We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Summary: Constance and Mary Katherine Blackwood have always lived in the big, beautiful house on the hill. Not even the tragic poisoning of their family in the grand dining room could make them leave. When questionable cousin Charles comes to visit, an irrevocable change seems to be looming at the well-secured gates.

Review: This is my first foray into Shirley Jackson’s world of unsettling literature. I’m usually a quick reader but this had me slowing down and savoring the text. The hundred-some-odd pages are packed with nuanced accounts of the sisters’ stunted lives. I picked up on one of the twists pretty early on, but it was just as satisfying to be correct as it would have been to be surprised. In terms of plot, I was left unsettled. The story doesn’t follow a traditional plot structure. Instead, it felt like a chapters-long exposition, a climax that held the promise of excitement, and a quick descent back into the style of the first part of the story. I’m sure this was a choice by Jackson-maybe it reflects the lack of growth of the girls, and therefore traditional character growth and resolution wouldn’t fit the Blackwood style. Although it left me feeling unfinished, I’m glad I spent some time with Constance, Merricat, and Uncle Julian.

xo Bookstore Heroine