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Like Mother Used To Make
Unknown Binding
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About the author
Shirley Jackson
340 books11.2k followersShirley Jackson was an influential American author. A popular writer in her time, her work has received increasing attention from literary critics in recent years. She has influenced such writers as Stephen King, Nigel Kneale, and Richard Matheson.
She is best known for her dystopian short story, "The Lottery" (1948), which suggests there is a deeply unsettling underside to bucolic, smalltown America. In her critical biography of Shirley Jackson, Lenemaja Friedman notes that when Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" was published in the June 28, 1948, issue of The New Yorker, it received a response that "no New Yorker story had ever received." Hundreds of letters poured in that were characterized by, as Jackson put it, "bewilderment, speculation and old-fashioned abuse."
Jackson's husband, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, wrote in his preface to a posthumous anthology of her work that "she consistently refused to be interviewed, to explain or promote her work in any fashion, or to take public stands and be the pundit of the Sunday supplements. She believed that her books would speak for her clearly enough over the years." Hyman insisted the darker aspects of Jackson's works were not, as some critics claimed, the product of "personal, even neurotic, fantasies", but that Jackson intended, as "a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the Bomb", to mirror humanity's Cold War-era fears. Jackson may even have taken pleasure in the subversive impact of her work, as revealed by Hyman's statement that she "was always proud that the Union of South Africa banned The Lottery', and she felt that they at least understood the story".
In 1965, Jackson died of heart failure in her sleep, at her home in North Bennington Vermont, at the age of 48.
She is best known for her dystopian short story, "The Lottery" (1948), which suggests there is a deeply unsettling underside to bucolic, smalltown America. In her critical biography of Shirley Jackson, Lenemaja Friedman notes that when Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" was published in the June 28, 1948, issue of The New Yorker, it received a response that "no New Yorker story had ever received." Hundreds of letters poured in that were characterized by, as Jackson put it, "bewilderment, speculation and old-fashioned abuse."
Jackson's husband, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, wrote in his preface to a posthumous anthology of her work that "she consistently refused to be interviewed, to explain or promote her work in any fashion, or to take public stands and be the pundit of the Sunday supplements. She believed that her books would speak for her clearly enough over the years." Hyman insisted the darker aspects of Jackson's works were not, as some critics claimed, the product of "personal, even neurotic, fantasies", but that Jackson intended, as "a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the Bomb", to mirror humanity's Cold War-era fears. Jackson may even have taken pleasure in the subversive impact of her work, as revealed by Hyman's statement that she "was always proud that the Union of South Africa banned The Lottery', and she felt that they at least understood the story".
In 1965, Jackson died of heart failure in her sleep, at her home in North Bennington Vermont, at the age of 48.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 30, 2021
This one has Shirley Jackson's inimitable sense of humor on display. A quick read and worth seeking out for its sense of humor and irony.
P.S. 2 people tagged this as "horror". Did they read it? We might mostly think of Jackson as a horror story writer, but this story isn't meant to be, nor does it ever touch upon, horror.
P.S. 2 people tagged this as "horror". Did they read it? We might mostly think of Jackson as a horror story writer, but this story isn't meant to be, nor does it ever touch upon, horror.
August 6, 2021
This is the fourth short story I've read by Shirley Jackson, and it's become apparent I am now a huge fan. She is an absolute master at recreating awkwardness within human interaction, which has a way of causing unease in the reader.
David is a wonderfully prim, well put together, ordered and methodical man whose personality is replicated in his home. Marcia, on the other hand, appears as a whirlwind; living in domestic chaos, frequently late, and generally tumbling through life. It's not entirely sure what the relationship is - friends, hopefully more ... this also adds to the unease between them as the reader doesn't really know on what footing they're on.
However, all is well in their interaction until the visitor arrives, and everything gets thrown in to disarray. Both protagonists take on new roles, and David effectively loses his entire identity, forced to start replicating it in a new setting at the close.
Again, there is so much that could be said about this, despite its brevity. A wonderful piece of fiction that offers much more than it appears to on the surface.
David is a wonderfully prim, well put together, ordered and methodical man whose personality is replicated in his home. Marcia, on the other hand, appears as a whirlwind; living in domestic chaos, frequently late, and generally tumbling through life. It's not entirely sure what the relationship is - friends, hopefully more ... this also adds to the unease between them as the reader doesn't really know on what footing they're on.
However, all is well in their interaction until the visitor arrives, and everything gets thrown in to disarray. Both protagonists take on new roles, and David effectively loses his entire identity, forced to start replicating it in a new setting at the close.
Again, there is so much that could be said about this, despite its brevity. A wonderful piece of fiction that offers much more than it appears to on the surface.
April 17, 2017
This is the story of David, a man obssessed with his house and fourniture and dishes and how the whole thing looks, david also has a totally untiedy (according to him) girlfriend.
What will happen to him when this girlfriend brings a friend to his house and the latter deosn't want to leave?
Wasn't really my cuppa
What will happen to him when this girlfriend brings a friend to his house and the latter deosn't want to leave?
Wasn't really my cuppa
November 5, 2024
Honestly the most stressful thing I’ve ever read
February 20, 2025
It's not me, it's you.
Davie spends nearly all day planning a cozy get-together with his lovely next-door neighbor Marcia, with a delicious dinner at home. She arrives a bit late but they still enjoy a wonderful time. But when a third person arrives, things take an awkward turn.
As a people pleaser and someone who usually tries to go out of his way to be kind, this was especially painful to watch. Unnerving stuff. Well done girl.
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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1949] [10p] [Fiction] [Not Recommendable]
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???????? The Lottery and Other Stories <--
-----------------------------------------------
No soy yo, sos vos.
Davie pasa casi todo el día planeando una acogedora reunión con su encantadora vecina Marcia, con una deliciosa cena en casa. Ella llega un poco tarde pero igual aun disfrutan de una agradable velada. Pero cuando llega una tercera persona, las cosas toman un giro algo incómodo.
Como alguien que le gusta complacer a la gente y que por lo general intenta hacer todo lo posible por ser amable, esto fue especialmente doloroso de ver. Material desconcertante. Bien hecho mujer.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1949] [10p] [Ficción] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Davie spends nearly all day planning a cozy get-together with his lovely next-door neighbor Marcia, with a delicious dinner at home. She arrives a bit late but they still enjoy a wonderful time. But when a third person arrives, things take an awkward turn.
As a people pleaser and someone who usually tries to go out of his way to be kind, this was especially painful to watch. Unnerving stuff. Well done girl.
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1949] [10p] [Fiction] [Not Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
???????? The Lottery and Other Stories <--
-----------------------------------------------
No soy yo, sos vos.
Davie pasa casi todo el día planeando una acogedora reunión con su encantadora vecina Marcia, con una deliciosa cena en casa. Ella llega un poco tarde pero igual aun disfrutan de una agradable velada. Pero cuando llega una tercera persona, las cosas toman un giro algo incómodo.
Como alguien que le gusta complacer a la gente y que por lo general intenta hacer todo lo posible por ser amable, esto fue especialmente doloroso de ver. Material desconcertante. Bien hecho mujer.
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1949] [10p] [Ficción] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
March 2, 2022
2.9⭐
I'm convinced that Shirley Jackson is incredible at creating uncomfortable feelings within you with the way she writes interactions .
There is our man David who is perfectionist and whose identity is cleanliness and order is represented in his home. There's Marcia who is hectic and chaotic , who also takes advantage of the people-pleasing attitude of David , or more accurately , his inability to take control of the social situations around him . Which in one way we can see that his obsession with order is his way of finding control . He ends up being bent over backwards so as to keep up the lie of Marcia in front of the unwelcomed guest, where she's lying that the perfectly ordered apartment, the carefully prepared food is all made by her , and by the end he's essentially kicked out of his own apartment, all to please someone who clearly is just using him
I felt awful for him and so frustrated, wanting him to act and speak up but I think the frustration stems from me understanding that I too can be too inactive in my own life , allowing for things to happen in fear of reaction, in fear of rejection or judgement, which only seems to alienate you from yourself. (David leaving his own apartment? Could be him abandoning himself to please someone else )
Brilliant
I'm convinced that Shirley Jackson is incredible at creating uncomfortable feelings within you with the way she writes interactions .
There is our man David who is perfectionist and whose identity is cleanliness and order is represented in his home. There's Marcia who is hectic and chaotic , who also takes advantage of the people-pleasing attitude of David , or more accurately , his inability to take control of the social situations around him . Which in one way we can see that his obsession with order is his way of finding control . He ends up being bent over backwards so as to keep up the lie of Marcia in front of the unwelcomed guest, where she's lying that the perfectly ordered apartment, the carefully prepared food is all made by her , and by the end he's essentially kicked out of his own apartment, all to please someone who clearly is just using him
I felt awful for him and so frustrated, wanting him to act and speak up but I think the frustration stems from me understanding that I too can be too inactive in my own life , allowing for things to happen in fear of reaction, in fear of rejection or judgement, which only seems to alienate you from yourself. (David leaving his own apartment? Could be him abandoning himself to please someone else )
Brilliant
July 18, 2025
The awkwardness is the plot and who's the best protagonist for this kind of story if not a people pleaser? Shirley Jackson is definitely good at that and I learn so much from the way she builds the uneasy atmosphere, telling us they're awkward without directly telling so.
There's also the gender role reversal that was nice to see.
There's also the gender role reversal that was nice to see.
September 7, 2017
Shirley Jackson is an expert at capturing the feeling of awkwardness in human interaction. Hers are the stories of urban living introverts. Her stories feel like the moment of silence in a party when the last subject of conversation has uncomfortably and abruptly ended, and a new one has yet to begin. In this story, a man who is very particular about the cleanliness and orderliness of his apartment hosts visitors.
Recommended, along with everything by Shirley Jackson, to urban dwelling introverts.
May 21, 2017
Recommended, along with everything by Shirley Jackson, to urban dwelling introverts.
May 21, 2017
May 15, 2023
shirley jackson's short stories - 3/25
i really liked that one. basically, his neigbour just effortlessly oversteps and uses his flat as her own to the point where the mmc feels alienated from his own home.
despite her showing appreciation for what he does, there is so little tact displayed and like she takes it for granted. at the end, i just wanted to yell at her and her little work lover to get the heck out of there. it's NOT your house and you are overstaying (!!!!!!!!) your presence!
i really liked that one. basically, his neigbour just effortlessly oversteps and uses his flat as her own to the point where the mmc feels alienated from his own home.
despite her showing appreciation for what he does, there is so little tact displayed and like she takes it for granted. at the end, i just wanted to yell at her and her little work lover to get the heck out of there. it's NOT your house and you are overstaying (!!!!!!!!) your presence!
July 28, 2022
this one just pissed me off
July 9, 2024
A character study on earth signs (cautious, tender, hospitable, detail-oriented) and air signs (evil).
March 19, 2022
The Twilight Zone. That's what I've been thinking about ever since I read this short story by Shirley Jackson two nights ago. There was an episode, and I'm trying to remember it, it might be two different episodes, but I just can't get it back to my memory again. In it was this man, an average looking, quiet man, the kind no one pays attention to, or if they do, it's to take advantage of him. He's always the one who works late at the office, who fills in for the pretty girl who has to leave early, who goes home and makes dinner for his family, either that or he doesn't have a family and eats alone every night. Every night that is, unless his next door neighbor, again a pretty girl who likes to take advantage of him, comes to dinner. He always makes sure his home is in perfect order, everything in it's proper place, he has been saving money to get himself a perfect table setting, buying each knife, fork, spoon, etc. one at a time at the local store. He makes sure the dinner is cooked perfectly and the next door neighbor girl invites a man from her office over and pretends she cooked the entire thing, and it's her home that is so neat and tidy. Now, here is my Twilight Zone moment, he either spends a lot of time at the library and wishes everyone would disappear so he could read without interruption all the time, which happens, but his glasses break in the confusion and he can't read anyway, or he goes to a museum and stares at a doll house all day and eventually becomes part of it. Just typing that makes me realize that I don't like any of those endings. And I also realize I've practically told you what the short story was about. You'll have to read it to find out whether he spends the rest of his life in a doll house, a library, or it's a short story, so who knows what may have happened to our average looking, quiet, taken advantage of man. I wonder who took all the time to add these stories one by one here on goodreads. That must have taken longer than writing the story would have. Happy reading.
July 28, 2022
A solid short story from Jackson, making use of palpable discomfort and a strong sense of everyday powerlessness. The ending is almost spooky, the more you think about it.
Also, this is a modern day observation, but I couldn't help reading Davie as an autistic-coded character. This gave this short so much feeling for me and, although this wouldn't have been the author's original intent, the observation really resonated with me all the same.
Also, this is a modern day observation, but I couldn't help reading Davie as an autistic-coded character. This gave this short so much feeling for me and, although this wouldn't have been the author's original intent, the observation really resonated with me all the same.
February 4, 2025
I don’t get it.
March 11, 2023
What did I just read
Read
March 27, 2024Had to read this for class it made me sad for poor David lol but I wanna start reading more short stories and this author in particular. entertaining!
August 7, 2019
David, who has loving and obsessively cared for his apartment and his possessions, makes dinner for his lady friend neighbor. The neighbor ends up inviting a guy into David's perfect home and pretends that it is her home. David is incapable of confrontation and is too socially awkward to kick them out of his meticulously kept home and so he plays along with his neighbor and ends up leaving to stay at her messy apartment.
November 5, 2018
Love this story - It was fascinating. Sometimes we do things for people who don't deserve it because they don't appreciate our sacrifices.
January 20, 2022
u kno the feeling of when u want someone to leave but u don’t wanna say anything and they just don’t know how to read the room like an adult….yeah. just unnerving.
December 15, 2023
Intriguing and fabulous in every way.
November 14, 2025
A quick but piercing nightmarish dive into social anxiety, told with an intensity that teeters between comedy and horror as the text goes to painstakingly detailed lengths to describe the narrator's happy little place only to then show how his meekness leads to its destruction by an ungrateful guest. A nice idea, but the text doesn't go far enough with the concept to be really striking or memorable, leaving you with little more than a nervous laugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2021
This is probably me favorite Jackson short story, while it is my favorite I also found it infuriating.
Marcia is the character you love to hate, and David is the unfortunate protagonist who lacks a backbone. In a longer story the ending would have David finding his voice, but in this short story, we leave off with him as spineless as ever.
Marcia is the character you love to hate, and David is the unfortunate protagonist who lacks a backbone. In a longer story the ending would have David finding his voice, but in this short story, we leave off with him as spineless as ever.
January 9, 2023
This is the fourth Shirley Jackson story I've read and I am glad I stuck around! Not a 'horror' book at all but definitely worth the read! Awkward, humourous and a twist that I didn't see coming until the end!
June 23, 2023
This story read almost like comedy to me. The horror doesn’t start to sink in until you realize how much he is a slave to his behavior. How much we are all slaves to this idea of “polite behavior” and people pleasing.
February 7, 2025
This story made me feel so inspired to love my surroundings and take care in every detail and piece of love I place into my life. The ending left me feeling so sad for poor David Turner, as the surprising reoccurrence of the demon James Harris caused him to be displaced from his home.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2025
داستانی که هر ایرانی ای باید بخونه….
بدبخت رو از خونه خودش انداختند بیرون و اونم هیچی نتونست بگه…
قشنگ حس کردم دیوید ایرانیه!
عین ایرانی ها و تعارف ها/ رودرواسی های الکی که خودشون رو به سختی و مخمصه میاندازه!
جالب بود و قابل تامل! ✨
بدبخت رو از خونه خودش انداختند بیرون و اونم هیچی نتونست بگه…
قشنگ حس کردم دیوید ایرانیه!
عین ایرانی ها و تعارف ها/ رودرواسی های الکی که خودشون رو به سختی و مخمصه میاندازه!
جالب بود و قابل تامل! ✨
October 24, 2017
My first Shirley Jackson, but I didn't love it. I'm withholding judgement on Ms. Jackson until "The Lottery" comes in at the library :D
December 13, 2020
Gorgeously described like all her work, yet tied to tightly to a certain time it is hard to pluck the point from the style.
December 19, 2020
The characters are entertaining caricatures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews