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Miranda Reads's Reviews > We Have Always Lived in the Castle
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
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Several years ago, someone poisoned the sugar bowl at the last Blackwood family dinner, resulting in the death of nearly every family member.
Only the two sisters (Merricat and Constance) and their ailing uncle (Julian) remain on the secluded estate but they are not the same as they once were.
Since that fateful day, each remaining member has become... slightly unhinged... much to the gossiping villagers horror and delight.
Merricat has a wistful, gentle insanity; Constance has petrifying agoraphobia; and Uncle Julian is on a loop - constantly obsessing over discovering what happened during the last Blackwood dinner.
Everyone in the village wonders, constantly, which one of them could have done it?
Then a mysterious cousin comes into town - with shrouded motives and a pushy personality.
Merricat decides she must get rid of him before he discovers who killed the Blackwoods but how will she accomplish this with suspicious villagers crowding in at all sides and his own stubbornness to contend with?
Bizarre and haunting throughout - the writing is beautiful and the story is riveting.
I was absolutely swept into this story - I absolutely loved the characters.
Merricat was both chilling and sweet. Constance was almost scarily rigid and yet loving towards her sister. Uncle Julian swung from senile to insane - I couldn't tear my eyes away.
I loved the way the author managed the characters. All of their personalities shifted subtly during the story - each one becoming more and more disturbed, which (of course) sucked me deeper into this story.
I could not find out who was the killer and the more I read, the less I wanted to know.
The ending came upon me like a horror creeping in the night.
This is definitely one I'd recommend!
Audiobook Comments
Read by Bernadette Dunne - she was absolutely perfect. Her haunting voice breathed life into this novel
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by
What you think you know, you don't
Halloween is just around the corner and it's time for some spooky books - but which ones are worth your time? Check out this for answers!
Several years ago, someone poisoned the sugar bowl at the last Blackwood family dinner, resulting in the death of nearly every family member.
Only the two sisters (Merricat and Constance) and their ailing uncle (Julian) remain on the secluded estate but they are not the same as they once were.
Since that fateful day, each remaining member has become... slightly unhinged... much to the gossiping villagers horror and delight.
Merricat has a wistful, gentle insanity; Constance has petrifying agoraphobia; and Uncle Julian is on a loop - constantly obsessing over discovering what happened during the last Blackwood dinner.
Everyone in the village wonders, constantly, which one of them could have done it?
Then a mysterious cousin comes into town - with shrouded motives and a pushy personality.
Merricat decides she must get rid of him before he discovers who killed the Blackwoods but how will she accomplish this with suspicious villagers crowding in at all sides and his own stubbornness to contend with?
Bizarre and haunting throughout - the writing is beautiful and the story is riveting.
I was absolutely swept into this story - I absolutely loved the characters.
Merricat was both chilling and sweet. Constance was almost scarily rigid and yet loving towards her sister. Uncle Julian swung from senile to insane - I couldn't tear my eyes away.
I loved the way the author managed the characters. All of their personalities shifted subtly during the story - each one becoming more and more disturbed, which (of course) sucked me deeper into this story.
I could not find out who was the killer and the more I read, the less I wanted to know.
The ending came upon me like a horror creeping in the night.
This is definitely one I'd recommend!
Audiobook Comments
Read by Bernadette Dunne - she was absolutely perfect. Her haunting voice breathed life into this novel
| | | | | Snapchat @miranda_reads
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
October 10, 2017
–
Finished Reading
November 7, 2017
– Shelved
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Brittni
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rated it 4 stars
Dec 29, 2017 04:06PM
I loved this one!
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Awesome review, Miranda! This is one I definitely want to read. :)
It's just so different from what I normally read. I was intrigued and engaged throughout!
Fantastic review, Miranda ;) So glad you were swept away and loved the characters!! xoxo
Miranda wrote: Merricat has a wistful, gentle insanity; Constance has petrifying agoraphobia; and Uncle Julian is on a loop - constantly obsessing over discovering what happened during the last Blackwood dinner.I love this description. Wonderful review, Miranda.
Thank you Chrissie :)
I love this review, Miranda. You have persuaded me to add this book to my TBR list. Thank you.
I've been eying this one up for a while, and your review has convinced me to add it to my tbr. 😊
Kimberley wrote: "I love this review, Miranda. You have persuaded me to add this book to my TBR list. Thank you."Woohoo :)
NZLisaM wrote: "I've been eying this one up for a while, and your review has convinced me to add it to my tbr. 😊"Awesome - happy to help :)
Miki � Book Dragoness � wrote: "Oh my, this sounds so interesting, Miranda. I don't know if I'll read it though--I might get scared."It's not a scary novel - just one that makes you think/question everything :)
Guh, I loved this book so much. I like to read Shirley Jackson every fall. This year I'm just reading some of her short stories. Great review!
JV wrote: "Amazing review, Miranda! I love something eerie infused with something philosophical. 🤗"Same. It was so gooood :) Do you have any eerie book suggestions?
Melanie wrote: "Guh, I loved this book so much. I like to read Shirley Jackson every fall. This year I'm just reading some of her short stories. Great review!"Ooo! What's your favorite of hers?
This sounds really good! I'm bumping it up my TBR :)
Definitely do! I was totally addicted
Sounds like a great read for this month with Halloween - I just added it, thanks!
It totallllly is a fab halloween read :D
Terrific review, Miranda! :)
Love your review! Just added it to my to-buy list :D
Michelle wrote: "Terrific review, Miranda! :)"Thank you Michelle :)
Luupi wrote: "Love your review! Just added it to my to-buy list :D"Omg :) that's awesome!
JV wrote: "A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay is a creepy novel —a combination of the supernatural and psychological thr..."Ooooo - that looks good! Thanks for the suggestion!!
Capn Jade wrote: "This seems really interesting. Would you recommend this to someone who loves history?"hmmm....it's not a historical novel. Just an eerie one.
No. It's not very explicit - the scope is really limited (I think) so that it has an ageless quality - as in this could happen anywhere, anytime.
Good review Miranda. Sounds like a good spooky story. 😼
Barbara wrote: "Good review Miranda. Sounds like a good spooky story. 😼"It was definitely a great start to the halloween season!
I don't think so. It went by really fast for me :)
Nope. It's a real book that was published back in the 80s
Shirley Jackson is a phenomenal mystery, psychological, thriller, writer. Some of her short stories are phenomenal. Also loved the Haunting of Hill House. Have not read this one. Will have to now!!
Oooo! I'll definitely have to check that one out!
I just listened to this and the audiobook narration was perfect. The story is all kinds of crazy LOL
Holly wrote: "I just listened to this and the audiobook narration was perfect. The story is all kinds of crazy LOL"Omg. Totally agree - the narration was SO perfect. And that story. Had me on the edge of my seat
Nice one, Miranda. It helps feed my new Shirley Jackson obsession. I think I might be checking out the audio version. That is. . . after I read the next 3 books of hers I've ordered!! (Oops!)
Julie wrote: "Nice one, Miranda. It helps feed my new Shirley Jackson obsession. I think I might be checking out the audio version. That is. . . after I read the next 3 books of hers I've ordered!! (Oops!)"LOL - which ones of hers have you ordered? I really liked this one and am eager to try more by her :)
Yes, Please join me at my 12 Step Program for my addiction to Jackson, Miranda!!
I started with Hill House, proceeded on to this one, then I've ordered her kids' book, Nine Magic Wishes, the graphic adaptation of The Lottery and Let Me Tell You, a short story compilation.
Enough cray-cray for today?
Julie wrote: "Yes, Please join me at my 12 Step Program for my addiction to Jackson, Miranda!!..."
LOL - you've convinced me. I'm going to try Hill House now :P
Actually Miranda, this book was written in 1962, not the 80's. Shirley died in 1965.
Lisa wrote: "Actually Miranda, this book was written in 1962, not the 80's. Shirley died in 1965."I don't think i mentioned dates in the book review but thanks for letting me know!
That was a really good review. I too found myself fascinated about the strange and fragile dance the characters's personality perform. However I think Merrycat is more focused on the way Charles breaks the rules of her little word than in the possibility of anyone findingout about her secret. That one would have been a very adult concern and she's a childish character.
Eire wrote: "That was a really good review. I too found myself fascinated about the strange and fragile dance the characters's personality perform. However I think Merrycat is more focused on the way Charles br..."That's a really good point. I didn't consider it like that before!
I don't think we read the same book.
