YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiousity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.

I'm on hold for the audiobook at the library. I'm next in line so fingers crossed it'll get here soon!

FINALLY got this book. Hope it's not too late for a BR.

Chapter 1: (view spoiler)[I wonder why everyone hates the Blackwood family so much. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[Charles seems to be wanting to take over the Blackwood house. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[So sad what the villagers did to their house. :( (hide spoiler)]

Finished: (view spoiler)[Really not surprised that Merricat was the one who poisoned everyone. Such a sad ending though. (hide spoiler)]

Starting a bit early!!!!

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ Um, why is everyone being such a jerk to Mary Katherine? And what is wrong with Constance? This story is a bit slow for me actually. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ Ok this whole family seems like they are crazy, Julian and his stories, Merricat and her wanting to kill everything all the time... I am pretty sure she is the one who killed the family, Constance and her never wanting to leave... it almost seems like she has an anxiety problem. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Wait, wait (view spoiler)[ is uncle julian really trying to get the 2 cousins to get together? can someone say ewwww!
(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Finish (view spoiler)[ its horrible how the town treated them, I wonder if something actually happened to uncle julian or if he just died of natural causes. It was a very strange story. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

A quick one-wanted to try it before starting The Haunting of Hill House.

Ch1 sets up a rather odd town, with somewhat cruel behaviour. Not entirely sure why the Blackwoods are viewed this way.

23% - (view spoiler)[may be beside the point, but I'm wondering whether Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) took inspiration from this book for ASOUE - the berries Count Olaf offers the Baudelaires in the first book; the sugar bowl that becomes so important later on? (hide spoiler)]

Ch2 - don’t know why they don’t just ignore their callers. Like a weird Victorian freak show.

42% - (view spoiler)[Hmmm, I'm super curious to find out why Merricat is convinced Cousin Charles is a ghost! Also wondering whether that means I can count this as a "ghost story" for my popsugar reading challenge 😂 (hide spoiler)]

63% - (view spoiler)[Uncle Julian saying that Mary Katherine died in the orphanage has been the biggest "wait WHAT" moment so far, and that's really saying something (hide spoiler)]

100% - (view spoiler)[Huh. I was hoping there'd be some big mindblowing twist that changes the whole story, but I kind of like this ending. It's consistent. (hide spoiler)]

Up to ch5. All very odd, and I don’t like the way they keep talking about the last days of the family.

Up to ch8. (view spoiler)[ Is Merricat alive or not? Cousin Charles is awful. (hide spoiler)]

Isabelle wrote: "42% - [spoilers removed]"
LOL I wanted to know too!

Up to ch10. (view spoiler)[ So, it seems Charles was just there for money and whatever else he could get. Can’t believe the actions of the townspeople once the house is on fire. (hide spoiler)]

Finished. Review on home page. That was...odd. I think it’ll be one to return to, and I’m certainly going to try other stuff by Shirley Jackson as I’m convinced there’s a special kind of crazy going on here.

Ch 2 (view spoiler)[Bit confusing so far as to how the towns people do or don't like them. Or a mix? Is it just how Merricat thinks/feels or more? Was it because of the poisoning or does it go back further? (hide spoiler)]

Isabelle wrote: "23% - "

Interesting possible connection.

25%
(view spoiler)[ this is sort of weird and queer. Why are people so scared and at the same time mocking the Blackwoods (hide spoiler)]

50%
(view spoiler)[ I think Charles is greedy in a way, the argument of Mary Katherine and constance, I understand from both point of view (hide spoiler)]

75%
(view spoiler)[ Charles is kinda manipulating constance against her sister? Uncle Julian is dead and there was a fire from Charles room (hide spoiler)]

100% (view spoiler)[ the problem I have with this book is it never answered the question why?
Why did mary poison the household or is there a book 2. (hide spoiler)]

izzy wrote: "25%
[spoilers removed]"

I am struggling to decide what I think of it myself and I am now almost halfway done
(view spoiler)[Like I question if Merricat has autism with how not even her sister can touch her and how she has to have her order, walks and check her treasures. ALso why old food is kept for generations (Ewww). Not to mention yes the townspeople... (hide spoiler)]

80% (view spoiler)[I figured Merricat was the killer. (hide spoiler)]

Done (view spoiler)[So now they just hide away in a broken, burnt home with no supplies until they both die?? Already then. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting February 1st 2023. Happy Reading ☺

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25% End of ch. 2: (view spoiler)[ So now we know why the village people are afraid of the Blackwoods. I have a feeling it was Mary Katherine that poisoned the family and not Constance. The family is a little weird though, what is wrong with Constance, does she have that fear to go out in public? I think uncle Julian got some of the poison that's why he is in a wheelchair and losing his mind. I can't wait to find out who really poised them. (hide spoiler)]

50% End of Ch. 5: (view spoiler)[ How interesting to have this cousin Charles show up now, and what an odd question about Constance keeping the money in the house, why is Constance so comfortable around Charles? Something fishy is certainly going on here. Why is Charles always cutting them off when they mention the day of the poisoning. Mary certainly knows a lot about poison mushrooms! (hide spoiler)]

75% End of Ch. 8: (view spoiler)[ This is so heartbreaking, why are people so rude and what do they get out of destroying the whole house. I think Charles has made himself way too much at home, leaving the Pipe burning in the room was certainly not a good idea, Mary is too evil in my mind or too slow to realize that if she burns the papers the whole house could burn down. It's sad that Uncle Julian died. And Shocker of Shockers! Mary Katherine is the one that poisoned the family, I so knew it and Constance is covering for her, she almost went to jail for her. (hide spoiler)]

Finished... (view spoiler)[ I liked that the village people sent them food after what they did to the house the day of the fire. I like that Charles is out of their lives and that the girls have each other. I think I expected more from this book. Horror part, Marricat was the one that poisoned the family. we don't know why? because she was sent to her room? or because they loved her too much? Idk. (hide spoiler)]

Going to start this today - so excited! My week was a bit chaotic

Alex wrote: "Going to start this today - so excited! My week was a bit chaotic"

Take your time... :)

Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[ Oh wow, I love this book so much. The writing style is perfect and the overall vibe is very the Addams Family. Mary Katherine is a very interesting character - her mind is a bit twisted and makes me wonder if she is the little demon behind all of this.
Uncle Julian is cool as well, although he seems to be all over the place and not very reliable. The setting is eerie and somehow cosy (to me) and I can't wait to find out more about the Blackwoods. (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "25% End of ch. 2: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ Riight?! I had the same thought. There is definitely something going on with Mary Katherine - why was she sent upstairs? What is the actual reason why she wasn't with the family at the table? Sooo curious to find out more. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4

(view spoiler)[ I am getting more and more interested in Constance's character and the relationship she has with her family/sister. The deaths are still a mystery - I really like how the author is describing the death day; so eerie and spooky.

p.s. Jonas is a sweety. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6

(view spoiler)[ I don't like Charles, he seems a bit suspicious to me. It also seems like Constance wants to live a normal life and she's unhappy about how things are at the moment. Hmm (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[ The ending was stunning and symbolistic. The destruction of the house, the hate that becomes an embarrassment, and how the villagers try to redeem themselves by bringing gifts... Everything wrapped up wonderfully and I am happy to have read this after all these years.
Charles was an annoying character until the last moment. Ew.

I am okay with the fact that we never found out why Merricat killed her family. I think it truly adds to the mystery. (hide spoiler)]

Cinthia wrote: "Finished... [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I agree with you. I was expecting something more. There isn't much horror - at least not the obvious kind, and there are not many moments that spooked me. (hide spoiler)]