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

dark mysterious sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

This was the second story of Jackson's I've read and it was solid all around. Jackson has assessed what buttons she can push in a person and her characters and the treatment of the protagonists pushes emotional buttons without apology and to great effect. Outrage was the primary emotion that accompanied me through the read, and fear derived from that rage as cruelties stacked up against the protagonists.

Additionally, I called the plot twist and predicted another one of the book's major events within the first 18 pages. Regardless, the story was incredibly effective for me, which testifies to the strength of Jackson's craft.

If I had to ask anything more of this book, I would ask for a prequel book focused on the Blackwoods (infeasible, as this was Jackson's last novel), and I think Charles could've been a few degrees creepier with incredible results. I want to describe Charles as unequivocally sinister but, instead, I feel he's more plaintive, entitled, and irritating. I can understand why he wasn't taken to that level, though, and think this is an indication of preference rather than quality of the book.

For a quick, tense, gothic read, consider picking up We Have Always Lived in the Castle.
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