We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Registered by perryfran of Elk Grove, California USA on 1/14/2015
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Author: Shirley Jackson
Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate.
Author: Shirley Jackson
Taking readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family and the struggle that ensues when a cousin arrives at their estate.
Really a bizarre and claustrophobic tale from the opening paragraph to its conclusion. “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.” And so, Mary Katherine (Merrikat) goes on to narrate her story of how she and her sister Constance and Uncle Julian live their lives in the old Blackwood mansion at the edge of town after the rest of the family died from poisoned blackberries. Constance is put on trial for the murders and acquitted but was it really her who killed most of the family? The identity of the poisoner is pretty obvious from the start but the story is more about the implications of what happened than who committed the crime. It's a story of isolation from the people of the nearby village who make up wicked poems about the Blackwood girls. And then cousin Charles comes to visit which really throws their existence off kilter. Charles is obviously only after the Blackwood fortune and Merrikat wishes him dead on numerous occasions.
This was really a haunting tale and Merrikat is someone not easily forgotten. She seems much younger than her 18 years, living a life filled with fantasies and dreams. I remember reading Jackson's short story THE LOTTERY back in high school. It's one of those stories not easily forgotten. This novel is in a similar vein.
This was really a haunting tale and Merrikat is someone not easily forgotten. She seems much younger than her 18 years, living a life filled with fantasies and dreams. I remember reading Jackson's short story THE LOTTERY back in high school. It's one of those stories not easily forgotten. This novel is in a similar vein.
Journal Entry 3 by perryfran at bookstogive's general lit VBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, December 6, 2018
Arrived with today's mail. Thanks so much for sending this on!
Entertaining read. Wasn't sure in what direction it was heading, but it resolved itself well.
To be released during 2019 DragonCon in downtown Atlanta, GA (Aug 30th - Sept 2nd) over the main convention hotels: Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta Hilton, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Sheraton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree Plaza. Will update after release with details.
There are a couple of scheduled panels on Shirley Jackson - hope to release book in that location..
ETA - Released on Sunday, Sept 1, on the Galleria level of the Hilton. Left on a credenza in the ladies' room.
Released for msrubble's 2019 Movie Book Release Challenge.
You have found a traveling book. You may leave a journal entry (anonymously, if you wish) to let me know that you have found this book. Check back in later to let us know what you thought of the book and if you plan on passing it on or 'releasing it back into the wild'.
There are a couple of scheduled panels on Shirley Jackson - hope to release book in that location..
ETA - Released on Sunday, Sept 1, on the Galleria level of the Hilton. Left on a credenza in the ladies' room.
Released for msrubble's 2019 Movie Book Release Challenge.
You have found a traveling book. You may leave a journal entry (anonymously, if you wish) to let me know that you have found this book. Check back in later to let us know what you thought of the book and if you plan on passing it on or 'releasing it back into the wild'.