The Haunting of Hill House
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The Haunting of Hill House Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 24,337 ratings
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Now a hit Netflix miniseries directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, and Timothy Hutton

Past the rusted gates and untrimmed hedges, Hill House broods and waits.

Four seekers have come to the ugly, abandoned old mansion: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of the psychic phenomenon called haunting; Theodora, his lovely and lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a lonely, homeless girl well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the adventurous future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable noises and self-closing doors, but Hill House is gathering its powers and will soon choose one of them to make its own.

This classic horror novel has been hailed as a perfect work of unnerving terror.

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  1. Listening Length
    7 hours and 27 minutes
  2. Author
    Shirley Jackson
  3. Narrator
    Bernadette Dunne
  4. Audible release date
    October 4, 2010
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  7. ASIN
    B0045XRA1K
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 7 hours and 27 minutes
Author Shirley Jackson
Narrator Bernadette Dunne
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date October 04, 2010
Publisher Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0045XRA1K
Best Sellers Rank #3,559 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#73 in Classic Literature
#117 in Horror Fiction
#310 in Classic Literature & Fiction

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
24,337 global ratings
Classic.
4 Stars
Classic.
While I adore the adapted version, the 1999 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘦, and grew up watching it on repeat! I found this book to be just splended!{I also have seen The Haunting Of Bly Manor, and I found this book to be very similar to The Haunting (𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝑜𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓈!)}I loved the sarcastic play between the characters. I found Eleanor to be just as whimsical with curiosity in this, and that was pleasant!And 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘶𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘦 I’ve seen the movie a million times- I enjoyed the back ground thoughts in between conversations.This 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 have a lot of conversation and psychological moments- rather than hauntings- but I didn’t mind! This is a slow pace book, but such a classic!
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Top reviews from the United States

Linda Teddlie Minton
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful classic
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
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Having seen both movie versions over the years, it suddenly occurred to me that I had never actually READ it. Thank goodness I had added it to my Kindle reading list some years ago, so I just had to pull it up and dig in.

The first thing that surprised me was how relatively short this novel was. I seemed to zip through it in just a couple of nights’ reading time, and was almost disappointed that it was over so soon.

Nevertheless, the book is so beautifully, even soulfully written, that it really didn’t need anything further. Having already fallen in love with Shirley Jackson’s other most famous novel, “We Have Always Lived In The Castle,” I was afraid that this “horror” novel would either not live up to that one, or would leave a bad taste in my mouth for Ms. Jackson’s work. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Contrary to the deliberate “horrification,” if I may coin a word, of the movie versions, the written word gave a softer sense of sweetness, sorrow, and deepest empathy for our main character, Eleanor. I fell in love with her, but also adored her newly-made friend, Theodora (“Theo”), who I had not expected to like so much.

If you have only seen the movie, do yourself a favor and read the source material, straight from the horse’s mouth. It’s really quite beautiful, and although it is about a haunting, it’s really not horrifying at all.
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Megan
4.0 out of 5 stars A short book artificially inflated by an opening essay
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2023
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The story itself is quite short and relies almost entirely on psychological horror. The page counted is padded with an opening essay, perhaps in an effort to justify the $11 the publisher wants for this book. Ah well, the story was very good.

Our main character is Eleanor, who's called to Hill House (along with a few others) by Doctor Montague. Montague is looking to record ghostly phenomenon. He needs something solid, because as an academic, he's under ridicule. Nobody believes in the paranormal, of course.

Hill House is creepy and oppressive--and said to be haunted due to the tragedies that happened there. It actually imitates the life Eleanor is coming from (she even has to steal a car in order to break free from that life). Immediately, we can see that, while Eleanor is enjoying her freedom, there's something not right about her. It's the unreliable way she narrates, how she attaches herself to a favorite person, the way she talks.

The hours roll by in Hill House and it soon becomes apparent that it may not be the house that's haunted.

The Haunting of Hill House book is way better than the Netflix adaptation. In fact, I almost passed up on the book because the adaptation was so bad. Very glad I didn't. It's a short, quick, tense read with an ending that makes you go, "oh heck".

One star lopped off for the opening essay. Written in the 1950s, The Haunting of Hill House isn't old or foreign enough to *really* require an opening essay to get you familiarized with the time and place.
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Robert J. Plumer
5.0 out of 5 stars The horror story everything else is compared too
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2019
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“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.” - The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

After watching the Netflix series last year by the same name last year it inspired me to put this classic book on my reading list. I had first been aware of the book for many years as it was mentioned by Stephen King as a major influence on his writing and lauded the book as one of the best of the horror genre. After reading the book I can see why and agree with King it's one of the best.

The story begins as Dr. Montague is doing research into the supernatural and wanted to use Hill House as a setting due to its reputation as a haunted house and it’s somewhat sad history. We learn that on top of the somewhat tragic history of its original residents/builders the more recent residents who tried to live there seem to leave only after a short stay and without much explanation as to their quick departure. The house itself is a character all its own with its Gothic foreboding style and its unique floor plan is compared to in the book to the real-life Winchester House in San Jose, California which also had eccentric owners and history.

In the beginning the story is mostly centered around the four main characters of Dr. Montague, Eleanor Vance, Theodora, and Luke Sanderson. Aside from the very beginning and end the story is told through the perspective of Eleanor (aka: Nell) which we find out was a recluse who took care of elderly demanding mother until recently and was brow beaten by her two siblings from whom she took the family car to stay at Hill House. It was noted in her childhood her sister and her experienced the phenomenon of stones raining on their house as children, which was one of the reasons Dr. Montague invited her to the house. Stephen King fans might recognize this as an event that happened in his debut novel Carrie whose main character’s(Carrie White) house was also pelted with stones and had a domineering mother. Her main companion in the book is Theodora, no last name given, is described as living a bohemian lifestyle and perhaps is receptive to ESP. Luke Sanderson is a distant family heir to the house. He was mainly their as part of the agreement to stay at the house for their time there. He’s a bit of a playboy who never stayed at the house before.

The other characters are Mr. & Mrs. Dudley who are the caretakers of the house. Both are adamant about not staying at the house after dark. Mr Dudley is cantankerous and abrupt when meeting the visitors. Mrs. Dudley is quite rigid and humorless in her duties, so much so that in turn the guests make her the object of some light humor. No backstory is given to their relation to the house and how they became caretakers.

Dr. Montague’s wife and driver Authur Parker, who is the headmaster at a small boys school. In contrast to her spouse she has no qualms about expressing herself and taking control. Likewise Mr. Parker presents himself in an alpha male quality and even brandishes a gun for emergencies. He implies that Luke is a lightweight in his manliness on one occasion. Mrs. Montague acts as a woman on a mission to communicate with the supernatural. She tries a form of spirit writing using a planchette which seems to be channeling Eleanor.

Other happenings include doors closing by themselves, Luke and Dr. Montague chasing a mysterious dog, banging of the door to Eleanor and Theodora’s room, Theodora’s room/clothing covered in blood and writing in blood on the walls of the hallway which seems to be addressing Eleanor.

As time goes by the Hill House and Eleanor seem to be bonding together. It culminates one evening when she wakes up feeling energetic and carefree. She runs around knocking on doors waking the others as she runs and dances throughout the house. The others get up to see what is going on puzzled by this behavior. Eleanor makes her way to the library climbing a rickety iron spiral staircase that is barely staying vertical. The others that found her there are alarmed by this and beg her to stop. She seems either unaware or puzzled at why they are so frantic as she looks down upon them. Luke reluctantly climbs the staircase to implore her to come down which she reluctantly does. She is still seemingly unaware of the danger she put herself in by remarking she was just getting a book after Luke was able to coax her down.

The next morning the incident is unspoken but it is agreed at least between Dr. Montague, Theodora, Luke and the others that it is better if Eleanor leave Hill House for her own safety. Eleanor insists she does not want to leave and is very reluctant. Eleanor feels Hill House doesn't want her to leave and is sure she feels happy there. Her car is brought around already packed and being outnumbered and they were blocking the stairway to the front door. She still insists the house wants her to stay. Dr. Montague is insistent, firm although with some empathy as a parent might be with a child. After much back and forth about her leaving she finally says goodbye to everyone. As she drives away she feels a sudden rush of freedom but yet in a fleeting second just before hitting a tree and killing herself she asks herself what she is doing and why is no one stopping her.

In the end, Eleanor never really leaves Hill House taking her own life,or was it Hill House that killed her? I suppose we’ll never know. Dr. Montague goes on to write his paper to a cool reception. Theodore goes back her bohemian lifestyle. Luke is off Paris and his aunt, Mrs. Anderson, seems to be relieved that everyone had left.

After listening to this story it’s easy to see how many elements of the story have influenced the horror genre and pop culture. What would any ghost story be without it’s spooky Gothic style house? I can see it’s influence in classic TV series like The Addams Family, The Munsters and even the cartoon series Scooby Doo.

It was Stephen King that introduced me to this story decades ago. He even wrote about this story extensively in book about the horror genre. The story was a huge influence on his writing. The comparisons between Hill House’s “Eleanor” and the title character “Carrie” in King’s debut novel of the same name. Both young women with over powering mother’s. The key giveaway is the stones raining down on both girls houses when the were young. Even Hill House plays a part in other King books as we have the large foreboding “Marsten House” in ‘Salems Lot” that is home the stories vampires. In “The Shining” we have the Overlook Hotel that plays a huge part of that story.

The story itself has spawned two movies and a Netflix series based on the book(which influenced me to finally listen/read the story finally. The first movie done in 1963 in England called “The Haunting” follows the original fairly well but does change some details and omit other stuff. Another version was made in 1999, also titled “The Haunting”, that I have not seen so I can’t comment much on it. The 2018 Netflix series uses Hill House but instead a family there stays there over the summer renovating to then flip the house. Many of the original characters names are used and as the original story goes Eleanor again plays the central character.

One key element of the story is that even though title includes a haunting much of the story is about what is left unseen. Doors are shut when no one is looking. Aside from a mysterious family picnicking and a quick glimpse of a dog,at least that's what it’s presumed to be, but nothing else is seen. Blood is seen in Theodore's room and writing of Eleanor’s name in the hallways are as about as much as we see physically. We hear hear banging on the door and barely audible voices. It scares you more by what is unseen.

Aside from the very beginning and end the story is told through Eleanor’s point of view. She is a bit shy and has been somewhat sheltered because she had been taking care of her demanding invalid mother until she dies. As is implied at times she harbors some guilt over her mother’s death. How much this plays into what goes on in the house is hard to tell. It at least feels as an influence on Eleanor's character. As the story unfolds it can be hard to tell how much the house is coming over her. Even in her last moments it seems as if she had no idea she was about to drive into a tree.

It is a classic story of horror that uses what is unseen as the most terrifying feature. You will also see how this story has become a blueprint for so many other supernatural stories. Isn’t it often what is unknown or unseen that is most terrifying to us? It is still a mystery what it is exactly about Hill House that has this aura of horror and terror. Whatever it may be we do know it walks alone.
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Matheus
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente texto, edição razoável.
Reviewed in Brazil on November 21, 2023
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Texto excelente. A edição é um paperback simples, que se presta bem ao seu propósito.
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H. C.
5.0 out of 5 stars TERRIFYING!
Reviewed in Canada on November 12, 2023
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Bought for my niece, who is a big fan of scary books, films, & Hallowe'en. She hasn't read it yet (too busy at work), but I'VE read it, more than once, & it's honestly not just the most terrifying book I've ever devoured, it's simply one of the best, period! If you don't know Shirley Jackson, you need to make her acquaintance. Her mastery of character arcs, language, mood, pacing, plot development. . .of everything, really. . .is beyond impressive. It's magical! I've read all her memoirs, novels, & short stories, & she is my favourite female writer. I read voraciously, so that means something, trust me!

Read this soon. . .now. . .just not after dark!

(BTW, the 1963 film is FABULOUS! But don't watch it alone.)
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Elian López Reyes
5.0 out of 5 stars Genial
Reviewed in Mexico on February 1, 2023
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Llegó bien y la portada es increíble
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batkat
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning
Reviewed in Germany on November 29, 2023
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“No live organism can continue for long to exist under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream.”

I’m obsessed, you don’t understand, that line IS SEARED into my brain, how am I supposed to be normal about this?? you write an opening sentence like that, and I would follow you to the ends of the earth!!!

The second I’d read that sentence I felt it in my bones that this novel would bag one of my rare 5-star ratings. It reads like poetry, it reads like magic, it reads like beauty on the outside, with danger lurking on the inside.

Long have I known about Shirley Jackson and the cult-like status she (rightly!) enjoys not only among horror fans, but in the English literary world in general. As such, the fact that this edition is blurbed by Stephen King – king of horror for obvious reasons – is a bit misleading, and unfair. Misleading because I expected the same kind of horror I’d expect from It or Pet Cemetary; unfair because Shirley Jackson did everything King does now, only decades earlier. If still alive, SHE should be blurbing his books.

And no, Shirley Jackson does not write horror like King, and if you hear “horror” and all you can think of is “clown” and “undead animals” and if you then go into a horror novel expecting exactly those things from it only to end up being disappointed and letting that disappointment influence your rating, then I’m sorry because it means the term has become so uniquely specific, it excludes almost everything else that makes horror horror. It also means you should read something that is NOT what you think horror is.

No, Shirley doesn’t do King’s horror; instead, she writes about a supposedly haunted house, a doctor curious enough to move there and investigate it, and two women and a man who are just bored, adventurous, and lonely enough to move in there with him. Taking course over just a week or two, the experiment of trying to find and explain the reason for the haunting of Hill House, the house and its characters are slowly coming undone, pulling readers into unknown depths of disbelief, deceit, and despair.

Mainly told from the first-person perspective of Eleanor Vance, who arrives at the house with a car stolen from her sister (it’s half hers!) and her mother freshly six feet under, we are thrust into a setting in which “the haunted house” becomes a character in its own terms, more substantial than any of the novel’s human characters and granted far more attention than any of them except Eleanor.

This short story packs such a punch, it’s almost unbelievable, given how little is neither confirmed nor denied and how much is left up to our imagination. And yet… and yet, Jackson knows exactly where to drop that little word, that sentence that is sure to let your thoughts run wild. It’s almost impossible to consume this story sitting still. Shuffling, walking, changing sitting positions, breathless laughter over a clever pun, it’ll all happen, guaranteed.

The switch between Eleanor arriving at the house, afraid and small but simultaneously hopeful and excited for her life to start turning into a ferocious, jealousy-ridden, giggling, angry woman happens both so quickly and slowly that when you blink, the entire character has changed within the span of a second, and you blink again, and you think it must have all been a figment of your imagination. Is this genuine horror? Is the house really alive or filled with ghostly entities? Or is this a psychological terror of the mind that has Eleanor’s (in Freudian terms) Id and Superego fighting a battle of wills? The juicy and uncomfortable truth: it is up to the reader to determine what is “really” going on, and if we believe that wherever these characters came from before they arrived at Hill House is indeed the real world.

This book is so clever, and the language is so smart and timeless, at times I could not believe Shirley wrote dialogues this sharply modern. I read what the characters were saying and what Eleanor was thinking, and there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that some of those lines are exact replicas of what some of us would say were we in the same situation. It’s cutting, and it’s absurd, and it’s EXACTLY RIGHT.

This novel will be re-read and re-read and re-read because it’s great, it’s smarter than me. Because I need to underline sentences and scribble in between the lines next time I read it because reading it is like staring at a rotten brain carefully preserved in formalin, because it’s disgustingly good and haunted and crooked.

🎬 If you enjoyed this you should watch that: The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
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Sara
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in India on August 11, 2023
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It's very different from the series in case someone's expecting it to be the same. Very well written, loved it ♥️
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Sara
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in India on August 11, 2023
It's very different from the series in case someone's expecting it to be the same. Very well written, loved it ♥️
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