A novella is best defined as, or described to be, a short book. In my opinion, the best novellas don't read like long short stories or quick novels. Rather, the ones I find myself coming back to are written with such precision and enthusiasm that between the world building and the plot you find yourself forgetting each of those aren't themselves characters when suddenly it's over. A novella makes me want more, but I don't feel shortchanged when it's done right.
Sarah Moss's Ghost Wall is a novella that tells the bone-chilling tale of a teenage girl and her mother trapped on what can most poorly be described as the worst camping trip ever. You see, Silvie's dad has some very firmly held beliefs with regard to his wife and daughter's place, and less regard for them than his fascination with ancient Brits. Dark things happen in the woods, and Silvie may very well have to fight through these terrors if she hopes to come out of this family vacation alive.
I don’t know a better word to describe the crafting of this wonderful novella than “beautiful.” This horrifying and brief flurry of pages is brilliantly paced. Ghost Wall's every detail and moment drives towards inevitable violence with a precision and a tone each fully capable of sending chills down the spine of any psychological horror enthusiast (or casual reader!) The story asks several very exacting questions of its readers, but ultimately we are made to wonder: what is man’s violence and how willingly does it separate its victims (women & children) from time and place? This is a traumatic and carefully written piece of fiction that I know I’ll be revisiting more than once.
- Frank
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