Jane-Emily

Title: Jane-Emily
Author: Patricia Clapp
Pub: 1969
Pages: 141
Genre: Gothic, Ghost Story
Etc: The Witches' Cauldron was also bound with this novella.  I just chose not to read it.

I admit, I am a big fan of the Gothic genre even though I don't read that much of it.  I find that I intend to, but the intentions fall wayside.  So, even though this novella was written in the late 1960's, it TAKES PLACE in the early 1900's.  And there's a mysterious death.  And a stoic grandmother.  And a big house with an even bigger yard.  Ooooh, AAAANNND a mysterious glowing ball in the middle of large yard.

Knowing it was a shortie, I jumped right into it and must say, I'm somewhere on the borderline.

Louisa is accompanying her niece Jane to her grandmother's home for a summer visit after Jane's parents died in a tragic car accident.  Jane is young - like eight, nine, or ten?  I can't remember off hand.  She immediately takes to her grandmother, Mrs. Canfield, who hasn't been around a child in forever.  Mrs. Canfield's own daughter, Emily, died a tragic death when she was twelve-ish.

But don't feel sorry for Emily because we soon find out she was a wretched kid.  I mean, this girl had some serious issues.  And you'd think that maybe that wretched girl would move on in death, right?  But not at all.  She's just as manipulative and selfish.

I really enjoyed the writing, but I wished that there was more to the story.  It seemed too simple and yet not long enough.  Does that even make sense?

Finally, this is classified as a YA.  I find that pretty interesting.  I've been trying to find out some information about it when the novel was first published.  For instance, was it as big of a hit as Twilight was to our youth?

Important question folks: What are your favorite gothic books?