"White is for Witching", by Helen Oyeyemi

Novel, 2009

A novel which pulls on a load of shapes and guises, from coming of age, to a twins' psychodrama, to haunted house thriller. This is a book in which too much goes on without much seeming to actually happen. The result is a confusing hodge-podge, which may be an intentional device reflecting the struggles of Miranda, the main protagonist. There's some really outstanding images, but the different voices and narrative layers don't really fully knit together where they feel like they should. Some great ideas and difficult subjects explored, but too fragmented for my liking. 

"Clock Without Hands", by Carson McCullers

Novel, 1961

Gloomy novel set in the American South, where dramas and the coming of age, death, social class and family relationships are set against a backdrop of racial tension and the emergence of integration. This is a story of high drama and incident, although the handling and writing are well measured. It's quite a page turner too, and all the characters are compelling, even the judge, who's clearly out-of-time and out of shape and an outrageous bigot, but still well drawn and who, to some extent, retains some sympathy.

"Inferno," directed by Dario Argento

Movie, 1980

Dreamy horror, full of deserted buildings, surreal sets, a progressive rock soundtrack and blood. All these elements are wonderfully realised, giving the film an excellent tension, although the story seems a little confused and the acting, every now and again, stultifying. The violence is nasty, although this goes with the territory. An effective piece, all in all; at least it would have been if only the story and direction could just have been given a little more of a leg up over the grisly set pieces.

"The Woman in Black", by Susan Hill

Novel, 1992

Effective ghost story, packing suspense and creating an evocative, oppressive atmosphere. Much of this is probably attributable to the first person narrative, taking the reader into a world which is written in what appears to be very deliberately 'olde worlde', with a groaning bucket load of mist, marshes, haunted houses and phantoms. While the style occasionally threatens the power of the narrative, in the final analysis, it doesn't, leaving a feeling of a good read by the end of the story.

"We Have Always Lived in the Castle", by Shirley Jackson

Novel, 1962

Terrific Gothic tale of two sisters and a deranged uncle living in an unfriendly village which marginalises them due to the belief the elder sister poisoned and killed the rest of the family. This is a story focusing on Merricat, the younger sister, a fiercely independent, disturbing narrator who brings a very focused view on unfolding events. There's a real tension in this short novel which propels the reader along into some quite disturbing, psychologically wrenching scenes.