I remember that I stood on the library steps holding my books and looking for a minute at the soft hinted green in the branches against the sky and wishing, as I always did, that I could walk home across the sky instead of through the village.
The novella masterpiece We Have Always Lived in the Castle (1962) by Gothic writer Shirley Jackson, who also wrote one of the finest short stories with The Lottery (1948). As told by the unreliable narrator Mary Katherine ‘Merrikat’ Blackwood, it tells of a family’s ostracising in a small town after a poisoning incident that killed four members of the family.
Alex Raphael 
I LOVE this story. Jackson is awesome. I’m so glad you like it, too!
I started over Christmas which was a bad idea ha. But I picked it up again and was really sucked into her world. The ending caught me by surprise. Jackson really did nail small towns didn’t she? Her last book so glad it was a great one. They’re in post-production in the film btw.
I hope it is a good adaption.
Me too! Even if it isn’t I hope it at least shines more light on the story and Jackson’s other works. There hasn’t been much press on it so far so no idea what to expect.
I must check this out. Cheers.
It’s full of atmosphere and a unique narrator. Like no other book I’ve read.
I still remember reading the short story The Lottery and the chills that went through me. I have yet to read We Have Always Lived in the Castle.
I read that story not knowing much about the writer or its context or anything. Just read a collection of Classic Short Stories. It just blew me away.
Great post 🙂 This sounds like a great book. I know this is not from the same genre (though their is gothic horror), what do you think of the works of horror writer Clive Barker? I think he has written great stuff. They are probably not gothic stuff, but I love his work anyway (I am a huge fan of the horror genre). Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
I’m not familiar with him. What books of his do you recommend?
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