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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
Definitely my favorite of Susan's short gothic stories I read (also 'Dolly' and 'The Small Hand'). The setting is both fun and frightening, the supernatural elements are creepy and the tension is built well. I quite enjoyed the ending too. It's not revolutionary or particularly exciting, but it is an entertaining and atmospheric read.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The plot has been done umpteen times, there's little about the story that's unpredictable and yet it is undeniably creepy and leaves you uneasy. You'll be studying any artwork you own a little more carefully from now on.
What really unnerves me is that I am travelling to Venice very soon! Did I have to read this book now...Damn it Susan Hill. I want this book out of my house. And I am going to Venice anyway. It's just a story after all...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Stalking, Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Pregnancy
I appreciate brevity - don't give me 300 pages when 145 tells the story perfectly. This was concise and focused, if obvious: there was no suspense and from start to finish, I felt like I'd read it before.
I enjoyed this but it was just the woman in black reskinned. Man hears tale of nasty spooky thing happening and then nasty spooky thing happens to him. But I am a massive sucker for spooky little novellas like this so I will forgive it.
Eerie, atmospheric tale that blends art, history and a creepy ghost story.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Susan Hill is a direct literary descendent of M.R. James and she does him proud. While I think someone could accuse this story of being old-fashioned (and it is in construction and content), it's not twee or antiquated.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Man in the Picture is a very short read, but a very satisfying one. Unlike The Woman in Black, I didn't find this story scary at all (although, that could be the passage of time talking) it did, however, build up a wonderful sense of unease at various points throughout the book with sinister hints of darkness thrown in for good measure.
The story unfolds at decent pace, and because the novel is so short, there's simply no room for any unnecessary padding, which helps the story on point and mood of the book suspenseful.
In many ways it reminded me of an brilliant old episode of The Twilight Zone or Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected - and that, in my mind, is a very good thing indeed.
The story unfolds at decent pace, and because the novel is so short, there's simply no room for any unnecessary padding, which helps the story on point and mood of the book suspenseful.
In many ways it reminded me of an brilliant old episode of The Twilight Zone or Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected - and that, in my mind, is a very good thing indeed.