We Have Always Lived in the Castle : Chapters 1 - 5

[Marie]

The Blackwood family have always lived in their mansion outside of town. And there, the remnants of their family remain. Superstitious, suspicious, and childlike Mary Katherine. Her older sister Constance, who never leaves the house after being acquitted of the murder of their family. And Uncle Julian, the only one to survive the arsenic that killed them, confined to his chair and struggling to remember the details lost inside his mind.

They receive few visitors, and never waiver from their routine. Until the arrival of their cousin Charles threatens to change everything.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I've competed ch 1-5.

Is Mary Katherine mildly mentally challenged or something?

I have a 40-something yr old step bro who is mildly mentally challenged. But bro is older than MK is in the book and wouldn't bury things and nail things to trees and that nonsense and have a "hideout" in the yard.

This cousin seems bossy--telling everyone what to do. He makes it clear if nothing else does, that MKs understanding might not be like everyone else's because he talks to her by addressing her cat. Actually step bro understanding is a lot better when he was MKs age. One would not have had to address his pet to communicate with him--you could and can say anything to him.

[Marie]

Yes, mental illness as realistic "horror" was a huge theme within Shirley Jackson's work. If you've ever seen The Haunting, the 60's film based on The Haunting of Hill House, it shows it very well.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I read Hill House last October with the GR women's lit group.

That book was freaky, and I don't think I want to "see" that weirdness depicted in a movie. Too scary.

One of the things I've noticed about this book, is that like Hill House , I'm not sure what is real and what possibly being "imagined."

Also with both of these books, I'm really going wide of my reading interests--widening my horizons, so to speak, bec horror books really aren't something to which I gravitate.

[Linda]

Somehow missed the posting of the schedule! Plan to use the three-day weekend to catch up to y'all!

[Linda]

Am only through four, so haven't seen the arrival of the cousin yet.
All sorts of bells going off here.

Mentally challenged (learning disabilities) and mentally disturbed aren't the same thing. Everyone seems to walk on eggshells around MK and you can feel the hate seething from her.

My guess is mentally disturbed. At first, I was inclined to believe that perhaps Constance had been guilty, but now I'm getting little things such as "I(MK) am not allowed to handle knives." "I am not allowed in Uncle Julian's room." And then there are all of those people who dutifully stop by but won't go in beyond the gate.
And all sorts of contradictory things in the narrative voice..."no one had else lived there for a long time" when Uncle Julian is there with them.
This is the first time I've read this, and I"m finding it sufficiently creepy for Halloween season!

[Marie]

Yes, she is mentally disturbed, rather than challenged.

Glad you're enjoying it, Linda!

[Linda]

Hi,
I read Chapter 5, so I get now what you mean by how Constance "Handles" her, as if Constance were her wrangler or something. Since it's stated that Constance is 28, then MK can't possibly be too far behind. Yet, she seeks Constance's approval to "go out and play". Something def off.