This is a classic horror story that I’d somehow never cracked until now, and I was honestly surprised at how sharp and funny Shirley Jackson’s writing is. The whole book had me chuckling at the ways the characters poke at each other, at times playfully and soon with more viciousness. When we talk about places being a character themselves, Hill House is the perfect embodiment of that - Eleanor acts as a sort of medium to the “feelings” of the House, but its malevolent presence is clearly felt by every character, no matter how they try to shrug it off at the beginning. Eleanor’s mania builds to a crescendo in the final chapter, an ending that had me gasping despite every indication the story couldn’t end well. Well worth a read if you like a good ghost story.

Excellent book, there’s a reason it’s the quintessential haunting story!

I am very confused which I think was entirely the point. I also want to immediately start a re-read to get a different perspective now that I don't have to try to figure out the resolution.
This is definitely horror, though not the kind full of jumpscares that makes you look over your shoulder nervously when you read. It's creepy, it's claustrophobic and it is scary, but the horror comes from the feeling of unease and the engagement with disturbing topics. It is also surprisingly funny and I now have to read more mid-century American fiction where witty characters just talk to each other because the conversations were a delight.
I liked how the novel played with expectations of horror storys and used that to its full extent. It plays around with concepts of realism and expectable behaviour and while that made me constantly try to figure out what was actually going on, what was the twist, what was the explanation for all the weirdness, it also opened up possibilities for discussions of the main topics: home, belonging, paranoia, reality and imagination, guilt.
It's not exactly a satisfying read where everything comes together, you have nice character growth and a complete resolution, but that's kinda the point. A lot of whats happening isn't being told and the reader is supposed to scramble at the bits of information provided. The kind of unreliable narration that we now think of as overdone but incredibly well done and especially for its time innovative.
Another nice surprise were the queer subtext and the feminist undertones!

This was a fantastic work of horror and an exploration of the mind, identity, and grief. There are also multiple ways to interpret the book and the ending, and all of them are interesting and valid. It was funny, because about halfway through the story I found myself wondering when something scary would happen, and then it of course did and was done amazingly. One scene specifically stuck with me terribly and made it difficult to sleep, but my imagination easily runs wild after consuming horror media, so people without an active imagination would probably sleep soundly. Nonetheless, the horror scenes are not only eerie, but also interesting and very clearly described. The characters themselves are quite charming, except for the ones that are deliberately meant to not be liked, and the dynamic between the characters is even more fascinating, and even fun early on. Over time, things get more complicated, especially with our narrator Eleanor who forms a very strong connection to the house. There is a lot in this short book, and I was satisfied with the ending, even if I expected it a little bit - although the ending was much more perfect and haunting than I could have imagined. In general, there is a ton to think about, and a lot to explore within the story. 

I have some thoughts I want to note about the interpretations:

We know Eleanor may have some sort of power that could have caused the rocks raining on her house when she was a child, and this is likely why the doctor called her to the house (same as with Theodora). I think it is quite possible that perhaps the house was straight up haunted and negatively affected the group while also desiring for them to stay in the house. Strangely the house latched onto Eleanor especially and this culminates in Eleanor possibly being possessed and wanting to be a part of the house, ending with her death when the group tries to send her away for fear of her health. However, there are lots of little strange hits spattered throughout the story that may point to Eleanor possibly using her own powers, and maybe even experiencing intense mental illness. Eleanor is wracked by depression, a lack of identity, grief and guilt over her mother, an intense feeling of being alone as well as an outcast, and possibly schizophrenia. Over time, some of the characters seemingly chuckle at her and act oddly towards her, and some of this could be the effect of and weight of the house (like when Theo got very mad at Eleanor after discovering the red liquid), but it was to such an extent that I also wonder if Eleanor was misinterpreting things or even seeing things that were not truly being expressed by the other characters. She starts to watch the other characters to see if they talking badly about her, and of course they do not. Either the house is twisting her against them, or her mind is overwhelmed by the fear of being an outcast, or both. I feel like not all of the haunting experiences were caused by Eleanor, but perhaps some at the end really were. There is just so much to consider when exploring this book, and it is so fascinating. Regardless of what the true interpretation is (or maybe there isn't one and Shirley Jackson intended all of them in a way) Eleanor no doubt develops a strange connection to the house that has many parallels throughout the book, either from her deep grief and powers causing the happenings, or the house seeing what Eleanor does not have and finding a way to give it to her. I sort of see it as both.

“Journeys end in lovers meeting; I have spent an all but sleepless night, I have told lies and made a fool of myself and the very air tastes like wine. I have been frightened half out of my foolish wits, but I have somehow earned this joy; I have been waiting for it for so long.” (136)

Devastating inexplicable sadness that comes with a lost youth and the frustrating isolation of grasping at love wherever it appears.