We Have Always Lived in the Castle

By: Shirley Jackson

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

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.

Creepy and beautiful

It is not at all the horror story I thought it was. It is a creepy, affectionate and beautiful story of insanity, loneliness and hatred. Merricat is one of the most fascinating literary characters I've met. It's very hard not to like her and feel sorry for her and at the same time there is an uncanny feeling about her. A must read!

Dark Gothic Horror

If you enjoy dark stories of slowly creeping madness, give this one a listen. I couldn't turn it off.

A Gothic Masterpiece

Iʻd been listening to a lot of brain candy recently (think trashy thrillers and contemporary best sellers), so this is the first book in a long while to awaken my dormant English Major nerd. Once I finished the book, I spent days reading literary analyses and going down rabbit holes, trying to gain a deeper understanding of the characters' chaotically curated version of reality.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a fascinating look at mental illness, trauma, and gender, steeped in Gothic conventions. The reader was very well cast; not only does she portray the different characters well, her voice lends itself perfectly to the atmosphere created by Jackson, and is reflexive of the era in which the work is set.

Highly recommend

Phenomenal story and great narration! I would highly recommend this story. It’s a short one, but still very good.

THIS BOOK WAS A WASTE.

Would you try another book from Shirley Jackson and/or Bernadette Dunne?

I DOUBT IT. DEPENDS ON THE SUBJECT. I HESITATED BUYING THE BOOK, BUT I BASED MY PURCHASE ON REVIEWS OF OTHER PEOPLE.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I AM LISTENING TO BITTER ALMONDS ABOUT STELLA NICHOLS THE EXCEDREN KILLER.

What does Bernadette Dunne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

SHE WAS NOT BAD. I FIND I LIKE MOST OF THE READERS.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

NO BUT IT MITE BE A GOOD MOVIE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE -- LIKE MY COUSIN.

Any additional comments?

I AM NOT SAYING NOT TO BUY THIS BOOK. BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKED IT. I FOUND THE STORY STRANGE AND THE CHARACTERS UNDERDEVELOPED.