The Woman in Black: A Ghost Story

The Woman in Black by Susan Hill follows Arthur Kipps as he is assigned to attend the funeral of Mrs. Alice Drablow up in the marshes of the Nine Lives Causeway. While he attends this funeral, he sees a woman in black lingering around the graveyard. Who was this woman? And why will no one in the town answer his questions about her.As Arthur goes through all of Mrs. Drablow’s paperwork, he finds more clues as to what happened, who she was, and the mystery behind all of their weird things going on around town. It isn’t until he stays the night at Mrs. Drablow’s Eel Marsh House does he begin to understand why the people in the two feared the house and why no one wanted him to go.Will he escape the curse that follows whoever sees the woman in black? You will have to read this creepy, well-written story to find out!This story is very well-written, giving an old Victorian feel with a modern voice. Susan Hill does a spectacular job making your heart jump at every slightest thing she describes. She starts out the story perfectly, with Arthur Kipps and his family getting ready for Christmas and the children are telling ghost stories. This makes Arthur Kipps begin to write down his story. It is a great introduction to the character and makes you wonder what exactly happened.I did, however, want to know more about his fiancé, Stella, in the story to understand why he cared for her so much. She seemed one dimensional because we didn’t get to interact with her much, although I am also guilty of that in my own writing.I give this novel a 4.5/5, loving every moment, but wanting just a little bit more for characters other than Arthur himself.Original review posted on A Bibliophile's Reverie

Although Susan Hill's ghost tale The Woman in Black doesn't break any new ground in the genre, it nonetheless creates enough spooky atmosphere, quick pacing and suspense to make for an entertaining read. You may be able to figure out several of the plot developments ahead of time, but that doesn't diminish the spook factor.The Woman in Black opens with members of Arthur Kipps' family telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve as a part of a harmless, fun tradition. Kipps, obviously uncomfortable with the game, is even more agitated when one relative asks him to tell a ghost story. In a troubled reflection, Kipps decides (after bolting to another room) that the best course of action is to exorcise his troubled conscience about an incident long ago, to relate a very real ghost story that has consumed him for years, a story involving a mysterious woman in black.The Woman in Black not only involves a ghost with a sinister purpose and elements of the supernatural, but also a curse as well.Hill stated in an article that she wanted to create a 19th century Gothic kind of feel to her book. Whether she accomplishes this is up to debate, but I don't think when the story takes place is as important as where it takes place. The setting is perfect for this tale--a remote marshland and rural area far away from city life. When Kipps gets there, he realizes that there are times when the mist rolls in, which encompasses the small community. This fits in perfectly with the events that transpire, and goes in line with Kipps' fragile state of mind.The build up to Kipps arriving at Eel Marsh House is quite effective also, as the locals are quite "hush hush" about Kipps' inquiries into the late Mrs. Drablow. There's nothing like spooked townspeople that can make an outsider curious. Determined to finish business of her papers, Kipps senses that a presence lurks within the house and surrounding area. What is particularly effective is the way the house and its past pull Kipps into its history; despite his fear, he begins to be obsessed with unearthing all the past dark secrets.A ghost story in the old fashioned tradition, The Woman in Black is one to be read on a dark and dreary night.

This is one of the best ghost stories I have ever read. Initially the style reminded me of Poe, later Dickens and even brought to mind the movie "The Others" starring Nicole Kidman.The book opens on a Christmas Eve as the narrator is celebrating with his family and later refuses to join in their amusement by telling a ghost story of his own. This is because, as the reader learns, the narrator himself had an all too real ghostly experience in his own past. Instead of telling a ghost story for the family, he makes the decision to write down his experience and it is this story within the story that makes up the plot of the ghostly tale.I was pulled right into the atmosphere of the main story and found myself at times glad that I was reading this safely in my room with all the lights on. Although the ending is a bit predictable, it is the actual experiences of the narrator in a small Northern town in England that provides the "scary" part of the story. As another reviewer has stated: we don't need the blood and guts, the crazed madman running around with a chainsaw, or the plot of an elaborately planned murder by a psychopath to create the sense of fear.My favorite "character" was the dog, Spider. Though Spider's role seems relatively minor, the dog reinforces the feelings of the narrator when we see the animal sensitivity and fear that even that the dog experiences, showing the narrator is not imagining the ghostly presence.I wanted to read this before the movie comes out and if the movie is true to the book, we will see a very different picture of Daniel Radcliffe facing the darkness of forces beyond nature.

Good horror story that feels like an old-fashioned tale you hear as folk horror or a regular ghost story. Enjoyable, albeit pretty slow at times and not the most rewarding book available

Me hubiera gustado que viniera con plástico porque tiene manchas pero está muy bien y porque no lo he conseguido en librerías.

A thrilling ghost story that grabs your attention from beginning to end. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves gothic fiction.

すぐに読み切ってしまいました。

Fantastic read

Magnifique roman très différent du film (pour ceux qui, comme moi, ont vu l'oeuvre cinématographique avec Daniel Radcliffe avant que de lire ce roman). Bijou néo gothique!