Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Shirley
    Unavailable
    Shirley
    Unavailable
    Shirley
    Audiobook8 hours

    Shirley

    Written by Susan Scarf Merrell

    Narrated by Lesa Lockford

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Two imposing literary figures are at the center of this captivating novel: Shirley Jackson, best known for her short story “The Lottery,” and her husband, Stanley Edgar Hyman, a literary critic and professor at Bennington College. When a young graduate student and his pregnant wife - Fred and Rose Nemser - move into Shirley and Stanley’s home in the fall of 1964, they are quickly cast under the magnetic spell of their brilliant hosts. While Fred becomes preoccupied with his teaching schedule, Rose forms an unlikely, turbulent friendship with the troubled and unpredictable Shirley. Fascinated by the Hymans’ volatile marriage and inexplicable drawn to the darkly enigmatic author, Rose nonetheless senses something amiss - something to do with nightly unanswered phone calls and inscrutable accounts of a long-missing female student.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamscape Media Audio
    Release dateJun 24, 2014
    ISBN9781629236773
    Unavailable
    Shirley

    Related to Shirley

    Related audiobooks

    Historical Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Taking Her Place

      Sep 18, 2022

      Taking Her Place
      2 min read

    • Article

      A Forgotten Writer Brought To Life

      Nov 24, 2022

      IT IS LESS THAN 20 YEARS since Shirley Hazzard won the National Book Award for Fiction, yet if she retains a reputation at all, it is more for how little she wrote — four novels, two short story collections — than what she wrote. Now comes her chance

      3 min read

    • Article

      An Author, Human And Haunted

      Jun 5, 2020

      An Author, Human And Haunted
      2 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Winslow, Kois, Tóibín, and More

      Jan 17, 2023

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new release titles from De’Shawn Charles Winslow, Dan Kois, Colm Tóibín, and more—that are publishing this week. Want to learn more about upcoming titles? Then go read our most recent book preview. Want to he

      7 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Lansky, Oates, and More

      Jun 9, 2020

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from the likes of Sam Lansky, Joyce Carol Oates, and more—that are publishing this week. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Lansky, Oates, and More appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Falling From Grace

      Mar 4, 2024

      THE NIGHT SHE FELL by Eileen Merriman (Penguin, $40) Ashleigh and Xander are high school sweethearts who were introduced by Ashleigh’s wealthy lawyer father. Fastforward a few years and the couple, now in their early 20s, are still together, both st

      2 min read

    • Article

      Page Turners

      Mar 7, 2024

      This novel by DH Lawrence was originally published in 1928, and explores the emotions of a lonely woman who’s trapped in a sterile marriage. The book presents her growing love for the robust gatekeeper of her husband’s estate—portraying an extramarit

      1 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Tolentino, Valentine, Folarin, Marías, Price, and More

      Aug 6, 2019

      If you've been waiting for that debut essay collection from The New Yorker's star culture writer, this is your lucky week. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Tolentino, Valentine, Folarin, Marías, Price, and More appeared first on The Million

      6 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Serpell, Englander, Lalami, Leithauser, Hempel, and More

      Mar 26, 2019

      This week's new books include Amy Hempel's first collection in 16 years, Knausgaard on Edvard Munch, and essays from the co-founder of Very Smart Brothas. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Serpell, Englander, Lalami, Leithauser, Hempel, and

      7 min read

    • Article

      Shirley

      Sep 15, 2020

      For all her mastery of horror, author Shirley Jackson had a flair for arch humour that bordered on the camp. Her slender 1962 page-turner ‘We Have Always Lived in the Castle’ ends on an exchange between the Blackwood sisters that shows a deep irrever

      4 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Luiselli, Morrison, Williams, Newman, and More

      Feb 12, 2019

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from the likes of Valeria Luiselli, Toni Morrison, John Williams, Sandra Newman and more—that are publishing this week. Want to learn more about upcoming titles? Then go read our most recent book p

      8 min read

    • Article

      Great Read

      Jan 25, 2024

      Great Read
      7 min read

    • Article

      What To Read

      Jul 29, 2022

      By HAYLEY SCRIVENOR Pan Macmillan Twelve-year-old best friends Esther and Ronnie leave school together one Friday in their small Australian town, but after they part ways only one of them reaches her home. Sydney missing-person police experts Sarah

      3 min read

    • Article

      Book CLUB

      Jun 22, 2021

      Book CLUB
      1 min read

    • Article

      Light From Darkness

      Feb 29, 2024

      ROB HENDERSON IS A RARE YOUNGexample of a dying breed: Cambridge scholar, public intellectual and unsentimental writer. These qualities radiate from his new memoir, Troubled, which recounts his “miraculous trajectory” through family dysfunction, fost

      3 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Keefe, Beagin, Welsh, and More

      Feb 26, 2019

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from the likes of Patrick Radden Keefe, Jen Beagin, Irvine Welsh and more—that are publishing this week. Want to learn more about upcoming titles? Then go read our most recent book preview. Want to

      6 min read

    • Article

      A Twist In The Tale

      May 19, 2023

      By REBECCA F KUANG William Morrow This was an absolutely riveting read. Athena Liu and June Hayward, who were at Yale together, both publish their debut books at the same time while in their twenties. Athena becomes a literary darling on bestseller

      3 min read

    • Article

      Hanukkah Lights 2018

      Dec 3, 2018

      Hanukkah Lights 2018
      1 min read

    • Article

      Childhood, Mystery, And Friendship: Our 10 Favorite July Reads

      Jul 20, 2023

      1. Small Worldsby Caleb Azumah Nelson How does one claim one’s individuality in the midst of others’ expectations? Caleb Azumah Nelson’s novel focuses on Stephen, a London-born teen of Ghanaian immigrant parents, who walks away from a university educ

      2 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Chung, Brodesser-Akner, Habila, Steinke, and More

      Jun 18, 2019

      This week's releases include ambitious debuts, the memoir of an amateur boxer, and novels called both 'Travelers' and 'The Travelers.' WHAT ARE THE ODDS? The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Chung, Brodesser-Akner, Habila, Steinke, and More ap

      6 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Winterson, Lerner, Díaz, Walbert, and More

      Oct 1, 2019

      New Ben Lerner, August Burroughs's latest memoir, and a reimagination of Frankenstein that puts Mary Shelley’s creative process front and center. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Winterson, Lerner, Díaz, Walbert, and More appeared first on

      7 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Baxter, Reyes, and More

      Nov 17, 2020

      Here's a quick look at some notable books—new titles from the likes of Charles Baxter, Dolores Reyes, and more—that are publishing this week. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Baxter, Reyes, and More appeared first on The Millions.

      7 min read

    • Article

      Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Kwan, Center, Iglesias, and More

      Jul 14, 2020

      Here’s a quick look at some notable books—new titles from the likes of Kevin Kwan, Katherine Center, Legna Rodríguez Iglesias, and more—that are publishing this week. The post Tuesday New Release Day: Starring Kwan, Center, Iglesias, and More appeare

      5 min read

    Reviews for Shirley

    3.5/5

    11 ratings13 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      I have read back-to-back two novels about recently alive writers that imply those writers may have been murderers, and so now I'm going to compare them. Susan Scarf Merrell, the author of Shirley, about Shirley Jackson, and Jill Dawson, the author of The Crime Writer, about Patricia Highsmith, both show a thorough knowledge and appreciation of their subjects and seem mainly to want to write a book in the style of their favorite authors. I have to wonder then why they don't just write their own novels instead of delving into a real person's life. When there are still people alive who remember both Jackson and Highsmith, it seems a little icky, especially imagining these women committing murder out of love. It also reinforces a bit too much the fallacy of confusing a writer with what she writes about. These novels were clever conceits but ultimately just curiosities that I'll probably never pick up again, as they stray rather too far into fan-fiction territory. Their subjects' novels, though, remain eminently readable and rereadable.
    • 4/5
      I read this, because I won it through the summer reading program at my local library. I'm glad to say that I really enjoyed it. It's written beautifully and remains captivating throughout. I'm not currently familiar with the work of Shirley Jackson, but reading this definitely makes me want to become familiar with it. I look forward to reading more of Merrell's work as well.
    • 5/5
      I read the book before listening to the audio version. The book was fantastic! The characters were so well developed and the book itself was almost poetic in nature. The audio version brought all of the characters to life. The narrator did an excellent job! It was so enjoyable I’m sad for it to end. Can’t wait for the movie!
    • 3/5
      SHIRLEY was a strange novel, probably because it wasn’t what I was expecting. Billed as a psychological thriller, this book ended up being more of a fictionalized biography of author Shirley Jackson (The Haunting of Hill House) told from the point of view of Rose Nemser. Young Rose and Fred Nemser are the house guests of Shirley and her husband Prof. Stanley Hymam beginning in the fall of 1964. Fred works for Stanley at Bennington College in Vermont, while Rose spends time with Shirley in the Hymans’ weird and wonderful home.Rose is a naive 19-year old who quickly falls under Shirley’s spell. Rose becomes a part of the Hymans’ literary circle, though she struggles to fit in. As the months pass, the women form a close friendship, and Rose learns that all is not as it seems with Shirley and Stanley. The disappearance of a coed several years earlier makes Rose suspicious of her hosts, even though they claim not to have known her.This book presented a compelling look at Shirley Jackson’s troubled personal life and how she was treated by townspeople and the literary world at the time. The part that fell flat for me was the mystery surrounding the missing student. Unfortunately, it didn’t amount to much. There was no jaw-dropping revelation that brought all the pieces together. The ending left me feeling ambivalent. I also thought that some scenes dragged on too long or were confusing, and I would lose interest. Though this book didn’t grab me, it did pique my interest in Shirley Jackson’s work.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.Rating: 2.75 Stars
    • 3/5
      Shirley by Susan Scarf Merrell is a recommended novel of suspense.

      In Shirley, Susan Scarf Merrell has written a novel with two literary giants, novelist Shirley Jackson and her husband Stanley Edgar Hyman, as the main characters. It is 1964 and newlyweds Rose and Fred Nemser are moving to Vermont where Fred will be teaching alongside Hyman at Bennington College. The young couple is invited to live with Jackson and Hyman, which is exciting for both of them. Fred enjoys Hyman while Rose is entranced by Jackson and jealous of her friendship.

      The entire story is narrated by Rose. As the Hymans drink to excess and pop pills, Rose observes their open marriage, she finds herself gratified at Jackson's insults as if they were a form of kindness. As the year progresses, a pregnant Rose sees another side to Jackson and questions her devotion to her as well as Hyman's influence on her husband. And what is the truth behind the coed from Bennington who went missing years ago. The locals view Jackson as a witch and are openly hostile toward her. She is fodder for gossip. Perhaps she had something to do with the missing young woman. Or perhaps it was Hyman.

      This fictional account has the feel of a real biography with a mystery intertwined in the narrative. While the writing is superb and Merrell does an excellent job highlighting an atmospheric tension based on obsession, the actual plot lacks the focus needed to create any real overwhelming suspense. The focus is more refined when looking at other literary figures or alluding to Jackson's writing.


      Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Blue Rider Press for review purposes.

    • 2/5
      The narrator of this story is Rose Nemser, whose husband, Fred, has been hired to teach at Bennington College. Fred's mentor, the literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman, invites the couple to live with his family, which includes his wife, the author Shirley Jackson, and their children. A pregnant Rose is quickly drawn into their world and becomes increasingly mesmerized by the volatile personality of Shirley. There is nothing likeable about Shirley or Stanley, and falling under their spell yields devastating results. It is unclear how much is fiction since it is based on the alleged facts of the Hyman-Jackson relationship. There is a murder of a coed with strong hints that Shirley and/or Stanley were involved. I finished this book with the same bewilderment that I experienced throughout reading it. Usually I am interested in finding out more when I read historical fiction; however, with this book, I have no interest in reading anything else about this peculiar couple despite her literary successes.
    • 3/5
      Shirley Jackson is my favorite author of all time, and she wrote strange, haunting stories and books that might lead you to question her state of mind. She also, however, wrote charming and extremely funny books about her children. She was an enigma, and she died far too young. This book is about a young couple, Fred and Rose, who live with Shirley and her husband Stanley while both Stanley and Fred are teaching at Bennington. Fred idolizes Stanley, while Rose feels the same about Shirley. If you're a Shirley Jackson fan, you'll enjoy the mysterious web that Shirley seems to weave around all those who surround her, while at the same time questioning how anyone could really LIKE this odd woman. And if you've never read anything by Shirley Jackson, start with "The Lottery" - a short story that I was required to read in high school and which I have never forgotten over the many ensuing years.
    • 2/5
      I wish I had liked this half as much as I've liked Shirley Jackson's writing. For me, the question is, why make the characters real? Veiled, fictionalized Jackson and Hyman would have been more effective, allowing the author to take some liberties and give readers some winks without putting a bad taste in the mouth of historical purists. Not recommended.
    • 5/5
      I'd give "Shirley" six stars if it were possible. Susan Scarf Merrell is a gifted writer and a compelling storyteller. She writes beautifully crafted sentences, paragraphs and chapters that leave you in awe, but never feel writerly or overwrought. Even better, she has created a compelling story and characters with whom you fall in love. Check other reviews here for a plot summary if you want one. All I will say is that the story has a beautiful arc. You may come to this novel called "Shirley" thinking that the title character, Shirley Jackson, is the main character, but you will soon discover that this story belongs to the narrator, Rose--not to Shirley or her husband Stanley. By the end, you will realize that Shirley was but a role-player, albeit an important one, in Rose's story, and that indeed, as she hoped, Rose really mattered.
    • 3/5
      Ugh. What ugly awful people - famed horror author Shirley Jackson and her professorial/critic husband Stanley Hyman. At least, that's what I took away from this haunting domestic drama and fictionalized recreation of their disturbing, volatile relationship. Here, Jackson appears as a vengeful, jealous wife who is embroiled in a dysfunctional relationship with her arrogant, philandering husband Hyman. The drama unfolds when the two welcome a younger couple into their home. The husband, Fred, is an up-and-coming educator at the same college as Hyman; the wife, Rose, is a nineteen year old pregnant girl who harbor strong resentments regarding her impoverished, crime-filled childhood. The two settle into the Jackson-Hyman resident, unaware of how their stay there will forever change the dynamic of their own relationship.I had read some fairly flattering reviews of this novel, so I had decided to request it from NetGalley. Once again, NetGalley, you're the tops for allowing me the opportunity to read this galley in exchange for my humble opinion of this work. ANYWAYS, I had previously read some of Shirley Jackson's work, and I had a rather high opinion of her work. Sadly, this novel seemed to work against Jackson's legacy, painting her as a spiteful outcast with probable ties to a disappearance of a young college student. The writing, itself, was admirable, but the story seemed to be a questionable stab at the reputation of a beloved author. There was plenty of conflict and tension but not too terribly much "happens." It wasn't a strain or hassle to read, but it certainly won't be an instant recommendation - even (or perhaps especially) to fans of Shirley Jackson.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this psychological suspense story featuring writer Shirley Jackson and her husband Stanley Hyman as characters. It is a very clever homage to Jackson that makes me want to read her works again. The unreliable narrator is straight out of Jackson: intense, vulnerable,, neurotic and more than a hair narcissistic. I loved the portrayal of that time and place (Bennington College in the Madmen-era sixties), and loved the portrayal of thorny Shirley. The author weaves in Jacksonian phrases and motifs with great skill. This is a must-read for Jackson fans and a good read for anyone else.
    • 4/5
      It was very easy to fall into this world of characters in this quick read. I could not guess the extent of the evil in their minds and deeds. Was the house possessed? Or, was the teenage bride just too sensitive with raging pregnancy hormones? Was Shirley the Wicked Witch of the East or Glenda, the Good Witch? Were the oldsters just as jealous of the youngsters or was the reverse true? Who was the most insecure? Did any of them want each other to do well? The librarian is the career gossip, the female students want to glue themselves to their favorite profs and the faculty wives are long-suffering. Booze, drugs, casual sex, yes, that was the 60's I remember. Competition for attention and accolades is still rampant in the college scene. As is the quest for tenure. So many deserving scholars have turned into the itinerant troubadours of our times. The story was so believable that I did not realize that the younger couple was fictitious, until I read other reviews. My thanks to the author and Penguin's First to Read program for a complimentary copy of this novel.
    • 4/5
      No matter how creeped out readers were by the short story “The Lottery,” its author Shirley Jackson probably wasn’t a murderer. Probably. Susan Scarf Merrell’s novel Shirley (Blue Rider Press, $25.95) does open up the possibility, though, taking two very real characters with very real foibles—Jackson and her husband, Stanley Edgar Hyman, a professor at Bennington College—and adding a fictional young married couple to their lives. In 1964, Fred and Rose Nemser come to stay with the pair. Fred’s a grad student working with Hyman, while the pregnant Rose spends her time with Jackson. As the heavy drinking—and in Jackson’s case, pill-popping—heats up, it becomes apparent that Jackson is upset by her husband’s womanizing. So is the missing coed just missing, or did Jackson kill her? Billed as a literary thriller, this is a fascinating book, but the real question is why bring real people—who had four children—into it?Reviewed in the Sacramento News & Review, June 26, 2014.