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We Have Always Lived in the Castle

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We Have Always Lived in the Castle

By: Shirley Jackson
Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
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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. Genre Fiction Gothic Horror Literary Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Scary Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Mind-bending Cats
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Critic reviews

“At certain moments, quietly, in quick, subtle transitions of tone, Miss Jackson can summon up stark terror, make your blood chill and your scalp prickle....To all the classic paraphernalia of the spook story, she adds a touch of Freud….” ( New York Times Book Review)
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I’m sure I’m missing the point here but I kept waiting for something to happen, some big revelation or jump scare…I understand the interesting premise of not knowing what is real, when all this is happening etc, but for me it just didn’t fulfil its promise of being properly menacing or sad. It felt like a slightly flimsy short story. But the narration was fantastic.

A bit disappointing

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A sad story of the love and sacrifice of an older sister to her younger ( and distinctly odd) sibling. It also describes the cruelty of ordinary people when faced with those who are "different". Shirley Jackson's writing is a strange mix of American Gothic and lyrical description. The narration is beautiful and brings life to the characters. It is a story that will remain with you for a long time .

Haunting and very sad

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Not a book that would have tickled my fancy or even crossed my radar usually. Such is the beauty of the book club! An intriguing book and a fascinating first person glimpse into the mind of the very disturbed narrator. The enigmatic Constance and eccentric, elderly Uncle Julian are also beautifully depicted, through their own words and actions.
Crucially, it was really beautifully read.

Interesting book, BEAUTIFULLY read.

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This is a beautiful and tender story of two sisters and their very different ways of dealing with a family tragedy. It is clearly and sensitively narrated.

Beautiful story

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This was a real surprise. I download this knowing very little about it from a list of recommendations, but wow what a treat. A dark gothic fairytale, like nothing I have read before. Quite surreal at times, but I couldn't stop listening.

Surreal, dark and wonderful.

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