Even if it hadn't come out years ago that this story was completely made up, it would strain credulity. It's too much. The story creators threw in everything haunted house-ish they could think of - creepy hidden rooms, voices, pigs, animal footprints in the snow, levitation, encounters with the family dog, a priest, too hot in the house, too cold in the house, the list goes on.

Additionally, Jay Anson is not much of a stylist. His newspaper background is painfully evident. I sort of get that he was going for a straightforward "factual" telling but it was a bit of a boring read.

That said, I can't give it one star. I read most of this late at night and to my chagrin, would occasionally feel slightly creeped out. I'm chalking that up to my weakness more than the book's strength.

Now I just need to watch the Brolin/Kidder movie.