Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Farrar, Straus and Cudahy: New York (c19758), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 245 pages
Description
Fiction. Horror. Literature. Science Fiction. HTML:Before there was Hill House, there was the Halloran mansion of Jacksonâ??s stunningly creepy fourth novel, The Sundial When the Halloran clan gathers at the family home for a funeral, no one is surprised when the somewhat peculiar Aunt Fanny wanders off into the secret garden. But then she returns to report an astonishing vision of an apocalypse from which only the Hallorans and their hangers-on will be spared, and the family finds itself engulfed in growing madness, fear, and violence as they prepare for a terrible new world. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translato… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sturlington
After receiving a vision from their deceased father, the Halloran family and their various hangers-on prepare for the end of the world.
There is not one likable character in this novel, but there is a lot of dark humor. Shirley Jackson seems to take great delight in skewering her creations, the
The Halloran house, which is itself a character, is ostentatious, overstuffed, and full of things without purpose, including its inhabitants. They pass the time stockpiling supplies in the library, burning the books to make room (I suppose there will be no reading after the end of the world), and wandering the convoluted grounds, which include a hedge maze, a small lake, and the sundial, sitting off-center on the front lawn engraved with the bizarre maxim, "What is this world?" The house and its grounds resemble a funhouse at the fair, with no apparent way out; even the one character who manages to get past the front gates finds herself fleeing randomly through a fog-shrouded wilderness to be deposited right back at those gates again. Gothic and creepy, yes, but also quite a bit of fun.
Reality is not a concern in this world. Various visions and manifestations that occur may be supernatural or may be the result of mass hysteria. Does the world really end? That's unclear, and it doesn't really matter. These terrible people are trapped inside the Halloran mansion as if inside a snow globe, so whether the world continues outside the closed gates has no effect on them.
Jackson allows us readers to share the joke with her. We can't feel sympathy for these people, only glad that they are locked up in there, and we are out here. We'd almost prefer the world to go up in flames than be stuck in that gloomy house with those awful people until the end of time. Along with The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Sundial is a masterwork of Jackson's unique blend of black humor and supreme creepiness.
Read because I like the author (2014).
There is not one likable character in this novel, but there is a lot of dark humor. Shirley Jackson seems to take great delight in skewering her creations, the
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members of the Halloran family and all the others holed up in their gothic mansion, awaiting the apocalypse. Orianna Halloran, the matriarch of the family, is imperious, conceited, and manipulative, conniving to keep her various subjects in check as they jockey for love interests, positions of influence, or just to escape the madhouse. Also present is her recently widowed daughter-in-law, who seems susceptible to the "vapors," and her granddaughter Fancy, the only one who seems a match for the old woman; a spinster aunt and recipient of the apocalyptic visions; a crippled, demented husband; a couple of household employees, who seem uniquely unqualified for work in the real world; and a few opportunistic late arrivals. The Halloran house, which is itself a character, is ostentatious, overstuffed, and full of things without purpose, including its inhabitants. They pass the time stockpiling supplies in the library, burning the books to make room (I suppose there will be no reading after the end of the world), and wandering the convoluted grounds, which include a hedge maze, a small lake, and the sundial, sitting off-center on the front lawn engraved with the bizarre maxim, "What is this world?" The house and its grounds resemble a funhouse at the fair, with no apparent way out; even the one character who manages to get past the front gates finds herself fleeing randomly through a fog-shrouded wilderness to be deposited right back at those gates again. Gothic and creepy, yes, but also quite a bit of fun.
Reality is not a concern in this world. Various visions and manifestations that occur may be supernatural or may be the result of mass hysteria. Does the world really end? That's unclear, and it doesn't really matter. These terrible people are trapped inside the Halloran mansion as if inside a snow globe, so whether the world continues outside the closed gates has no effect on them.
Jackson allows us readers to share the joke with her. We can't feel sympathy for these people, only glad that they are locked up in there, and we are out here. We'd almost prefer the world to go up in flames than be stuck in that gloomy house with those awful people until the end of time. Along with The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, The Sundial is a masterwork of Jackson's unique blend of black humor and supreme creepiness.
Read because I like the author (2014).
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LibraryThing member Lucinda
A group af people is waiting for the end of the world in an English mansion. Jackson describes the nature of humans in a dark but very entertaining way. The book is a proof of her exeptional ability to create a fantastic and absorbing reading experience.
LibraryThing member Violetthedwarf
There's no-one like Shirley Jackson for creating fear and tension in a few simple sentences. It's a shame she's not better known - I think some people think that because she writes about women she is unimportant.
In The Sundial Shirley Jackson give us a perfect snapshot of a dysfunctional family in
In The Sundial Shirley Jackson give us a perfect snapshot of a dysfunctional family in
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the run-up to a potential apocalyptic event. Her writing is perfect, with not a word wasted, and the way she creates atmosphere is astounding. Show Less
LibraryThing member Violetthedwarf
There's no-one like Shirley Jackson for creating fear and tension in a few simple sentences. It's a shame she's not better known - I think some people think that because she writes about women she is unimportant.
In The Sundial Shirley Jackson give us a perfect snapshot of a dysfunctional family in
In The Sundial Shirley Jackson give us a perfect snapshot of a dysfunctional family in
Show More
the run-up to a potential apocalyptic event. Her writing is perfect, with not a word wasted, and the way she creates atmosphere is astounding. Show Less
LibraryThing member TerriS
Oh my! How unusual, but what else would you expect from Shirley Jackson?!
It is the story of a group of people living in a big house who think the world is going to end and they will be the only survivors -- but will the world end? will they survive? You're just going to have to read it and see
It is the story of a group of people living in a big house who think the world is going to end and they will be the only survivors -- but will the world end? will they survive? You're just going to have to read it and see
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what you think. Then, you can tell me!! {:-0 Show Less
LibraryThing member Chris.Wolak
Weird, dark, uneven, even a bit boring, but fascinating. Maybe the point is there’s no point — we all do whatever we do to pass the time — but we do want to hear scary, tragic stories about other people and believe we’ll be the survivor of whatever future we imagine. So much to think about!
LibraryThing member xaverie
Now that's how you do an extremely dark comedy!
LibraryThing member Stahl-Ricco
“… the sundial arrived inscribed WHAT IS THIS WORLD?”
It arrived at the Halloran estate, ordered from Philadelphia.
“Aunt Fanny’s father had come to tell these people that the world outside was ending.” Her visions are pretty creepy reading. As are the moments when Gloria looks in the
Aunt Fanny is only 48 years old? She reads SO MUCH older! Julia’s story when she leaves the house is really good! (and GREAT last line of that chapter! HILARIOUS!). “The only books to be included were Aunt Fanny’s Boy Scout Handbook, the encyclopedia, Fancy’s French grammar… and a World Almanac.” Gotta Be Prepared! Especially for the apocalypse! If it is, in fact, happening. The end of the book is almost exactly as it should have been! A fun, and semi-spooky, read!
“When shall we live if not now?”
“The sundial showed no hours at night.”
It arrived at the Halloran estate, ordered from Philadelphia.
“Aunt Fanny’s father had come to tell these people that the world outside was ending.” Her visions are pretty creepy reading. As are the moments when Gloria looks in the
Show More
mirror!Aunt Fanny is only 48 years old? She reads SO MUCH older! Julia’s story when she leaves the house is really good! (and GREAT last line of that chapter! HILARIOUS!). “The only books to be included were Aunt Fanny’s Boy Scout Handbook, the encyclopedia, Fancy’s French grammar… and a World Almanac.” Gotta Be Prepared! Especially for the apocalypse! If it is, in fact, happening. The end of the book is almost exactly as it should have been! A fun, and semi-spooky, read!
“When shall we live if not now?”
“The sundial showed no hours at night.”
Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1958
Physical description
245 p.; 0.87 inches
ISBN
0848803701 / 9780848803704