Michelle Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 Synopsis When Arthur Kipps attends the funeral of Alice Drablow he is unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind her house. It is not until he glimpses a woman dressed all in black at the funeral that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold. Review I picked this one up because I had heard good things about it, most of all that it was scary. The book begins well, with a family telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve. Arthur Kipps becomes upset, because of his own experiences, and decides to write his story down, to try help himself 'heal'. Personally, I would describe this book as scary, but it is a wonderfully classic ghost story, told with wonderful descriptions, and great atmosphere. It starts slow, but builds pace, along with the haunting, leading to an ending that will stay with you, even if you've already guessed it. A fab read! Quote
madcow Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 Looks like another for the to read list...... Quote
Louiseog Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 I listened to it crossing the Fens! It was great and somehow the reading bit made it even more atmospheric (and I can't remember who read it) Quote
Janet Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 My choice for our Bookworms group in November and it really did not disappoint. Susan Hill's writing is so good - she's very convincing writing from a man's perspective. Never once did I feel I was reading a woman pretending to be male.The characterisation is excellent as is the story itself. The book gets off to a quick start and the suspense builds and builds towards its conclusion which although inevitable still made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!I've never read a ghost story before but this has given me a good taster of the genre so I shall be on the look out for more. I really recommend this. Quote
Scarlette Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 I read this a while ago and it has stayed with me. It's a very ominous tale and it really does give you that shiver down your spine effect. I read it in the livingroom, with the lights on and the television in the background, so in my opinion it's a very scary tale indeed. Quote
chesilbeach Posted November 5, 2009 Posted November 5, 2009 We also read this in our book group last year, and one of the few books of this genre I've read. There's some interesting background about how and why she wrote it on her website here Quote
Morbid Hermit Posted November 6, 2009 Posted November 6, 2009 I haven't read the book, but I remember seeing the TV version of The Woman In Black when it was originally broadcast late on Christmas eve many years ago (from a google search, it must've been Christmas Eve 1989), and I remember it was pretty eerie stuff, mainly one certain scene which sticks in my mind. The book may well be worth checking out, then... Quote
Kate Posted November 6, 2009 Posted November 6, 2009 I read this book for A-Level and loved it! We saw the play in London and it was so scary! Made re-reading the book very creepy! This is the only book by Hill I've read but I did enjoy it Quote
SueK Posted November 6, 2009 Posted November 6, 2009 My choice for our Bookworms group in November and it really did not disappoint. Susan Hill Quote
Weave Posted November 6, 2009 Posted November 6, 2009 Great review Michelle, I have added it to my wishlist Quote
Janet Posted November 6, 2009 Posted November 6, 2009 Thanks for the recommendations, Sue. I shall keep a look out for them. Quote
Morbid Hermit Posted November 7, 2009 Posted November 7, 2009 SueK's recommendations of Man in the Picture and The Mist in the Mirror seem intriguing as well.. I think it's great if a relatively 'modern' author can capture the same kind of bleak atmosphere as the classics. Never mind blood and guts and sex, a truly haunting, creepy story can have timeless appeal! Quote
Scarlette Posted November 8, 2009 Posted November 8, 2009 SueK's recommendations of Man in the Picture and The Mist in the Mirror seem intriguing as well.. I think it's great if a relatively 'modern' author can capture the same kind of bleak atmosphere as the classics. Never mind blood and guts and sex, a truly haunting, creepy story can have timeless appeal! My sentiments, exactly. It's a pity that good ghost stories seem to be so out of literary fashion these days... Quote
Morbid Hermit Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 My sentiments, exactly. It's a pity that good ghost stories seem to be so out of literary fashion these days... True, it would be nice to see a revival - as long as it doesn't become a popular trend, like the modern 'vampire' thing. Quote
nicx27 Posted February 23, 2010 Posted February 23, 2010 I'm going through a phase of giving books that I have previously abandoned another go. I'm finding that quite often I'm enjoying them much more on their second outing. The Woman in Black is one such book, and I thought it was an excellent read. It didn't scare me, but I did read most of it in daylight. If I had been reading it at night on my own then I might have been spooked by it. I'm off to the see the play on Saturday, and can't wait. I've heard such good things about it. Quote
Janet Posted February 23, 2010 Posted February 23, 2010 I'm off to the see the play on Saturday, and can't wait. I've heard such good things about it. Oooh lovely. I'd love to see that - enjoy. Quote
nicx27 Posted February 27, 2010 Posted February 27, 2010 It was absolutely brilliant. So simple in its execution, but so effective. I'd definitely recommend seeing it if possible. It's running until July Quote
Janet Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 We saw the play in London and it was so scary! Made re-reading the book very creepy! I'm off to the see the play on Saturday, and can't wait. I've heard such good things about it. Oooh lovely. I'd love to see that - enjoy. My wish came true!! It came to the Theatre Royal in Bath so I went to see it with my other Bookclub friends last night - we thought it was BRILLIANT!! I couldn't believe something with only 2 cast members (plus ghost) could be executed so perfectly - but it was! Quote
SueK Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 I went with my daughter to see this late last year up in London. The production was excellent and we both enjoyed it EXCEPT, a large party of school children (aged around 16ish) came to see it and everytime there was a ghostly moment they screamed the place down! After a while the teachers told them to keep the noise down but to no avail. Quote
nicx27 Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 I'm glad you got to see it, Janet. It was a brilliant take on the story. Quote
Janet Posted May 18, 2010 Posted May 18, 2010 Sue - we had the same thing with a group of 16 year olds up in the top circle - very irritating. Nicola - it was brilliant. I couldn't work out how two people could pull it off - it was so clever. Quote
vodkafan Posted February 12, 2011 Posted February 12, 2011 I have to go see this play now. I will have to look see if it is on in London somewhere. I read the book and saw the TV program years ago. Took note of the book recs thanks SueK Quote
BloodyNine Posted June 1, 2011 Posted June 1, 2011 The play is awsome, and spooky as hell. I thought my heart was going to stop when she secreamed for the first time. I suppose I should "man up" really Quote
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