The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters Book Review

 The Little Stranger 

By Sarah Waters 

Published Year: 2009

Page Count: 512 pages 

Medium Used: Kindle Scribe 

Genre : Historical Fiction, Supernatural, Horror, Ghost Stories, Haunted Houses, 2026-read. 

Rating: 4/5 

Hundreds Hall is a two century old mansion, flanked by farm lands and gardens, invariably on a spiral of decline, neglect and ruin. The inhabitants of this house are old Mrs. Ayers, her children Roderick and Caroline, a couple of housemaids Betty and Mrs. Belazely. The narrator, Dr. Faraday, is called up to the house for consultation of a sick Betty. This visit stirs up his memories of association with the house where his mother once worked as a maid. He laments at the ruin the house has fallen into and the near poverty the family has sunk into. After that he makes himself a frequent visitor at the house, first as a physician to help with Roderick's ruined leg and later turning himself into their family doctor. This story is narrated by him and recounts the series of unfortunate events that strike the family, slowly consuming their sanity and their lives. One after other, each pays the price for not trusting their instincts and letting themselves off of the house's grip. It starts with Caroline's dog going rabid and attacking a child. It continues with Roderick losing his sanity and getting committed to a psychiatric private hospital. Then it is Mrs Ayers and Caroline. The ghost or the supernatural force, whatever, is always one step ahead of the narrator and others. It strikes when they most suspect it but also when they are helpless in doing anything against it. Even when Mrs.Ayers and Caroline are convinced that there is some force trying to staunch their life force, they don't take hint and bolt. They stay in the house and it felt like they were welcoming the evil to consume them. Lol. 

This is one of the very compelling rendition of a person losing his grip on reality. The funny thing is everyone who said it is a ghost is labelled insane and those who tried to explain it away with scientific language prevailed. Even the narrator who was a first hand witness to all the events and scenes couldn't make up his mind. Anyone reading the book would be convinced it is supernatural force, operating behind the scenes, right away. And the times when the story takes place is around 1950s, when people were more inclined to superstition, right? 

The narrative felt in turns gripping and sometimes dry. I got super excited when the horrid events were happening and they were brilliantly written. The author happens to be one of my favorites - her prose is gorgeous as always. I felt disengaged, during the dry spells, when the narrator was making his romantic overtures and making plans for his marriage to an indifferent Caroline. I didn't like Caroline's character at all  - she drove the doctor on when he was being of some assistance to her family and totally cut him off once his use expired. I didn't like the narrator too - a bit because he couldn't read the signs. He is too blind and enamored with Caroline or the house to see that she would eventually shun him. I didn't get why he so wanted to be in that house, despite everything he saw. 

The writing is amazing. It transported me back to the past times,after war, to New England. The family, though had had enjoyed glory, it was a thing of the past. Their location is secluded and they are isolationists by nature. I didn't get why they didn't try to consult a different doctor or some psychic when they were getting these initial doubts that some supernatural entity might be involved. They let things slide and overly depended on Dr Faraday.  They didn't try to leave the house until Caroline showed some nerve but ultimately she was also bested. 

Do read this for the chills and thrills! Do let me know what u thought in the comments. Cheers 🍻 🥂