The Lodgers is a truly strange book. At first, I had high expectations, hoping to fall in love with it. However, it didn't quite turn out that way. It bears a resemblance to Wuthering Heights. It's dark, with twisty and spooky elements, yet it's difficult to truly care about what happens to the characters. I was completely at a loss when it came to understanding the ending. I wish I could have had more definitive feelings about it, but alas, I didn't.

I understand that the author, James, intended to create a spooky and enigmatic atmosphere. I'm not demanding a more concrete conclusion, but rather a more solid story. I struggled to fully comprehend why each character was behaving the way they did. Perhaps that was the point, but I can't help but think that if these events were to occur in real life, people would likely take different actions than those presented in the book.

RELATED MATERIAL:

The Others (2001) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230600/

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn - A great book

The Lodgers (2017) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4399952/

THE TURNING (2020) - Just as frustrating and unsatisfying as the book. Not recommended.

The story, with an unnecessarily long introduction, presents the situation of a young governess who is entrusted with the care of two children in a rural mansion. As the days pass, she begins to perceive strange situations. Fed by the gossip of the servants, she forms a picture in which the two children are under the maleficent influence of two former employees of the mansion. And in the face of this situation, the governess struggles with all her means to rescue the children.

Like many good books, it is open to various interpretations.

At first glance, it could be considered a gothic horror novel.

Another quite popular interpretation proposes that it is the governess herself who is deranged, and much of what occurs is the product of her puritanical interpretation and a certain degree of paranoia.

Personally, I lean towards a third interpretation that gives logic to the title, both the original in English (The turn of the screw) and its translation, which, although not literal, preserves the spirit: How much more can a screw be tightened? How much more can a bolt be turned?

This poses a dilemma for the character of the governess, overwhelmed and impotent to rescue the children from a tragic destiny, but who, faced with what is at stake, forces her will, knowing that it is necessary. But how much more can she demand of her will?

The human being, when faced with a threatening situation, is often capable of a courage and a will that surprises himself. That self-demand possibly has a limit (and an emotional cost). But what is the limit? How far can the screw be tightened without breaking? How far can a person continue to demand of himself without crossing the border into madness?

I believe that this interpretation surpasses the gothic story to reach a deeply human one.

An excellent novel.

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