Rating: 
Summary: One of the rare cases of movie being better than book
Review: I was told this was one of the scariest books ever. When you read this you'll wonder why it was even called the haunting... throughout the entire book I sincerely doubt there was more that 5 pages worth of "paranormal activity." Even then, nothing is ever explained. The houses story is hardly enough to scare you, or explain it being haunted. Phrases are repeated over and over, but they are never explained. Nothing is ever explained. The entire time you read it you will be thinking that something very frightening must happen soon because its a short book and all, and it never does. The ending is extremely disapointining.Still and all, its somewhat interesting if you want a book about someone going insane. The descriptions of the house is well done, but the way the characters go back and forth between thinking it evil and thinking it nice hardly makes it as scary as it was probably meant to be. Also, if you are a fan of dry English humor, and nonsense conversations, this book is full of them.
Rating: 
Summary: A classic. Perhaps the Ghost Story of the Millenium!
Review: Reading the other reviews of the book, one can tell that it will not appeal to people whose idea of horror is "Scream" or Freddy Kruger -- it's not bloody -- there are no decapitations, no gore, no scantily clad naughty teenage nymphets soon to be butchered.... it that's your cup of tea, look elsewhere. But for people with taste, who appreciate subtlety, who are looking for eerieness instead of gross-outs, this is an imperishable classic. The writing is -- more than superb, it is timeless -- almost surreal, free-verse poetry, with an atavistic appropriateness like that of unwhitewashed fairy tales. The opening paragraph, the sequences of Eleanor's journey to hill house, her initial reaction on first seeing it, and her slow seduction by Hill House, are beautiful and horrible and unforgettable. A Chateau d'Yquem, a Cristal for lovers of classic horror. Unless the genre itself is not to your taste, you'll be captivated.
Rating: 
Summary: Hideous.
Review: The point of a Shirley Jackson story is, "Look how _evil_ I can be! Isn't it _fun!"_ No. Actually, it isn't.
Rating:
Summary: The most overrated book imaginable
Review: Like many others, the new release of "The Haunting" prompted me to buy the book. I found the book to be so boring that I haven't made an effort to see the movie. The book was a complete waste of time. None of the characters are sympathetic, so as a reader, I didn't care what happened to any of them (which was basically nothing). The female characters have such a loose grip on reality to begin with that I didn't find the protagonist's mental breakdown to be surprising or frightening in any way. I recommend reading something else.
Rating: 
Summary: The Hau... what its not scary!
Review: I thought how she wrote the story was very well excellent but the ending makes for a poor book. But it is still a book you should have to take time or what not.
Rating:
Summary: Read this one in broad daylight! It will haunt you forever.
Review: Shirley Jackson is a master of horror architecture. She asks the reader to accept small anomolies one at a time while she weaves them into an original chilling tapestry. While the Haunting of Hill House can seem a little dated in some of its details, it wraps the reader in an ambience skewed just enough to remain believable while it stands your neck-hairs on end. This one's a keeper, buy a hard-copy, you'll re-read it again and again.
Rating:
Summary: the best book
Review: I just saw the movie "The Haunting" and I had to read the book because all the movie crities were saying how bad the movie was. i thought that is was a great movie and the book was even beter it was so good some times you thought you were their. It was the best book I have every read.
Rating:
Summary: wrenching, a psycological thriller
Review: i have never before read a book that made me more skeptical of everything i have been taught was reality. this is not a "read-while-you-fall-asleep" book. jackson stands out as a master of her craft. enjoyably terrifying. -r.h.,13
Rating:
Summary: One of the best Haunted House Books ever!
Review: I agree with a former reviewer: I am 43 and saw the black and white movie in the early 60's. It shaped my fears about ghosts and made me a haunted house fan. My imagination and life were never the same after I saw this movie as a kid. Fear was generated without the gorry and unbelievable special effects we have today in horror films. The movie used the scarriest sets, one's own imagination. The book is just as good.
Rating:
Summary: GOOD-NOT TOO SCARY
Review: I wasn't sure what to expect when I started the book, but slowly I got so attached that I was unable to put it down. Definitely a good psycological thriller, and yet it doesn't scare you too much that you can't fall asleep at night.
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