Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

10 reviews

perth_is's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Classism

deathmetalheron's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

As a concept this book is phenomenal. The narration and perspective are really what adds to the unique telling of this story. Merricat's personality is evident within the first half of the first page and her personality defines and shines throughout the story. She is such an enigmatic and deceitful little protagonist and her spicy spit takes on her perceived "enemies" are delightful.
Unfortunately I feel as though the high points of this book are few and far between and the majority of the book is caught between these moments repeating a lot of the same dynamics over and over. For a 145 page book, it took me a while to get through because each page is dense. The story outline is great and the overarching themes are there, but the vehicle to get them to the reader is not worth the trip.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Murder

Minor: Emotional abuse and Sexism

omair's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

A story where the mystery isn't a mystery and the absurd is treated as creepily mundane... and yet I found myself enjoying it. The juxtaposition for what I was feeling to what Merricat was feeling or saying was handled brilliantly that I can only assume it was intentional. If I were to plant myself in this world, I would almost certainly see things the way the villagers do, yet reading from the POV we have, I want to side with our main characters...

which an insane thing to say about a pair that are made of quintuple murderer with little remorse and a no-hesitation accomplice!

And yet in such a short space, powerful themes of gender roles, sexual identity, family trauma, possibly abuse, and severe mental illnesses are liberally sprinkled in along with commentary on individuality, agoraphobia, societal norms, greed, maturity (and familial responsibility in raising a child), and so much more. So much of what happens is left with such vague motives that the answers feel simultaneously obvious and yet impossibly absent.

The deeper I found myself into the book,

the more the reliability of the narration came into question

, and the more I felt a need to re-read sections to convince myself I didn't misunderstand or even completely miss details. Sympathizing with our protagonist even as

her twisted world and controlling mannerisms became more crystal clear

felt as confusing as the plot - in a good way - for me. I can certainly understand why this would not be the right cup of tea for everyone, but it was one I thoroughly enjoyed...

even though I certainly wouldn't take mine with any sugar.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Abandonment

Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Eating disorder, Gun violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

frankieclc's review against another edition

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Sexism, Violence, and Murder

kimveach's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is my year to read more Shirley Jackson, and this short book, her last, was an excellent place to start. The story, told by the youngest sister, deals with classism, neighbors' perceptions, ostracization, and mental illness. It was deliciously creepy.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

vas_17's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

juliana18's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

oftheolivetree's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is an incredibly dark and compelling story as told by the survivors of a mass murder. Both ethereal and grim, the story discusses the concepts of othering and dehumanization, and begs the question of who the true villain is:

Merricat, Charles, the Village, or all 3

? Delightfully pervasive and gothic, I highly recommend this book.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

Minor: Sexism

Shirley Jackson faced a lot of anti-semitism and othering while living in Bennington, Vermont, where this story takes place. Jackson prompts the discussion of the othering and dehumanization that marginalized communities experience as imposed by society.

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Gaslighting, and Classism

mydearwatsonbooks's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

Minor: Sexism

Verbal abuse