Welcome back to Thursday Quotables! This weekly feature is the place to highlight a great quote, line, or passage discovered during your reading each week. Whether it’s something funny, startling, gut-wrenching, or just really beautifully written, Thursday Quotables is where my favorite lines of the week will be, and you’re invited to join in!
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
(published 1959)
No live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. Hill House, not sane, stood by itself against its hills, holding darkness within; it had stood so for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. Within, walls continued upright, bricks met neatly, floors were firm, and doors were sensibly shut; silence lay steadily against the wood and stone of Hill House, and whatever walked there, walked alone.
How’s that for an amazing beginning? I’ve always meant to read this spooky classic, and while I didn’t end up loving the book as a whole as much as I’d wanted to, I was blown away by the artistry of the author’s words.
What lines made you laugh, cry, or gasp this week? Do tell!
If you’d like to participate in Thursday Quotables, it’s really simple:
- Write a Thursday Quotables post on your blog. Try to pick something from whatever you’re reading now. And please be sure to include a link back to Bookshelf Fantasies in your post (http://www.bookshelffantasies.com), if you’d be so kind!
- Leave your link in the comments — or, if you have a quote to share but not a blog post, you can leave your quote in the comments too!
- Visit other linked blogs to view their Thursday Quotables, and have fun!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
I can’t believe I’ve never read any Shirley Jackson. This quote makes me believe I’d like her work. My favorite book quotes last week were https://alenaslife.wordpress.com/2014/06/20/best-book-quotes-of-the-week-8/
I’d never read any of Shirley Jackson’s novels — just her story “The Lottery”, which most people seem to read during school. I’m glad I finally made time for this one. Thanks for sharing your link!
I love the idea to share quotes from the books we read. Yours is pretty awsome. I’ve never read Shirley Jackson, although I’d considered her work bofore. This opening sounds very strong.
I have have a quotation on my blog, here
I do this every week, so jump in whenever you feel inspired! It’s great to have you participate — thanks for sharing your link!
Aahhh that’s a great passage. This book is definitely on my list of horror reads for this coming October. I meant to read it last October, but I never got around to it.
October is the perfect time! Maybe I’ll aim for another Shirley Jackson novel for then, so I can be properly spooky. 🙂
I’ve been meaning to read this one too — I don’t think I will make it a summer read — fall or winter seem like a better fit for a creepy tale 🙂
You’re right, fall is perfect for creepy… or winter, with the wind howling!
I read this one when I was younger and really loved it. Would love to do a re-read just to see if I feel the same!
It’s always so interesting to read books after such a long time and see how our reactions change. I still want to read more Shirley Jackson. I did love her writing style in this one!