BOOK REVIEW: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson (#4 in 2020)

Mary Katherine Blackwood, known as Merricat, lives in her family's old, large, and isolated house with her senile uncle and her older sister, Constance. The reader comes to learn that a tragedy occurred in which Constance was blamed for the death of their entire family except for the three that remain in the house. The townspeople dislike and fear the Blackwoods and even go so far as to torment Merricat when they see her in town running errands... but there's so much more.

Jackson's tale falls under the horror genre, but I wasn't necessarily spooked as much as I was intrigued. It's only 146 pages, and when it comes to a book this short, I almost feel as though less is more for the synopsis. If I had kept going, I would give too much away, but all you really need to know is that the house is isolated and they live there, hated by society.

For those of you who are looking for a book that'll scare you:

It's (most likely) not going to scare you. You will, however, be creeped out by parts of the plot as well as by the gothic elements and tropes that are woven throughout the story-- death, fear, hatred, magic, isolation, dark humor, supernatural personification, and eerie imagery. As many of you already know, Shirley Jackson is also the author of The Haunting of Hill House. Hill House = frightening. Castle = eerie.

For those of you who need to fit another book in before the end of the month: it's only 146 pages so... give it a shot!

I think I was more entertained than scared, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. There are a lot of opportunities for the reader to pick up on a super dark and sarcastic tone from the characters, which makes specific scenes even more awkward, and the story's progression is creative to say the least. 3.5 stars