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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.
Gothic Literary Fiction Mystery Suspense Scary Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Mind-bending Cats
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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)

What listeners say about We Have Always Lived in the Castle

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Masterful

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

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

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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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

really enjoy this on a long work drive

I love the writing style of Shirley Jackson, it was a great companion on a long drive.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

something a bit different

this is something completely different from what I would normally listen to but I'd have to say that I did enjoy it. It moved at a nice pace and the narration was quite good

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful, unusual book

A beautifully written, strange little book. I love Jackson’s lyricism. Will be reading more of her work after this.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Surreal, dark and wonderful.

This was a real surprise. I download this knowing very little about it from a list of recommendations, but wow what a treat. A dark gothic fairytale, like nothing I have read before. Quite surreal at times, but I couldn't stop listening.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautifully creepy

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

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Just a little bit too weird!

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.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

overall good book

the story is fantastic and tragic. it made me cry, however, the reader sounds much older than the protagonist.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story

loved it left me wondering what happened to them in the end. strange but good .

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