Bluebeard's Castle
A Novel
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2.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Bluebeard gets a feminist Gothic makeover in this subversive take on the famous French fairy tale — from the acclaimed director of The Love Witch, and for fans of Jane Eyre
When the successful British mystery writer Judith Moore meets Gavin, a handsome and charming baron, at a birthday party on the Cornish coast, his love transforms her from a bitter, lonely young woman into a romance heroine overnight. After a whirlwind honeymoon in Paris, he whisks her away to a secluded Gothic castle. But soon she finds herself trapped in a nightmare, as her husband’s mysterious nature and his alternation between charm and violence become increasingly frightening.
As Judith battles both internal and external demons, including sexual ambivalence, psychological self-torture, gaslighting, family neglect, alcoholism, and domestic abuse, she becomes increasingly addicted to her wild beast of a husband. Why do women stay in abusive relationships? The answer can be found in the tortured mind of the protagonist, whose richly layered fantasy life parallels that of the female Gothic romance reader. Filled with dark humor and evocative imagery, Bluebeard’s Castle is a subversive take on modern romance and Gothic erotica.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Filmmaker Biller debuts with an uninspired homage to Gothic fiction. Judith Moore, a young and successful mystery writer, lives "physically" in present-day London but "mentally" in fairy tales, 18th- and 19th-century novels, and old movies. She's swept away by Byronic hero Gavin Garnet, who lavishes her with attention when they meet at a party. They marry quickly and, at his insistence, move into a Gothic revival castle, Manderfield, in which many a young bride has perished under unusual circumstances. When secrets about Gavin's romantic past and financial situation come to light, raising questions about his purchase of Manderfield, Judith is torn between her desire for her brutish husband and her fear of his violent rages. There are further signs that Gavin is bad news, like when he slices open a rabbit and guzzles its blood, though he does insist on some degree of moderation: "If you have too much blood all you can think about is getting more blood, and that's not healthy." It's a good line, but more often the writing feels flat ("They rolled around on the bed, madly in love, making out like horny teenagers"), especially when compared with Biller's visually stunning movies, such as The Love Witch. There's great material for a film, but as a novel, this falls short.
