A review by ashtronomic
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

dark mysterious reflective tense fast-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

5.0

It’s hard to imagine how impactful this story would have been in an era less obsessed with
murder games
. The days before
governments forcing kids to fight in death matches
was a popular trope for YA fiction. I wish I could witness the reaction of a housewife as she read it in the newspaper, on the day it was published.

Although the tale has become more predictable with age, it has not lost its relevance. In fact, the message it depicts is quite prominent in the current zeitgeist. It’s certainly another text to add to the list of ‘books written in 1948 with astute criticisms on society’.