Great work, Kellen!

March reads! Such a varying spectrum. Not really a mood reader. I usually read a book that leads me to another and I have to consume immediately for further understanding, resulting in such an array of book genres in my lists. The most maddening of the bunch is My Dark Vanessa. I think all parents should read it to understand from a victims perspective, how grooming occurs so easily. Yesterday a report was released that more students are having sex with their teachers. It’s eerie how the timing of the books I read somehow pair with current. April will be a mix of feel good Bridgerton (all on Everand audio books) AND intense dark/taboo reads; Lolita, Being Lolita, Vladimir, The Lottery- required for understanding modern authors.

We Have Always Lived In The Castle - Book Review Jackson is one of my favorite authors! Hypnotic prose is her specialty. She doesn’t need big plot twists to keep you glued to the page; the psychological tension and the weight of what remains unsaid are more than enough. If you love stories that reward careful attention and let you sit with unease and human complexity, this one delivers. Similar to The Haunting of Hill House, Jackson gives the estate itself an almost living presence. It feels like the house has a quiet, protective (or possessive) influence over Merricat and Constance. It’s an undercurrent that isn’t super obvious but is definitely there. There are subtle hints that Merricat carries deep childhood wounds, and in my opinion those wounds are the root of her idiosyncrasies and rituals. She’s strong-willed, highly intelligent, and wicked. Constance, the older sister, just seems to shrug away Merricat’s weirdness like it isn’t anything to be concerned about. Once you realize how old these sisters are, it becomes very clear there is—and there had to be—a lot more to their past. It’s a shorter book that will sit with me for a long while.

Definitely, The Power of Life.