April 2021 We Have Always Lived in the Castle

[Pat the Book Goblin]

My name is Mary Katherine Blackwood. I am eighteen years old, and I live with my sister Constance. I have often thought that with any luck at all 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 had. I dislike washing myself, and dogs, and noise, I like my sister Constance, and Richard Plantagenet, and Amanita phalloides, the death-cap mushroom. Everyone else in my family is dead...

Enjoy everyone!!

[Georgina]

I've started this one as it's been on my to read list for a while. I'm about a third of the way through and have to admit that I'm not really sure what's going on or where the story is going, I'll persevere and hopefully it will all become clear in the end.

[Samantha, Creole Literary Belle]

One of my library patrons has raved about this book to me, and I hope to try it soon.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

I was looking for a movie to watch Friday night and I am pretty sure I saw this listed in Netflix or Prime Video? Might be good to watch after reading.

[Anne]

I'm starting The Masterpieces Of Shirley Jackson today and it will therefore be a while before I get to We Have Always Lived in The Castle, which is on page 397.
It'll be the first time I read Shirley Jackson, and I've heard she's great, so I look forward to it 🙂

[Tr1sha]

I read this a couple of years ago & enjoyed reading it again. I think this time I probably noticed more of the little details & careful descriptions. It’s a strange but clever story.

[Lesle, Appalachian Bibliophile]

Anne wrote: "I'm starting The Masterpieces Of Shirley Jackson today and it will therefore be a while before I get to We Have Always Lived in The Castle, which is on page 397.
It'll be the first ti..."

Anne hope you enjoy The Lottery and The Haunting of Hill Houses too!

[Anne]

Lesle wrote: "Anne wrote: "I'm starting The Masterpieces Of Shirley Jackson today and it will therefore be a while before I get to We Have Always Lived in The Castle, which is on page 397.
It'll be..."

I'm three shortstories in so far and loving it! Read a bit of the introduction by Donna Tartt too, which is also quite interesting. Definitely see what she means that Shirley Jackson is a master of writing horror without gore and monsters.

[Armin]

Very strange, weird and twisted story, but really good.

[Beth Buning]

I read this one pretty quickly. Now a week or 2 after, I am having some positive feelings about it. I wasn't too sure at first!
Mary definitely seems to have issues, and of course at first I suspected her of the poisonings. But then we learn that Constance was arrested and indeed exhibited some very questionable actions after the deaths.
Another thing I found interesting in the story was the feeling that Mary was simply paranoid about the villagers. I changed my mind later....

[Georgina]

I finished this one a little while ago and couldn't work out how I felt about it at first, but now I've had some time to process it it's really grown on me. Although it seemed predictable in places there were still some twists and turns in the plot. What I couldn't get over was Merricats age. I couldn't imagine her as any older than about 12, but she is 18, I think this just emphasises the issues that she has going on. I'm really pleased I finally got round to reading this one.

[Pat the Book Goblin]

Not sure why but I couldn’t get into this one.

[Samantha, Creole Literary Belle]

I just checked out a copy of this at the library this morning. I’ll post what I think when I get the chance to read it.

[Armin]

Georgina wrote: "I finished this one a little while ago and couldn't work out how I felt about it at first, but now I've had some time to process it it's really grown on me. Although it seemed predictable in places..."
I thought also at first that Marricat was lot younger, but then I realized that that's how her personality is. She is emotionally immature. Always hiding in her own world and behind her older sister, which spoiled her and is clearly a mother figure to her. She is always escaping from conflicts, but then she can act as an adult at some points (in her own way).