CR2: Book 5 The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

I came upon this book by accident. Customers who know of my involvment with the Cannonball Read have been donating books at random, and it was a delight to find this hidden at the bottom of a box this week. I remember seeing one of the many repetitive movie adaptations a couple of years ago, with Leelee Sobieski (maybe?), I can't remember. But the thought of reading a classic that inspired so many Babysitter-in-Peril movies had me chomping at the bits and I devoured it in a little over a day.

The beginning of the story is a little muddled, with the author sharing a story with friends. After having to send away for the manuscript, he tells them it was sent by his sister and written by her dead governess. It is her story.

In London, looking for a job, a young preacher's daughter meets the uncle of two small children. He hires her as their governess, but states that he doesn't want to be bothered with ANY detail concerning them. Just, do NOT bother me. She realizes this is a big job and wants to do her best.

After seeing the estate she will live at, she is overwhelmed by it grandeur. She meets Flora, a beautifully well-mannered little girl and Mrs. Grouse, the housekeeper, who is very helpful in getting her acquainted. The next day she is informed of a letter, which reads that the boy, Miles, is being sent home from bording school and will not be allowed to return.

When the governess meets Miles, she is charmed by him. She decides to not bother their uncle with the development and takes it upon herself to teach and raise the children. Everything goes splendidly, until...

A strange man is seen staring into the house. Based on his description, Mrs. Grouse determines in it the former valet, Peter Quint, who is dead.
Then, out by the lake with Flora, she sees a woman dressed in black, and it is obvious that Flora is aware of her and is trying to draw attention away. She is Ms. Jessel, the former governess, and it is implied that Quint killed her, and that they were lovers, and that he molested the boy, and that she the girl, and that, even after death, they have come to take the children.

And it just keeps piling on. The children themselves start to behave differently. They're secretive. They act out. They cuddle and charm, but our governess can't quite wrap her head around to whom their allegiance lies.
There's no help to be had as the uncle has absolved himself of the scene.

What's our babysitter to do? Pull a Jamie Lee Curtis and see it through til the end, that's what.

I recommend. With the closet door closed. After checking under the bed.