Book #2 : We Have Always Lived in the Castle

 "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" was a thin book that I picked up at the airport mostly because it was thin, and I needed something to read. I wasn't sure if I was ever going to get around to reading it but I finally did and I enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into because it is very description heavy and not my usual genre. But I find that I enjoy older books. I want to start reading more thin books made over 50 years ago. Might be my new thing. It was written in 1962 by Shirley Jackson. She is a very famous author who I think I will be reading more of.

The book was from the perspective of Mary Katherine Blackwood or Merricat. Merricat was an 18-year-old girl living with her sister Constance and their uncle Julian. They lived in a large old home and were widely shunned by the townspeople because the rest of their family had been murdered by arsenic being put in their sugar during a family dinner. They live a consistent life until their cousin, Charles, comes into town for a visit. Read it to see what happens!

The one problem I had with this book is that I think I was waiting for a huge reveal about the murder and while it was revealed, it was done in a subtle way. I felt like I was waiting for something that wasn't coming and it left me disappointed. Whereas I should have focused on the main climax of the book which I did not think would be the climax. Still, though, I really enjoyed the book. 

The main characters also started to make me a bit mad at the end of the book because they were shutting themselves away from the rest of the whole and not accepting help. But, with all they've experienced, why would they change? Merricat especially hated the change. Sometimes, Constance would be close to changing and growing, but Merricat would pull her right back down. Merricat also in my opinion was acting very childish during the book. I think she was stunted from the events that occurred with her family. I was shocked to find out she was 18, whereas I thought she was a child. 

I really enjoyed the bond that Constance and Merricat had together though. They were prepared to be there for each other through whatever came. Their love for each other never faltered. They could have possibly trauma bonded too. Constance was also very caring for Uncle Julian, and I was really glad they were helping him through his last years. Uncle Julian as a character was puzzling to me at first, but then I thought he sort of served as a reminded of what had happened. He was always there talking about the dinner and writing it down. I really liked him.

The imagery of this book was also written very well. The Blackwood estate is something that I would image in my mind while reading. The castle along with the large yard and driveway that leads to a creek. I feel like it was very easy as a reader to image where the story took place.

The last part I want to discuss was Merricat's obsession with burying things or nailing them to trees. She would bury objects that reminded her of people to remember them by. It was her was to tribute to people. She nailed things to trees as well for the same reason. Her behavior kind of tipped me off that she was not exactly in the right headspace. She had lots of odd behaviors and intrusive thoughts.

In the end, I loved the book, and I would recommend to those who like darker books that just follow a simple story. It was a harder read, but definitely worth it. I also probably missed a ton of messages in the books that I didn't pick up on.