House of Stairs

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Summary: Oh, when I was young...
Review: I remember a long time ago, when I was in the seventh grade, I read this book and thought that it was the most wonderful thing ever written. Of course, that was before I began reading Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen King, and Robert A. Heinlein. I just finished reading this book for the second time. It has been seven years since the first time I read it. It is still a good book, but not the wonder I once thought it was. It is a little cheesy but still provides enough horror to make it interesting. Looking back, I now remember why I began reading Sci-Fi to begin with. It was because of the book "House of Stairs". Had I not read this book, I may not have discovered other Sci-Fi authors and read thier books. I would recommend this book to any young reader.

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Summary: this book was great
Review: i think this book was really great but i didnt understand some parts if some one would explain to me a little i would really thankful i could also trade for info about this book thanx a lot.

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Summary: Recommended
Review: I think this book would appeal most to a junior-high or high school student with an interest in sci-fi, although anyone could appreciate it. The way Sleator throws strangers together in a controlled and increasingly desperate situation is reminiscent of William Golding's Lord of the Flies. House of Stairs lacks the strong writing, characters or originality of Golding's book, but that is not to say it isn't worth reading. The story is essentially a study of operant conditioning applied to humans--what if humans were treated as the lab rats were in BF Skinner's behavior studies? I appreciate the book now with this psychological perspective, but it is certainly enjoyable and genuinely unsettling to a reader who does not have this background.

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Summary: House of Stairs a beginning of my social/political awareness
Review: I think this book, with Fahrenheit 451, really brought me into a deep awareness of the importance of personal integrity - regardless of societal pressures; that those pressures are not always healthy for society, and that they can end in tragedy. I joined the school council and started volunteering. A real beginning!

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Summary: It is outstanding.
Review: I would like to say that this has got to be one of the greatest books of all time. A page turner, it took me around 3 hours too read it was magnificant. I too would like to see a second part to this book.

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Summary: great for Psychology majors
Review: I'm not a psychology major by any means, but when I read this book I couldn't help but think, "This book would be great for Psychology majors." After saying that..I gave the book to one of my psychology friends (I have sooo many) and she absolutely adored it. It's got everything a brain picker would love. Puberty stricken teenagers (is that an oxymoron?), crazy stairs that go no where and a food machine that possbily shoots out food if you do a crazy dance for it? Sound insane? Well it is, and that's what will keep you intrigued from page one...If you saw the movie "Cube" and enjoyed it wholeheartedly...you'll enjoy "The House of Stairs". Trust me!

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Summary: Pretty good reading
Review: I've read this book two times now, and still think it's pretty good all around. I would like to see a sequel.

Rating:
Summary: House of Stairs
Review: Imagine being blindfolded, placed on an elevator, and shipped to a strange place. When you got there, the place is filled with only stairs. There is no ceiling, no floor, and no walls. That is exactly the situation five 16-year-old orphans' find themselves in, in the book House of Stairs by William Sleator. The five teens must learn ways to survive and obtain food in a special way. Their only food source is a red machine, which will only supply them with food if they demonstrate a series of complex movements, like a dance, that pleases the machine. None of the teens know where they are, how they got there, or why they are there. This book deals with cooperation, strength, and teamwork. I would rate this book two and a half stars because it wasn't a very interesting book. It didn't hold my attention or keep me focused on the main point of the story. It also seemed to have a lot of repetition. However, the author showed a creative story plot with a surprising ending.

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Summary: Creepily thought-provoking
Review: In the near-future, five teenagers from group homes are imprisoned in a huge space filled with nothing but stairs. They are clearly the subjects of an experiment, and as for the nature of the experiment... Let's just say that the book reminded me of "Lord of the Flies," but with a more hopeful ending and more sympathetic, modern protagonists. Extremely suspenseful and creepily thought-provoking.

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Summary: amazing book
Review: ive made a tradition of reading this book once a year and every year it continues to amaze me. when i first read it i was younger and did not entirely understand how interesting and though provoking the book can be. as i continued to read it over ive though about it more and i still continue to find more things within the text.