The Hounding
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Beschreibung
ONE OF PEOPLE'S, APPLE BOOKS', AND AMAZON'S BEST BOOKS OF AUGUST 2025
"A wildly inventive riff on the Gothic form, with enough suspense and mounting dread to rival Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery.'"
-The New York Times
Even before the rumors about the Mansfield girls begin, Little Nettlebed is a village steeped in the uncanny, from strange creatures that wash up on the riverbank to portentous ravens gathering on the roofs of people about to die. But when the villagers start to hear barking, and one claims to see the Mansfield sisters transform before his very eyes, the allegations spark fascination and fear like nothing has before.
The truth is that though the inhabitants of Little Nettlebed have never much liked the Mansfield girls-a little odd, think some; a little high on themselves, perhaps-they've always had plenty to say about them. As the rotating perspectives of five villagers quickly make clear, now is no exception. Even if local belief in witchcraft is waning, an aversion to difference is as widespread as ever, and these conflicting narratives all point to the same ultimate conclusion: Something isn't right in Little Nettlebed, and the sisters will be the ones to pay for it.
A richly atmospheric parable of the pleasures and perils of female defiance, The Hounding considers whether in any age it might be safer to be a dog than an unusual young girl.
Buchinformationen
Beiträge
First of all, I’d highly recommend skipping the synopsis, as it almost gives away the entire story. The Hounding is a short but very atmospheric read. It’s about five sisters, the Mansfield girls, who live in a village with their almost blind grandfather after their grandmother died. The girls are mysterious and independent, and they mostly take care of each other. The grandfather tries his best to understand and protect them, but because he cannot see well, he has to notice everything through sounds and small details, which is really interesting. The sisters live quietly and don’t care about men, marriage, or the village’s affairs. In the 18th century, young women were expected to marry early, so their independence upsets some men. When strange events happen- like farm animals being killed- they are accused, even though they do nothing wrong. The story shows how one man’s ego and jealousy can create terrible consequences. It can be a bit predictable, but the atmosphere, the sisters’ mystery, and how well the story shows their quiet strength made me really enjoy it.
Beschreibung
ONE OF PEOPLE'S, APPLE BOOKS', AND AMAZON'S BEST BOOKS OF AUGUST 2025
"A wildly inventive riff on the Gothic form, with enough suspense and mounting dread to rival Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery.'"
-The New York Times
Even before the rumors about the Mansfield girls begin, Little Nettlebed is a village steeped in the uncanny, from strange creatures that wash up on the riverbank to portentous ravens gathering on the roofs of people about to die. But when the villagers start to hear barking, and one claims to see the Mansfield sisters transform before his very eyes, the allegations spark fascination and fear like nothing has before.
The truth is that though the inhabitants of Little Nettlebed have never much liked the Mansfield girls-a little odd, think some; a little high on themselves, perhaps-they've always had plenty to say about them. As the rotating perspectives of five villagers quickly make clear, now is no exception. Even if local belief in witchcraft is waning, an aversion to difference is as widespread as ever, and these conflicting narratives all point to the same ultimate conclusion: Something isn't right in Little Nettlebed, and the sisters will be the ones to pay for it.
A richly atmospheric parable of the pleasures and perils of female defiance, The Hounding considers whether in any age it might be safer to be a dog than an unusual young girl.
Buchinformationen
Beiträge
First of all, I’d highly recommend skipping the synopsis, as it almost gives away the entire story. The Hounding is a short but very atmospheric read. It’s about five sisters, the Mansfield girls, who live in a village with their almost blind grandfather after their grandmother died. The girls are mysterious and independent, and they mostly take care of each other. The grandfather tries his best to understand and protect them, but because he cannot see well, he has to notice everything through sounds and small details, which is really interesting. The sisters live quietly and don’t care about men, marriage, or the village’s affairs. In the 18th century, young women were expected to marry early, so their independence upsets some men. When strange events happen- like farm animals being killed- they are accused, even though they do nothing wrong. The story shows how one man’s ego and jealousy can create terrible consequences. It can be a bit predictable, but the atmosphere, the sisters’ mystery, and how well the story shows their quiet strength made me really enjoy it.