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Turn of the Screw
Turn of the Screw | Henry James
A chilling ghost story, wrought with tantalising ambiguity, Henry James's The Turn of the Screw is edited with an introduction and notes by David Bromwich in Penguin Classics. In what Henry James called a 'trap for the unwary', "The Turn of the Screw" tells of a nameless young governess sent to a country house to take charge of two orphans, Miles and Flora. Unsettled by a dark foreboding of menace within the house, she soon comes to believe that something malevolent is stalking the children in her care. But is the threat to her young charges really a malign and ghostly presence or something else entirely? "The Turn of the Screw" is James's great masterpiece of haunting atmosphere and unbearable tension and has influenced subsequent ghost stories and films such as "The Innocents," starring Deborah Kerr, and "The Others," starring Nicole Kidman. This Penguin Classics edition contains a chronology, further reading, notes and an introduction by David Bromwich examining the dark ambiguity of James's work and the inseparability of narrative from point-of-view. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators."
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review
bookwyrm7
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Mehso-so

What the hell did I just read? 😂
I think I would need to read this book again more carefully to form an opinion on it. It's an interesting story which leaves the reader with more questions than answers. Its vagueness adds to the creepiness of this unusual ghost story, but I'm not sure how I feel about it...

8 likes2 stack adds
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Victoriahoperose
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Mehso-so

For a book that is horror, I thought this was really dry. I struggled to pay attention with this one, but I know so many great stories have come from this. I like the concept and the overall story, but it was slow for me and a bit boring.

monkeygirlsmama This was on my TBR way back when and I have no idea if I actually read it or not. Guess I'll have to treat as not and give a go one day. I've always heard good things, but I know everything varies depending on the reader and the day. Sorry it wasn't such a hit for you. 2mo
Victoriahoperose @monkeygirlsmama it‘s so funny because my mom loves this book so I was excited to read it, but it just fell flat for me. Maybe you will enjoy it more!! 2mo
27 likes1 stack add2 comments
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AnnRaz
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“She saw him only twice.”
“Yes, but that‘s just the beauty of her passion.”

review
ChaoticMissAdventures
Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Mehso-so

#scarathlon #buddyread
This was fine. I found the characters annoying. But it might be that I don't enjoy most children so if these children were under my care I would have skipped out. Little monsters 😂.

dabbe Hello there, sweetly sleeping kitty! 🖤🐾🖤 5mo
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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emz711
Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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@Yuki_Onna my turn of the screw. I like the picture, I find it super creepy
#creepy #spooky

Yuki_Onna Oh my... 🫢 That IS creepy! 5mo
emz711 @Yuki_Onna I knew there was a reason I like it, it's by Monet "a corner of the apartment" 5mo
Yuki_Onna It fits the book so perfectly! 5mo
35 likes3 comments
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Yuki_Onna
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Eggs Fantastic! 5mo
emz711 Spooky! My favorite 5mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks So pretty!! 5mo
Yuki_Onna @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @emz711 This is my favourite cover so far... 5mo
18 likes4 comments
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Morr_Books
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Pickpick
TheSpineView Great job! 5mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 5mo
Read4life Fantastic! 🍁👻🎃 5mo
Catsandbooks 🙌🏼🐈‍⬛💚 5mo
30 likes4 comments
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Melismatic
Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Mehso-so

Well, I finished it. I‘m certain I read this for a class in college and remembered the basics but this read thru left me scratching my head. It felt like a lot of set up with little follow thru in terms of intrigue.

Regardless, one buddy read complete and starting the other today as well. #Scarathlon #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

Clwojick Poe! 🖤 5mo
31 likes1 comment
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Emilymdxn
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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My all time favourite haunted mansion for #autumnplease and #scarathlonphotochallenge day 17 👻

#scarathlon #skeletoncrew

45 likes2 stack adds
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bthegood
Turn of the Screw | Henry Jr. James
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Mehso-so

A governess of two young children begins to see the ghosts of Miss Jessup and Mr. Quint - two people who worked with the children at one time . It is unclear if there are ghosts or if the governess is having a mental breakdown. The story (particularly the ending) is good but the writing style took me out of the story on several occasions. #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall buddy read #Scarathlon
Make a great day everyone 🎃

FlynnDewey I have been struggling with the writing style so much lol. I find it hard to create a natural storytelling flow with the way it's written. This is going to be an audiobook for me very soon. 5mo
bthegood @FlynnDewey - @SomedayAlmost found an audio version she liked, narrator was Emma Thompson - that might have been a better route for me - there is still time for you😊 (edited) 5mo
SomedayAlmost “Audible Exclusive” version narrated by Emma Thomson makes the Gothic description flow faster if you use Audible… 5mo
36 likes4 comments
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SomedayAlmost
Turn of the Screw | Henry Jr. James
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Pickpick

Great audio version of my Scarathlon team buddy read. Have read the book twice, and Thompson‘s acting brought it to life! #spooky #Scarathlon #buddyread #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall #50points

CogsOfEncouragement I enjoyed this last October. Really well done. 5mo
FlynnDewey Was that read by *the* Emma Thompson?? 5mo
SomedayAlmost Yes! She really nailed it. 5mo
22 likes3 comments
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bthegood
Turn of the Screw | Henry Jr. James
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Total points for first 2 weeks: 7589
#TeamWhoYaGonnaCall 👻
@FlynnDewey thanks for being the team leader and for all of your encouraging responses to posts!!
#Scarathlon - Thanks to all of the readathon hosts as well: @catsandbooks @Andrew65 @Read4life @TheSpineView
Make a great day everyone 🎃

TheSpineView Fantastic!🥳🥳🥳 5mo
Read4life Nice job! 🍁👻🎃 5mo
Andrew65 An excellent total 👏👏👏 5mo
See All 9 Comments
dabbe 🖤🧡🖤 5mo
Catsandbooks 🙌🏼🦇🧡 5mo
bthegood @Catsandbooks @TheSpineView @Read4life @Andrew65 @dabbe thanks everyone for the support!! Love the litsy community and the #Scarathlon !! 5mo
FlynnDewey That is such a strong total. Well done!! 5mo
Read4life Fantastic! 🍁👻🎃 5mo
bthegood @FlynnDewey thanks - 5mo
30 likes9 comments
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bthegood
Turn of the Screw | Henry Jr. James
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#BookSpinBingo #Scarathlon #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall

Enjoying my current reads -

Make a great day everyone 🎃👻

FlynnDewey Looking very good! 5mo
24 likes1 comment
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Michael_Gee
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Pickpick

On this reread, I was struck 1st by the challenge of the writing. Reading aloud, we stumbled and would try multiple times to understand what was being said but sometimes had to move on, content with our confusion. The second impression I have is how unnerving the story remains. The governess‘s anxiety, suspicions, and retelling of events sufficiently unsettles.

batsy Great review. I've read it only once but loved it—definitely a book I'd like to revisit. 6mo
24 likes1 comment
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Emilymdxn
Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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One of the great tragedies of my life is that while I love the pumpkin spice lifestyle, I actually can‘t stand drinking milky coffees so the lattes will never happen for me 😬 I do have marks and Spencer Halloween snacks on my #scarathlon bucket list tho and I‘m delighted to tick that off while watching haunting of Bly manor tonight for the #pumpkinspicereadathon 🥰

#skeletoncrew

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Michael_Gee
Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Just an update on my “innocent little precious” Twinkle Toes (to quote the breathless governess in TOTS): Thank you for the well-wishes. He was hospitalized for two nights and is back home, voracious, spirited, and back to dragging his blankie around the house.

Jari-chan Get well soon, little kitty ❤️ 6mo
LeahBergen Good to hear! ❤️ 6mo
Bookzombie Good news! 6mo
Reggie Awwww 6mo
26 likes5 comments
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Emilymdxn
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Pickpick

This is a classic #scarathlon reread for me which I always love. I just discovered the Emma Thompson audiobook which is fantastic and had me feeling like I was reading for the first time. I have such strong memories of watching a tv movie of this with my mum at Christmas when I was about 13 and it being my first really delicious chilling horror experience- good times!

#skeletoncrew

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Blueberry
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1. The set of miniseries produced by Mike Flanagan based on classic horror novels, ie. The Haunting of Hill House. And the Scream movies.
2. Pumpkin cheesecake, candy corn
3. Anytime
4. The hygge of it
5. I currently have no pets. But
one of our last cats was an all-black cat.

#BatBrigade #Scarathlon
@NataliePatalie

35 likes1 stack add
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TheSpineView
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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#Movie2BookRecs @Klou
Prompt: Sleepy Hollow

Klou Great choice!! 12mo
48 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Agentfalco
Panpan

I really struggled with the language style, I could just about follow the story of a governess who believes that she is seeing spirits that are somehow tied to the children she is caring for. However the language was so dense that it was a trial to read.

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ckarosi326
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Next up on my attempt to go through my bookshelf are the ghost stories of Henry James.

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vivastory
Turn of the Screw | Henry Jr. James
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My mind immediately went to James novella when I saw today's prompt. It opens as a group of acquaintances are gathered at the #fireside of a study, telling spooky stories. The narrator then promises to tell them over the following few days the most frightening tale that they have heard, which was related to him by his governess. When I finished the novella I had to sit with it for a couple of days. The ambiguity of not only the ending (cont.)

vivastory but the events themselves were fairly groundbreaking at the time that James published this during the time of moral certainty, although it was pub at the end of the Victorian Era. In '22 when I read it, I had read other authors who had written better works involving ambiguity & psychological complexity, but you can say they owe James a debt.
#januaryjazz @eggs @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
(edited) 1y
dabbe Phenomenal ghost story! the 1961 movie THE INNOCENTS is based on this, and it's scary as he--! 👻 1y
vivastory @dabbe I've heard great things about The Innocents! Isn't The Other also based on it? I haven't seen that since it was first released many years ago, but I remember liking it at the time. 1y
See All 8 Comments
dabbe @vivastory Is that the movie with Nicole Kidman? I think you're right, and it's also been a LONG time since I saw it. Will have to revisit! 1y
vivastory @dabbe That's the one. I thought about watching it again after I finished the book but didn't get around to it. I have also been very curious about Haunting of Bly Manor, but I have heard very mixed reviews on it. I will probably eventually watch it as I love Mike Flanagan. 1y
Bookwomble @vivastory I enjoyed Bly Manor, if that's any recommendation 😉 1y
vivastory @Bookwomble That IS a recommendation! I will definitely check it out 1y
Eggs Well done 👍🏼 📚🔥 1y
63 likes1 stack add8 comments
review
wildwoodreads
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Panpan

I wanted to love The Turn of the Screw but it just didn‘t work out for me. I know that it‘s vague and open ended on purpose, but I just couldn‘t get a good grasp of the story. And almost all of the characters fell flat. Miles was the only one with a semi-distinct personality. And even his development wasn‘t great.

https://wildwoodreads.com/2022/11/09/the-turn-of-the-screw-review/

ravenlee I read this last year (I think) and was disappointed. I thought it was going to be this really creepy, genre-defining story, and it was…not much of anything. 1y
Sparklemn @ravenlee I had the same reaction. 1y
wildwoodreads @ravenlee @Sparklemn I‘m just glad I‘m not the only one 😂 1y
68 likes3 comments
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Sarahreadstoomuch
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Panpan

In all honesty, I really didn‘t enjoy this one. It was creepy, but also too wordy and I kept falling asleep. It did, however, score me a #bingo line in #bookspinbingo…. So all told, this is +26pts for #teamslaughter #scarathlon

TheAromaofBooks Yay bingo!! 1y
19 likes1 comment
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Moll
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
Pickpick

Lush, lush, lush, and soooo spooky!!! #Scarathlon #TeamMonsterMash

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Moll
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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I love these things! Thanks for the tag @Emilymdxn

#ThoughtfulThursday (or I guess Saturday) / @MoonWitch94

🔎 A mystery I think!
👻 Definitely a haunted house! Which answers the next one too - I am LOVING The Turn Of The Screw!!

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🎃📖🏚🕯✨ 1y
Moll @MoonWitch94 ❤️❤️❤️❤️🪄🎃 1y
18 likes2 comments
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Moll
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James

Hello #TeamMonsterMash !!

I have finally finished on a work account that's had me working 8am-9pm shifts (booooo!) so I can start pulling my weight again for the rest of October!😂🎃😁

Today I plan to finish The Turn Of The Screw, start (and maybe even finish) Irregular Witches, and do a spooky craft while watching a spooky film🙌 I'm also going to go on an autumnal walk to tick that off my bucket list. Will report back later RE how I got on😍

peanutnine Woohoo! Those are some great plans! Have an awesome day 😊🍂💗 1y
Moll @peanutnine Thank you!! 1y
StayCurious Hope you enjoyed the rest of your October! 1y
22 likes3 comments
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Emilymdxn
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Thank you for the tag @MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm 👻 #thoughtfulthursday @MoonWitch94

1. I like both but mystery wins
2. SO hard to choose because I genuinely love both as some of my favourite genres. Can I say book about haunted house and movie about serial killer??
3. Tagged! Just reread this and the scene at the window will always give me chills

Join for #scarathlon2022 @moll?

MoonWitch94 Thank you for playing 🎃✨📖🏚🕯 1y
40 likes1 comment
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Moll
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James

3650 points for week 1 of Scarathlon for me! There's more I need to add up but I'm so tired I'm going to bed and I'll add the rest onto next week's total😂

#Scarathlon #TeamMonsterMash

StayCurious great job! 1y
Moll @StayCurious Thank you!! 1y
12 likes2 comments
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Moll
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James

@StayCurious I'm going to post my week 1 points tomorrow! Sorry!!❤️

StayCurious no worries! 1y
9 likes1 comment
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Moll
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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I love @Emilymdxn & our little book-centred traditions so much - this episode: a #Scarathlon chat fuelled lunch & a trip to Foyles! Here's Moon & Magic for #ominousoctober & #scarathlondailyprompts too - I adore kids' picture books with my entire heart and soul❤️ #TeamMonsterMash

And now I'm on the bus home reading The Turn Of The Screw - spooky!👻

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 👍🏻 🖤📚 1y
Moll @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🥰⭐️❤️ 1y
25 likes2 comments
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Moll
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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In an absolutely disastrous turn of events, I accidentally coloured the witch's hair the same colour as her head😂 But that's another spooky craft for #Scarathlon and #TeamMonsterMash!

StayCurious It's still cute! 1y
25 likes1 comment
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Moll
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Technically the theme from Day 6 of Ominous October but I'm on mission catch up! Spicy blueberry tea! #Scarathlon #TeamMonsterMash

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Bookworm54
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Mehso-so

While I liked the story as a whole, all of the characters felt one dimensional, and unbearable!

The governess spends the book alternately crying/sobbing at her new friend (the only other member of the staff we have named for the majority of the book) and massively obsessing over “perfect” children she has just met. While I understand it is a classic, it didn‘t really do as much as I hoped. I much prefer the Haunting of Bly Manor tv adaptation!

Bookworm54 This included 65 wordsearch words (the ebook search tool is handy!) as well as being a theme read :) I will need to come back and tag readathons once I decide on the squares! #Scarathlon2022 #TeamMonsterMash 1y
TheSpineView Excellent 1y
Catsandbooks Terrific! 👻 1y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 1y
38 likes5 comments
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Bookworm54
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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I started this for #20in4 along with my buddy read Go Hunt Me

I was aiming for 20 chapters, but alas with forgetting a day and then working today, I achieved 7 chapters of this and 4 chapters (sections) of the buddy read. So 11 total. I was over half way there 😉

Andrew65 Well done on what you did achieve, thanks for playing along 👏👏👏🙌🥳 1y
41 likes1 comment
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rachelk
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Mehso-so

For me this wasn‘t a horror story so much as a psychological character study of the protagonist. However, it is told in such a way that where I see a disturbed mind, someone else might see a ghost. I admire the ability of James to keep the suspense up but it was awfully verbose for a novella.

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Blueberry
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#hauntedhouse #Savvysettings
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This was also a really good miniseries by BBC on Amazon Prime.

Eggs Well done 😱 2y
lynneamch Thank you! Added to watchlist. 2y
62 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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kwmg40
Turn of the Screw | Henry Jr. James
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Mehso-so

A good creepy haunted-house story. However, I was a little disappointed given that this is such a well-known classic and a #1001 book.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

42 likes1 stack add
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Therewillbebooks
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Pickpick

Just released our episode on The Turn of the Screw. I enjoyed it. Peter thought the writing was a little antiquated and got bored. What do you all think? Oh, and to those who've read it, do you think the ghosts are real or just in the governesses' mind?
https://anchor.fm/peter-murphy8

Blueberry I definitely liked the miniseries based on it last year better. The Haunting of Bly Manor. 2y
Therewillbebooks @Blueberry I've been curious about that adaptation. I'll check it out 2y
Vansa This is one of my favourite novellas.Haunting and atmospheric,he writes so evocatively you feel her stress and fear.As for if the ghosts are real,I'm paraphrasing Dumbledore, if course they're all in her head, but does that make them any less real?Henry James is a genius 2y
Therewillbebooks @Vansa I like that interpretation! 2y
batsy I feel like I'm one of the few who loves this so it's great to read your take, @Vansa ! Perfectly summed up. 2y
54 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Turn of the Screw | Henry Jr. James
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#Poltergeist
#Haunted
A day late!
🖤👻📚

Eggs 🍁🧡🍁 2y
56 likes1 stack add1 comment
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CogsOfEncouragement
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Pickpick

So many things left for the reader to decide on one‘s own. Not sure if I‘m a fan of that or not. Probably better if read with a friend or two. I listened to the audiobook and Emma Thompson did a marvelous job of it.

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Kempfme
Turn of the Screw | Henry James
Pickpick

Great short read for spooky season.

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Moony
Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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TheSpineView Looks good! 👍 2y
14 likes1 comment
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Bertha_Mason
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James

Also, I was once an abused, mentally ill kid whom adults were always harshly chastising and declaring a Problem, for reasons I had no capacity to understand. So I appreciate this story deeply at the level where it's about how adults project their fears and insecurities, often violently, onto the children over whom they have power. About how provisionally "innocence" is assumed in children. About how the nuclear family fails us all.

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Bertha_Mason
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James

This story is giving me so many different (and not necessarily mutually exclusive) interpretive ideas. I want to read as many different critical works on it as possible now, to see what other readers have thought and seen in it. Trust Henry James to bring out the English lit major in me again. 😂

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Bertha_Mason
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James

I don't think the ghosts are after the children at all; I think Quint wants to fuck the governess and Miss Jessel is jealous.
I think the governess knows this on some level, and, feeling her own "innocence" under threat, transfers this fear to the children's "innocence," because a threat to them is easier to face. Partly because it's less scary, and partly because she'd understandably rather feel like a protector than like a potential victim.

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Bertha_Mason
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James

Whether the ghosts are real or not, I'm pretty sure the governess is having a psychotic break. She sounds like me when I'm having psychotic symptoms--she never tries to help us follow any of the logical leaps she takes from the actually reasonable (given her situation and the information she has) premise that there are ghosts in the house. It's interesting that this story seems to deal in a realist way with psychosis, IN a world that has ghosts.

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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It‘s been many moons since I read this one!!

#Ghost
#ConflictedWorlds

Eggs Perfect📚👏🏻❤️ 3y
64 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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rjsthumbelina
The Turn of the Screw | Henry James
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Pickpick

I really appreciated what this book was able to do. I found it to be less a ghost story and more of a tale of how one woman's "madness" affected those in her orbit. A big focus on where madness and spirituality overlap. Great atmosphere. Glad I finally read this one!