Gothic Fiction Read-along 2018 discussion

We will start to read and discuss this book on the 12th October.

It's the 12th of October and that means we can start chatting about We Have Always Lived in the Castle. Remember if you need to write spoilers please hide them with the correct html.

I'm just finishing Jamaica Inn but I have read this one before so should be able to join in the discussion from the get go!

I have my copy ready on my Kindle. Would like to finish up Snow Flower and the Secret Fan first before I make a start though.

Anna wrote: "I have my copy ready on my Kindle. Would like to finish up Snow Flower and the Secret Fan first before I make a start though."

Aw I love that book! Not read it for years though.

It is soooo good - apart from the chapter re footbinding - made me feel a wee bit sick!

Blossom wrote: "I'm on chapter 4 right now. I'm really enjoying it, such a weird relationship between Merricat, Constance and their Uncle Julian. I'm intrigued"

Glad you're enjoying it. I'm on chapter 3. I have read it before but I'm loving it just as much this time. Love how she talks about living on the moon, her writing is so lovely.

I do agree, the parts where she talks about living on the moon are lovely. I actually really loved the narration and the way Marricat's mind worked and processed everything. I don't know how I feel about the story, but I did really enjoy the writing, the characters and the atmosphere. Once I started this I couldn't put it down. I definitely liked it more than Jamaica Inn, though I think it's quite unfair to compare them.
(view spoiler)[ I am quite torn on Charles because on one hand he just seems plain horrible, but at the same time we've only got Marricat's perspective and she is a really unreliable narrator. Do you think he was in it for the money or do you think he actually cared about Constance to some extent? (hide spoiler)]

Anca wrote: "I do agree, the parts where she talks about living on the moon are lovely. I actually really loved the narration and the way Marricat's mind worked and processed everything. I don't know how I feel..."

This is a re-read for me and some parts I've forgotten, but reading it knowing the story is actually helping me formulate some more informed opinions than the first time round. (view spoiler)[Re-reading makes me realise how massively unreliable Merricat is and how rather unhinged she is actually :D so everything she is saying obviously makes Charles sound awful but perhaps he is trying to help. I can't ultimately remember what happens with Charles. Remind me! (hide spoiler)]

Jenny wrote: "Anca wrote: "I do agree, the parts where she talks about living on the moon are lovely. I actually really loved the narration and the way Marricat's mind worked and processed everything. I don't kn..."

(view spoiler)[When the house burns he is trying to take away the money and then he comes back after a while trying to talk to Constance. It seems like he did come back for the money, but then again we only have Merricat's perspective. I mean it's quite safe to say he is a greedy character, but I do think he might have actually tried to help Constance to some extent. It would have been easier for him to run with the money early on considering he was way more rational than the others, I don't see the point of him sticking around if his ultimate goal was getting the money. (hide spoiler)]

Just finished this and completely agree with Anca that once I started I couldn't put it down! Loved the feel of the book - kind of a gothic fairytale with dark humour thrown in. Despite everything I found Merricat to be a really likeable character.

(view spoiler)[ The only thing that I don't like is not knowing why the family were poisoned and whether Constance had any role in it. I felt like I needed a bit of closure on that (hide spoiler)]

Leanne wrote: "Just finished this and completely agree with Anca that once I started I couldn't put it down! Loved the feel of the book - kind of a gothic fairytale with dark humour thrown in. Despite everything ..."

I have been thinking about that as well and I have a theory about the entire thing (sort of).
(view spoiler)[ I think the scene where Merricat thinks about her family when going to the summer house is the key to the entire thing. I feel like she is imagining quite the opposite of what her relationship with them was like and that means the family mistreated her quite often. Or maybe it was Merricat who felt she was being wronged, she is quite unreliable when it comes to how people truly treat her. But in any way, this led to her poisoning them and while we don't have much insight in Connie's mindset to know how much she contribuited, I think she just covered for her sister. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[ Yes I thought that could be the case. I also wondered if maybe it was Constance being mistreated by the family and Merricat poisoned them as revenge as she did seem to be trying to protect her older sister throughout the book. Might explain Constance's behaviour as she would feel guilty/ complicit. (hide spoiler)]

I love that this book has generated so much discussion.

I wonder if the whole story is one big metaphor for something. Don't know what :D (view spoiler)[The villagers didn't like the family did they because they shut off the path/road can't quite remember. But I never did get why they'd be hostile to a young girl when Merricat goes into the village or when the house burns down and Uncle Julian dies. Merricat reminded me of a character in a film or another book I'm sure. The way when she got angry and annoyed at Charles she would just name poisonous mushrooms. For the life of me can't remember which one though. (hide spoiler)]

If anyone is in the US there is a lovely edition being given away of We Have Always Lived in the Castle on Goodreads at the moment. Just go to the book's page.