it was indeed horror. Now what do I mean with that? It was more subtle, and it grew and grew until I was all, I sure hope my house is not haunted.

A dysfunctional family, wait a moment. I just have to say that this family should have been in family therapy and the parents should have gotten a divorce. Toxic! Anyway, the family wants to move, to improve their relationship and then they see the house. See there it starts, the subtle strangeness. They freaking love the house, they want to marry the house and dance around it singing. And the house feels it.

We have a mother who was dependent on a friend. A father who wanted to rule. A sister with an eating disorder. And a son who plays soldier. But everything changes. The house is amazing, they are all happy. They eat pancakes and smile. But, the house knows. The house is watching, and there are ghosts playing around.

Slowly we see that there is something going on. Things move on their own. And as the family realizes this, everything starts to fall apart. It goes from happy to chilly to creepy. Subtle...English. Because sometime it's you who are the dark one.

A nice ghost story :) ( )