Scan barcode
jorbee3's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
akick's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roweky's review against another edition
5.0
This book is strange in the most beautiful way. It collates the humour, uncanny, and disturbance of Jackson's literary style, while offering something completely different from her other works. The end of the novel was such a dreadful and terrifying spiral; I loved it so much.
themitchelrowe's review against another edition
5.0
This book is strange in the most beautiful way. It collates the humour, uncanny, and disturbance of Jackson's literary style, while offering something completely different from her other works. The end of the novel was such a dreadful and terrifying spiral; I loved it so much.
linneamo's review against another edition
3.0
Worth the read even though I feel like I trailed off. Surprisingly good choice for the " back to school" season. I wonder what I would have thought of this at Natalie's age. Reading this at 37 it's all pretty bleak and pretty telling considering what is known about Shirley Jackson's marriage.
calebgales's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
heliosthereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
nomorefalseheavens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
midnightcowboy's review against another edition
2.0
Wow. Very disappointed.
I am such a fan of We Have Always Lived in the Castle that I was estatic to read more by Shirley Jackson. It took the library a hot minute to procure a copy of Hangsaman and I sped through the other three novels I had previously checked out, to fulfill my masochistic need for dread that Jackson creates so well in her writing.
I was disappointed.
The story just doesn't blend well together. It feels as if its written in different parts and these parts are all separate from each other. I could see the separation between Natalie and her family and school, and perhaps it was an attempt at being clever on Jackson's part to show such a separation in a mentally ill person but as a reader I really didn't buy it. There was hardly a story here at all.
On top of there not being much of a plot, the writing was, for the most part, pretty terrible. Felt like I was reading gibberish at times, and that many sentences we're formulated just for sentences sake.
I will say there were parts within the parts of this book that I did feel a hint of dread, and occasionally I could follow the story and see it going somewhere, and it wasn't gibberish and I could quickly turn page after page. It just didn't happen nearly enough. Sad.
I know that Jackson is extremely talented, and although this was a flop for me, I'm interested to check out the rest of her works. If she could write a masterpiece like WHALITC, then I'm sure I won't be disappointed next time.
I am such a fan of We Have Always Lived in the Castle that I was estatic to read more by Shirley Jackson. It took the library a hot minute to procure a copy of Hangsaman and I sped through the other three novels I had previously checked out, to fulfill my masochistic need for dread that Jackson creates so well in her writing.
I was disappointed.
The story just doesn't blend well together. It feels as if its written in different parts and these parts are all separate from each other. I could see the separation between Natalie and her family and school, and perhaps it was an attempt at being clever on Jackson's part to show such a separation in a mentally ill person but as a reader I really didn't buy it. There was hardly a story here at all.
On top of there not being much of a plot, the writing was, for the most part, pretty terrible. Felt like I was reading gibberish at times, and that many sentences we're formulated just for sentences sake.
I will say there were parts within the parts of this book that I did feel a hint of dread, and occasionally I could follow the story and see it going somewhere, and it wasn't gibberish and I could quickly turn page after page. It just didn't happen nearly enough. Sad.
I know that Jackson is extremely talented, and although this was a flop for me, I'm interested to check out the rest of her works. If she could write a masterpiece like WHALITC, then I'm sure I won't be disappointed next time.