Susan Hill (1) (1942–)

The Woman in Black is a ghost story which tells the tale of Arthur Kipps, a young lawyer from London who is sent to the countryside to go through the papers in the house of the recently deceased Mrs. Drablow. The story is told by an older Arthur, who believes by recounting his tale of horror, that he will be freed from its burden.

I had a lot of problems with this book. First of all, the story really drags on. It probably did not need to go for the 160-odd pages of which it consists – especially since I know you can tell very terrifying stories in half, or less than half that many pages, (see H.P. Lovecraft). But The Woman in Black does drag on. You're constantly being built up to something scary that's about to happen... and when the "scary" thing happens, you're left wondering, "Wait, am I supposed to be scared right now?" Truly, the parts that were supposed to be scary didn't even get a rise out of me. Ooooh something bumped.... Should I have chills right now...? The other aspect that I didn't like was that you're constantly being reminded that Arthur is a logical, scientific London gentlemen who isn't given to country superstitions and the idea of ghosts. This reminder happens every few pages. We get it. Sadly, The Woman in Black ends up being just another run-of-the-mill ghost story. Not a lot of originality is in play.

What I did appreciate about Ms. Hill's writing, is that she at least has a fantastic descriptive style. She really knows how to set the mood. You can definitely feel and smell the sea fog rolling it. You can imagine yourself in the muddy, dank marshes on an early winter day. It's these instances of her writing that make the novel mildly enjoyable. It's honestly a shame that you don't get the effects of the horror that the novel promises.
Overall, I will probably give Susan Hill's other stories a try, but if I want to be scared... I think I'll stick to Lovecraft, August Derleth, or Stephen King.… (altro)

Classic ghost stories, so classic that they trespass into clichéed territory. There are uneasiness and creepiness at moments, but the overall narrative does not keep together. Plus, characters' reactions in front of the supernatural are not convincing at all. It's a pity, because there are glimpses of good psychological insight hinting at a narrator with some potential. Being this valid for all four stories, I am not sure whether I should give this writer a second chance.
Anecdotal: the evil grandmother seems pretty much molded on my own maternal grandmother. Even as an atheist with much respect for the gray areas in ethical matters, "evil" has always been the only word seemingly fit to describe her. Luckily enough, she was also too self-centred to even think of doing what the satanic granny does in the end of the short story...… (altro)