I can't really work out what to think of this novel. Although short it packs in a lot of information and really gets under your skin. It is written in a weirdly lyrical and surreal way which makes it hard to work out if the writing is simply disjointed or whether there is a special meaning to the prose.
The basic story - 2 sisters and their terminally sick Uncle Julian are boarded up in a large and impressive house on the outskirts of a village. They have been ever since the older sister Constance was accused and the aquitted over the murder of her remaining family. Her younger sister Mary Katherine "Merricat" spends her days playing outside with her cat Jonas and making the awful trips into the village for groceries, only to be accosted with virtually every person that she comes into contact with. It seems the village still want nothing to do with the family, and therefore when the sister's 'cousin' Charles turns up unexpected and starts imposing himself on the sister's life ( and their money) that something very nasty is gonig to happen.
Speaking as a virgin of Shirley Jackson's work I don't know if I fully understand or appreciate her style, and so this book is a bit of a hit and miss for me. Added to which, nothing is properly explained at the end, and instead we are left with an abrupt finish which leaves the reader very unsatisfied.
One to read, but not one to keep.
Started 4th July
Finished 7th July
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