tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post4268875215278437865..comments2023-10-20T16:03:03.157+01:00Comments on Devouring Texts: RIP IX BOOK 2: We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley JacksonLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-71212432144114985862014-09-28T10:30:01.199+01:002014-09-28T10:30:01.199+01:00Merricat clearly had some kind of mental disturban...Merricat clearly had some kind of mental disturbance or even autism (there's a hint that she was 'different' even before her family died), with her fixation on certain ideas and on the necessity for routine and order, so... sorry, I couldn't hate her. Until her age was specifically mentioned I actually thought she was a much younger child, and I found her narration quite charming at times. She saw the world differently, and I found that more interesting than annoying. Of course I liked Constance and Uncle Julian too, with their own eccentricities and kindness, but... yeah.<br /><br />Despite the Jackson-love around the interwebs I didn't absolutely love this book (I got it from the library and wasn't disappointed to have to take it back instead of stashing it on my shelves, I don't think I'd read it again) so it's interesting to see that Hill House seems to be fairly unanimously voted a better read. I'd better get on that one next!Elliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246472269477492583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-17571878757505245472014-09-27T17:38:40.459+01:002014-09-27T17:38:40.459+01:00I like how part way through your review you're...I like how part way through your review you're like "waaaait, I think I figured out what Jackson was up to...but eh, still not crazy about it." I really want to read something of Jackson's besides The Lottery (which OMG SO GOOD) but perhaps I'll start with Hill HouseRedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456600806188531803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-62734768718478915492014-09-27T09:21:46.684+01:002014-09-27T09:21:46.684+01:00I was so not rooting for her at any point. Don'...I was so not rooting for her at any point. Don't get me wrong, I didn't like the cousin either, but Merricat's complete fucking annoyingness was just too much. I really liked Constance and felt so sorry for her, but at the same time I felt like she enabled Merricat and her madness (madness? Weirdness? Who knows) and just didn't really do enough. But then again, maybe that's just because she was so beaten down by life and everything. BUT WHOSE FAULT WAS THAT?! (Don't say it. But we both know.)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-70624208306877327732014-09-27T09:19:48.547+01:002014-09-27T09:19:48.547+01:00The atmosphere is really good, and I WAS totally s...The atmosphere is really good, and I WAS totally submerged in WHALITC. It's just a shame that I wanted to throttle Merricat most of the time! Maybe I'll re-read Hill House to wash the bad taste out of my mouth haha.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-31008548345274858022014-09-27T09:18:17.113+01:002014-09-27T09:18:17.113+01:00Yessssss, Hill House is so much better. Like I sai...Yessssss, Hill House is so much better. Like I said, this isn't TERRIBLE, I just could not with Merricat.<br /><br />I am reading Americanah! I am struggling with it in the weirdest way, in that I can' t quite bring myself to start reading it (which is mostly a time thing, actually) but when I do I'm like 'THIS IS SO GOOD.' It's pretty good :)Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17371636785566309578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-70803285086728187082014-09-27T02:01:05.209+01:002014-09-27T02:01:05.209+01:00I think I loved the Haunting of Hill House more as...I think I loved the Haunting of Hill House more as well, but I really did like this one too. Merricat is totally a terrible person, but in the context of the book, and being inside her twisted little mind, I was kind of rooting for her, even though Constance deserved better. But I totally didn't mind when Merricat kind of sicced herself on that sleazy cousin. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-38610984434950124212014-09-26T17:46:58.627+01:002014-09-26T17:46:58.627+01:00Yeah, Merricat is a hard character to even like mu...Yeah, Merricat is a hard character to even like much less root for. I like We Have Always Lived in the Castle mostly for its atmosphere. The Haunting of Hill House is definitely the better book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6275165298547340568.post-79905765353173165422014-09-26T10:28:27.308+01:002014-09-26T10:28:27.308+01:00I want to try this author - after reading your rev...I want to try this author - after reading your review, I thinking I'll start with Hill House rather than this one.<br />And I see you're reading Americanah - awesome book :)Sam (Tiny Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/16375434438465319913noreply@blogger.com