Well, I read The Little Stranger....

[BelligerentGhoul]

Anybody want to talk about it? :)

I read The Woman In White too - finally!

Well I didn't find it creepy and I wasn't scared. And I still don't think it was him! And anyway, there was so little actually happening, other than a family in decline, that I wasn't that bothered who or what it was anyway!

In fact, the more I think about it, the less I think of it!

I enjoyed it while I was reading it. I think it described the time period well. I found it a tiny bit creepy in parts I think, but have since read 'The woman in black' which makes everything else pale into insignificance in terms of creepiness!

I'm with you, FBG on The Woman In Black - that book is terrifying. And brilliant.

My dh had nightmares after watching a dramatisation of the Woman in Black. Normally he can watch anything with no effect; it is so sinister, but I wasn't able to say why - brilliant writing.

I had nightmares too, stleger after watching TWIB on TV - my sister and I watched it one Christmas Eve as teenagers and ended up sleeping in the same room for the first time in years because we were so petrified to be alone. And the stage version is just as scary....

Is it? I wondered...I must threaten dh with that if he misbehaves

I've seen the stage version too (we're talking about 'the woman in black' now, not 'the little stanger' for anyone new!)- terrifying. Don't think my nerves could cope with the film... already will not allow DCs to go on any form of horse and cart/ horse ride/ donkey ride as a consequence of the book...

I didn't like it either - thought it should be renamed 'The Annoying Stranger', because that was mainly how it made me feel - irritated.

I must look at the Little Stranger....But I always think of Susan Hill as a nice lady who reads Good Housekeeping, not Queen of Horror!

Susan Hill is not like that at all. Her crime novels are amazing, and her ghost stories seriously spooky.

woman in black was terrifying

I couldnt get into The Little stranger- but I enjoyed Affinity by SW- really enjoyed it.

I liked her others better. Just not that scary, and I so thought it would be.

It scared the crap out of me....but I am a wuss.

I didn't think much of The Little Starnger either even though I seemed to be a lone voice in my book club.

The narrator got on my nerves, there was no suspense and the twist was non-existent. It did cross my mind that perhaps he had done it, but by then I was past caring.

I too have the seen the stage version of The Woman in Black and thought it was great. Have never read the book, though, so perhaps I should try that.

I thought I was really enjoying it, and then it ended and then thought - oh. Was that it?

Edgar Allan Poe. Those are stories I can't be alone in the house with!!

Try 'The Turn of the Screw'. Seriously creepy by a master storyteller, Henry James.

It has similar themes to the Waters book.

I thought the narrator was supposed to get on your nerves though. He was bitter, petty, mediocre and felt cheated by his social background. He was boring, too. Really uptight. He loved pointing out the family's reduced circumstances, pretending he was concerned when he was in fact gloating.
I loved how she used his senses to convey his bitterness. Very often, there's a taste or a smell or a colour that he finds unpleasant.

I read The Turn Of The Screw just before The Woman In White and The Little Stranger. I was v underwhelmed by it tbh and think if I hadn't have already seen it on TV I wouldn't have bothered finishing it. I was just bored by the children tbh.

Woman In Black - have read it I think but so, so long ago that I can remember precisely nothing about it. Will read it again. I read one of her detective ones and thought it was pants though.

Yes yes to Poe - especially The Telltale Heart.

Oh that's a shame. I really enjoyed it and again the narrator is ambiguous; were the children abused? Controlled by malevolent supernatural forces? Or is it all in her head?

BelligerentGhoul (you sound a bit creepy yourself!) - very mean of you to mention the telltale heart just before I go to bed. And dp not home yet.

Sorry Sticky - I'm not creepy, really. My name is just a quotation from a song!

My dp is out too - thinks of bluebirds and dolly mixtures instead of Poe. :)

Oh yes, I thought there was something familiar about your name! Are you a headmaster?

Made it through the night anyway!!