The Woman In Black - Novel

(1983)

Not often I read something older then myself but since seeing the movie and really enjoying it I really wanted to read the novel and I was shocked to see how small the novel was, I was expecting something you could murder someone with, a big brick shaped book but it's pretty slim.

Now if you have only seen the movie you are in for a slightly different story. There are similarities in the book and the movie but it's good to not re-read the same thing as you watched.

I don't know how to review without killing the plot same with all reviews I guess haha so yes SPOILERS LIKE YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE COMING.

First biggest change it's told in first person, it's from the thoughts of Arther Kipp as he recalls his time dealing with Eel Marsh House and the horrible things that transpired there. The movie and the book both have Krekwick, Arther, Samual Daily and Mr Jermone but what happens for the most part is different. The chain of events and how it all flows are near enough the same.

He's sent from London to do a job, the people around him know why he is here and act funny about it but instead of being cold and trying to banish him from the village the Inn keeper is very kind and allows him to stay, instead of hating him and wanting him gone people treat him with an awkward kindness.

Also kids don't drop like flies in horrid ways in the book like they do the movie and Arther sees the Woman In Black in the village at Mrs Drablows funeral which never happens in the movie version. He then goes to Eel Marsh House but no one tries and stops him. Once there he also sees the Woman In Black but has a stubborn mind set to not believe in ghosts.

During his stay all manner of creeping ghostly hauntings happen to him, similar to the movie version and it's Arther's wits against the creepy and eerie land around him shut off from the rest of the countryside by the causeway which is subject to tide and how he deals with it while trying to work.

The story unfolds and we find out more about the horrid things that happened in that house and why it's so haunted. Arther gets away with nothing more then frazzled nerves and returns to London to be with his wife and new baby but soon he sees the Woman In Black and suffers an awful tragedy.

The book ends with Arther finishing his story which he never intends people to read during his life time but he hoped writing about his past would chase away the returning nightmares.

So he doesn't die we realise this from the start of the book when he has remarried and with a new family.

Now the story is still fantastic, the ghostly bits you can picture in your head everything is very well described and builds up a world. There is a bit where he is in the nursery and there is pretty much 3/4 of a page telling us in detail what is in the room.

My only really big issue with Susan Hill's writing style is she uses 'AND' a little too much it'll be something and something and something and something... Yes I've seen four ands in a row like that at one time. If you don't mind that slight display of sloppy writing then go for it.

The movie wasn't miles and miles apart just the start and end are different then in the novel.

Now I plan on seeing the theatre show and maybe this year there will be a review of that up by me!

Story: 4/5

Writing: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Over all: 5/5

A short, non taxing good old fashion ghost story.

X6XJigsawX6X