Raising Demons

Raising Demons, published in 1957, is Shirley Jackson's second memoir about her life as a mother and writer in rural Vermont. The book chronicles Jackson's experiences with her husband and four children as they navigate daily family chaos, move to a new house, and deal with the complexities of mid-century domestic life. The narrative follows the family through various episodes including home relocation challenges, summer vacations, school activities, and the constant juggling of household duties. Jackson's children - Laurie, Jannie, Sally, and Barry - emerge as distinct personalities with their own approaches to family dynamics and growing up in 1950s America. This memoir presents a contrast to Jackson's better-known horror fiction, revealing the domestic realities that existed alongside her darker literary work. The book captures the intersection of family life and creative work, depicting both the humor and strain of balancing multiple roles in post-war American society.

Readers consider this memoir lighter and more humorous than Jackson's horror fiction. The book captures daily family chaos with four children, pets, and household mishaps in 1950s Vermont. Readers appreciate: - Relatable parenting moments and domestic comedy - Jackson's dry wit and self-deprecating humor - Details that make mid-century family life feel immediate - Balance between humor and subtle social commentary Common criticisms: - Less engaging than Life Among the Savages (the first memoir) - Some dated cultural references - Occasional slow pacing between amusing incidents - Limited depth compared to Jackson's fiction Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (180+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Like reading letters from a funny friend" - Goodreads reviewer "Shows Jackson could write charm as well as chills" - Amazon review "Perfect antidote to modern parenting books" - LibraryThing user

Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson A mother's chronicle of daily household chaos and humor in 1940s Vermont with four children and various pets.

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The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald A woman recounts her experiences running a chicken farm in rural Washington state during the 1940s with tales of domestic mishaps and cultural clashes.

Celia's House by D.E. Stevenson The narrative follows a multi-generational family in their Scottish country house through domestic adventures and household management from the 1900s through the 1940s.

We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich A woman shares her experiences living in the Maine wilderness with her family, balancing isolation with domestic life in the 1940s.

🔸 The book's title "Raising Demons" is a playful reference to Jackson's children, contrasting sharply with her reputation as a horror writer known for works like "The Haunting of Hill House." 🔸 Many of the stories in the memoir were originally published in popular women's magazines of the 1950s, including Good Housekeeping and Woman's Home Companion. 🔸 This book is actually a sequel to Jackson's first domestic memoir, "Life Among the Savages" (1953), which also chronicles her family's adventures. 🔸 While writing light-hearted family memoirs, Jackson was simultaneously creating some of the darkest works in American literature, including her famous short story "The Lottery." 🔸 The book provides valuable historical insight into 1950s American domesticity, including details about household management, child-rearing practices, and social expectations of the era.