We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Shirley Jackson’s deliciously unsettling novel about a perverse, isolated, and possibly murderous family takes readers deep into a labyrinth of dark neurosis, macabre humor, and gothic atmosphere.

Six years after four family members died suspiciously of arsenic poisoning, the three remaining Blackwoods—elder, agoraphobic sister Constance; wheelchair-bound Uncle Julian; and eighteen-year-old Mary Katherine, or, Merricat—live together in pleasant isolation. Merricat has developed an idiosyncratic system of rules and protective magic to guard the estate against intrusions from hostile villagers. But one day a stranger arrives—cousin Charles, with his eye on the Blackwood fortune—and manages to penetrate into their carefully shielded lives. Unable to drive him away by either polite or occult means, Merricat adopts more desperate methods, resulting in crisis, tragedy, and the revelation of a terrible secret.

Jackson’s novel emerges less as a study in eccentricity and more—like some of her other fictions—as a powerful critique of the anxious, ruthless processes involved in the maintenance of normalcy itself.

©1962 Shirley Jackson (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Haunting, Engaging and Memorable

This is an American masterpiece, a classic that has been grossly overlooked in classes across the nation. Shirley Jackson created fiercely real character who will engage, entice and disgust you. Written in the 1960s is is scary how little things have changed. So many classrooms could benefit from this wonderful short novel.

Loved it!

The narrator is totally creepy, and the story is like the Addams Family for grownups. I absolutely loved it. I mean, the "mystery" part is not so much a mystery. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I figured it out relatively quickly, but there was something in the narrative that sort of makes me think you're supposed to. The mystery isn't really the point.

I love this book, and can see myself listening to it over and over.

Finished in one sitting

I cried a bit there at the end, what a bunch of bastards those villagers were! Although the main twist was rather obvious early on, there were a few lines here and there that made me doubt I was right. Great book all in all, only thing that bothers me, is not properly knowing what the uncle thought of Mary. Did he mean what he said that night, or was he just messing with Charles? I am going to have to listen to this story again, and see if I pick up on anything I missed the first time.

A book about isolated, broken women

That's about it. I very much enjoyed the performance and the style of the writing but didn't like the characters much and felt especially frustrated by the main character.

weird and interesting

it was a slow start, but I really got into it and enjoyed the weird characters.