Not a ghost story

What did you like most about The Turn of the Screw?

This book is an excellent way of experiencing the inner life of a person with severe mental problems

Who was your favorite character and why?

The present governess- the sole source of the hallucinations. She is delicate, unsure of herself, anxious and constantly alert for warped interpretations of the behaviour and words of others, in particular, the two children; left in charge with no help available. A sure setting for trouble.

What does Emma Thompson and Richard Armitage - introduction bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Brilliant. Emma's voice suggests the complexity of the tortured mind. The American pronunciation of enquiry jarred somewhat.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

All is well with the governess left in charge....until the ghosts start to appear.

Any additional comments?

The title, 'Turn of the Screw,' epitomises the gradual increase in pressure that this lady experiences. Dramatizations turn this tale into a ghost story. It really is a page from a book on psychiatry fleshed out. 'For example' 'what to look for' the book is saying. Henry James had a brother William James, the famous psychologist and philosopher. Surely, they would have discussed the incidents that are described to make sure that they were true to life. The whole book is seen through the eyes of the governess. Only she sees Peter Quint and Miss Jessell. In her position alone with children, this governess is dangerous.

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6 people found this helpful

It builds...

At first I thought Thompson's voice was too casually modern, but it does prove very winning and convincing the more full-throated it becomes. In fact, it freshens the prose and moves us away from the more PR and actorly style that most period novels receive. While I don't get the sense of any of the complexity or ambiguity of the tale - this woman is barking from the get-go - on its own terms, it does work powerfully well.

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2 people found this helpful

intrigued

I was expecting a little more back story, over all kept me interested. Good short story.

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Trruly Amazing

Emma Thompson truly brings this amazing story to life. I had lots of love for this book already, and the narrration just made me love it even more.

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Great production

This is a shortish book but it’s one of the greats, and Emma Thompson provides a stellar performance. Highly recommended.

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2 people found this helpful

Spooky

Emma Thompson's narration was excellent. On the surface, this story is a mildly spooky ghost story but on reflection it is perhaps much more disturbing.

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Difficult language, beautifully read.

I found it quite hard to follow at times because the language is very complex. Unexpected plot though... and Emma Thompson was fabulous as ever.

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1 person found this helpful

Not my favourite ghost story

[{"type":"Overall","question":"Would you listen to The Turn of the Screw again? Why?","id":235,"answer":"No. I have never read Henry James and was very much looking forward to this introduction but overall it was a bit of a disappointment."},{"type":"Story","question":"What did you like best about this story?","id":191,"answer":""},{"type":"Performance","question":"What does Emma Thompson and Richard Armitage - introduction bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?","id":206,"answer":"It was mainly Emma Thompson. Richard Armitage had little role it in.I normally adore Emma Thompson and she was one of the main reasons I bought this one. But the constant fussing and hyping of the two women was a bit frustrating and I can\u0027t say I particularly enjoyed her narration because instead of the chill of a ghost story she seemed to give an air of hysteria to the story.The character of the little boy was creepy. The things he said and especially the way his voice was narrated did not make him the adorable little angel he\u0027s supposed to have been. His character rather sounded like he was constantly testing and possibly manipulating the governess."},{"type":"Genre","question":"Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?","id":245,"answer":""},{"type":"Misc","question":"Any additional comments?","id":-1,"answer":"I don\u0027t want to spoil the end for people who have yet to listen but I was just nonplussed at what happened there. I found it quite unreasonable. One reviewer thought that it was not a ghost story but the story of mental illness. I have to say the governess did sound like she might be hallucinating and going increasingly \u0026quot;mental\u0026quot;. However, if it was to be no more than hallucination then the ending makes even less sense."}]

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1 person found this helpful

Great reading by Emma Thompson.

Good solid ghost story. Not as good as The Woman in Black. I would read more Henry James.

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wonderful narration but not that scary

prologue and story both wonderfully narrated. I liked the old fashioned language of the book too. but it's a bit slow to climax and not that scary.

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