Read as part of my Goodreads Bookclub monthly read as well as part of blogchatter’s #TBRChallenge.
We have always lived in the Castle By Shirley Jackson
⭐⭐⭐
First published on September 21, 1962
Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Gothic, Classic
160 Pages
Click to read the Synopsis of the Book.
Shirley Jackson’s beloved gothic tale of a peculiar girl named Merricat and her family’s dark secret
Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castleis a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate. This edition features a new introduction by Jonathan Lethem.
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My thoughts on the Book
“My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all, I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cup mushroom. Everyone else in our family is dead.”
― Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
CONFUSED! Is what I’m after finishing this novel. This Novel does showcase some excellent writing and story telling skills by the author.
Chapter 1 needed my utmost attention and I had to slow down my reading pace to understand all those directions and the story because there was a lot going on. From chapter 2, the story began to flow more easily and I was able to pick up some pace with my reading, by chapter 5, I was enjoying the story with the entry of cousin Charles and Merricat’s attempts to frighten him with all that poison talk. By Chapter 7, I was back to the blurb in search of some missing element, like a plot or some kind of purpose or meaning to this story but failed to find any and by chapter 9, this book began to wear me out in terms of reading, I had to put it down and pick it back up a couple of times. This is how I actually felt throughout this book.
”If everyone in the world saw different colors from different eyes here might be a great many new colors still to be invented.”
― Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Though, I enjoyed the writing and the narration from Merricat’s POV but as far as the story goes, this book just didn’t make sense to me. There was no plot or purpose as to why the characters behaved in a particular manner, was Merricat dead or alive — I had no clue. It was absolutely not a horror story and was very childish. And the ending just went on in circles and the chapters grew longer and tiresome to get through. The book just left me with a lot of unanswered questions.
“we eat the year away. We eat the spring and the summer and the fall. We wait for something to grow and then we eat it.”
― Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
I personally wouldn’t recommend this book unless you are looking for a good piece of writing.
Hope my review was helpful! Do share with me your thoughts on this book in the comments.
I’m participating in the #TBRChallenge by Blogchatter
Disclaimer: While I express my opinions openly, it is not my intention to disrespect or undermine the hard work and creativity of authors. Constructive criticism is provided with the understanding that art is subjective. Read full disclaimer & Affiliate disclosure
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Happy Reading!
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