Sat, Oct 28
31 HORROR STORIES -- The opening paragraph of THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (1959)
@ 1:00 PM"No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone."
Shirley Jackson could write short stories that hung with you like great novels. She could also write paragraphs which could, alone, creep you to your toenails. THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE starts out that way, and never lets up. Stay with us forever, Eleanor.
My Twitter feed. I try to read all the "@" mentions. Chances I'll respond to you? Slim, but you never know.
I drop into the Comment threads once in awhile. I've started a new format where I can just respond to you directly on the thread, so expect more of that.