We Have Always Lived in the Castle #BookReview

Hello World,

Another book review. Two this year. I am actually on a roll with reading books. ^Holds a momentary dancing to self^

After reading Holding Up The Universe, I immediately went to read Jackson's book, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, because it was Niven character's favourite book.
What is We Have Always Lived in the Castle? 
It starts with a girl called Mary Katherine. She lives in a house; Blackwood manor with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. The story start six years after the death of her family, who was all murdered by poison and all that was left was Constance and Uncle Julian. Due to the situation of the murder the village in which they live in all believed that Constance was held responsible of the poison. 
The village hated the Blackwood family and Mary Katherine seem to share the same feelings towards them. Confined in the house and never leaving except for Mary Katherine occasional trips to the village. 

This story is targeted at teenage audience and it is quite a haunting story. Mary Katherine holds a childish view upon the world, being eighteen, she is quite incapable of looking after herself.

I don't know. Shirley Jackson has left a lot for me to think about, but the one thing I can't comprehend is that Niven character; Libby felt connected to Mary Katherine. I personally do not see it. The connection I made between the two, is there reluctance to leave their house and connect with people outside of their box. Mary Katherine was perfectly happy to live inside of her 'Castle' and would do anything to stop entering her little world. Why the spoiler for this book is that Mary Katherine was the one who poison her family and set fire to the house because someone tried entering her house. 
One thing though and I realise is that because Libby was so involved with relating to Mary Katherine she never allowed herself to learn from the character. Which she does learn through her relationship with Jack. 
Have I just learned something? 

I actually enjoyed reading something so different to what I normally read. It made me think differently and although I am still learning from the book, I know one thing. I couldn't be confined to living in one castle. I would want to live in many castles. 


Claire.