Reviews tagging 'Dementia'

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

49 reviews

aristarcodisamo's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Bullying, Confinement, Dementia, Murder, Death, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death, Gaslighting, Violence, Classism, and Fire/Fire injury

teganbeesebooks's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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? It's complicated

2.75

By every right I should love Shirley Jackson's books. I loved THE LOTTERY and the ideas of all of her books sound amazing, but they just never do it for me like I want them to. I really just wanted MORE, I guess.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, and Violence

lancemama's review

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

Graphic: Mental illness and Bullying

Moderate: Death, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Death of parent

vbarsi's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, and Death

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

jficele's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is stuck in my head, replaying scenes over and over trying to find meanings to them.  The symbolism and character development also has kept me thinking.  Exactly what I look for in a book.  

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Dementia, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Confinement, Death, Toxic friendship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

bambicat234's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child death, Classism, and Confinement

mijtje's review

dark mysterious sad fast-paced

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

5.0

“Oh, silly Merricat.”

This is one of those books that I read and enjoyed but makes me feel like I should read it a hundred times more to get it. Which is a good thing.

The story is narrated by Mary Catherine (Merricat) Blackwood, who lives with her sister, her uncle, and her cat in their big mansion. They have been ostracised by the community they belonged to after a dark tragedy that played out in the mansion years before.

Merricat quickly drew me in with her childish, magical way of thinking. It’s crazy how fast this book managed to make me think “Yeah, these thoughts are logical. I get this”. However, Merricat isn’t a child. She’s 18. And pretty messed up in the head. Which was a delicacy to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder

Moderate: Death of parent and Dementia

mmefish's review against another edition

The writing is so incredibly repetitive.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

Minor: Animal death

jo_lzr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, Chronic illness, Classism, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Violence, and Bullying