Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Hangsaman (Penguin Classics) by Jackson, Shirley(June 25, 2013) Paperback by Shirley Jackson

13 reviews

chloeburton's review against another edition

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5.0

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ereadsgothic22's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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achen19's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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econsidine's review against another edition

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4.25

Weird, unsettling, psychological, and full of way too relatable awkward social interactions. A book that is much more about vibes than plot, even more so than her other works.

Disclaimer: I have yet to see a cover or description for this book that actually fits the feeling of the book. It sets the reader up for disappointment & confusion even though the book itself is great. Which is weird, because many of her other books have very cool, very accurate covers.

Major content warning for getting lost in the woods/solipsism/hallucinations
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dangerousaudino's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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another_dahlia's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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anya_lasagna's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I don’t know how to convey this properly but I just loved it ugh. Might come back to write a review once I have processed my thoughts a bit it’s so amazing
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kairhone's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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danidamico's review against another edition

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challenging dark

3.5

Este es el libro más extraño de Shirley Jackson que leí hasta ahora. Es su segunda novela y relata de un modo pesadillesco, por momentos alucinatorio, las experiencias de Natalie, una chica de 17 años que se muda para empezar su educación universitaria. A lo largo de tres capítulos, Jackson nos sumerge en la mente de la protagonista, que parece estar atravesando una especie de crisis tras un episodio traumático. Cómo escribí al comienzo, es un libro muy extraño, en el que aparecen personajes como por arte de magia, sin ningún tipo de introducción, y tampoco se vuelve sobre puntos importantes en la trama. Sin embargo, tiene ese estilo tan único y cautivante de Jackson que te impulsa a seguir leyendo. Hay una atmósfera ominosa y opresiva excelentemente lograda, sentís que en cualquier momento podría pasar algo terrible.

Si bien la novela tiene un narrador en tercera persona, la narración está tan focalizada en Natalie que produce el efecto de una primera persona poco confiable, que hace dudar al lector constantemente sobre qué es real y qué no. Es increíble la enorme influencia que Shirley Jackson ha tenido en la literatura actual; pienso en la obra de Ottessa Moshfegh (Eileen, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, Death in Her Hands), Boy Parts de Eliza Clark y demás autoras. No sé si todas han leído a Jackson, pero sí estoy segura de que la literatura de los últimos años no sería lo mismo sin ella.

Dicho todo esto, Hangsaman es el texto de Jackson que menos me gustó de los que llevo leídos. Para empezar, creo que yo no estaba en el mejor estado mental para leerlo (es un libro bastante oscuro). Además, en mi opinión, el libro no logra mantener la tensión y el ritmo como en lo que considero su obra maestra, We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Esta es una novela que va y viene, por momentos divaga, tiene párrafos que resultan excesivos. Sigo creyendo que lo mejor de la autora son sus cuentos y su última novela publicada en vida, la que mencioné recién. También The Haunting of Hill House es una obra superior. De todos modos, siempre es un placer leerla, me inspira muchísmo.
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outerscout's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

typically love my shirley jackson, but i think i went into this one anticipating a different story than i got. i still enjoyed it, especially natalie as a character and the portrayal of trauma & dissociation. very introspective book without much of a defined plot. a lot left unsaid for the reader to interpret on their own. i feel like it might hit better upon a reread with adjusted expectations
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