suhbreenah's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Grief, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Classism
maddalenacesco's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hardcore goth girl goes through a phase when she meets her cousin. (not in an alabama way)(it's not a phase)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Bullying, Death of parent, Murder, and Mental illness
aude's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
skylarkblue1's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Still honestly not too sure what this book is meant to be about. To me, it seems like it's a rather depressing book about a rather unlucky autistic child. It's not explicitly about autism, but goddamn if it's not perfectly (mostly) accurate I don't know what is.
There isn't really a plot, it's just about Merricat and Constance and a series of very unfortunate events that take their quiet and sheltered life alone into disarray and ruin - shattering any sense of security and hope they might have once had.
I did quite like Merricat as a character, mostly because I could relate to how she views the world a lot. Her special interests being a place of comfort and what she uses to calm herself, her love of animals, etc. I loved her and the cat Jonas' relationship especially!
The writing did confuse me though. It was very loopy and "bouncy" kinda like a poem in a way? I can see why some might like it but for me it wasn't until like halfway through where my brain could actually process what it was reading properly aha..
I think if you're wanting horror, a plot and a mystery you'll be very disappointed. If you (for some reason) want a depressing story of an autistic girl just trying to survive then this'd be for you.
If you're concerned about the fate of the cat, check the content warnings for what's there/what's not there.
There isn't really a plot, it's just about Merricat and Constance and a series of very unfortunate events that take their quiet and sheltered life alone into disarray and ruin - shattering any sense of security and hope they might have once had.
I did quite like Merricat as a character, mostly because I could relate to how she views the world a lot. Her special interests being a place of comfort and what she uses to calm herself, her love of animals, etc. I loved her and the cat Jonas' relationship especially!
The writing did confuse me though. It was very loopy and "bouncy" kinda like a poem in a way? I can see why some might like it but for me it wasn't until like halfway through where my brain could actually process what it was reading properly aha..
I think if you're wanting horror, a plot and a mystery you'll be very disappointed. If you (for some reason) want a depressing story of an autistic girl just trying to survive then this'd be for you.
If you're concerned about the fate of the cat, check the content warnings for what's there/what's not there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Murder
kyrstin_p1989's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5
In traditional Gothic horror fashion, this story by Jackson makes just enough sense to keep you engaged. The characters are just this side of realistic. The story is believable, yet horrifying. The fact that they continuously discuss the day that the entire family was murdered via arsenic poisoning (by one of the sisters discussing it) is morbid and disturbing. And yet, I found myself in full adoration of the sisters in this story. I loved how well they took care of one another. I also found the story to be full of humor. I liked "The Lottery" better, but I really enjoyed the macabre this story has to offer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Confinement, Death, Dementia, Murder, Ableism, Child death, Misogyny, Bullying, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Child abuse
takarakei's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm not much of a classics or horror reader (even tho it wasn't scary horror imo), so this wasn't really for me. But I think I can definitely see the influences of this book into modern horror media.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Mental illness
Minor: Child abuse
jficele's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is stuck in my head, replaying scenes over and over trying to find meanings to them. The symbolism and character development also has kept me thinking. Exactly what I look for in a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Dementia, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Confinement, Death, Toxic friendship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
bambicat234's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Child death, Classism, and Confinement
mijtje's review
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Oh, silly Merricat.”
This is one of those books that I read and enjoyed but makes me feel like I should read it a hundred times more to get it. Which is a good thing.
The story is narrated by Mary Catherine (Merricat) Blackwood, who lives with her sister, her uncle, and her cat in their big mansion. They have been ostracised by the community they belonged to after a dark tragedy that played out in the mansion years before.
Merricat quickly drew me in with her childish, magical way of thinking. It’s crazy how fast this book managed to make me think “Yeah, these thoughts are logical. I get this”. However, Merricat isn’t a child. She’s 18. And pretty messed up in the head. Which was a delicacy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Dementia
shadowspinner's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, and Death
Minor: Death of parent