Comments on things mean a lot: The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

You know, I just got done listening to the audiobo...

2010-08-06T21:45:54.900+01:00

You know, I just got done listening to the audiobook version of this, and one of my comments was that I got lost periodically and thought reading it in print would be better. Now that I've looked at your excerpts, I'm not so sure! Lol.

Also, I agree with you that you probably choose the version that freaks you out the most. I went with insane governess. ;-)

I wanted to apologize for not having gotten around...

2009-11-02T00:36:46.163Z

I wanted to apologize for not having gotten around to replying to comments here - sadly I've fallen too far behind to even try to catch up! But all your comments were very much appreciated.

Those kids... they scared me.

2009-10-28T19:16:26.774Z

Those kids... they scared me.

What a lovely, elegant review, Nymeth! I read Turn...

2009-10-28T17:34:09.887Z

What a lovely, elegant review, Nymeth! I read Turn of the Screw first when I was in my teens, and I just loved the ambiguity and the creepiness. I re-read it every few years. I don't mind James' style, but it does take concentration!

Thanks for the warning on James' writing style...

2009-10-21T22:46:46.307+01:00

Thanks for the warning on James' writing style. I definitely want to read this one.

I so, so want to read this book, but the thing tha...

2009-10-21T22:13:40.743+01:00

I so, so want to read this book, but the thing that is stopping me is definitely James' writing style. I have an audio book version of the story, but I really want to read it, not just listen to it. You make it sound like a tremendously dark and spooky story, and I think it would be a perfect read for Halloween. You know, I think I am going to go for it and give it a try. Your review was very insightful and makes me have some hope that I, too, can get through it. Thanks!

I've read this book five times in college and ...

2009-10-21T21:57:16.782+01:00

I've read this book five times in college and it took all five times to really get it because I found the text a bit heavy. However, I did love the book. I found the children creepy. Children with power always creep me out, there's something a bit unnatural about it.

Sounds like a story I would enjoy, but the commas ...

2009-10-21T13:06:39.199+01:00

Sounds like a story I would enjoy, but the commas would definitely give me a headache. I'll have to see if the library has an audio of it.

I have to read this one day. I've been alerted...

2009-10-20T07:25:00.191+01:00

I have to read this one day. I've been alerted about it many times.

42 comments! What can I possibly add to the conve...

2009-10-20T03:44:56.449+01:00

42 comments! What can I possibly add to the conversation? Oh well, I recently read this book and so can't help myself.

I have nothing in the text to base this on, just my own reading that the governess is crazy, so I like to think that the narrator works at mental hospital and the manuscript is that of a deranged woman.

I agree that Turn of the Screw is vastly unsettling. I thought about it for weeks after reading it.

Wonderful review, Nymeth! I have a fair dislike fo...

2009-10-20T00:50:50.538+01:00

Wonderful review, Nymeth! I have a fair dislike for Henry James, but I remember liking this one. I've been thinking of a re-read and was disappointed to find that I'd given away my copy of Turn of the Screw (probably in a fit of pique with Mr. James'lengthy sentences!). But then I was delighted when I found that this (probably a novella?) is included in a collection of American short stories sitting on my bookshelf not 4 feet from my bed! What a nice surprise :o)

Thank you for taking me back down memory lane, Nym...

2009-10-19T01:06:05.670+01:00

Thank you for taking me back down memory lane, Nymeth. I read this in high school and really liked it. I didn't quite see the ending the same way the student teacher teaching the class did at the time and I ended up feeling like I missed something big. It wasn't until much later that I realized that I hadn't been wrong--just that I perceived it differently then she had.

I will have to re-read this one and see what I think of it today.
Thanks for your wonderful review.

Great review, Nymeth! I'm so with you on Jame...

2009-10-19T01:01:12.045+01:00

Great review, Nymeth!
I'm so with you on James' writing style! I can't count how many times I lost track of some passages and had to start all over again! :P

This is the first book I read by Henry James and I'll definitely check out the rest of his books despite this is an okay read to me. ;)

I read this one in college, and I remember disliki...

2009-10-18T18:00:26.909+01:00

I read this one in college, and I remember disliking it because it required concentration, and at the time that meant it was a slog. I really should re-read it because I think I'd really enjoy it now. There's a short, illustrated, funny spoof of it in the book I finished today--Half-Minute Horrors--which reminded me that I need to pick it up again.

I think his punctuation would give me some grief, ...

2009-10-18T17:36:31.710+01:00

I think his punctuation would give me some grief, but your review has definitely piqued my interest. I know I have this as part of a mammoth short fiction collection, so I may give it a go soon.

I had to run to my shelf to see if I have this one...

2009-10-18T03:21:42.355+01:00

I had to run to my shelf to see if I have this one and I do! But...I don't like James. Like you mention about having to use full concentration while reading, that's how I feel as well. And the commas? Thank goodness the trend in grammar has moved to simplicity over the years. I remember reading Wuthering Heights in high school and wondering why the heck Bronte used all those semicolons!

I actually have a copy of this book that I receive...

2009-10-18T01:35:52.642+01:00

I actually have a copy of this book that I received from a family friends' library. But now I'm wondering if I would be able to read it!!!!

It's been a long time since I read The Turn of...

2009-10-17T22:37:37.465+01:00

It's been a long time since I read The Turn of the Screw. I remember feeling unsettled by it, although I can't remember why. I always think of it along horror lines, though, so I think it probably creeped me out at the time.

Yeah, I tried to read Wings of the Dove a few year...

2009-10-17T19:22:38.999+01:00

Yeah, I tried to read Wings of the Dove a few years back. I could barely make it through the prologue. God the sentences would last for pages!! I don't think I could ever read anything of his again!!

Wow..this sounds like one book that has been negle...

2009-10-17T18:45:35.480+01:00

Wow..this sounds like one book that has been neglected for way too long by me. The elements you mentioned all appeal to me in a novels, so what have I been waiting for?/

You really read some thought provoking books; i love that! Thanks

"tale of madness or one of supernatural occur...

2009-10-17T15:24:41.735+01:00

"tale of madness or one of supernatural occurrences"

I read this in a college lit class and our teacher had us watch two different movies of it -- one interpreted it one way and the other the other way. It was quite interesting to see how it was nearly impossible to make a movie that didn't illustrate it in one particular way. How would she *act* otherwise?

Another reason I love reading a BOOK more. The ambiguity is normally so much more powerful.

This sounds good. I'd have to really be in the...

2009-10-17T14:27:16.812+01:00

This sounds good. I'd have to really be in the mood for this type of novel. I lose concentration easily.
Great review!
http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

I don't know if even you can get me to read He...

2009-10-17T05:49:16.204+01:00

I don't know if even you can get me to read Henry James, Ana :p He's one author that I have such a strong aversion too!!! I've read quite a few reviews of this one and while the story sounds good enough, I just really think I'd have a hard time with this one!

Isn't this available as a free eBook download?...

2009-10-17T05:16:29.321+01:00

Isn't this available as a free eBook download? Were you the one who told me about that?

I read this in high school and I remember it reall...

2009-10-17T02:43:58.688+01:00

I read this in high school and I remember it really creeped me out. But in an enjoyable way. Which says a lot because I don't like creepy, scary things. But the suspense was really great. I don't remember anything of note about the story, however...

I would get SUPER annoyed with the excessive commas as well!