Bluebeard's Castle: A Novel (Verso Fiction)

As a fan of Anna Biller's storytelling I was very keen to consume her latest offering. I was nervous going in because I had high expectations. Bluebeard's Castle is a banger. Women traverse this world assessing a slew of obstacles designed to keep us anxious to what and who surrounds us. The story of Judith, as fanciful as it is, reminds us that our sex determines how we navigate such obstacles. This gothic romance horror has it all and it's very clever and truthful. It gets ugly and it's confronting. It's also rich with descriptive passages that make it an absolute treat for those who enjoy Ms Biller's films.You may recognize yourself in Judith. I did and that was scary. Oh and there are some delightful comedic moments. I can't wait for a film version.

I eagerly anticipated reading this book and as much as I was sure I would love it my expectations were exceeded. Highly recommended

I feel like I just read a draft of a novel. Or like I just spent five hours listening to somebody tell me in painstaking detail about a movie that I haven't seen. And maybe I initially wanted to see the movie, but now I absolutely don't because, for the love of gawd, can this please just be over now? This is a shame because I really had been excited to read a feminist retelling of the Bluebeard tale type. Sadly, Bluebeard's Castle isn't that. It isn't that at all.Here's a quick run-down of my major grievances:1. The character growth is almost imperceptible. Since they're all caricatures to begin with, this might be excusable if the writing were more engaging, the plot better developed, and the dialogue more frequent and less stilted. Alas, alas, alas.2. Far too much time was spent describing the scenery and costuming rather than the interactions between characters. No doubt this is part of why it felt like somebody was telling me about a movie they'd watched rather than actually telling me a story. Funny thing about reading a book—I actually wanted a story.3. Straight-up telling the reader to make a connection between what they're reading and a classic gothic novel—which the author does repeatedly—is not the same thing as making a literary allusion. It shows a lack of trust in your audience and is incredibly condescending. Ditto for sermonizing at the end of the book.So, I clearly didn't like this book. It didn't read as 'camp' for me, nor did it read as feminist, or subversive, or erotic. Maybe if it had been one of those things I could have enjoyed it. Honestly, the only reason I read it through to the end was to determine whether to give it one star or two. It earned two only because the writing, character growth, and plot development weren't good enough to make any of my thematic complaints (which I didn't even get into here....you're welcome) truly objectionable.If you're looking for good gothic horror, keep looking.

I read Anna Biller's (director, writer, set designer, and basically everything-er of The Love Witch) new novel Bluebeard's Castle. And I really found it to be quite the addictive and enchanting read, though all of the criticisms of the book that you'll see on Goodreads and Amazon are completely legitimate.The book very much does read like a screenplay -- there are long descriptions of interior design and costumes, sometimes positioned in the middle of a scene in ways that break up the emotional momentum, to a hilarious effect. For example, in one sequence the protagonist is considering a gruesome vision of suicide, and then looks in the mirror to admire her hobble skirt and reflect that she's looking very sexy.Some of The Love Witch's less charitable viewers didn't understand the way Biller's work sweeps from the grand and romantic to the self-involved and frivolous, but it's clearly intentional, and it works on the page for me just as well as it did on the screen. You just have to have the irreverent, glamorous toxic girl sensibility for it. If you love the way Lana Del Rey mixes the high and low brows, the tragic with the prosaic, you'll lap it up here too.In some cases, Biller's descriptions do feel like placeholders, or are so generically written that it would make perfect sense in a script (because there is an entire team working on the film that can bring a "sexy" dress or a "lovely" piece of furniture to life), but which falls flat here. Because I know Biller's aesthetic style so well, when she tells me that room is sumptuous or well-appointed, I can picture precisely what she means, and most of the time she is so specific with her descriptions of outfits and accessories that you can easily conjure what she's going for. At some random moments, though, things are underwritten and demand that you as the reader fill in the details she normally provides.Bluebeard's Castle is the story of a contemporary romance novelist and converted Catholic virgin, Judith, who falls under the seductive spell of an aloof, gruff, emotionally volatile Baron's-son, Gavin, who sweeps her off her feet following a fated encounter at a wedding. After a whirlwind romance and a hasty wedding, Biller's protagonist moves into a remodeled castle with her brooding lover, and the cracks in his shining armor begin to show. The charm of the love interest is something of an informed attribute; you have to believe the narrator that he is handsome and dracula-like (or believe that she believes it) in order to allow the story to move along. Since this is a tragedy rather than a romance novel, I think that buy-in is relatively easy to provide. The sex scenes are largely left to the margins as well; this book isn't meant to titilate but rather pull you into Judith's rich, sad, delusional inner world.Some of the most positive reviews of Bluebeard's Castle describe this as a novel about how and why women find themselves entrapped within abusive relationships. As someone who has been in abusive relationships, I think this truly is where Biller's writing excels -- and she truly gets what it's like to become romantically and sexually addicted to someone who is bad for you to a degree that is almost embarrassing to see oneself reflected in. She truly gets it -- the way you excuse small violations, blot out any consideration of your own consent, justify unexpected outbursts from your partner and then take steps to prevent them, the way you must romanticize every single tender moment, rewrite the gradual conditioning of your own behavior as yourself becoming a canny, subtle manipulator of the situation, and color in between the lines of a truly unfulfilling existence with grand narratives and self-serving lies.It's not a pretty portrait -- Bluebeard's Judith has a fanciful, inconsistent mind, constantly swapping between admitting to herself that her husband has mistreated her, and seeking refuge in religion, fantasy, alcohol, sex, and self-negation in order to convince herself that such abuses did not really happen, or don't really matter. She also uses other people -- leaning on her sister and a former romantic interest, the respectful, reliable doctor Tony -- extracting as much attention and support from them as she possibly can when she and Gavin are in a rough patch, then abandoning them entirely the moment he returns to her. I think a reader who hasn't been in an extended abusive relationship will probably find Judith infuriating and unsympathetic. But as someone who has done and been all of these things, I feel incredibly exposed by Biller's narrative, in a bracing way. It's like a shot of cold water to the face.Many people will justifiably write this book off as melodramatic and arch, but I think it perfectly nails the alluring drama of being wrapped up within a terrible relationship dynamic. When you're being abused and you deeply love your abuser, you are absolutely fascinated by their unpredictable emotions and your own love -- you think constantly about how you might elicit the treatment from them that your heart longs for, you're reading into their every gesture and expression all the time, and you're inventing satisfying explanations for your situation in your head all the time. It's an isolated, deluded life, but it's pleasurably intense too sometimes, and those of us who fall prey to it often have some deeper longing for connection and passion that makes us easier to prey on. Biller really understands that.If you adored The Love Witch, you'll probably have a lot of patience for this book's flaws and feel appropriately targeted by its strengths. Sad girls, Virgin Suicides fans, BPD baddies, Jane Eyre lovers, grown up former Twilight readers, and all kinds of other pitiful glamorous freaks will enjoy it.

I just reviewed Bluebeard's Castle by Anna Biller. #BluebeardsCastle #NetGalley I believe the story line with so much historical importance had an entertaining start but would have expected more from the Love Witch Director.

The protagonist’s gripping experience as a woman blinded by her love of a potential sociopath felt authentically rendered based on my own experiences dating charismatic men. The shame Judith feels trying to wrap her head around what is real and what is rendered was very familiar, and will leave an indelible mark on anyone that has tried to parse the head from the heart. Also, stylistically the novel is just, *chef’s kiss,* perfection. Anyone who loves noir, the Bronte sisters, old Hollywood, fashion, castles and gothic lore will love this book. Bravo, Anna Biller!

Loved this book.

I was thinking of buying this but had my doubts but then I finally did and IT IS SO GOOD ! Anna Biller is brilliant and I hope this book becomes a movie cause I could totally see it 🎀

I loved this novel. It presents a modern take to the 'damsel in distress' tale type. It is quite cinematic in its descriptions of interiors, clothes and characters. It will be appreciated by gothic novel enthusiasts and cinephiles who love Old Hollywood movies such as Marnie and Rebecca!

I couldn’t put it down! I adore Anna Biller work and when I heard she wrote a novel I bought it immediately!