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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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About this listen

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

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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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.

A cautionary tale of mob mentality

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Wonderful gothic story full of magic. Written beautifully and read in a attractive, sing song voice

Beautifully creepy

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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

Eerie and gripping

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I didn't know what to expect from this book as I chose it randomly because of the cover. The story doesn't really seem to get going, it is as of it has been written without much thought to the story. Overall, for me, it didn't hit the spot.

Just a little bit too weird!

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Haunting and Brilliant storytelling. Hooked after the first chapter. Listened to the whole thing without stop and loved it.

Masterful

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