Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Great First Lines — The Haunting of Hill House

No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.
Shirley Jackson, The Haunting of Hill House
The opening paragraph from the book I consider to be the best ghost story ever written. A bold claim but true.

5 comments:

  1. One of her best! Even the movies have been good.
    One of her best, I think, just behind We Have Always Lived In the Castle"
    I also love "The Uninvited" by Dorothy McCardle.

    Mom

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    1. Yes, I go back and forth between which is best - Haunting or Castle.

      The Dorothy McArdle books are good, especially The Uninvited, but not in the same category as Jackson. :-)

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    2. I do now (thank you Wikipedia!). Not that far!

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    3. Heavens to Betsy! Not far at all! :-)

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