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Cindy R
Unwelcome Guests
Victorian, with a wrap around porch, a sprawling lawn and a real turret. Margaret and her husband, Hall believe they have found their dream home. Its somewhere they can put down the roots they didn't grow up with.
They aren't concerned when the realtor tells them about the multiple murders that have happened in the house. Margaret believes it's 150 years old, so of course the house would have a history. It's not long after they move in, that they discover there are other "occupants" that want them out, especially in September. The walls drip blood, ghosts of former inhabitants cause trouble and forget about going
…more down into the basement.
THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE (Berkley) is marketed as a horror story, but it's too funny and exaggerated to fill that genre. I believe if you go into THE SEPTEMBER HOUSE expecting horror, you'll be disappointed. (less)Margaret and husband Hal finally were able to buy their own home. The home was a beautiful, old Victorian house. Margaret loved the house so much so that even after discovering that her beautiful house was haunted, she refused to leave it. The month of September was always dreaded because during this month there was always more blood, more ghosts, and more chaos. As September approached again Hal suddenly disappeared and their daughter Katherine left her job to help Margaret find him. Margaret works diligently to keep Katherine from being affected by the ghosts and all the terrible things that take place in
…more September. This is a huge undertaking for Margaret because the house is constantly being pounded by birds that pile up on the ground dead, blood flowing down the walls, a ghost that bites, and so much more. The story is well written and full of surprises. If you love haunted houses stories then this is the book for you. (less)Lots of humor in this - descriptions of the creepy characters is excellent. However, I think the premise is overworked and, by the end, it had gotten too absurd
Cathy T. (Attleboro, MA)
A raging house in September
I love horror novels, so this was right up my alley. However, this book sits apart from the usual horror stories. The people in it. There is true horror in the inhabitants of the house that Hal and his wife, Katherine purchased. The couple hoped to enjoy their long-sought-after dream of owning their own home. The house of their dreams. But their dream soon turned into a nightmare of unexpected terror.
As the tale continues, we learn that along with a changing home, the people therein also change. The couple, Hal and Katherine, are not who we thought they were. The house is not the dream they thought it would be.
…more And the inhabitants are totally unexpected.
And the writing is not as I expected. While the horror is well described and presented, and the apparitions are certainly frightening, the humor and pathos are unexpected. Katherine is a unique individual with a quirky understanding of her circumstances. Hal and Katherine's daughter, Margaret, is not like most people and could be as off-putting as anyone you have ever encountered.
And that, fellow reader, makes for a frightening, fascinating, fun read. Be prepared for the unexpected and enjoy the ride. (less)A very entertaining book. I found myself wanting to keep reading, even late into the night. The relationships between the characters are realistic and the backstories unwind in a satisfying read. There were times that I knew what was going to happen, only to have the story turn right around and go in a completely different direction. This is a horror book that is not overly scary and just the right amount of gore.
Norma R. (Secaucus, NJ)
The September House
Hal and Margaret buy their dream house. But the house has a scary history, violent deaths have occurred there. At first the couple is very happy but then strange things start happening. Is the house haunted? Hal and Margaret have very different ideas about how to deal with the occurrences. Hal disappears and their daughter Katherine arrives to help find him. Is Margaret imaging all of this or is it really happening? As I read, I kept changing my mind about what was going on. It made the novel enjoyable. It would be a good book club selection, interesting to see what readers thought.
Amber H. (Asheville, NC)
Great fall read!
I really enjoyed September House. The story is unique and tackles mental illness, family drama, love & loss - several topics. Margaret, the main character, is likeable. The other characters, including the dead ones, were interesting. This will be the perfect read during spooky season, but this book isn't too terrifying in my opinion (a benefit!). I'm not a big fan of super scary books and found this one to be just right.
Jo N. (Carlsbad, NM)
Good gory haunted house story
In this haunted house horror story, empty nesters and later-in-life couple, Hal and Margaret finally purchase a dream Victorian-style house in the middle of the country near (ish) a small town. At first, things are fine. They're renovating and redecorating but then things start to go downhill. Isn't that the way it always is for a haunted house?
If you like slow-build, unreliable narrator stories with quite a bit of gore, you'll like The September House. This is Carissa Orlando's debut novel and it packs quite the punch at the end. The storytelling isn't linear so it's a bit hard to keep up with at first.
…more Margaret is telling the story and it seems that when she remembers things, she describes them as if they're happening right now. Along with the horror aspects, Orlando touches on issues of alcoholism, domestic abuse, and mental illness. So if those things tend to be your triggers, you might want to stay away from this one. They are part and parcel of the entire story.
I enjoyed the book. I love unreliable narrators. It was scary enough for me that I had to put it down a couple times but then I can be a weenie. Some of Orlando's descriptions reminded me of devices used in horror movies I've seen, so nothing really new there. The best part of the book as far as I'm concerned is the ending. I can see some good discussions arising from this. (less)
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