Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - We Have Always Lived in the Castle

A story where the mystery isn't a mystery and the absurd is treated as creepily mundane... and yet I found myself enjoying it. The juxtaposition for what I was feeling to what Merricat was feeling or saying was handled brilliantly that I can only assume it was intentional. If I were to plant myself in this world, I would almost certainly see things the way the villagers do, yet reading from the POV we have, I want to side with our main characters...

which an insane thing to say about a pair that are made of quintuple murderer with little remorse and a no-hesitation accomplice!

And yet in such a short space, powerful themes of gender roles, sexual identity, family trauma, possibly abuse, and severe mental illnesses are liberally sprinkled in along with commentary on individuality, agoraphobia, societal norms, greed, maturity (and familial responsibility in raising a child), and so much more. So much of what happens is left with such vague motives that the answers feel simultaneously obvious and yet impossibly absent.

The deeper I found myself into the book,

the more the reliability of the narration came into question

, and the more I felt a need to re-read sections to convince myself I didn't misunderstand or even completely miss details. Sympathizing with our protagonist even as

her twisted world and controlling mannerisms became more crystal clear

felt as confusing as the plot - in a good way - for me. I can certainly understand why this would not be the right cup of tea for everyone, but it was one I thoroughly enjoyed...

even though I certainly wouldn't take mine with any sugar.

Content Warnings

chananya's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

lancemama's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

Content Warnings

ohlwinem's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

4.25

There is something about this book that scratched a brain itch that I didn't know that I had. Given that in the past I have read other Shirley Jackson works, I am uncertain how I hadn't read this sooner. Though I do feel it is definitely more so in the vein of gothic rather than horror.

It is strange with a dash of unhinged given the cast of character. For me the mix of audiobook with me reading along with a physical copy helped with the pacing and ultimately the 'unique' voice of the narrating main character.

I'd recommend this to those that like the genre I refer to as weird girlhood. (Though Merrikat is 18, her mental state is very much in the realm of someone years younger. )

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