Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
I had heard of this book but didn’t know much about it. It was named on the 10 Best Novels of 1962 by Time magazine, and a film adaptation of the same name premiered at the 2018 LA Film Festival to generally favorable reviews.
The Analysis:
Mary Katherine Blackwood, known as Merricat, lives with her older sister Constance and her Uncle Julian on her family’s huge estate. Six years earlier, Merricat’s parents, aunt, and uncle were poisoned with arsenic at dinner. Shortly after, Constance went to trial for their murders but was ultimately acquitted. Since then, Constance does not leave the house and Merricat ventures to town only for library books and groceries. The townspeople shun the Blackwoods and are often hostile towards Merricat, who uses (potentially imaginary) spells to ward off any evil forces. One day, a cousin arrives to call on Constance, disrupting Merricat’s comfortable routine and threatening the family’s carefully curated isolation.
I was quickly sucked into this quirky and spooky book. After the intriguing first line of “We have always lived in the castle”, the reader is desperate to learn more about the mysterious Blackwood family. The author slowly reveals more and more information and background, keeping the reader engaged throughout the story. Told from the perspective of Merricat, the reader must learn about the past through her eyes and her interactions with other characters.
I really wanted to like this book more but there were too many details left unanswered or unexplained. I wanted more background about the Blackwood lineage, the poisoning, the wealthy families of the town, and implications of what the future might hold. The book certainly left me wanting more but the lack of a sequel or any answers is disappointing. I will say that I still enjoyed it and it certainly stimulates the imagination. If you won’t be bothered by some unexplained details, the eerie vibe is perfect for October and We Have Always Lived in the Castle is worth the quick read!
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