gothic
39 books.
Jane Steele
by: Lyndsay Faye
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The Clockmaker's Daughter
by: Kate Morton
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The Bog Wife
by: Kay Chronister
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The Glass Woman
by: Caroline Lea
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We Have Always Lived in the Castle
by: Shirley Jackson
"I chose to read this because of when it was published, its classification as a "gothic classic" and the cover. I love to read stuff out of the norm for me and this certainly fit the bill.
Despite the gothic-style cover, the writing was absolutely lovely. The narrator is so interesting and imaginative! I was endeared to her. I loved all of the beautiful descriptions of their home and their daily life and relationships. In a lot of ways, their life was idyllic.
Of course, everything is tinged with a certain darkness, a mystery and tragedy. It left me upset and frustrated in the end, which is why I dropped it down to 4 stars. I don't mind tragedy and darkness if something good can come of it - some greater meaning. It just seemed gratuitous.
I flew through this book and would love the chance to discuss it in a book club setting. Really, really great!"
- katelynn
01/27/2018
Despite the gothic-style cover, the writing was absolutely lovely. The narrator is so interesting and imaginative! I was endeared to her. I loved all of the beautiful descriptions of their home and their daily life and relationships. In a lot of ways, their life was idyllic.
Of course, everything is tinged with a certain darkness, a mystery and tragedy. It left me upset and frustrated in the end, which is why I dropped it down to 4 stars. I don't mind tragedy and darkness if something good can come of it - some greater meaning. It just seemed gratuitous.
I flew through this book and would love the chance to discuss it in a book club setting. Really, really great!"
- katelynn
01/27/2018
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The Hazel Wood (The Hazel Wood, #1)
by: Melissa Albert
Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger, #1)
by: V.C. Andrews
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The Phantom of the Opera
by: Gaston Leroux
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Jane Eyre
by: Charlotte Brontë
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House of Salt and Sorrows (Sisters of the Salt, #1)
by: Erin A. Craig
"3.5"
- katelynn
05/05/2024
- katelynn
05/05/2024
The House on Vesper Sands
by: Paraic O'Donnell
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The Thirteenth Tale
by: Diane Setterfield
"What a fantastic gothic mystery in the vein of Jane Eyre, The Woman in White, and anything at all by Kate Morton. The language was beautiful, causing me to think for a while that it was either written in the more distant past or else set in the past. But no! It’s just incredible writing weaving a thick atmosphere and crafting complex and really unique characters.
There was one moment, right in the middle of this serious, heavy novel, where the author makes a self-aware joke that made me laugh out loud!
Surprises: this was much darker than I expected. On a scale from 0-10 of how twisted a plot is, this was about a 2.5 where I usually read at 0-1. But it didn’t ruin it for me."
- katelynn
10/30/2019
There was one moment, right in the middle of this serious, heavy novel, where the author makes a self-aware joke that made me laugh out loud!
Surprises: this was much darker than I expected. On a scale from 0-10 of how twisted a plot is, this was about a 2.5 where I usually read at 0-1. But it didn’t ruin it for me."
- katelynn
10/30/2019
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The Forgotten Garden
by: Kate Morton
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The Silent Companions
by: Laura Purcell
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Wuthering Heights
by: Emily Brontë
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One Foot in Eden
by: Ron Rash
"4.5
Completely absorbing and haunting. Incredible sense of place and culture - I was wrapped up in each perspective character."
- katelynn
01/22/2022
Completely absorbing and haunting. Incredible sense of place and culture - I was wrapped up in each perspective character."
- katelynn
01/22/2022
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Rebecca
by: Daphne du Maurier
"The atmosphere of this book is so thick I was in a constant state of suspense. I had no idea what I was in suspense over which made it even better. Thoroughly spooked me! "
- katelynn
01/27/2013
- katelynn
01/27/2013
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The Bone Houses
by: Emily Lloyd-Jones
"I wasn't expecting to love this one as much as I did. The YA element was super subtle - it's barely YA. The setting!!!! Medieval Wales? Yes, please. Historical fiction fantasy at its best. I wouldn't say it's terribly gothic or horror - it was super tame. "
- katelynn
10/27/2021
- katelynn
10/27/2021
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The Secret History
by: Donna Tartt
"I can tell this book is good literature. And I was certainly engrossed for a good portion. But it was such an unpleasant read! The characters were just horrible people. I don't say the characters were "terrible" because they were incredibly well-written, well-developed and complex. But they had basically no redeeming qualities. I understand the narrator and his flaws. I followed his chain of thought and his actions, however unfortunate. But I didn't like him. I didn't root for him.
There was no justice and I found hard to swallow. Obviously there was torment, there was tragedy and broken relationships - but these stupid kids needed to be held accountable.
I give three stars because it truly is great writing. "
- katelynn
11/22/2019
There was no justice and I found hard to swallow. Obviously there was torment, there was tragedy and broken relationships - but these stupid kids needed to be held accountable.
I give three stars because it truly is great writing. "
- katelynn
11/22/2019
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The Lost Ones
by: Anita Frank
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The Stranger Diaries (Harbinder Kaur, #1)
by: Elly Griffiths
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A Lullaby for Witches
by: Hester Fox
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Ace of Spades
by: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
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The House at Riverton
by: Kate Morton
The Widow of Rose House
by: Diana Biller
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The Orphan of Salt Winds
by: Elizabeth Brooks
"What I was hoping for was gothic, not child-molester creepy. Those two things are not the same. I had the heeby-jeebies for most of this book.
There were certain things I liked, so it wasn't a total loss."
- katelynn
06/29/2020
There were certain things I liked, so it wasn't a total loss."
- katelynn
06/29/2020
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The Lake House
by: Kate Morton
"This book was perfect until the very end. There was one detail that I would have left out - it was too kitschy. But I still give it 5 stars for the reading experience and for having such a well-crafted story. So many interesting twists and secrets - I was guessing until the end. One facet that I didn't appreciate that's also been in some of her other books is the way she manipulates your emotions to be absolutely fine with infidelity. It's not something that's beautiful and tragic - it's never good in any way.
Overall, fantastic book that I'm sure I'll read again and recommend to all!"
- katelynn
11/06/2015
Overall, fantastic book that I'm sure I'll read again and recommend to all!"
- katelynn
11/06/2015
The Lottery
by: Shirley Jackson
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The Scarlet Letter
by: Nathaniel Hawthorne
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O Caledonia
by: Elspeth Barker
The Death of Jane Lawrence
by: Caitlin Starling
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The Distant Hours
by: Kate Morton
"Unlike other reviewers, I liked this book just as much if not more than Morton's other novels. One of the best books I've read in a long time. Such a great mystery - so many great reveals! I had no idea how it would end which is rare and refreshing."
- katelynn
11/30/2013
- katelynn
11/30/2013
House of Salt and Sorrows
by: Erin A. Craig
The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1)
by: Caleb Carr
Bellman & Black
by: Diane Setterfield
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The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years
by: Shubnum Khan
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Picnic at Hanging Rock
by: Joan Lindsay
"I was disappointed here. I had high hopes of an interesting psychological mystery. I suppose the author accomplished what she set out to do, which is chronicle the unraveling of all the people surrounding a tragic event. I just felt like it was all... pointless? There was nothing to make it all worth it as a reader - no resolution or interesting development at the end.
I give it 3 stars for the amount of creepy atmosphere and the feel of the Australian countryside. Both of which I loved."
- katelynn
10/07/2019
I give it 3 stars for the amount of creepy atmosphere and the feel of the Australian countryside. Both of which I loved."
- katelynn
10/07/2019
