Who Would Like This Book:
If you enjoy classic gothic tales that lean more on psychological suspense than jump scares, you'll love this novella. 'The Turn of the Screw' is a masterclass in atmosphere: unsettling country estate, creepy children, and a sense of dread that never quite lets up. The story's brilliance lies in its ambiguity - are there ghosts, or is it all in the governess's mind? That open-endedness makes it a favorite for book clubs and readers who love to theorize and debate. Literary fans, lovers of unreliable narrators, and those who enjoy peering beneath the surface of a tightly wound narrative will find plenty to ponder.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you like your ghost stories fast-paced or crave clear answers, this might not be for you. Henry James's writing style is dense - think winding sentences and lots of commas - which can make the novella feel much longer than it is. Some readers find the prose frustrating or even impenetrable, and the lack of concrete resolution leaves many wishing for more closure. If overly flowery language and ambiguity drive you nuts, you might want to skip this one.
About:
'The Turn of the Screw' by Henry James is a psychological horror story that revolves around a governess who starts working in an old house with two children and encounters ghosts of the previous caretakers. The narrative delves into the governess's increasing paranoia and ambiguity surrounding the ghosts and the children's behavior, blurring the lines between reality and supernatural elements. The writing style is described as dense and antiquated, with long sentences and an overuse of commas, which some readers found challenging but others found rewarding in unraveling the psychological and sexual themes of the story.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include psychological distress, themes of abuse, and potential mental illness, showcased through the governess's increasingly unstable perspective.
From The Publisher:
A young governess is employed to look after two orphaned children in a grand country house. Isolated and inexperienced, she is at first charmed by her young charges but gradually she suspects that they may not be as innocent as they seem. And do the sinister figures that she sees at the window exist only in her imagination or are they ghosts intent on a terrible and devastating task? The Turn of the Screw is one of the most famous and eerily equivocal ghost stories ever written.
Owen Wingrave is the story of the son of a long line of military heroes who refuses to follow tradition, yet proves his bravery in a haunted room.
Ratings (164)
Incredible (12) | |
Loved It (43) | |
Liked It (54) | |
It Was OK (31) | |
Did Not Like (19) | |
Hated It (5) |
Reader Stats (435):
Read It (171) | |
Currently Reading (4) | |
Want To Read (183) | |
Did Not Finish (10) | |
Not Interested (67) |
13 comment(s)
I quite enjoyed the pacing of this story, but found myself quite let down by the ending. It’s not that I dislike ambiguity, but I suppose that is my complaint. Whereas I loved The Haunting of Hill House, I felt the ending of this work too sudden and without payoff. I wish I had that governess’s job, though. I can deal with creepy-perfect children if it means getting to spend time in a beautiful, haunted manor.
Ahahahahaha
what.
A reread. I had hoped I would enjoy it more the second time around and I just didn't. Wasn't that spooky and atmospheric as I would like, and the story wasn't engaging. Didn't find quite the joy to read this gothic novel and I'm slightly disappointed but I'm not turning away from reading more by Henry James and I would like to read book inspired by this storyline
(watched movie “The Turning”; liked movie until ending; not interested in reading book)
This is, quite honestly, one of the most terrifying books I've ever read. It's a spine chilling little ghost story based on the premise that adding children to a ghost story is "the turn of the screw," that makes the story that much more terrifying. And they're RIGHT. Wonderfully spooky for a rainy fall night with a cuppa and a warm blanket (to ward off chills as well as things that go bump in the night!). This one is a classic for a reason. If you enjoy gory slasher books, this won't be for you, but if you're on board for something a little more psychologically chilling then this book is a sure thing.
In this book, I have only read Turn of the Screw, so my rating is based upon that book only.
Reading this book is like being trapped in a crazy person's mind. The unnamed governess who narrates
The Turn of the Screw may or may not be mad; the children she teaches may or may not be evil; there may or may not be ghosts stalking all three of them. Henry James' dialogue is brilliant - almost every conversation can be read at least two ways, depending on whether or not you believe evil ghosts are influencing everyone around you. So, so creepy. This is a good book for someone who perhaps hasn't flexed their "literary" muscles in a while (ie, myself).
Lengthy and antiquated writing style. Not a pleasurable reading experience.
I keep going back and forth on this one.
For a short book, it was still way too long and repetitive.
For a ghost story, it was not scary.
Is it satire? Maybe, but if so, I am not sure that I get the joke.
This one just left me scratching my head. I would rather read Wuthering Heights or Poe again.
I liked
The Turn of the Screw, but not because it's a particularly entertaining story. In fact, it's not a particularly likable story, but what makes it good is that it
makes you think.
My personal interpretation of the story is that, while the governess doesn't actually see ghosts, her fears are real. To me, the governess is scared of the children growing up and becoming fully human, which she sees embodied by the ghosts of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel. Thus, is the name of protecting the children, the governess imprisons the children in a state of prescribed innocence.
Don't let the threat of dense prose scare you away from reading
The Turn of the Screw. What it lacks in entertainment value, it makes up for with complex thought.
What can you read after
The Turn of the Screw?
About the Author:
Henry James was born in New York in 1843 and was educated in Europe and America. He left Harvard Law School in 1863, after a year's attendance, to concentrate on writing, and from 1869 he began to make prolonged visits to Europe, eventually settling in England in 1876. His literary output was prodigious and of the highest quality: more than ten outstanding novels, including The Portrait of a Lady and The American; countless novellas and short stories; as well as innumerable essays, letters, and other pieces of critical prose. Known by contemporary fellow novelists as 'the Master', James died in Kensington, London, in 1916.
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