How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
My Rating: Five out of Five Stars
My Review on Goodreads
Honestly, this book took me through all the emotions. It was thoroughly entertaining, and also immersive. The family dynamics were spot on. While I get along very well with my sister, I can see the authenticity of the character work and the portrayal of family dynamics in my family at large. Even though my sister and I are really close, the damage that our family did on our psyches is something we have to intentionally work at to not allow it to impact our relationship.
What I really liked is how my sympathies and annoyance shifted back and forth between Louise and Mark. They alternated between being terrible siblings, but in a very human way. This book is a horror novel about family dysfunction and family secrets that were not every resolved and were allowed to fester to create literal monsters.
I am not a fan of puppets, ventriloquist-type dummies, or those porcelain dolls. They are too lifelike in a sinister way. Having said that, yes I enjoy Jim Henson and the Muppet Show-type puppets. But Grandy Hendrix brought out the sinister in them for me. This was compelling stuff. Hendrix did such an amazing job in peeling away layers and revealing how deep things really go. There are some really great humorous moments, but also some incredibly horrific aspects.
I am grieving right now, and this book was both triggering and therapeutic for me. I know exactly how Louise and Mark feel in many ways. It's like you love your parents and you are aware they are flawed, but their status as your parents puts them in this insulated category that makes it difficult for you to see and process who they are clearly, and you are both hard on them but also automatically extend them grace in a way you don't for other people. You may have issues with them, but you had to let go of that because all you want is for them to still be here with you in all their imperfections. Even when you have to pick up the pieces of the messes that they left behind, and you still carry the family baggage. This was described so beautifully.
If you are looking for a straightforward haunted house story, this book will challenge that assumption. While I loved haunted house stories, I was so gratified at how this diverts, subverts and dives deep below that genre designation.
There is so much I can say, but not without spoilers, so I'll leave it at this.
I have to give this five stars because it was a consuming read. The annoyances I felt were meant to be felt as it delves into the frustrations of human relationships due to the flaws we all have as people. It wasn't a fault in the writing, but it was authentic in showing human faults. I love how it looks a generational trauma and how that almost rewires your brain and has some kind of cursed power over the ways that people behavior as they become adults. While, depending on where you land in believing on ghosts, spirits, and supernatural entities, these can function both as metaphors and authentic haunting phenomena.
I think Grady Hendrix can really write. He writes something very meaningful in the package of entertainment. I can't help but appreciate that about his work with this as the other book I read by him, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires.
I'm glad this was my first finished read of 2024. It set me year off to a very satisfying start.
What I really liked is how my sympathies and annoyance shifted back and forth between Louise and Mark. They alternated between being terrible siblings, but in a very human way. This book is a horror novel about family dysfunction and family secrets that were not every resolved and were allowed to fester to create literal monsters.
I am not a fan of puppets, ventriloquist-type dummies, or those porcelain dolls. They are too lifelike in a sinister way. Having said that, yes I enjoy Jim Henson and the Muppet Show-type puppets. But Grandy Hendrix brought out the sinister in them for me. This was compelling stuff. Hendrix did such an amazing job in peeling away layers and revealing how deep things really go. There are some really great humorous moments, but also some incredibly horrific aspects.
I am grieving right now, and this book was both triggering and therapeutic for me. I know exactly how Louise and Mark feel in many ways. It's like you love your parents and you are aware they are flawed, but their status as your parents puts them in this insulated category that makes it difficult for you to see and process who they are clearly, and you are both hard on them but also automatically extend them grace in a way you don't for other people. You may have issues with them, but you had to let go of that because all you want is for them to still be here with you in all their imperfections. Even when you have to pick up the pieces of the messes that they left behind, and you still carry the family baggage. This was described so beautifully.
If you are looking for a straightforward haunted house story, this book will challenge that assumption. While I loved haunted house stories, I was so gratified at how this diverts, subverts and dives deep below that genre designation.
There is so much I can say, but not without spoilers, so I'll leave it at this.
I have to give this five stars because it was a consuming read. The annoyances I felt were meant to be felt as it delves into the frustrations of human relationships due to the flaws we all have as people. It wasn't a fault in the writing, but it was authentic in showing human faults. I love how it looks a generational trauma and how that almost rewires your brain and has some kind of cursed power over the ways that people behavior as they become adults. While, depending on where you land in believing on ghosts, spirits, and supernatural entities, these can function both as metaphors and authentic haunting phenomena.
I think Grady Hendrix can really write. He writes something very meaningful in the package of entertainment. I can't help but appreciate that about his work with this as the other book I read by him, The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires.
I'm glad this was my first finished read of 2024. It set me year off to a very satisfying start.
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