From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Shirley Jackson

Start date: January 1, 2025

Finish date: January 31, 2025

Discussion: The Horror of it All

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The Horror of it All

* 2026 Horror Reading Schedule
By Book Nerd , Purple Book Horse · 4 posts · 30 views

last updated Nov 13, 2025 04:43PM

* 2025 Horror Reading Schedule
By Book Nerd , Purple Book Horse · 4 posts · 122 views

last updated Aug 21, 2025 07:16AM

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What Members Thought

Feb 08, 2020 Sara rated it really liked it

Shelves: classics, mystery, gothic, horror, borrowed-from-library

Cue the Twilight Zone music, please. This book is totally eerie without even needing a hint of anything supernatural, and as tense as the first time you watched Halloween. (Oh come on, I know the movie is silly, but really didn’t you jump the first time you watched?)

In Merricat, Shirley Jackson has created the most unreliable of narrators. I was constantly trying to look beyond the version she was giving me to see if I could make out the real picture. Before Jackson makes it clear that Merricat ...more

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Aug 17, 2018 Jen from Quebec :0) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classic-cartoons-challenge, read-the-audio-book, buddy-reads, favorites, reading-challenge-books, school, 2018-public-domain-challenge-ha-gro, aty-challenge, classics-i-ve-read, books-i-ve-been-putting-off

THAT ENDING, THO! Awesome. This book raises the question of: how much of a person's 'scary reputation' is truly earned, and how much is based on word-of-mouth? Truth or rumors-become-truth? Very cool story with a lot to think about. Loved it. Glad that I FINALLY read it! --Jen from Quebec :0) ...more

11 likes · Like · see review

Oct 15, 2020 Radwa rated it really liked it

Shelves: dark-and-gothic, adult, horror, e-books, classics

English Review Below.

سعيدة لأنه سنحت لي أخيرا قراءة رواية لكاتبة الرعب المعروفة "شيرلي جاكسون"، هذه ققراءتي الثانية لها بعد قراءة القصة القصيرة
The Lottery
والتي كانت حتما مخيفة أكثر من هذه الرواية.

هذه قصة سودواية عن أختين وعمهما، يقطنون قصر عائلتهم الكبير بعد وفاة بقية أفراد العائلة بشكل غامض. هذه العائلة مكروهة من القرية، ربما بسبب ثرائهم أو عزلتهم. وتبدأ الرواية بالأخت الصغرى وهي في طريقها إلى القرية لشراء مؤونة الأسبوع ونرى في أفكارها الداخلية كم الغضب والكره الذي تكنه لسكان القرية وكذلك الغضب English Review Below.

سعيدة لأنه سنحت لي أخيرا قراءة رواية لكاتبة الرعب المعروفة "شيرلي جاكسون"، هذه ققراءتي الثانية لها بعد قراءة القصة القصيرة
The Lottery
والتي كانت حتما مخيفة أكثر من هذه الرواية.

هذه قصة سودواية عن أختين وعمهما، يقطنون قصر عائلتهم الكبير بعد وفاة بقية أفراد العائلة بشكل غامض. هذه العائلة مكروهة من القرية، ربما بسبب ثرائهم أو عزلتهم. وتبدأ الرواية بالأخت الصغرى وهي في طريقها إلى القرية لشراء مؤونة الأسبوع ونرى في أفكارها الداخلية كم الغضب والكره الذي تكنه لسكان القرية وكذلك الغضب والكراهية الذي يكنه أفراد القرية لها وأختها وعائلتها. الرواية ليست رواية رعب بالمعنى التقليدي، ولكن نقرأ بين السطور عن تفاصيل وأفكار مخيفة، تجعلك تشعر بعدم الارتياح.
الرواية كانت بدايتها قوية حتى الثلث الأخير، ولكن نهايتها لم تكن مرعبة، كانت بالأحرى حزينة. ففي النهاية هذه الرواية عن الوحدة والعزلة والتنمر واختيار المرء أن يعيش حياته بعزلة عن الآخرين حتى لو عنى ذلك أن يظل حبيسا إلى الأبد. أسلوب الكتابة يمكن وصفه باللطيف والمخيف في آن واحد، وهذا ما يجعلها رواية رائعة وكذلك الجو العام ووصف المنزل والمكان المحيط به كان متقنا وجعلني أشعر وأرى كل تفاصيل هذه الرواية القصيرة، التي كان رعبها مستترا وإن كان قويا.

I have heard a lot about this book and this author, and I was glad that a book club I'm interested in chose to read it because I can finally say that I've read it. Also, this is my second read for Shirley Jackson after the Lottery, and I can say that the Lottery was far more horrifying.

This is an ominous story about two sisters and their uncle living in their big family mansion after the death of the rest of the family members mysteriously. The family is hated by the village, maybe because of their wealth, or because they're secluded, or maybe because they just don't like people. The novel opens up with the younger sister going to the village to get their weekly house needs and we glimpse her inner rage and darkness, as well as the rage and darkness of the townspeople. The novel isn't horror in the traditional sense, but you can read between the lines all the creepy things that are brewing, and it leaves you feeling uneasy.

The beginning was very strong up till to the last third, and while I expected a more horror-like ending, it was just... sad. It's ultimately about loneliness and bullying and choosing to live your life away from everyone else, even if that means hiding away for the rest of your life. The writing style can be described both as sweet and eerie, and the atmosphere is really well-crafted. I could feel and see every part of that big house. ...more

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Oct 31, 2016 Christine PNW rated it it was amazing

Shelves: vintage-women

The last book of Halloween bingo!

6 likes · Like · see review

Feb 21, 2020 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed

Whoa. What the heck just happened here? This was, by far, one of the most entertaining books I've read in the last few years. I love books that, in a good way, challenge you to figure out what the hell is going on. (of course, if they're so obtuse you don't have a chance, they are no good at all.) This novella hits the right spot. I also couldn't help thinking of the Grey Gardens siblings while reading this. I don't want to say much of anything about the actual story - because its best if you go ...more

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Dec 20, 2017 Tasnuva rated it it was ok

Shelves: classics, gothic-fiction

Weird is only skin deep.

This book possesses an eerie and eccentric quality that easily draws the reader in. The writer created an atmosphere I would describe as whimsically disturbing! However, the plot lacked more of the quirky flare that I was looking for and did not quite strike home. After the pseudo-mystery behind the family's death was revealed, the story hit a pothole and flatlined. This was like a disappointing broth with a smell that's deliciously inviting and a taste that's dull as dis ...more

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Jan 27, 2019 Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics-trad-and-modern, 2019-read

This was an entertaining and beguiling read. I was completely consumed by Merricat's point of view and completely on her side against everyone. An unusual read. ...more

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