We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson: A Book Review
Genre: Suspense
While some would characterize this novella as horror, I cannot put the word to the story. As always, Jackson outdid herself in the writing aspect of the book. The “horror” comes from the anticipation of what is going to come next. I did cheat and look up the plot of Wikipedia just because I was going out of my mind waiting for the thing to happen. Reading the story however, blew the short summary out of the water. There was no way I could have guessed at what was going to happen even knowing the end of the story.
The imagery of the We Have Always Lived in the Castle was astonishing as well as the the embodiment of the characters – all of them. Even the two dimensional characters who were mentioned maybe once in the beginning came back in the end in the most fitting manner. This novella has quickly become one of my favorites.
Showing the dark side of human nature along with the consequences of guilt, Jackson creates a thrilling tale of two sisters, along with their uncle, who basically are at combat with the outside world. As apart of the sisters are from the world, Jackson makes it clear that the reader does not belong on the side of the sisters, but forces each and everyone to look deep inside themselves and realize they are a part of the village wherever they like it or not.
I have to characterize We Have Always Lived in the Castle as a must read.
NOTE:
We Have Always Lived in the Castle was made into a movie in 2018. I have not yet watched this movie, but I certainly am putting it on my Watchlist.
Plot: 10/10
Characters: 11/10
Writing: 10/10
Editor: 10/10
Total: 41/40
Title: Shirley Jackson: Novels and Stories
Author: Shirley Jackson
Edition: Literary Classics
Published: 2010
Publisher: Library of America
ISBN: 9781598530728
If you want to get it: Amazon; Barnes&Noble
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