Book Review: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Who can you trust.. if not your family?

Welcome!

Today’s book review is on a classic I’ve been meaning to pick up for quite some time now and I’m happy to say this strange gothic fiction was worth the read. Slow-paced but intriguing, this quick read is centered around the lives of two young women and their scatterbrained Uncle Julian, the only survivors of a poisoning that claimed the lives of their rather large, well-to-do family.

It’s not all that complex but I did find it interesting.. perhaps you will as well.

Enjoy!

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We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

First line: My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood.
(Not exactly the most sensational first line but.. there you go.)

Characters: Odd. Unsettling.
Storyline: Dark. Absorbing.
Pace: Even throughout.
Writing: Intelligent. Intense.
Cover: 4/5

POVs
One: Mary Katherine

3.5/5 Stars
⭐⭐⭐•⭐

My Review:

This book has been on my TBR for years so I figured it was finally time to pick it up.

Two sisters, Mary Katherine (Merricat) and Constance, and their forgetful Uncle Julian live in seclusion on the outskirts of a town, survivors of a poisoning that took the lives of their once-great family.
Constance will not leave the grounds. Uncle Julian can’t. Only Merricat wanders into town on the occasion they need groceries and such, and she’s treated with contempt by the townsfolk.

It’s an interesting read, though it was repetitive and predictable, I couldn’t put it down. There’s something almost sinister under the everyday lives of these three, a tension that practically crawls off the page.

While most of the characters didn’t hold my interest .. Merricat fascinated me. Though she was eighteen, my mind conjured the image of this small, slip of a thing and yet, this young girl, so devoted to her sister and uncle was full of hostility and a barely restrained violence that I had to know her story.

The end wasn’t particularly satisfying, felt like a bit of a cliffhanger that didn’t need to happen, but altogether it was a good read. So if you’re looking for something quick that you can sneak in between work, family, and/or chores—this is one to consider.

And that’s all I’ve got for now
Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope my review was helpful..
Stay warm, be well, and to those who celebrate it.. have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Have you read this book?
What did you think?