This House is Haunted - A Frightful Book Review

  October seems the perfect time for new beginnings so I thought I would bring something I'm much more passionate about within my blog. You may not know this yet but I LOVE books;  I've grown up with them being my constant companions into different worlds and they've helped me learn and thrive on new things. I enjoy books so much that I now study English Literature at university but that doesn't stop me reading for pure enjoyment!
  So, I thought I would share with you all the books that I'm currently reading, whether it be a trusty old classic or an exciting new novel;  I want to share with you books that I either love or am mutually acquainted with so that you can enjoy them, too :)
  Without further ado, to keep in the spirit (pardon the pun ;) ) of October and Halloween, what better way to start than to read a horror story?

  Set (as most classic Horror stories are) within the confines of the Victorian era,  This House is Haunted by John Boyne sucks you straight into a gloriously wretched beginning,  welcoming in its characters and having a guest appearance of a rather special man;  not to go into much detail but his name may rhyme with Gnarls Chickens...

"'This house is haunted. '
He groaned loudly in protest and looked away, his face a study of pain and anger.  'I will not hear these words', he said.
 'Of course you won't, I replied, walking away from him. 'Because your mind is closed. As are the minds of all your type'."

  Never have I felt more proud of a main female character within a book. Eliza's strength of character and defiance of the stereotypical epithets condemned to her sex during the Victorian era in which this story is set, truly made me enjoy this book more than I originally thought. I wouldn't label myself as a full-blown feminist but nothing irks me more than when a female protagonist succumbs to silly gender stereotypes (such as letting the man walk all over her and her beliefs), when I find books like that, I tend to be put off them.

  John Boyne is a fantastic author (as his previous works such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas goes to show) and his work with This House is Haunted is so frightfully realistic; you can almost feel a presence hovering over you as you read the pages...
  A blissfully quick read with characters you empathise with or even grow fond of, and others whom you come to hate due to their ignorant and degrading attitudes *cough* the Victorian men  *cough*. This House is perfect for fans who want a more modern take on such classic Horror stories such as Henry James, The Turn of the Screw and Susan Hill, The Woman in Black or even if you want a quick and frightening read to get you into the spirit of Halloween. Be warned; you may regret reading this in the dark...

   If you wish to find out what else I've been reading this month, then friend me on GoodReads; https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/36022239-jocelle-gibson
  I hope you enjoyed the new arrival to my blog, until next time!
 
Love,
Jocelle
xx