Book - The Woman In Black

The Woman In Black
Susan Hill
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Product description

The classic ghost story by Susan Hill: a chilling tale about a menacing spectre haunting a small English town. Arthur Kipps is an up-and-coming London solicitor who is sent to Crythin Gifford—a faraway town in the windswept salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway—to attend the funeral and settle the affairs of a client, Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. Mrs. Drablow’s house stands at the end of the causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but Kipps is unaware of the tragic secrets that lie hidden behind its sheltered windows. The routine business trip he anticipated quickly takes a horrifying turn when he finds himself haunted by a series of mysterious sounds and images—a rocking chair in a deserted nursery, the eerie sound of a pony and trap, a child’s scream in the fog, and, most terrifying of all, a ghostly woman dressed all in black. Psychologically terrifying and deliciously eerie, The Woman in Black is a remarkable thriller of the first rate.

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I decided to read this book because of the upcoming movie in February. To be very precise, in the trailer, when Kipps opens the door to the house... I saw a dog. And I was anxious to know if anything would happen to the dog or not, so... I bought the book. A little overpriced, IMHO but I figured with all the freebies I got from Amazon on the Kindle I might as well pay for one.

This was a nice quick read. Lots of chills were sent down my spine. Thinking back on the happenings in the book, though, I reflect that nothing much really happens. In the latter part of the book, before Kipps had to go save the dog, his optimism actually convinced me that he would resolve the whole matter, really, but just as suddenly it just went spiraling down. I will admit that the ending, despite being plenty and delightfully spooky for some, fell a little short for my tastes.

I am happy to give out a small tiny spoiler that Spider the dog comes out relatively unharmed, in case, like me, this was the one little detail that nagged at you.

oh yeah, and the ending of the book was a little abrupt. Like The Turn Of The Screw... just WHAM.... and you think to yourself... "and... then what??"

  2012 Book target: 1 / 50