I finished We Have Always Lived In The Castle, by Shirley Jackson and thought it was really good. I knew it was considered a classic but I was put off reading it because I really did not enjoy The Haunting of Hill House by the same author. I found Castle much more interesting. I loved the main character Merricat and I wonder if the author based this character on herself as I gather she was quite a recluse. There was a lot of symbolism within the book which normally goes over my head but I did seem to notice more themes within this book. I think this book would be great to study as part of a book study for an English course.

I started The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris on the train into work this morning but haven't got very far with that.

On the graphic novel front I read volumes 3 to 5 inclusive of Saga, by Brian K Vaughan. I am still enjoying the series. New characters are constantly added to the story and they all seem very interesting. I got volumes 6 to 8 out the library and will read those over the next couple of weeks. I started The Best We Could Do, by Thi Bui and I am about halfway through. The story is very interesting and whilst it is bleak in places it's not relentlessly bleak which I was worried it would be.

Edit: Typo. Meant to put "Tattooist" rather than "Tattooish"...

Finished We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

Started The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien and The Idiot, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I've read bits and pieces of the Silmarillion so I'm pretty excited to go through the whole thing finally

Finished:

Heartbreaker, by Claudia Rey

This was a weird one but I liked it. It takes place on a somewhat undefined cult territory and explores the disappearance of a woman from three different perspectives - her daughter, her dog (yes, her dog), and her teenage lover. I found it very easy to read and the prose quite interesting.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

I read The Haunting of Hill House a couple of months back and it wasn't really my favourite. However, after finishing it, I did listen to a biography of Shirley Jackson, which helped me have a greater understanding and appreciation of her work. It definitely inspired me to pick up a few more of her books and I am glad I did - We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a fantastic read.

Say Nothing, by Patrick Radden Keefe

This is a fantastic history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland that initially begins with a simple mystery, the disappearance of Jean McConville, a thirty-eight-year-old mother of ten. It was both sad and humorous at times and I thought very well balanced, explaining the motivations of the IRA but at the same time, highlighting some of the crueler acts perpetrated by both sides during the Troubles. I highly highly recommend it.

Started reading:

The Stand, by Stephen King

I really enjoy Stephen King and I had heard good things about this one, but I'm having trouble getting into it. I'm about 15% in (which is quite a bit as it's a long book) and I'm almost finding it a bit boring, like there's a bit too much exposition and build-up. I'm going to keep going for now since a lot of people seem to like this one.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson and enjoying it so far.

I finished My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh. It was fine. I liked long stretches of it, and was underwhelmed by other parts. I absolutely struggled with the protagonist. I felt like she was about 3 different characters and none of them meshed together, so I couldn't understand her.

I also read We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. I was so-so about this as I was reading it. I absolutely loved The Haunting of Hill House, but WHALitC didn't grip me the same way.

His Last Bow, by Arthur Conan Doyle

Enjoyed. Still better than the novels but you can see that Doyle was tired of Holmes stories.

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The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson

A big disappointment. I can't believe in many who said this is the most freightening story ever.

The characters behave like children and you can see that Eleanor is a bitter person. And the comic duo at the end is so so so so anticlimax.

The Hill House is not haunted but spoilers for the end

This is the worst book that I read in the last two years.

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We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

I had another book from her and this one can't be worst than the last one, right? The beginning sure is boring but at least the characters are more interesting. Still in the 3rd chapter. Let's see how this one will end.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

I usually don't hate a character, but I hate Merricat. She is now in my list of characters that I hate (the others are Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights; and Frank Cauldhame from The Wasp Factory). Well, the book is silly. I have read fan theories more interesting that the story itself (and I saw some feminist theories too, and they are as bad as they sound).

Well, there is not much to say about this book. It seems more like a black humor book and for me Mary Katherine is a sociopath; Constance is a bitter virgin; Charles is a family sucker; and Uncle Julian is the only SANE person in the whole book.

Well, no more Shirley Jackson for me. Two awful experiences are enough.

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle

Just started. The last Sherlock Holmes stories. I am reading them in the publishing order. It is almost time to say goodbye to my old friend.

Finished up Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell and really enjoyed it. Might start Blink soon. Also finally made some headway until Terror, by Dan Simmons. It took a while but I'm into it now. Might still take some time to finish, but it's got me hooked.

Also began We Have Always Lived in This Castle, by Shirley Jackson. It's a quick read, should be done by the end of the day.

The Ballad of Peckham Rye, by Muriel Spark. Just started this. Not convinced by it as yet but I'll give it more time.

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Recently finished We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson which was a downright weird book. I enjoyed it but, man, was this a strange book.

This week I finished We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. This was a let down for me unfortunately. I absolutely loved The Haunting of Hill House, and I think that coloured my expectations. Also if I read "Silly Merricat" one more time I'll scream.

Next I started After You by Jojo Moyes because I saw my sister had a copy and I liked the first book. This was a DNF 70 pages in. Soo cheesy.

As it's October I wanted to try another spooky read - I saw the new Pet Sematary by Stephen King movie trailer so I decided to pick up the book. Definitely a great concept, but damn if I didn't struggle with Louis as a character. What a d-bag. Also the writing felt very blah. I've read a few King's but only Carrie and IT from his horror stuff - I liked them immensely. Seems like PS just wasn't for me :(

Finished The Tainted City, by Courtney Schafer. An enjoyable follow-up in this series. Looking forward to the final book sometime in the near future. Not a huge fan of one of the main characters of the series losing his memory. But it was well done from the standpoint of the character not acting exactly the same just not knowing certain things. His personality was altered and able to be more influenced by those around him, in addition to the lost memories making him more paranoid and skeptical about certain things.

Still reading We Have Always Lived in the Castly, by Shirley Jackson. For a short, 146 page story, I seem to be dragging my feet on this one. Probably another sign that slice of life stories that are just a window into how characters are living just aren't for me. They usually feel slow and semi-pointless to me and so struggle to grab my interest.

Started Alif the Unseen, by G. Willow Wilson. Not very far in yet so no real opinion of it yet.

Finished A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine and All You Need is Kill, by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.

Currently reading The Tainted City, by Courtney Schafer and We Have Always Lived in the Castly, by Shirley Jackson.

Memory Called Empire was fine, some interesting concepts and characters, but nothing especially stood out.

All You Need is Kill was pretty good. Liked its version of the story better than the movie adaptation that come out of it (Edge of Tomorrow).

I finished Ringworld, by Larry Niven which I thought was really good but the fate of one of the major characters was not resolved by the end which I found annoying. There are other books in the series but I think these cover different eras in the history of the Ringworld so not sure it will cover the character. I will try the next book in the series at some point.

I started reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson. I previously read The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and found it a bit boring but a lot of friends have recommended We Have Always Lived in the Castle so thought I would give it a go. I'm only a couple of pages in.

My local HMV store is closing down so had a sale where books were £3 each or 2 for £5. Most of the books were what I would class as "books that University Students would read to look cool" such as Fight Club, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Trainspotting. I bought Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. I was expecting to pay £10 but the guy only charged me £8. I figured he forgot to scan one of the books or didn't care if he was losing his job soon.

Finished

The Supernatural Enhancements, by Edgar Cantero

Bush Falls, by Jonathan Tropper

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

Started

Master and Apprentice, by Claudia Gray

I'm currently reading The Other, by Thomas Tryon

Finished We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson That was not what I was expecting. I guess I was expecting horror, but I didn't even read the synopsis. I have just seen it mentioned here multiple times and figured, Why Not?

We Have Always Lived in The Castle, by Shirley Jackson

Made it half way and had to put it down. I bought it based on the premise (an entire town ostracising you for allegedly killing your family? Yes please!) And Jackson's fame, but apart from the first chapter the whole book has just been two sisters and their uncle preparing for dinner and reminiscing.

The Poppy War, by R.F. Kuang

I'm 100 pages in and this one I've been enjoying quite a bit since page 1. It's a big book, size and page wise and I've finally accepted that I'm a slow reader so I'll probably be on this one until Christmas.

Finished:

Elantris, by Brandon Sanderson - It's so good. That's an amazing example of how fantasy books should be written. Can't wait for the sequel to be released.

The Little Prince, by Antoine de saint Exupery

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson - Loved it. I was afraid that it's over hyped, but it lived up to its expectations, and them some.

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Started:

Club Dead, by Charlaine Harris

Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand Wow. Just wow. I generally don't read nonfiction, but I devoured this book. One of the best books I've read in a long time (and average around 10 a month). What a rollercoaster of emotions.

Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes Oh, my heart.

The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah The new pick for one of the book clubs I'm in. Just got it tonight.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson Starting this one tonight. It's been recommended to me a million times, since I really love eerie reads.

Finished Doctor Sleep and I absolutely loved it! I thought it was an excellent sequel to The Shining. Can't wait for the movie.

Started We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson. Shirley Jackson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I love her writing style.

Forgot to post last week, so two weeks of reading for me.

Finally finished Blood Meridian, by Cormac McCarthy.

Also finished We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson and Head Full of Ghosts, by Paul Tremblay.

Currently reading The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. Le Guin.

I have finally started We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson. After reading a few doorstopper science fictions while on vacation, it's nice to have something short and simple. Plus Jackson is an excellent writer I'd been meaning to get into. While on vacation, I also finished Hyperion, by Dan Simmons and The Reality Dysfunction, by Peter F. Hamilton.

This week I've already finished We have always lived in the castle, by Shirley Jackson , I really loved it, very eerie! I'm starting To kill a mockingbird, by Harper Lee today, which I've never read before, weirdly enough..

Just finished The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson which converted me into a Jackson true-believer. So next up is going to be We Have Always Lived in the Castle, also by Shirley Jackson

Finished:

All These Worlds, by Dennis Taylor

We Have Always Lived In The Castle, by Shirley Jackson

Currently Reading:

The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson

Kabuki: Circle Of Blood, by David Mack

Legion, by Brandon Sanderson

finished : We Have Always Lived In The Castle, by Shirley Jackson

Having finished Annihilation, by Jeff VanderMeer, I'm now shifting gear and starting We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, By Shirley Jackson. About halfway through it and enjoying the way she builds atmosphere and a sense of unease.

Places No One Knows, by Brenna Yovanoff

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

If He Had Been With Me, by Laura Nowlin

Finished Under the Root, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder This was a re-read of a book I loved in middle-school. It's still a good read, though definitely a book for a younger age reader.

Started We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson Only a few pages in so far, I think I came across a recommendation for it here on /r/books.

Slow progress on reading last week. I expect to finish The Deep, by Nick Cutter tonight and I will start House of Leaves, by Mark Z. Danielewski.

My copy of House of Leaves is bulky so I do not expect to read it on my commute so I will also pick up another book. Either Mygale, by Thierry Jonquet or We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson.

Reading We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson and I'm not feeling it as much as I thought I would. The atmosphere is strange and I feel like I'm not getting much by reading it. I am only 35% in, though...

Finished

Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

We Have Always Lived in a Castle, by Shirley Jackson

Started

The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller