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.

Haunting, Engaging and Memorable

This is an American masterpiece, a classic that has been grossly overlooked in classes across the nation. Shirley Jackson created fiercely real character who will engage, entice and disgust you. Written in the 1960s is is scary how little things have changed. So many classrooms could benefit from this wonderful short novel.

Loved it!

The narrator is totally creepy, and the story is like the Addams Family for grownups. I absolutely loved it. I mean, the "mystery" part is not so much a mystery. I won't spoil it for anyone, but I figured it out relatively quickly, but there was something in the narrative that sort of makes me think you're supposed to. The mystery isn't really the point.

I love this book, and can see myself listening to it over and over.

A book about isolated, broken women

That's about it. I very much enjoyed the performance and the style of the writing but didn't like the characters much and felt especially frustrated by the main character.

weird and interesting

it was a slow start, but I really got into it and enjoyed the weird characters.

It doesn’t hold up well

I don’t have a ton to say. The story is pretty boring and the ”twist” is obvious to the reader from the outset. There are good moments but mostly the story feels very tired and predictable. I don’t feel like the characters are fleshed out very well nor do I find anyone particularly sympathetic. This book is around 60 years old and I think it works off some cultural premises that aren’t quite so ubiquitous anymore.

Constance is the greatest disappointment as a character to me.

The reader’s voices can sound a little contrived-I prefer reading that doesn’t really do distinctive character voices.

Not the Story I was Expecting, but Still Amazing

I just finished this on the back of The Haunting of Hill House and was expecting a similar type of story. While I was wrong in that assumption, I am anything but dissapointed. This was a truly unique and well told story that left me wishing I could have met Shirley Jackson because she was clearly in possession of an amazing mind.

Crazy

The story is abysmal. Depressing. And somewhat predictable. The narrator was good and the saving grace.

Finished in one sitting

I cried a bit there at the end, what a bunch of bastards those villagers were! Although the main twist was rather obvious early on, there were a few lines here and there that made me doubt I was right. Great book all in all, only thing that bothers me, is not properly knowing what the uncle thought of Mary. Did he mean what he said that night, or was he just messing with Charles? I am going to have to listen to this story again, and see if I pick up on anything I missed the first time.

Great reading of a spooky story

Shirley Jackson is the queen of atmospheric horror. This book will stay with you.

Extra Spooky

The way this story is told is so tense and creepy. It was great. I loved the whole thing.