Well Read - Not Very Scary, Had Promise

Any additional comments?

Alison Larkin is a delight. She was perfect and the main reason I kept going. The story begins quite deliciously. The sightings and hints of ghosts have great promise, but we never hear of these initial ghostly appearances again. The actual haunting seemed heavily influenced by special efffects in Hollywood movies, which was a shame. It was easy to figure out who the ghosts were and this took away from the chilling effect. I also think the main character's stoic, resigned, not very scared acceptance of her situation was over played. The children were creepy. However, as I said at the beginning of this review, Ms. Larkin was delightful and perfect so,I kept listening. She makes the credit well worth it.

12 people found this helpful

This Book Is Dreadful

Friends have been telling me I need to read John Boyne for years, so I looked forward to the experience. Having finished "This House Is Haunted," I could scarcely be more disappointed.

The first three chapters could be cut as they only introduce irrelevant backstory. Removing overwritten passages of description and scenes in which nothing happens to advance the story would bring it down to the size of a novella. Even then, the plot is so contrived and predictable that it would not be worth reading.

The most aggravating things about this book are the modern attitudes, speech patterns, and social customs that permeate every chapter of the book. These "intrusions" continuously break the attempt to create a fictional dream of the past and are as jarring as a sneezing fit during a chamber concert.

Also, I found it hard to believe the author had spent any time with real children, even precocious or eccentric children, of any century.

Alison Larkin is a charming narrator, but even she could not bring life to these wooden characters.

7 people found this helpful

Scary? No

So-So Victorian period piece, but no thriller. Author was trying for "Turn of the Screw" but ended up with something closer to a Movie of the Week script instead.

Narrator did the best she could with the material, so no knock on her performance here.

6 people found this helpful

Truly Chilling !!

Would you consider the audio edition of This House Is Haunted to be better than the print version?

I do this the audio version is better. The narrators english accent and abilities to change voices/accents for each character really brought this story to life.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the trip back in time, also loved the great detail. it really brought the story to life.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favourite scene was when Eliza takes her trip with the children into london. It really made you feel sympathy for the well being of the children. And not to mention all the creepy haunting parts! but cant give away to much!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A guilt-stricken young woman finds herself as a caregiver for 2 children at an estate that has more to hide then anyone could have ever assumed.

Any additional comments?

I just really hope everyone listens to this book and falls in love with it the way i did.

5 people found this helpful

Suspenseful and Atmospheric

Beautifully written, Victorian gothic/ghost story. I was a little let down with the ending, but it was unsettling, and maybe that's the desired result ? No question, though, that John Boyne is a fabulous writer !

3 people found this helpful

Applause for John Boyne

I so love his work. This is a classic Gothic horror done so well. No, not scary but neither is Frankenstein or The Woman in White or any of Poe's genius. This is a well crafted and slightly disturbing tale of haunting. I am still thinking of the last word!! Well done in a genre not his normal.

2 people found this helpful

Starts Out.....

This was a bit slow to start but then it really ended in the middle of the story.

1 person found this helpful

Great Narrator, Blah Storytelling

Would you try another book from John Boyne and/or Alison Larkin?

I would love to listen to something else narrated by Ms. Larkin; her enthusiastic narration really saved what could have been a terrible audiobook. I'd be open to another book by Mr. Boyne as well, since his technical writing was good and the poor storytelling here may be a fluke on his part.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Boyne worried too much about replicating a gothic feel, and not enough about fleshing out his characters or story. If he'd reversed the tendency, it all would have been much better.

SPOILER: As an example of the poor storytelling, the sole motivation Boyne gave the mother for becoming a murderous psychopath was that she had been sexually abused as a child. This could have worked in theory, but the way he handed it left a bad taste in my mouth. The way he wrote the story, Boyne expected the reader to accept the idea that an abused child would naturally grow up to be a homicidal maniac as a truism requiring no further explanation. That just seems rather insulting towards the 99.99% victims of abuse that don't go on to commit multiple homicides to me. Handling that more intelligently would have improved the story, as well as given the mother greater depth.

Any additional comments?

Not a great book, but not a bad one either. If you like this style of gothic writing, it's worth a credit. Just don't expect it to do more than pass the time.

1 person found this helpful

Entertaining

If you could sum up This House Is Haunted in three words, what would they be?

Delightful, entertaining, enjoyable

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes! This book was delightful! I loved the narrator who portrayed the story quite well. I especially loved the writer's use of the "Old" English word usage.

Which character – as performed by Alison Larkin – was your favorite?

The governess

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

no

2 people found this helpful

Very Enjoyable

I loved listening to this story. We’ll written and enjoyable. It went by fast as I was taken in and absorbed.