House - The Book

Just a few days ago, I mentioned that this book was being turned into a movie. Last night, the world was introduced to that movie, and sadly I have not yet been able to see it. Currently, it is only in select theaters, and I am not sure if it will open in others in the coming weeks (I hope it does).

But I thought it would appropriate to give you a quick summary of the book in case you want to go see the movie and are wondering what this story is exactly about.

The book starts off with a couple from Alabama who are having some marital problems. Their daughter was killed in a freak accident while skating on some thin ice, and their marriage is continuing to fall apart. On their way to a marriage counselor they get lost, meet an odd officer, and then end up in a car accident that leaves them without a car. This forces them to find a house so that they can contact the police. But when they arrive in this house, there is no phone.

Upon their arrival, Jack and Stephanie meet another couple (who are not married) Randy and Leslie. They too have had some car troubles and now find themselves looking for help, stumbling across the same house (coincidence?). As they begin exploring the house, they meet Betty, Stewart, and Pete, a family who apparently own this house/hotel. From there the story gets complicated. The Tinman traps them inside, gives them the house rules (which basically tells them to kill one person before dawn or they all die), and they must find a way out.

This house is a metaphor of Hell. You will hear throughout the book and the movie "you are guilty," "you are sinners," "the wages of sin is death." They are figuratively being trapped within the house by their personal sins. And the only way to freedom is to confront those sins and work past them. To do this they must find redemption, and that is seen through a little girl named Susan. But is she truly their answer to this mystery or is she just a ploy developed by the Tinman? She seems to be the nice little girl, but she could be a creation of him. That is what they must figure out if they want to survive this haunted house.

There is so much more to this story, but you really need to read the book to understand it all. I will tell you this much, I just re-read this book this week. The last time I read it was 3-4 years ago. Both times, this book has given me chills. The book itself is scary enough. I cannot imagine what the movie will be like, but I am excited to see it. So go buy House and see what you think.

But remember, once you enter the house, the only way out is in.

Matt