Since we didn’t have a timeline I didn’t want to spoil anyone’s reading but itching to jump in. I confess I read this quickly at the beginning of the month because another group was reading Hill House.
So with, as you mentioned, the childlike behavior and Merricat’s edge, plus some awfulness that happened earlier with the family, I was really put in a disoriented state wondering what is the real story. Are they ghosts? Are they just resilient and weird, and does the town have true reasons for hating them?
I think it's safe to discuss some of the later elements now. This is the wonderful ambiguity of the novel. Uncle Julian said Merricat was no more....does she live within Connie? Are they one and the same? Are they ghosts? How much of their reality can we take at face value? So many possibilities; I love books like this.
Hopefully everyone is far enough along that this is not a spoiler. The shopping trip in the opening chapters was especially well-crafted and prescient IMO.
Agreed in full. The ritualistic elements, be they occult focused or simply household duties, are a key component within the story. They make the unreliability of Merricat more grounded and believable (to a point). It also highlights how the interruption or disruption of those rituals (from the locals, Charles etc) causes such a negative impact for the household.
I've a lot of time for Uncle Julian. He seems like such a pleasant and kind man, who just wanted the best for everyone and is appalled by greed, jealousy and injustice.
Im late to the party but as a Constance , I hope to be partially excused .
The very first lines steal you into this retro goth neighbourhood of secrets, where the jade china clinks with eerie whispers before each sip of tea ... so much and so little is said about the Uncle ... the two girls ... their actions and words in just that first paragraph.
I did wonder if the quote above (“A little bit, maybe. I can’t help it when people are frightened; I always want to frighten them more.”) was perhaps Shirley injecting a little bit of her own spirit into Merricat.
Most definitely! Charles represents greed, malice and dishonesty. The untrustworthy face of society, as well as a wonderful manifestation of familial greed. He's a rotter, and got off far too lightly, imho.
Since we didn’t have a timeline I didn’t want to spoil anyone’s reading but itching to jump in. I confess I read this quickly at the beginning of the month because another group was reading Hill House.
So with, as you mentioned, the childlike behavior and Merricat’s edge, plus some awfulness that happened earlier with the family, I was really put in a disoriented state wondering what is the real story. Are they ghosts? Are they just resilient and weird, and does the town have true reasons for hating them?
I think it's safe to discuss some of the later elements now. This is the wonderful ambiguity of the novel. Uncle Julian said Merricat was no more....does she live within Connie? Are they one and the same? Are they ghosts? How much of their reality can we take at face value? So many possibilities; I love books like this.
Hopefully everyone is far enough along that this is not a spoiler. The shopping trip in the opening chapters was especially well-crafted and prescient IMO.
I think everyone will have made it close to the end or finished now. The shopping trip is a wonderful setup for so many elements to come...
I'm enjoying how ritualistic the Blackwood household is. Everyday has a reliable rhythm.
The beginning of the story seems to lull the reader into the Blackwood patterns in a surprisingly short amount of time.
Agreed in full. The ritualistic elements, be they occult focused or simply household duties, are a key component within the story. They make the unreliability of Merricat more grounded and believable (to a point). It also highlights how the interruption or disruption of those rituals (from the locals, Charles etc) causes such a negative impact for the household.
Uncle Julian is one of my favorite characters
I've a lot of time for Uncle Julian. He seems like such a pleasant and kind man, who just wanted the best for everyone and is appalled by greed, jealousy and injustice.
Im late to the party but as a Constance , I hope to be partially excused .
The very first lines steal you into this retro goth neighbourhood of secrets, where the jade china clinks with eerie whispers before each sip of tea ... so much and so little is said about the Uncle ... the two girls ... their actions and words in just that first paragraph.
❤️
What a wonderful thought Constance! Thank you so much for sharing. Forgive MY late response..I've been traveling the last few weeks
It’s interesting to think of them as not alive. I think I’m going to have to reread from this perspective! Lol
I did wonder if the quote above (“A little bit, maybe. I can’t help it when people are frightened; I always want to frighten them more.”) was perhaps Shirley injecting a little bit of her own spirit into Merricat.
Most definitely! Charles represents greed, malice and dishonesty. The untrustworthy face of society, as well as a wonderful manifestation of familial greed. He's a rotter, and got off far too lightly, imho.