ONTD Book Club discussion

Discuss away!!!

I was so conflicted by what I felt for Merricat at the end of this book. I think that's what ultimately affected my rating.

I really cannot wait to read more of Jackson's work though. She's got such an imagination.

I have this out from the library, I will read it next.

Woo! I was able to find the ebook. :D

This is one of my FAVORITE books. I haven't read it since high school but it really stuck with me. Wonderfully creepy.

I really need to re-read it.

I just ordered this from Amazon. Can't wait to read it!

80% in, all read in one sitting. Jackson's writing really sucks you in.
Lots of despicable characters in the book, but can I just say that I despise Charles with a passion? Yuck.

Love this book!

This book made me so uncomfortable while I was reading it, especially towards the end. Jackson did a really good job creating this world and describing it, but I can't say I was a massive fan. This is one of those situations where I can see why someone would like it, but I personally wouldn't want to read anything similar again.

Also, is it just me, or were both our books super creepy and depressing this month?

Yes, we picked two really short, creepy books this month!

@ 70% right now - I should be able to finish this in the bath tonight. I'm interested to see what happens. So far, I don't really like any of the characters, although I love the writing.

Just finished it up last night - great read! Quick, and tense with good writing and characters. I loved how the relationship between Constance and Merricat was both so caring yet so dysfunctional. Pretty much every character was awful in their own way, but I still really enjoyed it. But I agree, Emy, that Charles was just horrible. Hated him.

I added a "creepy" shelf because of this one.

I read this in about 3 hours and really enjoyed it. I wish we could have gotten to know the motive behind the parents' death but not really knowing amped up the creepiness.

Caroline wrote: "I read this in about 3 hours and really enjoyed it. I wish we could have gotten to know the motive behind the parents' death but not really knowing amped up the creepiness."

I thought we did get the motive, just not explicitly. I'll put my thoughts behind spoiler tags to be safe.

(view spoiler)[At one point, Merricat has a dream (or a vision, I don't quite remember) where she is eating dinner with her whole family and the parents are praising her and calling her their most loved daughter, who must never be punished, etc. etc. I got from that that Merricat probably felt very unloved/ignored by her family and in her mind, that's how they should have treated her. In reality, they probably favored the beautiful and talented Constance, and the baby and only boy, Thomas. So I imagine she grew very resentful of this lack of attention, and that coupled with some mental instability, lead to the murders. (hide spoiler)]

Laura wrote: "Caroline wrote: "I read this in about 3 hours and really enjoyed it. I wish we could have gotten to know the motive behind the parents' death but not really knowing amped up the creepiness."

I tho..."

I thought that was it as well. (view spoiler)[ I also assumed that is why Merricat was sort of stunted at the age she committed the murders. (hide spoiler)]

Jessica wrote: "I thought that was it as well. (view spoiler)[I also assumed that is why Merricat was sort of stunted at the age she committed the murders. (hide spoiler)]
"

Yes!

(view spoiler)[About halfway through the book they mentioned the characters' ages and I was shocked that Merricat was 18. Based on her behavior, and completely forgetting the first line of the book that says 18, I pegged her for a preteen. She was definitely stunted after the murders. (hide spoiler)]