Weekend Reads With Cherie Cooper

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Halloween is officially here, and this weekend’s read has it all. Haunted house? Check. Witchcraft? Check. Mysterious family secrets? Double check!

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (epic title) comes to us from the Queen of Horror herself, the legendary Shirley Jackson.

The peculiar young Merricat lives with her gentle sister and ailing uncle in a shadowy Manor that looms large in their small village. Tainted by tragedy, the remaining trio attracts the suspicion of the locals – and Merricat is the only one who ever dares to venture out of the home.

When a man claiming to be a distant relative shows up unexpectedly, he threatens the equilibrium of the family’s insular existence…and Merricat is NOT happy.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle is good, scary fun. There’s a delicious thread of dark humour running through this short, punchy scare fest. Surprisingly, this book is ultimately about the devotion we show our families, even when they push us to the brink.

It’s easy to read in one weekend, paired with some leftover Halloween treats and a cosy blanket.

Cherie Cooper

Cherie lives, works, and reads in beautiful Tasmania – the green island gem below Australia known for its gorgeous landscape and beautiful wildlife. She holds multiple academic qualifications in English, journalism, and fine art theory, and has worked in writing, editing, and communications roles for more than a decade. Most importantly, she has a deep love for books that began as soon as she learned how to read. Old, new, any genre – for Cherie, reading is about as vital as breathing. She is interested in sharing books that move, excite, and compel, so others can share the joy of a truly great read. While she reads across most genres, her favourite is literary fiction. Particularly anything by Margaret Atwood, Ottessa Moshfegh, Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Berg, Ann Patchett, and Anne Tyler. Cherie frequents Tasmania’s beautiful boutique book shops as well as scouring secondhand shops for books to add to her extensive home library. Catch up with her on LinkedIn