Leah's Bookshelf
Likes: Horror, macabre, fairy tales, ghosts, hauntings, serial killers, zombies, werewolves, shapeshifters, vampires, time travel, orphans, clones, thrillers, classics, gothic
I like to read anything that tells a good story, duh ;) Genre doesn't really matter much but I tend to read dark fiction and fantasy the most. I skip chick lit and romance novels with a few exceptions for the extraordinary.
My ratings system:
5 stars - ADORED; plan to read over and over and over.
4 stars - ENJOYED; will likely read once or twice more.
3 stars - LIKED; may or may not read again ... someday.
2 stars - MEH; no plans to read again.
1 stars - I didn't enjoy the story and was lucky to finish.
0 stars - I couldn't or wouldn't finish for reasons that may or may not be listed in the review box.
The Lottery and Other Stories
My first experience with Shirley Jackson was about five years ago when I read The Haunting of Hill House. Her talent as a writer was evident from the very first page; eloquent, revealing, and yet, mysterious enough to make me turn the page. The Haunting of Hill House really fulfilled my expectations and it was a great introduction to Shirley Jackson, I think.So before my last trip to the library I did a little research to gather a list of authors and titles I wanted to read. Shirley Jackson's name was on a list of must-read novels for horror fans, and since I'd already read the list's suggestion – The Haunting of Hill House – I dug a little deeper and discovered The Lottery. As soon as I read that title, it sounded familiar. Then it hit me: a movie I'd watched years ago with Keri Russell. And sure enough, a quick search on IMDb confirmed the movie was based on Jackson's short story. I was certain the story would be loads better than the book...finish reading this review.
