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We Have Always Lived in the Castle
- Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
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We Have Always Lived in the Castle
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Summary
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.
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Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- scott
- 31-10-18
A lot of potential but no real pay off.
I had high expectations for this book but by the end I was a little dissapointed. The story didn't seem to go anywhere and I felt a lot was left unanswered in a sense of 'why' certain characters did certain things. I thought it was a great first person narative exploring the weird thoughts of the protagonist and I would have loved more of this. I still enjoyed the book overall though. It's maybe one for me to revisit as the concept is pretty cool.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bean
- 26-01-18
Simply superb
Excellent in all areas. Slightly mad bonkers moving and sad
A story of love protection and forgiveness
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ray Shami
- 05-06-22
Loved it
I loved this book and the performance. It quirky, interesting and quite enjoyable. I highly recommend.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kaggy
- 23-01-17
An oppressive dream - or is it real?
Why do the villagers hate the Blackwoods? Why does Constance never go out? Why was the sugarbowl washed out? This is a story full of mystery and you can never be sure what is real or imagined. Is Merrycat alive? How old are the sisters? What is Charles really up to?
I will need to read this again just to try and get a handle on the story but I suspect I will just encounter more mystery.
This is a stunning piece of American Gothic and has been perfectly narrated by Bernadette Dunne.
This is for lovers of magical writing that gives us more questions than answers and takes you into a world you will not forget.
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jojo
- 17-11-20
Southern gentility with a spoonful of strangeness
An eerily lovely book from the perspective of a young girl who only longs for life to continue as it does. She hopes to safeguard herself and her denuded family within the grounds of their old house with ritual acts and longworn habit.
Perfectly narrated, full of dread and charm.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mary Collin
- 02-11-17
Dark. Interesting
I really enjoyed this. She gets inside the head of the main characters and I love the darkness. Vivid descriptions bring it all to life. Some interesting twists too.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Sue
- 03-08-17
A cautionary tale of mob mentality
This is absolutely tragic. The last few scenes remind me of Frankenstein. This mystery novel surrounds a quirky young woman, her older agoraphobic sister Constance, their disabled uncle and an enigmatic cousin. They have a rather hideous family secret that is revealed midway but the reasoning behind it remains unknown. It is a fascinating story, engaging, and straightforward.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Emma Lucy
- 13-10-21
Waiting feeling.
I enjoyed the story but always felt like I was waiting for some twist to be revealed. There is beauty in its subtleties, though.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rob Crosbie
- 03-09-19
Masterful
Haunting and Brilliant storytelling. Hooked after the first chapter. Listened to the whole thing without stop and loved it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ragsnot
- 05-12-15
Eerie and gripping
Would you consider the audio edition of We Have Always Lived in the Castle to be better than the print version?
I haven't read the print version, but I have read other Shirley Jackson books and I enjoyed hearing her words read aloud
What was one of the most memorable moments of We Have Always Lived in the Castle?
After the fire, when the townspeople surround the two sisters
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me feel quite tense and uncomfortable
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