Short & Sweet Treats discussion

Let’s discuss books 6 through 10 and your overall impressions of the book.

Any favorite quotes or favorite moments?

How was it compared to what you thought it would be?

Would you recommend it to a friend?

Share with us.

It's not as 'supernatural' or frightening as I thought it would be. I expect Merrycat and Constance were revealed to be not 'human' in the end, but they interact with several other characters, so it's not possible. Although I enjoy it, there's too much unresolved question for me, especially regarding to the event of poisoning.

(view spoiler)[Why did Merricat poison her father, mother, brother, and aunt? It was stated several times that they 'deserved to die' but never explicit why. Also, why was Constance and Uncle Julian spared? It seems to me that Merricat didn't hate her family... Sure she is neurotic, maybe even psychotic, but I have not understand her motivation. Murdering her own family when she was 12! Something bad must be happened before that. (hide spoiler)]

I find it interesting that there is not much flashback. Most of the story of the past Blackwood poisoning was told from the account of Uncle Julian. I think some flashback would be nice, though, I'd like to know what exactly was happened then?

Sure I would recommend it to friends, I'd like to hear what they thought of this story, maybe they have some interesting theory/interpretation that I haven't thought about myself.

Vera wrote: "It's not as 'supernatural' or frightening as I thought it would be. I expect Merrycat and Constance were revealed to be not 'human' in the end, but they interact with several other characters, so i..."

So far I just started chapter 6, so I'm holding off to see how I feel overall. I do enjoy the book so far. I just finished about How Uncle Julian is writing a book about his experiences while he laments of his wife's final morning on earth. He said he would have let her have more sausage for breakfast had he known it was her last morning on earth. Creepy!

why is Merricat so jealous of Cousin Charles?

I think that she is jealous of Cousin Charles because he is disrupting the order of the house and trying to change things. Also, I think there is some jealousy there too. He threatens her and Constance's relationship.

One of my favorite parts that really just shows how warped Merricat's mind is and just how she thinks is on page 172.

"The library books were still on their shelf, untouched and I supposed that no one had wanted to touch books belonging to the library; there was a fine after all, for destroying library property."

I really liked this book and would definitely recommend it to friends. Especially to get their thoughts on it.

I finished the book today. I love in the end how Merricat and Constance are happily isolated. :)

I loved this book the first time around. But second time around, not quite as much.

Perhaps it's only natural, since this time around I already knew the answer to many of my questions (such as WHO and WHAT) and wasn't hanging on every little word or phrase anymore.

I spent a lot of effort and attention trying to figure out why this time and didn't come much closer. Obviously Uncle Julian was supposed to die, and it's pretty certain that Constance was intended to be spared from the start.

But why? That's a mystery. We only get Uncle Julian's summary of that day, and he's not very reliable.

It seems likely that Constance was close to Merricat from the very beginning. I wonder what Constance was like before that night? Was she agoraphobic then? Did she always have the phobia of strangers? Or did she develop that during her stint in jail or after the trial with the house surrounded by townsfolk and reporters?

She seems rather fond of Charles from the start. Is that all Merricat's imagination, or did they know each other well before the poisoning? From the general context of things, she would have still been of marriageable age back then, so her being in a relationship or engaged wouldn't be out of the question.

What was Merrikat like before she was put in the orphanage? Was she obsessed with sympathetic magic and charms like she is now? Did she bury and hide things? Was she as afraid of her safe little world changing?

Wow Melanti some of these are good questions I haven't even considered.

I do feel that the sisters were in fact isolated prior to the poisonings. Their reclusive existence seems very natural and very comfortable to them.

LaLaLa Laura wrote: "... Their reclusive existence seems very natural and very comfortable to them. "

Keep in mind that the poisoning was six years ago, so even assuming the trial took a year, that's still five years with the three of them alone together in that home. That's plenty of time to become accustomed to any style of living.

And considering that length of time, Merrikat was twelve, I think, when it happened.

good points melanti.

overall I enjoyed the book and the creepiness of this eccentric family. I'm glad I finally read it as it was in my tbr list for awhile :)

I think Merricat didn't get as much attention from her family as she wanted. I'm judging this from the scene at the cottage where she's imagining them at dinner talking about her being the favorite. I think perhaps Constance was the only one who really paid attention to her. Maybe Merricat also wanted to spare Constance from having to care for everyone (cooking, cleaning, etc.) and she wanted her for herself (another reason she hates Charles being there). Merricat is a sociopath. I don't think Constance was abnormal prior to the poisoning or really afterwards, either. I think she was just scared of everyone because they treated her like a murderer. I can't believe how accepting she is of Merricat and what she did, though. I guess she really loves her. Great book! I really enjoyed it. Perfect Halloween read.

I did not know this about Shirley Jackson, Mary. I'm going to read more about her life now.

I think it's great that you joined in on the conversation since the book discussions are never closed out! Thank you !!

Jackson is a favourite of mine amongst female writers. I have never read this book, and I probably never will.

Um... She's your favorite yet you refuse to read a book of hers?

Why?

Melanti wrote: "Um... She's your favorite yet you refuse to read a book of hers?

Why?"

I know it sounds irrational but I have my reasons.