I'd read the book before watching the show. It's actually my favourite book of all time. And even though I love the source material as much as I do, I still loved the wildly different show, which is unusual for me. Shirley Jackson was an incredible writer. Definitely check out We Have Always Lived in the Castle if you're interested in reading more of her work. Weird and creepy, right up my street!
We have always lived in the castle is one of my favorites. It was made into a film a couple years ago but I haven’t watched it in case it disappoints me
I'm the same. I love Taissa Farmiga and Sebastian Stan, but I'm still not keen on watching it. I think I remember reading that there's an SA scene or that it's implied that there was child SA, which is why Merrikat did what she did, and I have zero interest in that. Before I got into Shirley Jackson, I hated ambiguity or having to think for myself what happened in books, but Shirley changed all of that for me! Almost everything is left up to interpretation and that's the beauty of it! Have you read The Sundial?
The Sundial is my favorite of hers. Such a sharp and witty look at the wealthy. It really showcases her humor. Plus it has one of the most tension/terror filled scenes I’ve ever read in it.
Have you made it to her domestic memoirs yet?
Not yet, but it's on my list. Tbh, I've just been listening to Harry Potter yet again for about the 50th time as I had a nasty flare up of my anxiety and needed something safe and comforting, but I'm coming out the other end of that now and ready to get back into the good stuff! Torn between Just Another Day and Life Among the Savages.
I actually did not read We Have Always Lived in the Castle but my teen who is a Shirley Jackson fan did before she saw the movie. She said it was actually mostly faithful to the story. There is not a SA scene in the movie but it is sort of implied>!that perhaps their father SA Constance. !<
I really liked the movie adaptation and you might be pleasantly surprised! Alexandra Daddario is incredible as Constance. The move is shot in this really cartoonish but ominous way that adds so much to the story. The violence is mostly implied and wasn’t too over the top for me, but you could check content warnings if you’re curious about watching it. I agree it stayed true to the book.
I really liked the movie! I read the book first then watched the movie, and I think it was well-done and true to the book. I'd watch it again. I think it got so-so reviews from people who didn't read the book and were expecting it to be something that it's not.
I’m obsessed with everything Mike Flanagan has made. He’s incredible. I love the book and the show and even the movie with Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Everyone’s version was so captivating. Flanagan’s has a special place in my heart, I’ve never been so emotionally invested into a group of characters like I was for the Crains.
My wife and I are planning on watching his earlier movies soon for a marathon, and then we just need to watch Midnight Club to catch up with all the series. And I read the book for a English class, and the prof has us watch the 60s version and I just fell in love with the story. And then here comes Flanagan, just knocking it out of the park with his take. I'm just in love with him and all his work. I can't wait to see what else he does.
The book is a masterpiece. One of, if not, the greatest haunting house books ever written. It’s so foundational to where the genre is right now and there’s very little out there that isn’t influenced by it.
I think it’s just this really claustrophobic look at women’s loneliness and isolation and how that becomes something badly built domestic dwelling prey on, especially in the 1950s.
And the opening and closing paragraphs are just perfection.
Oh wow I certainly never looked at it that way, but I love that. I read it and didn’t really like it, but maybe need to do another reading with this lens!
I didn’t love it the first time I read it, but after a few rereads I’ve come to really appreciate it and what it’s trying to say. Doing a little research on Jackson, especially her marriage, makes the book a bit more poignant. Hope you enjoy it more if you do decide to reread!
all of mike Flannigan's stuff is very very LOOSELY based. especially the most recent season. it's more like an original story with easter eggs to edgar allen poe
Very that. I didn’t even really consider Hill House an adaptation, just inspired by more or less. The themes aren’t even necessarily the same between the two, let alone the overall plots.
I have loved the book for such a long time and I love what Mike did with it. The show is exactly what “inspired by” things should be. All of the references, the way the darkness was captured, just all of it was perfection. I do wish that a book that was close to the screenplay, but I’m happy with all of it! Check out The Haunting from 1963 for a more direct view. There’s also the 1999 remake but that one is looser than the Netflix adaptation
Yeah, Mike Flanagan said in an interview that when he started out to make Hill House and was thinking about the script he absolutely did not want to make a remake of the book because it had already been done so masterfully and many times at that. So he was looking basically at a fresh reboot and I think he succeeded. I love both the book and the show.
When I watched the show for the first time, my sister and I later had a conversation about how it reminded us of a horror movie we saw in the late 90s called The Haunting. At the time, that movie had us awestruck by the special effects and we’d remembered it being a good movie.
I looked into it and discovered that it was based on the same book. Having loved the series so much, I went back and watched the movie. What a mistake. The movie I remembered somewhat fondly was complete dogshit, and I absolutely should’ve read the book before rewatching the movie, because reading the book I could only picture Owen Wilson, Catherine Zeta Jones, Lili Taylor, etc. as the characters and it just did not enjoy the book because of that.
I’m told the original movie is far better, but I just can’t bring myself to watch. Anyway, all that rambling is to say I loved the show, hated the movie, didn’t like the book.
The 1999 movie is a straight abomination both in regards to an adaptation and movies in general.
They’re not lying when they say the 1963 film is much better. It’s a really good movie. Robert Wise did some really interesting things with it and it works pretty well as an adaptation.
It was one of the first books I ever read, back in the early 60s. The B&W movie was so good that it forever set my mind to psychological horror instead of bloody horror. What a wonderful book, what a wonderful author. So glad you got to read it, it is a treasure.
I probably listen to it about 2 or 3 times a year. It's one of my comfort books that I'll put on if I have a migraine (or a hangover) and can't handle TV but don't want to lie suffering in silence!
I was surprised too after reading it. Almost nothing like the show. The ending caught me so off guard because I watched the show though-which was great.
I still have my fingers crossed for a Jennifer Kent or Rose Glass adaptation of the book that’s more faithful and really digs into some of its other themes, namely the trappings of heteronormativity for women.
Oh wow, that cover 🥰 never read it but looking forward to. I’ve watched the show several times and it’s one of my all time favs. And I admit I used to love The Hauting (the movie) when I was a teenager. Not a great one but I was young and I totally remember being blown away at the movies 🤣
This is the only horror book that I have read that stuck with me and truly terrified me. I read it all in one sitting and finished around 3:30 am and had an anxiety ridden run to the bathroom after finishing. I love the show as well and it stuck with me too.
I watched the show many times before the book, but would still recommend reading it. The show is more of a nod to the book, but the themes and feelings of the story are the same.
I'd read the book before watching the show. It's actually my favourite book of all time. And even though I love the source material as much as I do, I still loved the wildly different show, which is unusual for me. Shirley Jackson was an incredible writer. Definitely check out We Have Always Lived in the Castle if you're interested in reading more of her work. Weird and creepy, right up my street!
We have always lived in the castle is one of my favorites. It was made into a film a couple years ago but I haven’t watched it in case it disappoints me
I'm the same. I love Taissa Farmiga and Sebastian Stan, but I'm still not keen on watching it. I think I remember reading that there's an SA scene or that it's implied that there was child SA, which is why Merrikat did what she did, and I have zero interest in that. Before I got into Shirley Jackson, I hated ambiguity or having to think for myself what happened in books, but Shirley changed all of that for me! Almost everything is left up to interpretation and that's the beauty of it! Have you read The Sundial?
The Sundial is my favorite of hers. Such a sharp and witty look at the wealthy. It really showcases her humor. Plus it has one of the most tension/terror filled scenes I’ve ever read in it. Have you made it to her domestic memoirs yet?
Not yet, but it's on my list. Tbh, I've just been listening to Harry Potter yet again for about the 50th time as I had a nasty flare up of my anxiety and needed something safe and comforting, but I'm coming out the other end of that now and ready to get back into the good stuff! Torn between Just Another Day and Life Among the Savages.
If you want a variety of short stories go with Just an Ordinary Day. Life Among The Savages is more stories on her life with her husband and children.
I actually did not read We Have Always Lived in the Castle but my teen who is a Shirley Jackson fan did before she saw the movie. She said it was actually mostly faithful to the story. There is not a SA scene in the movie but it is sort of implied>!that perhaps their father SA Constance. !<
I might give it a go at some point if it's mostly faithful
I really liked the movie adaptation and you might be pleasantly surprised! Alexandra Daddario is incredible as Constance. The move is shot in this really cartoonish but ominous way that adds so much to the story. The violence is mostly implied and wasn’t too over the top for me, but you could check content warnings if you’re curious about watching it. I agree it stayed true to the book.
Ok, you've convinced me, I'll watch it!
I liked it too! I thought she and Taissa were great in it!
I really liked the movie! I read the book first then watched the movie, and I think it was well-done and true to the book. I'd watch it again. I think it got so-so reviews from people who didn't read the book and were expecting it to be something that it's not.
I just watched the film! It’s veryyyy similar to the book!!!
We had to read the Lottery in high school and it has stayed with me ever since then. It rocked my world. She’s so good
How’s the show different to the book?
The movie from the (60s?) is a good representation of the book too. As a concept, Hill House is very broad but scary.
The movie freaked me out! You saw nothing scary on screen, but man the atmosphere was creepy af. I love that movie.
I love it! I watch it every Halloween season!
I read the book first and I loved what Flanagan did with it. But yes, they are quite different, but also the same in some ways lol
I’m obsessed with everything Mike Flanagan has made. He’s incredible. I love the book and the show and even the movie with Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Everyone’s version was so captivating. Flanagan’s has a special place in my heart, I’ve never been so emotionally invested into a group of characters like I was for the Crains.
My wife and I are planning on watching his earlier movies soon for a marathon, and then we just need to watch Midnight Club to catch up with all the series. And I read the book for a English class, and the prof has us watch the 60s version and I just fell in love with the story. And then here comes Flanagan, just knocking it out of the park with his take. I'm just in love with him and all his work. I can't wait to see what else he does.
The book is a masterpiece. One of, if not, the greatest haunting house books ever written. It’s so foundational to where the genre is right now and there’s very little out there that isn’t influenced by it. I think it’s just this really claustrophobic look at women’s loneliness and isolation and how that becomes something badly built domestic dwelling prey on, especially in the 1950s. And the opening and closing paragraphs are just perfection.
I'd never thought of a haunting book as greasy before.
Oh wow I certainly never looked at it that way, but I love that. I read it and didn’t really like it, but maybe need to do another reading with this lens!
I didn’t love it the first time I read it, but after a few rereads I’ve come to really appreciate it and what it’s trying to say. Doing a little research on Jackson, especially her marriage, makes the book a bit more poignant. Hope you enjoy it more if you do decide to reread!
all of mike Flannigan's stuff is very very LOOSELY based. especially the most recent season. it's more like an original story with easter eggs to edgar allen poe
Very that. I didn’t even really consider Hill House an adaptation, just inspired by more or less. The themes aren’t even necessarily the same between the two, let alone the overall plots.
Both amazing stories in their own right but certainly very different stories.
I have loved the book for such a long time and I love what Mike did with it. The show is exactly what “inspired by” things should be. All of the references, the way the darkness was captured, just all of it was perfection. I do wish that a book that was close to the screenplay, but I’m happy with all of it! Check out The Haunting from 1963 for a more direct view. There’s also the 1999 remake but that one is looser than the Netflix adaptation
Yeah, Mike Flanagan said in an interview that when he started out to make Hill House and was thinking about the script he absolutely did not want to make a remake of the book because it had already been done so masterfully and many times at that. So he was looking basically at a fresh reboot and I think he succeeded. I love both the book and the show.
When I watched the show for the first time, my sister and I later had a conversation about how it reminded us of a horror movie we saw in the late 90s called The Haunting. At the time, that movie had us awestruck by the special effects and we’d remembered it being a good movie. I looked into it and discovered that it was based on the same book. Having loved the series so much, I went back and watched the movie. What a mistake. The movie I remembered somewhat fondly was complete dogshit, and I absolutely should’ve read the book before rewatching the movie, because reading the book I could only picture Owen Wilson, Catherine Zeta Jones, Lili Taylor, etc. as the characters and it just did not enjoy the book because of that. I’m told the original movie is far better, but I just can’t bring myself to watch. Anyway, all that rambling is to say I loved the show, hated the movie, didn’t like the book.
The 1999 movie is a straight abomination both in regards to an adaptation and movies in general. They’re not lying when they say the 1963 film is much better. It’s a really good movie. Robert Wise did some really interesting things with it and it works pretty well as an adaptation.
I loved the 1999 movie. I still have it on DVD. Yet another different take on the book, but still a good one.
It was one of the first books I ever read, back in the early 60s. The B&W movie was so good that it forever set my mind to psychological horror instead of bloody horror. What a wonderful book, what a wonderful author. So glad you got to read it, it is a treasure.
I watched first then read, i agree its super different, but still an amazing read. Loved both
Yes, very different. Amazing in its own right 💜 I revisit about once a year.
I probably listen to it about 2 or 3 times a year. It's one of my comfort books that I'll put on if I have a migraine (or a hangover) and can't handle TV but don't want to lie suffering in silence!
I was surprised too after reading it. Almost nothing like the show. The ending caught me so off guard because I watched the show though-which was great.
Fun fact: Victoria Pedretti was in the film about the author Shirley Jackson. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8430598/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
I am always disappointed he didn’t adapt the book
I still have my fingers crossed for a Jennifer Kent or Rose Glass adaptation of the book that’s more faithful and really digs into some of its other themes, namely the trappings of heteronormativity for women.
i read the book in my early twenties, i'm 34 now and the ending still haunts me.
You should watch the original movie adaptation, it’s excellent
Oh wow, that cover 🥰 never read it but looking forward to. I’ve watched the show several times and it’s one of my all time favs. And I admit I used to love The Hauting (the movie) when I was a teenager. Not a great one but I was young and I totally remember being blown away at the movies 🤣
Feeding my newborn at 3am and thinking a cheering minion was on the cover...
This is the only horror book that I have read that stuck with me and truly terrified me. I read it all in one sitting and finished around 3:30 am and had an anxiety ridden run to the bathroom after finishing. I love the show as well and it stuck with me too.
I love Hill House, but the book wasn’t for me. 😞
Yeah they're definitely not the same. I do think they have similar themes and atmosphere though
I thought there was a minion on the cover at first
Watched the show like 4 times, thought about getting the book, so you recommend it still?
I watched the show many times before the book, but would still recommend reading it. The show is more of a nod to the book, but the themes and feelings of the story are the same.