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_mallrat_ 's review for:
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
by Shirley Jackson
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We Always Lived in the Castle is short, but that’s the perfect length for it. Some people may not enjoy Merricat being the point of view, but I feel she’s the best perspective choice. This is a beautiful story about loss with feminist commentary as well. It was so engaging that I finished the book in a few large chunks. It’s also less of a horror and more of a tragedy, if you were looking for the former. My only minor complaint is the ending, where it feels more like it stops than reaching a conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Incest, Death of parent