I am currently reading this book. It is the legend of the House of the Seven Gables that makes the novel interesting - the curse the House bears and those troubled characters living within neglected walls and shrouding darkness make for an intruiging read. I have to admit, though, that this book is a very heavy read for me. It seems unnecessarily poetic and lacking in action. At times my mind wanders from the words my eyes are habitually tracing across the pages, but there are other times when I am absolutely absorbed. But I'm only absorbed periodically for only about a third of the read, and overall it's just not working for me. I'm driven to the end if only to see what becomes of these odd, cursed beings who are seemingly manipulated through this book by a rather dark destiny.