Matheson's Hell House Read-Along - Discussion One

My favorite horror novel, or at least a top five favorite, just as I remember it. A total feeling of unease as I'm reading. I don't know how he did it, but Matheson makes me feel like I'm there, experiencing what the characters are experiencing. 

I had to laugh over the paragraph below. I don't remember noticing it back when I read it the first time. This is Edith ruminating on page 21 (in my edition):

Still, she had to go. She'd face anything rather than be alone. She'd never told Lionel how close she'd come to a mental breakdown during those three weeks he'd been gone in 1962. It would only have distressed him, and he'd needed all his concentration for the work he was doing. So she'd lied and sounded cheerful on the telephone the three times he'd called--and, alone, she'd wept and shaken, taken tranquilizers, hadn't slept or eaten, lost thirteen pounds, fought off compulsions to end it all. Met him at the airport finally, pale and smiling, told him that she'd had the flu.

Not to sound judgmental but give me a break. I realize this was published in 1971 and at the time, many men were not convinced about women's equality (something we are clearly steering back toward in the current social climate of our country. Egads!). Still though. Something I've learned in my almost 57 years on this earth...the best gift you can give yourself is learning how to be alone. Because if you don't have yourself, you have nothing. 

Okay, climbing down off my soapbox now.

I had forgotten the utter depravity of the Belasco/Hell House backstory. Wow. If you've never watched the film based on this book, The Legend of Hell House, you should watch it. I first saw it in the late 70s or early 80s and I've watched it many times since. I think it's an excellent film. However, I don't remember them going into such detail on what went on in the house. I plan to watch it again either during or after reading the book. I definitely picture the actors as I'm reading, even though Edith and Florence look quite different in the film from their descriptions in the book. 

As I was reading, I was sitting there thinking that I would not be in that house with only candlelight...and then going off to bed BY MYSELF in that pitch blackness...NO WAY. When Florence experiences the ghost/spirit who keeps having the bedclothes land over (his) body...nope, not happening. And then he utters BOO. That really threw me off. She didn't even scream. I would have at least screamed, or maybe fainted, or ran out the door screaming. 

What do you think about the poltergeist occurrence when all the dishes are flying seemingly on purpose at Barrett? Do you think it was done subconsciously by Florence because of her anger? I'm coming down on her side. I think the entity in that house is trying to divide them.

So, I'm thoroughly enjoying this reread. Just as unsettling as I remember. It's refreshing to read a horror story that is just scary in more subtle, less obvious ways. I love horror, but sometimes the blood and gore can be too much. Stories like this remind me of Edgar Allan Poe and similar authors. A more Gothic tone. 

What did you think of this first section? Let me know if I failed to touch on anything, and add your personal thoughts in the comments.

Our next discussion will be on October 12th. If you need to refresh your memory on our reading schedule, check out this post.

I've been slacking a bit with posts, but stay tuned. I'll be sharing my scary fall reading plans, and I'll do a short write up on the horror film, Weapons. 

This post is part of Something Wicked Fall.