Once again my expectations were too high for something, and I found myself disappointed. In my defense I feel this didn't live up to the hype, and there is definitely a lot of hype. It's on several "best horror novel ever" lists. Stephen King even says it's one of the best, and I can see its influence in some of his work, most notably the TV miniseries Rose Red which I like in spite of its flaws. 
 The characters confused me, and the dialogue seemed unnatural, almost Hemingwayish (which isn't a good thing). Mrs. Dudley was amusing, but she provided the only humor for a while. This was fast becoming a two star book, but Mrs. Montague shows up about 50 pages before the end and provides some comic relief which helped. Then the last chapter happened and earned this an entire extra star, but I can't give it the fourth because I can't say I "really liked it" no matter how good the ending was. 
 There's good suspense build up, and a couple of creepy happenings here and there, but it wasn't enough. It certainly didn't get to me the way Woman in Black did. Plus, matters are left ambiguous. (view spoiler)[Was Eleanor mad, or was the ghost really haunting her more than the others? Or did she have some kind of ability that caused the ghost to be more active? Also, is she dead? Was it a successful suicide? And the town's aversion to Hill House doesn't make much sense. It seems like an overreaction, but that's never defined. (hide spoiler)] Some people love ambiguity, and I do too sometimes, but I guess I was in the mood to have things wrapped up. And I totally would've read a sequel had Shirley Jackson written one and it were titled The Bitch Slapping of Mrs. Montague. Someone really needed to hand it to her. And Arthur. And Theodora too. And Luke could use a knock upside the head as well... Oh, what the hell. Beatings all the way around! 
 The book was fine, but not great. I'm not referring to the fact that the material is dated, either. I read plenty of things that have no shock value because I'm hip to the culture of the 21st century, but can still appreciate them. In fact, the story itself is quite good. The writing is fine, but not excellent. This just didn't deliver for me and the great ending was too little, too late. I still give it a recommendation for a read. Just because it didn't go round in circles and fly high like a bird up in the sky for me doesn't mean it doesn't deserve its place on all those "best horror" lists. I seem to be in the minority opinion on this one, and it's only 182 pages, so give it a go.