Hello and how are you guys? I hope you are all having a good morning . Mine has been good but, it's going to get busy later. It's a work day and I also have a ton of stuff I have to do. For now, I have my coffee and I want to get this review posted so lets get to it!
Title: We Have Always Lived In The Castle
Author: Shirley Jackson
Genre: YA/Horror
Pages: 146
Rating: 5 stars
Synopsis: My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am 18 years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck I could have been born a werewolf, because the two middle fingers on both my hands are the same length, but I have had to be content with what I have . I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise. I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagnet, and Amanita Phalloides , the death cap mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead.
My thoughts on the book: This was a fast and easy read and I actually really liked this one. I can see why it's a classic! This was my first time reading a Shirley Jackson book and it left me wanting to read more of her stuff!
I like the story this book tells and it gets pretty dark for a YA story. I will warn you that this story has a very shut in feeling to it . That's part of what makes the story really good though. That feeling is still lingering with me a bit even though I have stopped reading the story.
My favorite character is probably Constance. I just find her story to be interesting. Mary Blackwood's story is also a good one and it takes some interesting twists and turns that I like.
This has been one of my favorite reads this month so I have to give this book 5 stars! This story has haunted me a little bit and I didn't expect a YA story to do that! If you like horror , you will most likely love this story. I for sure want to read more of Shirley Jackson's work!
That's it for this reading update! If you have read this book please leave your thoughts in the comments . Also, if you happen to like my content please subscribe to my blog. I hope you all have a good day and I will talk to you all again later! Goodbye!
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I first read this book as a teenager--before there was a designation of YA. I had previously read Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House and Come Along with ME. I had expected this one to be like the other two but it wasn't like them at all. When I reread the book as an adult I could appreciate the subtle ratcheting up of the horror levels and the wonderfully nuanced character development. While The Haunting of Hill House remains my favorite, I would encourage everyone to read We Have Always Lived in the Castle. It may be intended for young adults but it is a masterpiece of form, quiet horror, and twists and turns that hit you like a ton of bricks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting your thoughts! I pretty much agree myself.
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