Shirley Jackson is such a stellar writer. I have yet to be disappointed by something she has written. The Haunting of Hill House is number one in creep factor for me and We Have Always Lived in the Castle is not far behind and her story “The Lottery” — is there anyone who doesn’t know this story? — Ray Bradbury’s story “The Veldt” is the only one that comes close to rivalling it in my opinion. So it was with much excitement that I undertook to read Jackson’s The Sundial for this year’s RIP Challenge.
How could Jackson writing about the coming apocalypse not be great? The Halloran family lives in a huge house on a huge plot of land. The story begins with a funeral — Orianna Halloran, who stands to inherit the house, allegedly pushed Lionel, the current master of the house, down the stairs. Now in charge, Orianna declares she is kicking everyone out. Aunt Fanny has lived in the house since she was a girl, Lionel was her brother. She conveniently has a vision in which the family patriarch declares the world will end but all who are in the house will be spared. Naturally, no one is to be kicked out after that and the population of the house actually grows by several as a few guests, invited and uninvited, come to stay. There is even briefly a rival apocalypse group who believe alien space ships will be coming to take them away before they destroy the world and those who have not been saved.
Far from being creepy, The Sundial turned out to be hilariously sarcastic and snarky. The best part is that most of the humor is of the subtle sort and if you aren’t paying attention it will flow right by. Even when I was paying attention I sometimes had to go back and reread a paragraph because — did she really say what I think she just said? Oh yes, yes she did! And then I would giggle with glee and thank my lucky stars I am reading the book and not actually in the book.
The day of the apocalypse arrives. A massive storm blows in with winds that howl and shake the substanial house. But the end comes sooner for someone and no one is that sad about it. Everyone is dressed in their best to meet the new world in which they expect to be the only survivors. And then the book ends. Did the apocalypse really happen or was it just Aunt Fanny making it up so she wouldn’t be made to leave the house? What did they see when they opened the door the next morning? We don’t know.
What the reader does know, however, is that these are the least likely group of people to be saved and tasked with making a new world. They are all so self-centered and manipulative they can’t see past their own noses and beleive that if the world truly is going to end, it is only appropriate that they are the ones to be saved. None of them are likable but we are not asked to like them. We only need to laugh.
I read that story “The Lottery” in high school a long while back. It was gruesomely good. She is an awesome writer.
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Jodi, yeah it’s one of those stories that punch you in the stomach.
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yeah you are right about that.
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I have always loved Jackson, too. I should reread “The Sundial”; when I first read it I think I was too young to get the irony. But “We Have Always Lived in a Castle” has always been a huge favorite–brilliant!
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Annabelle, I am really surprised The Sundial isn’t read more. I think most people stop at Hill House and Castle which is too bad.
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I haven’t ready any Shirley Jackson since “The Lottery” in middle school–must rectify that!
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Oh yes Carolyn! You will not be disappointed!
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I love Shirley Jackson and this one seems, though a bit different from her usual genre is still a great read. Have it on my TBR…must get to it soon!!!
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cirtnecce, it is brilliant and she turns out to have a wicked sense of humor 🙂
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Hoorayyyyy! I’m going to need to do a big reread to make sure, but I suspect that The Sundial is my favorite of Shirley Jackson’s books. It’s so weird and the humor just kills me and it’s SO WEIRD and maybe if everyone loved it as much as they do The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, I’d be able to regard The Sundial with an eye of objectivity. As it is, though, I just want it to be more famous and beloved, and until that happens I will have to love it enough by myself to make up for much of the literary world forgetting about it. AT LEAST I HAVE YOU FOR AN ALLY NOW.
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Jenny, I have no idea why this book isn’t more popular. I absolutely loved it. It is so weird and in addition to laughing a lot my jaw dropped a few times too. Essex, Miss Ogilvie, Mrs. Willow and her “gels”, Fancy, all such wonderful creations! I am definitely your ally!
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Wow… that ending annoys the heck out of me.
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wanderwolf, the ending is all part of the fun because everything that came before can support several different endings so you can choose your own 🙂
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Ah! I need to work on my imagination then.
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I have this bizarre image now of people in their Sunday best waiting for a new world. Not what would occupy my thoughts in the face of impending disaster.
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I must read this. The only Shirley Jackson story I have read has been, inevitably, The Lottery. The humour in this fascinates me. So different from the unintentional humour the reader can dredge up from an HP Lovecraft tale!
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Ian, you are in a for a delight if you read this. Jackson has a wicked sense of humor.
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BookerTalk, yup, and if you think that is bizarre, it is only the tip of the iceberg!
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I have not read Shirley Jackson but I would like to.
This sounds very good. It is not typical that Apocalyptic books be a satire.Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle comes to mind but that seems very different from this. Thus, this seems very original.
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Brian Joseph, oh you have to read Jackson sometime! She is fantastic. She has a great eye for detail and and character. You will not be disappointed 🙂
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Shirley Jackson is one of my favorite authors. The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorite books. Her domestic comedies (Raising Demons, Life Among the Savages) make me laugh aloud. But I’ve never read The Sundial.
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Joan, I’ve got to read Raising Demons, etc sometime. They are memoirs aren’t they? The Sundial is all kinds of fun that will guaranteed make you laugh out loud!
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This story sounds fascinating, not withstanding the ending. I tend to steer away from horror because the few times I tried resulted in far too many nightmares and eerie day dreams. Still intrigues me though. You make this book sound fun 🙂
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Geetanjali, I get nightmares too so real horror never makes into my reading pile. The Sundial is not scary at all but delightfully sarcastic and fun. 🙂
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Oh yes, we all had to read “The Lottery” in high school. But I admit I haven’t read any Shirley Jackson after that. And, a book published in 1958 about the coming apocalypse? Sounds prophetic. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. 😉
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Arti, you really must fix your lack of Shirley Jackson reading sometime. You will be glad you did! The “apocalypse” in the book takes less than a year to happen so it doesn’t drag its feet 🙂
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I’ve also read all the books/stories you mention in that first paragraph (including the Bradbury who I think is marvelous in any case) and agree with you wholeheartedly. Did you see there is a new bio of Shirley Jackson just out (or coming out soon)? She is great! I was thinking I was more or less finished (at least when I finish up my last book) with my RIP reading, but maybe I will still fit in one of her books this year yet….
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Danielle, I did see the new bio and immediately put in on my library tbr list. It looks really good and is sure to be interesting. Whenever you might decide to read The Sundial you are in for a treat!
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I finished this a few days ago and am still pondering how to write about it! It’s definitely one of the weirdest books I’ve read but it sure was entertaining! Great review, Stefanie!
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Thanks Laila! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it!
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Raises my hand… I haven’t rend The Lottery! I know, what am I waiting for? On of these days. I’ve only read The Haunting of Hill House and that was wonderful so I’m sure I won’t be disappointed. Looks like I have a lot of Jackson reads to catch up on!
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Iliana, should you undertake reading more Jackson, oh you are in for a treat!
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