My wife and I spent several months watching "The Haunting at Bly Manor". It's the sole non-toddler-friendly TV show we've watched this year, and I rather liked it, despite its imperfections. The way it told the story was really interesting. When I learned it was based on a book that was only 120 pages long, I thought, why not check out what the book is all about?

However, aside from having six characters with the same names (Miles, Flora, Mrs Grose, Ms Jesel, Peter Quint, and the Governess), the story in the book has very little in common with the TV show. The TV show clearly added a lot to the light mythos in the book, which was a letdown for me. I really enjoyed some of the storytelling techniques in the show and was curious to see how they were originally presented, but none of them were there at all.

Instead, we have a story about a governess and some ghosts that may or may not actually exist (personally, I tend to believe they were there as it makes the story more enjoyable for me; there are enough clues on both sides for it to be debated). Most of the story involves the Governess noticing minor things and jumping to the most fantastical conclusions, and poor Ms Grose believing her every step of the way and becoming her confidant. In fact, it feels like almost 60% of the story is probably the Governess telling Ms Grose what she believes has happened.

It's an okay tale, nothing特别remarkable, and the archaic writing style (with some of the most convoluted sentence structures I've ever seen) makes it a bit challenging to get into.

I also tried a couple of the other stories in this collection, but I didn't find them particularly worth the time, even though they were only 30 pages each.

WHAT??

The Turn of the Screw was first published as a serialized novel in Collier's Weekly. Robert J. Collier, who had just become the editor after his father founded the magazine, was hoping to boost its circulation, revenue, and reputation by featuring the works of a renowned author like James. At that time, James was already a well-known figure in the literary world, having published several notable works such as The Europeans, Daisy Miller, Washington Square, and The Bostonians.

James, on the other hand, had just leased a house in Sussex and needed the extra income to facilitate his move from London. Therefore, he agreed to Collier's proposal to write a twelve-part ghost story in 1897. He completed The Turn of the Screw in November of that year, and it was published in Collier's between January and April of 1898. The story consisted of a prologue and twelve chapters in both the serialized and book versions. In Collier's, it was further divided into five "parts" and published in twelve installments.

James also had an agreement with Heinemann in England and Macmillan in New York to publish a book version of the story. These book versions, which were published in the fall of 1898, had the same text as the serialized version but lacked the five "parts" markings. In 1908, James included The Turn of the Screw in Volume 16 of his complete works, along with another novella, The Aspern Papers, and two short stories, "The Liar" and "The Two Faces."

The Turn of the Screw is a novella, a long story that is shorter than a traditional novel but focuses on actions of greater scope than a short story. In the 1908 publication, James made a few minor emendations to the text, mainly semantic and punctuation changes. One notable change was Flora's age. In the 1898 publication, she was six years old, but in 1908, she became eight. This may have been because James realized that Flora spoke and acted as if she were older than six.

James wrote The Turn of the Screw during a time when belief in ghosts and spirituality was widespread in England and America. The spirituality craze had begun in 1848 with the Fox sisters' encounter with unexplained rappings in their bedroom. This led to the publication of many books on the subject, such as Catherine Crowe's The Night Side of Nature; or, Ghosts and Ghost Seers. The Society for Psychical Research, of which James's brother and father were members, was also founded during this time.

The popularity of spirituality in the nineteenth century was due in part to widespread disillusionment with traditional religion. Many intellectuals turned away from Christianity and sought a new way of understanding and accepting death. Spirituality offered the possibility of communicating with the dead and finding solace in the afterlife. However, James emphasized in the preface to his 1908 edition that his ghosts were not the same as those studied in laboratories but rather agents of evil, like goblins and demons.

The content of James's book was inspired by "real-life" ghostly encounters he had heard about. In the preface, he described being in an old country house on a winter afternoon when his host recalled a fragment of a tale about two children and the spirits of "bad" servants. James remembered this story and used it as the basis for The Turn of the Screw when Collier's proposed the idea.

In addition to these real-life influences, critics have also suggested other literary sources that may have influenced the book, such as works by Dickens, Charlotte Brontë, Mrs. Gaskell, Henry Fielding, and Goethe. There have also been suggestions that medical texts and Freud's theories may have played a role.

Despite James's emphasis on the ghosts and the implication of evil in the story, much of the criticism and discussion surrounding The Turn of the Screw has centered around the governess and her consciousness. In his 1908 preface, James responded to complaints that the governess was not "sufficiently characterized" by arguing that good writing results from focusing on a limited number of elements. However, this did not stop critics from debating whether the governess was mad or if there were indeed ghosts.

Before James's time, most fiction was written from the author's point of view. James, however, introduced a new approach by using a central intelligence through whose eyes the reader sees the story. In The Turn of the Screw, the reader experiences the events at Bly from the governess's perspective, which limits their knowledge and perception. This forces the reader to trust the governess's judgment, perhaps at their own peril.

Another significant aspect of James's novel is his use of the confidant character. The confidant, in this case Mrs. Grose, gives the reader an additional opportunity to see what the governess is thinking. However, as with the point of view, James challenges the reader by leaving it uncertain whether the governess is telling the truth to her confidant or if Mrs. Grose has her own agenda.

In the decades following the publication of The Turn of the Screw, the general consensus was that the governess was a benevolent character fighting against evil ghosts. However, in the 1920s and 1930s, critics began to question this interpretation. Edna Kenton suggested that the story was more about the governess's troubled mind, and Edmund Wilson, drawing on Freudian theory, argued that the governess's sexual repression led her to imagine the ghosts.

Since Wilson's influential essay, critics have been divided on whether the governess is mad or if there are ghosts. Some have emphasized James's description of the book as a "fairy-tale pure and simple" and argued that the ghosts are real. Others, especially feminist critics, have pointed out that the assumption that the governess is a sexual hysteric may be a result of gender bias. More recently, postmodernism has led to a more accepting approach to the ambiguity in James's writing, with many critics focusing on the language he uses to create the text.

Well, boo.

This simple expression can carry a variety of meanings. It could be a sign of disappointment, a gentle scolding, or even a playful taunt.

When someone says "well, boo," it might be in response to something that didn't meet their expectations. For example, if a team loses a game they were expected to win, a fan might say "well, boo" to express their dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, "well, boo" can also be used in a more lighthearted way. Maybe a friend tells a joke that falls flat, and you respond with "well, boo" as a way of teasing them.

In conclusion, "well, boo" is a versatile phrase that can convey different emotions depending on the context in which it is used. It can be a way to express disappointment, playfulness, or even a bit of both.

So the next time you hear someone say "well, boo," pay attention to the tone of their voice and the situation to understand exactly what they mean.

Henry James has an extraordinary talent for writing.

He describes precisely how a river stream flows, presenting it as a never-ending, mystifying torrent of words and sentences.

His works, especially the ghost stories, are beautifully constructed. The details are carefully crafted, and the atmosphere is skillfully created.

However, after reading these stories, the reader often feels that there is something more that they are expecting.

Perhaps it is a deeper exploration of the human psyche, or a more profound meaning hidden beneath the surface.

Nevertheless, Henry James' writing is still highly regarded for its elegance and complexity.

His works continue to captivate readers and inspire new generations of writers.

Premonotono i suvo čak i za mene.

This simple statement holds a certain truth. Monotony and dryness can sometimes be a part of our lives, even for me.

The daily routine can become so repetitive that it feels like we are stuck in a never-ending cycle. The lack of excitement and variety can make us feel bored and unfulfilled.

However, it is important to remember that monotony and dryness are not permanent states. We have the power to break free from them and add some zest to our lives.

We can try new things, explore different hobbies, or simply change our perspective. By doing so, we can discover new opportunities and experiences that will bring back the sparkle and excitement.

So, even though premonotono i suvo čak i za mene may be true at times, it doesn't have to be the story of our lives. Let's take the initiative and make a change.

I only recently had the opportunity to read "Turn of the Screw" in another edition. As a result, I skipped over this particular version of it and instead focused on trying to read the rest of the stories within the book.

Unfortunately, to my great disappointment, I found that the majority of them were quite dull and uninteresting. With the exception of "The Real Thing," which held a certain degree of appeal, I mostly skimmed through the other stories rather than reading them in-depth.

In my honest opinion, I would highly recommend that if you are interested in Henry James' works, you should simply obtain a copy of "Turn of the Screw" and focus on reading that masterpiece. It is far more engaging and captivating than the collection of stories presented in this particular book.

Save your time and energy by delving into the brilliance of "Turn of the Screw" rather than struggling through the lackluster offerings of this volume.

I am fully aware that tastes have a tendency to change along with the times. There are certain books that, in the past, would have been regarded as terrifying and brimming with palpable tension. However, when revisited in the present day, they simply don't have the same impact as they did back then.

But I must admit, I have never been so bored while reading. I can firmly state that I will never pick up this collection again. To be fair, Sir Edmund Orme was truly amazing, and I will give credit where it is due. I managed to read it in a single sitting. But as for the rest of the works in this collection, oh dear.

Nonetheless, even if this particular book didn't resonate with me, that doesn't necessarily mean it won't find its audience among others. It's important to remember that everyone has different literary preferences. However, I will say that I did manage to read Postern of Fate in a relatively shorter time compared to the other works in this collection.

Perhaps others will find more enjoyment and value in this collection than I did. It's all a matter of personal taste and perspective.

If for some reason you have never read Henry James before, I highly urge you to start by reading his short novels and short stories. Among them, The Turn of the Screw and Other Stories is a truly worthy collection.

To those who are not familiar with his work, James might seem to be a singularly bland, even bloodless character who appears incapable of delving into great depths. However, this couldn't be further from the truth! The reason I particularly like this collection is that it contains a number of stories in which the author, being aware of his reputation, attempts to address it. In this category are \\"The Real Thing,\\" \\"The Figure in the Carpet,\\" \\"The Tree of Knowledge,\\" \\"Maud-Evelyn,\\" and most especially the great \\"The Beast in the Jungle.\\"

Also included are two outstanding ghost stories, the novelette-length \\"The Turn of the Screw\\" and the surprising \\"The Jolly Corner.\\" These and all the other stories date back to the early 1900s.

Usually, I prefer to include a quote from the author. However, James doesn't quote well as with him, the context is of utmost importance. He manipulates the reader by lulling him or her into a false sense of boredom and then suddenly wrenching the carpet away, leaving one groveling among the dust bunnies.

It's truly a remarkable experience to explore the works of Henry James and discover the hidden depths and surprises within each story.

I have a deep affection for an unreliable narrator, and I also have a great love for a Jane Eyre adaption. So, what could possibly have both? Well, it's "Turn of the Screw". However, to be honest, the plot is actually kind of strange.

Nonetheless, I am extremely excited to watch "Haunting of Bly Manor". I'm curious to see how this new adaptation will unfold and if it will offer a fresh perspective on the story.

Moreover, I might even watch "The Innocents" to further explore how different interpretations can change my understanding of the original novel.

I'm looking forward to delving into these adaptations and seeing how they bring the world of "Turn of the Screw" to life in their own unique ways.

3.25 stars.

The writing in these works is quite dense, even for the era in which they were written. However, it creates a very tense and atmospheric mood. I firmly believe that these stories are far more enjoyable when one takes into account their various interpretations. The ambiguity, the unspoken words, and the gaps between what is narrated and what is left unsaid definitely have a greater unsettling effect than the ghosts themselves. There are numerous interesting readings of 'The Turn of the Screw', such as feminist, class, and abuse perspectives. Additionally, I really liked 'The Friends of the Friends' as well. It offers an interesting take on jealousy and presents a very tragic concept. The way the author explores these themes and emotions makes for a captivating and thought-provoking read.

Marked as read for “The Turn of the Screw”

I’m not yet certain about my perception of Henry James as a writer. To determine whether I like his style or not, I would need to read one or two of his novels. Perhaps the aspects of the prose that I found frustrating - its verbosity and circumlocution - were a deliberate creation of the governess’ narrative voice. The plot, on a first read, is rather unsatisfying, although I understand it is intended to be reread.

Things that I did appreciate include the dialogue, the suspense, and the characterisation (or the deliberate lack thereof). It was also effectively unnerving. James adeptly delves into a cultural concern regarding our irreversible loss of innocence. Adults are plagued by the knowledge of good and evil, while children, in contrast, are innocent of this knowledge and thus amoral. Does this place innocence and morality in opposition? This is an unsubstantiated thought that I derived from reading the book, but it is interesting to contemplate further.

I envision that it would be even more spine-chilling to read as a parent.