A review by oftheolivetree
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is an incredibly dark and compelling story as told by the survivors of a mass murder. Both ethereal and grim, the story discusses the concepts of othering and dehumanization, and begs the question of who the true villain is:

Merricat, Charles, the Village, or all 3

? Delightfully pervasive and gothic, I highly recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Classism, Dementia, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Violence, and Child death

Minor: Sexism

Shirley Jackson faced a lot of anti-semitism and othering while living in Bennington, Vermont, where this story takes place. Jackson prompts the discussion of the othering and dehumanization that marginalized communities experience as imposed by society.