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Day 20: A Book with an Unreliable Narrator

There is one thing that I think the truly brilliant horror writers do: make you question who the real monster is. This book chilled me and not for the reasons you would think. I don‘t want to give any spoilers, but I‘ll tell you this: this book broke me out of a slump. I haven‘t frantically read a book (by choice) in a minute. I HAD to keep reading this. How it‘s not a 1,001er, I‘ll never know. Now I‘ll be suggesting Jackson to everyone I know.

My new reading challenge for 2020 is to just let my other half choose my books as i have a whole bookcase tbr 🙈😂 book number 1 that he has chosen for me :)

My xmas #bookhaul 🎄😍
Hope you're all having wonderful winter holidays ☃️

@RachelO I can‘t wait to read these two. I absolutely loved Ghost Wall so hopefully this is just as good. Thank you very much 😘😘

@Caroline2 This has been on my tbr for ages! So happy to have a copy. Thank you so much! And I collect these modern classic editions so it‘s perfect ❤️❤️ #jbuk

Such a strange yet captivating story. Listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a pretty good job. I just kept thinking “what the hell happened?” Throughout the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow, what a book. Although I already figured who the murderer of the Blackwood family was, I was quite surprised how the story ended. 😱
And I just realized, there‘s a movie too. 🤗
#wehavealwayslivedinthecastle #shirleyjackson

Same procedure as every Friday. A decent coffee (hard to find in Egypt), breakfast and a good read. I found this novel in my kindle library, can‘t remember why I bought it, but it‘s pretty good so far - still couldn‘t figure out who poisened the family, Caroline or Mary Katherine...
#wehavealwayslivedinthecastle #shirleyjackson

The cover art drew me in!

Time for me to do some late posting 🙈
I liked this a lot! I listened to it two weeks ago when I had such a horrible flu. Thankfully it passed quickly, and I had a good listen!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating: 4.5/5 stars.

This book will live you thinking and wondering about the characters all the time. I did guess who's who, but it took me awhile.

#under250pages #gratefulreads

Merricat and her sister Constance live a quiet, idyllic life with their infirm uncle Julian in a stately mansion at the edge of a village, which they tend to avoid as everyone shuns and hates them. Well maybe it‘s because six years ago the sisters‘ parents, brother, and aunt died of arsenic poisoning. I absolutely loved this gothic mystery that creeps up on the reader as slowly and stealthily as a cat on the prowl. Charming and subversive. 🖤☠️

#Screamathon and #Octoberwrapup! I read 39 books this month, including the picture books! These were my favorites.

Thank you to all the Littens that participated in #screamathon, I had a wonderful time! You still have today to post any wrap-ups, the drawing will be held tomorrow. I‘m giving away 3 Screamathon worthy books!

Published in 1962, this deliciously unsettling tale felt a bit dated but still made for a perfect Halloween read

"And I was chilled."

A nearly perfect novella. Packs so much in so little, it's a testament to what we've lost: the art of brevity. The precision of the words, the atmosphere, the sense of foreboding. Nothing graphic, so few words and so much left to the imagination. The ending hangs lightly, taunting you, telling you horrors never end; the house they tried to destroy will forever stand, the two ladies inside will live forever.

This was not much of a horror for me. After watching the trailer it looks like the movie is much scarier than the book.

Fine audiobook narration by Bernadette Dunne though.
⭐⭐⭐☆☆

This was a wonderfully creepy and disturbing story, as good as the other Shirley Jackson works I've read, and this lovely Penguin edition was a pleasure to hold in my hands. That's one scary looking cat on the cover!

So far, I've managed 13 hours and 10 minutes for the #24B4Monday readathon. I have other commitments for the rest of the day, but I hope to squeeze in a bit more time late tonight for #TeamStoker. @TheReadingMermaid @jb72 @Andrew65.

I love Shirley Jackson‘s short fiction and this was my first foray into her longer works. I went in completely blind, which I liked. It amped up the creepy factor.

#Screamathon @4thhouseontheleft

Hold the blackberries, please!

Shirley Jackson is a master at chillingly good tales that leave the reader thinking and pondering over everything that was left unsaid. I love how Jackson uses atmosphere and symbolism to create a sense of tension and unease. This book also has one of the best opening paragraphs I have ever read!

#screamathon

Checking out a new coffee shop that opened on the little Main St in our town. Our Main St is kind of run down, and a lot of businesses have failed. I hope this one makes it, it has a great vibe that I can usually only find by driving in to Charlotte!

Reading a classic for the first time ever!

Finally got to watch this on Netflix. I enjoyed it!

#Scarathlon #TeamStoker +4pts
@TheReadingMermaid

(Pts total=506)

This one has been on my #tbr for ages. It‘s probably my favorite book of 2019 so far. Merricat stole my heart and is now one of my all time favorite narrators. I must admit, I‘m bad at predicting plot twists.

Last night I got to watch this movie. Wish I had the read the book before watching. #scarathlon #teamstoker @TheReadingMermaid

Hmm, maybe my expectations were too high but I still enjoyed this little gothic tale. Lovely writing but so predictable. 🤷‍♀️ #scarathlon #ScaryScavengerHunt #teamstoker

Just finished this today. So good! @Clwojick #scarathlon #TeamSlaughter #halloween

This might be the most popular book on Litsy that I hadn't read until now, which seems ironic at first glance considering this is a work about social outcasts. But maybe it's not so incongruous: as readers in an increasingly non-reading world, it's tempting to want to retreat into our worlds of imagination. We are all of us Constance, wanting to make the effort to connect to others, even as our inner Merricat tempts us to withdraw. Loved it 🖤

Be careful of the sugar bowl, y‘all! Love this strange and wonderful book. Fun that it fits today‘s photo prompt, “poison” for the #ChillingPhotoChallenge! #poison #horror #TeamSlaughter @Clwojick

This was good and weird, but not nearly as dramatic as the movie, especially the ending. (2pts. 1 for book, 1 for post)

#TeamStoker #Scarathlon @TheReadingMermaid

I missed a day for #screamathonphotochallenge because yesterday was a whirlwind. Catching up!

If you‘ve read this, you know all about the #poison. If you have not, do yourself a favor and add some Shirley Jackson to your life. 🖤

Watching this one with the kids tonight. I loved the book and so far I'm enjoying the movie. Even though it's more like Castle Lite. 😆
2 pts for #teamslaughter #scarathlon @Clwojick

#Poison 😉

#ScreamathonPhotoChallenge
#Screamathon

I read this about 5 to 6 years ago, & it still gives me the chills. That shows how powerful Jackson‘s writing is, & how well this story was written. All I can say is, it‘s unputdownable. It was so good that my hubby had to call me, then text me (because my phone was on silent LOL) , to get me out of my hiding place to go out for lunch.

An atmospheric, creepy, eerie & bone-chilling read. Great for Halloween! Also read: The Haunting of Hill House🦇

This is the only #Orange book in my collection. #ChillingPhotoChallenge #TeamStoker @TheReadingMermaid

I feel like I‘m in the minority with this one, but I still don‘t know if I liked it or if I didn‘t. It was an odd book I feel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

On another note. I haven‘t worked at Barnes and Noble for over a year now and I ran into one of my story time regulars tonight at Target and apparently I broke a little boys heart. Probably his grandmothers more because I would take time and we would sit and talk for an hour at a time most weeks.

Hey group O 👋👋👋 Here are a few books I'd like to throw out as options. Let me know what you think! @collegecatlady @JoScho @Marmie7

‪can already tell i‘m going to blow through this book quickly, so strange and creepy and odd, i can‘t put it down. i‘m absolutely going to be reading all of Shirley Jackson‘s novels, what a great writer💀 can‘t wait to see the film adaptation on netflix when i‘m finished ‬

I can‘t believe I‘ve waited years to read this, it was absolutely brilliant! Taking place six years after the mass murder of a family, the three remaining members live in isolation. Fear, alienation, love, loyalty, evil, and greed are just some of the themes explored in this gothic novel. Really wonderfully done. 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

This has been on my TBR list for a long time! I‘m excited to finally be starting it!

I have been meaning to read this book for awhile so October seemed like a suitable month to do so. I have really enjoyed Shirley Jackson's other works, and this had a similar, creepy atmosphere to it. I liked this book quite a bit but it was slightly predictable so I didn't find it to be as good as The Lottery, etc.. I read it all in one sitting though and I really felt unsettled after doing so. Happy early Halloween! 💀🎃🏚️

Hell is other people, I guess. Movie wasn't bad, though I've heard it's not exactly the same as the book that I haven't read yet. (2pts. 1 for movie, 1 for post)

#teamstoker #Scarathlon @TheReadingMermaid

Wow. My favorite Jackson so far. Great deep characters and an eerie feel throughout. Hubby and I watched the Netflix movie last night which was good but as usual I prefer the book. Some of the changes they made were strange and very much changed the subtext.

Read this! Perfect for Spooktober!

Listening to this one for #Scarathlon #screamathon. #TeamStoker
I think I have it figured out. Oh Merricat!
I 🖤 gothic tales.
@TheReadingMermaid

I‘ve started listening to the tagged book on audible today. I‘ve eyes this one for a while now.

It‘s almost October - time for some spooky reads! 🎃👻🎃 Starting with this one I‘ve been meaning to read for a while. Then I can watch the movie!

spooky reads 🧡🖤🎃 excited about this

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A bizarre family tragedy leaves two sisters and an uncle as a large estate‘s lone inhabitants. They are pariahs ridiculed by the town. A strange atmosphere surrounds this story and these girls. This, my first Shirley Jackson, was entrancing. So eccentric and mysterious. The unanswered likely annoys some, but it‘s really not important. Loved it!

#7days7covers #covercrush Day 4
7 days, 7 covers you love, no explanation. Try to tag someone new each day.

Anyone who hasn‘t been tagged yet you‘re invited to join in! ✌🏼

#7days7covers Day 3 #covercrush