Classic country-house scenes of deliciously venomous dialogue are interspersed with visions and mysterious occurrences that give the whole book the quality of a nightmare from which it is singularly difficult to wake. Given that most of the characters detest most of the others, the mind boggles at what will happen when their already-insular social circle is made even smaller. The premise is, to say the least, odd: a megalomaniac matriarch, along with various descendants and hangers-on, have gathered in her walled estate to await the end of the world, of which they expect to be the only survivors. It is funny, sometimes hilariously so, but it’s also disorienting and savage and mystifying. If you decide to follow our lead, just be aware that this is a very strange book. Because Jenny’s enthusiasm cannot be easily ignored. But I was sidelined by Jenny’s enthusiasm for The Sundial and decided to read that instead, to start with anyway. So, I was thinking I would read Life Among the Savages for Shirley Jackson Reading Week, because it’s a humorous book about living with small children (for which a sense of humor certainly comes in handy), and seemed like a fun summer read.
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