A Winter Haunting

A Winter Haunting by Dan Simmons
4 ★'s

Forty years, a failed marriage, an affair, and suicide attempt later, Dale Stewart returns to his hometown and rents out the farm where of his childhood friend Duane had lived. He hopes to write a novel about the mysterious events of the almost forgotten summer of 1960, when Duane died. But strange and disturbing phenomenon, black dogs, neo-nazis, and old friends and enemies continually distract him. Someone is trying to tell him something but is it a friend...or something else?

I love what Dan Simmons has done in A Winter Haunting, which is write a classic, literate ghost story that both plays by the rules while intellectually reinventing them. He has both Dale Stewart and the reader wondering show more about Dale's sanity. What exactly does Dale's failed affair have to do with the events at the farmhouse? Is Dale leaving himself notes? Is any of this really happening at all? Just who is haunting who? A Winter Haunting is a classic chiller that expands on the psychological complexity of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House with stunning power.

Before reading this book you should first read Summer of Night so you will understand Dales journey back 41 years. show less

"L'estate della paura" è stato un bellissimo romanzo, letto durante l'estate per aumentare l'immedesimazione e altrettanto, ho fatto con questo seguito, che ho letto durante un freddo inverno. Il libro mi ha catturato sin dalla prima pagina. Più introspettivo e con uno stile più adulto. Dan Simmons è un grande scrittore horror non c'è che dire, riesce a portarti dentro la storia e a conquistarti grazie a uno stile intenso e maturo. Eccellente.

Another excellent book by Dan Simmons. I've said it in other reviews of his books, and I'll say it again: Dan Simmons is probably my most favorite of contemporary writers - he is articulate, thorough, engaging ... even when he writes a less-than-commendable book (e.g., The Abominable) it's still a good book, and a good read.

This story takes place 40 years after the events in Summer of Night. Dale Stewart (who is, apparently, Simmons' self) returns to his hometown of Elm Haven, Illinois. He is a Professor of English, a writer of mediocre talent, divorced father of two, now reeling from being dropped by the woman for whom he'd sacrificed his family. He has returned home to write a book about the town in 1960 - although he cannot remember show more what actually happened back then. He hopes that rummaging through the belongings of his late friend, Duane McBride, will freshen his memory.

Duane actually plays a fairly significant role in the book, as do a few certain other people from Dale's past. The title doesn't include the word "haunting" for nothing. There are twists galore, with quite a few "Oh, WOW!!" moments where Simmons just bowls you over with excellent revelations.

The only issue I take with the book appears towards the end, when certain post-1960 events are being related to Dale by the town sheriff. One series of events is not possible, as anyone who's read Summer of Night is sure to notice - an uncharacteristically sloppy error of continuity on Simmons' part.

But I forgive him. show less

Dale Stewart is at the end of his rope. Risking his job as a professor, he started a relationship with a student only to lose his wife and kids to divorce. Worse, after his family life is shattered the new girlfriend leaves him for a younger guy. After a botched suicide attempt involving a shotgun and a misfired bullet, Dale decides it's time to get away.

Against his psychiatrist wishes he decides to visit his hometown and stay the winter in the farmhouse of his childhood friend, who died in a horrific farming accident at the age of 11, to write a novel. Dale isn't taking his medication and he is losing track of time. He's having weird dreams, waking up in weird places, and being followed by a pack of black dogs. As the incidents get show more odder and the ghosts of Dale's past (both living and dead) come roiling to the surface, the reader is left wondering whether he is having a mental breakdown or if the house is haunted by the ghost of his dead friend.

It is, as you might say, derivative as hell.

That didn't stop me from liking it though. Far from it, I found A Winter Haunting to be quite enjoyable. I was a little hesitant at first because I was afraid of a predictable plot, but Dan Simmons managed to keep me on my toes most of the way through the novel. There were some very funny one-liners to be found and I rather liked his commentary on writing and literature (the main character is an author, remember.) The book didn't blow my mind, but as far as horror novels about haunted houses go, it's rather good. 3 stars. show less

I read the first half of this alone in the house. I got to the part where a strange, small black dog follows him around the farm, and he notices that the dog' smile is off, like maybe the dog has human teeth, and I threw the book up in the air and watched Tomb Raider until Chris got home. I haven't freaked myself out like that for years. Excellent, subtly scary stuff!

I listened to the audiobook--kudos to Bronson Pinchot for the work on Middle English, Middle German, and all of the other crazy language stuff here. Very smoothly rendered.

I would have liked the end to have blended more smoothly, so that if the question about Dale's sanity or haunting were the big twist, then the narrative did not seem to just be confused. I listened to the end three times, trying to figure out what I missed before realizing that this seems to have been intended as a twist: the possession. I don't need to necessarily understand the logistics of the possession, but I do need to know that it happened a little more certainly: a change in the voice beyond the shift from third to first person. And: did Dale want to become show more possessed? To give control over to his old friend? Was this just because he no longer was interested in controlling his own life? Like I said, the end lost me a bit here.

All that said, lots of intriguing concepts: love the nod to Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf, the ambiguity of the language, even the references to the dogs...the concept of a dog with human teeth is unspeakably creepy. Nice touch. Enjoyable on the whole. show less

A disappointing follow up. Simmons couldn't seem to make up his mind if he wanted to write a book about the supernatural or the horrors of real life. He dipped his pen into supernatural ink, but it refused to cooperate with him.

The book was well written and had some strong characters overall, but far too many were one-dimensional villains for the sort of balancing act he was trying to pull off.

It was a fun read in the end, but Summer of Night could have ended with no sequel.