Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

13 reviews

rystonlentil43's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is excellent writing; every word felt important. I enjoyed the gradual reveal of information settling in forwards and backwards. Merricat's voice felt so true.

(No stars for the afterword by Jonathan Lethem in this edition. Who asked you??)

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

omair's review

dark 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? It's complicated

4.25

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

Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Ableism, Abandonment, Sexism, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse, Bullying, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Child death

yleavy's review

dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Ableism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Xenophobia and Incest

kyrstin_p1989's review

dark emotional mysterious 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

3.5

In traditional Gothic horror fashion, this story by Jackson makes just enough sense to keep you engaged. The characters are just this side of realistic. The story is believable, yet horrifying. The fact that they continuously discuss the day that the entire family was murdered via arsenic poisoning (by one of the sisters discussing it) is morbid and disturbing. And yet, I found myself in full adoration of the sisters in this story. I loved how well they took care of one another. I also found the story to be full of humor. I liked "The Lottery" better, but I really enjoyed the macabre this story has to offer. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Death, Dementia, Murder, Ableism, Child death, Misogyny, Bullying, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Child abuse

meecespieces's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death, Bullying, and Mental illness

Moderate: Ableism

_forestofpages's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This family is the kind of dysfunctional I love to read; dark and dramatic, loving and dangerous. Even to each other. Especially to each other.

Shirley Jackson has a way of making even a house have a personality; her worlds are so atmospheric and odd, with characters that are so memorable. The Blackwoods will live in my head rent free for life. 

If you are excpecting a horror or action packed thriller, this isn't that. This is a slower paced family drama with dark themes and a lot of downtime. The main characters may or may not be mass murderes, and finding out what happened to the family is the mystery element, but isn't that hard to predict. 

The main focus is a family with trauma and darkness trying to heal and live in a town that hates them. It was an incredible and unique time that I will be revisiting.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Ableism and Violence

lynxpardinus's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Mental illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Dementia, Medical content, Child death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Child abuse, Ableism, and Incest

smallredboy's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

HAUNTING book. I much prefer it to The Haunting of Hill House; I absolutely adored Merricat's point of view, and I loved her codependent relationship with her sister. It was such a tragedy and very intriguing. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Child death, Ableism, Murder, and Death of parent

angelfireeast24's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Bullying, Child death, Death, Dementia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Cursing

kaabtik's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

An eerie yet intriguing story that left more questions asked than answers actually given.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Murder