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bluvlvt's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cloudyqueer's review
dark
tense
fast-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
4.75
ms_gouldbourne's review
dark
funny
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
4.5
Oooh, this was so creepy and clever and interesting! I haven't read any Shirley Jackson before, but after being totally sucked into Merricat's Gothic little world of murder, witchcraft and household chores, I'll be sure to pick up more. I was mesmerised by the narrative style and tone, and the ending was delightful. A fantastic book!
tafrito's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katengler5's review
mysterious
medium-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
4.0
This is now my second Shirley Jackson novel (the first being Haunting of Hill House), and after this one, I think I have a better understanding of her technique as a writer. I thoroughly enjoyed both books, however both gave me a similar "that's all?" feeling. And now I understand that the labelling of her works as "horror" is what might be doing some disservice to her books. Because they are considered horror, I kept expecting some sort of big horror climax which never seems to come. Comparing the two books though, I realized that she doesn't tell horror stories, but she creates characters who are just odd enough that even a semi-mundane story about them can create an unsettling environment. It almost gives the same feeling as when you see those clips of 1950s families smiling and waving on a block in suburbia, and even though everyone is smiling, you get a feeling of uneasiness (a trope that has been included in many horror and horror adjacent movies, which I always enjoy).
In We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Shirley Jackson does a great job of creating an eccentric family of characters who continuously compete for most "out there" in the reader's mind. The story is about two girls who live with their elderly uncle in a castle near a village. All the villagers relentlessly hate the family due to a mysterious circumstance that happened there a few years back.
As the story progresses though, we start to get hints that the reader may not be getting the full, true picture of the story. I realized how little trust I had in the narrator when I was fully ready to believe we were having a Sixth Sense moment as soon as it was suggested by the senile uncle.
When reading this book, don't expect a horror story with a beginning, a climax, and a definitive end. Instead it’s a story of a family whose members each have their quirks, and we watch as they battle between giving into the safety of what they know and the challenge of embracing the normal world, and we see as they progress further and further in one of those directions.
therealsierramadden's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
If this is on your TBR and you’re not prioritizing, prioritize it. This was so good. I would classify it as a tragedy more than a horror/romance book, but I am *not* an expert. I loved this book from beginning to end and you will, too.
og_rincewind's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hakimbriki's review
3.0
I did not enjoy this novel as much as I thought I would, mainly because the atmosphere filled me with anxiety. Not sure why. Am I claustrophobic? Afraid of isolation? Ugh. I still am in awe of Shirley Jackson's masterful take on otherness and isolation, her eerie representation of both sides of this story (The Strangers and the Blackwoods), and her way with words.
forcedtoland's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0