A haunted house tests the limits of a relationship on edge
The Grip of It — Jac Jemc
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The Grip of It by Jac Jemc
What It’s About
All month long I’ve been recommending horror, and this week is no different! Now we’re at the classic haunted house story: a young couple moves into a small house on the outskirts of town. While the move was prompted by not-so-great circumstances — James has a penchant for gambling and struggles to control his addiction — he and Julie are happy in their new home. For a while.
Soon, the house becomes unrecognizable. It transforms before their eyes; new rooms seemingly appear out of nowhere and existing rooms somehow vanish and shrink and move. And then it moves from the house to them. Julie begins seeing bruises on her body and mold takes over.
As they try to uncover the root cause of the house’s horrors, they also try to keep their relationship from crumbling, too. This is a literary horror novel that both asks big questions about what we need and seek out in relationships as well as scares the daylights out of its readers.
Why You Should Read It
Often, horror novels include big, flashy blood-and-gore scenes — which I love as much as the next person. But sometimes we need a softer read, one that sneaks up on us and scares us in ways we don’t expect. This is that book.
It’s a traditional horror novel in its haunting while examining a modern relationship and whether the couple can make it through a tough period together, a very real situation many people experience on a day-to-day basis, not just in a supernatural novel. (Another book that handles the quiet, modern horror very well is Sweet Lamb of Heaven by Lydia Millet.)
The sense of quiet dread and eerie settling built by the author is one I rarely see, and it’s done so well that you’ll find yourself looking over your shoulder, sure something is about to jump out and get you.
As usual, October is flying by, and I feel like I’ve barely made a dent in my stack of books I want to read. I’m currently reading The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi, which has completely grabbed me from chapter one, and I’ve just finished Midnight Is the Darkest Hour by Ashley Winstead.
Here are some books from my remaining stack that I’m still wanting to read — which book would you start with?
Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations:
Read a thriller about a polygamist, his wives, and their secret pasts
An enchanting and beautiful island starts to turn against its visitors
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I enjoyed Black Sheep! Will be curious to hear your thoughts on it. Now I want to read The Grip of It even more (Sadie Hartman aka Mother Horror has said good things too!)
That's so cool.