On a scale of 1-5 stars (5 being the best) how do you rate The House at Riverton?
* Loathed it
0%
[ 0 ]
**
0%
[ 0 ]
***
16%
[ 3 ]
****
27%
[ 5 ]
***** Loved it
44%
[ 8 ]
Gave up on it (explain why below)
5%
[ 1 ]
Didn't read this one
5%
[ 1 ]
Total Votes : 18
Author
Message
amarie Busy babbling when should be reading
Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 180 Birthday: 20th April
Location: Middlesex
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:35 pm Post subject:
I,ve got the Regeneration trilogy in my TBR so it's moving up as we speak. Might even recommend it for next month's book choice. Heathera please enlighten me??? What's the tights debate??? Really liked your review & the theme of secrecy.
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:25 pm Post subject:
amarie wrote:
I,ve got the Regeneration trilogy in my TBR so it's moving up as we speak. Might even recommend it for next month's book choice. Heathera please enlighten me??? What's the tights debate??? Really liked your review & the theme of secrecy.
I'm afraid I started the 'thighs' debate. When Grace went into service in 1914 and was unpacking her clothes she said she had some black tights which is unlikely as tights weren't worn until the 60's. This remark sparked a small discussion earlier in this thread.
Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 676 Birthday: 2nd November
Location: Watford, Herts
Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:45 pm Post subject:
amarie wrote:
Quote:
Heathera please enlighten me??? What's the tights debate??? Really liked your review & the theme of secrecy.
Sorry, I've not been online for a few days and missed your comment! Thanks for filling in blueflower! Thanks for the compliment though! _________________ Currently Reading:
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2142 Birthday: 10th June
Location: Scottish Borders
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject:
Spoiler:
Ooh I just finished it
While the majority of it didn't really bother me it was still a good read and a good look into the past.
The bit though where Ursula revealed she was Florence's granddaughter was annoying though - Grace heard it but was asleep or something so I thought maybe she couldn't speak but then it moved to Marcus and showing the film and Grace was talking then... she should have said something to Ursula! Cos none of that would have been in the tapes so she'll never know she's a closer relation... how sad!
Felt sorry for Robbie especially at the party when the fireworks would relive his time in the war so no wonder he went crazy.
Admired Grace for her honour to serve and at the end, save Hannah but you'd have thought Grace may have recognised Hannah's excitment at the party to have something to do with Robbie. Wonder what was in safe though that Hannah left to her and how long it took before she found out what the letter said.
Guessed she was Fredrick's daughter too with the ghost thing.
So overall, easy read with a good ending that saved the book for me... prob wouldn't recommend it if it didn't. Only gonna give 3 star though.
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:04 pm Post subject:
Yes, I wonder
Spoiler:
what was in the safe too. I felt really sorry for Robbie round the fireworks as well. We studied Birdsong at college and my lecturer said none of the papers reported what conditions were really like for soldiers in the First World War, so everyone back home was ignorant to their suffering. It was something I hadn't thought about before, and I found it shocking. So when traumatised soldiers returned home, often looking like tramps, people recoiled as they weren't expecting it and shunned them. So sad after everything they went through for their country. So sad that it was so glorified to get men to sign up.
_________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
I have just finished The House At Riverton. I found it extremely compelling and difficult to put down- I think it was beautifully written and then sense of foreboding and impending doom were well played out against the backdrop of both the First World War and the creep toward WWII. I felt it had echoes of Ishiguro's The Remains Of The Day within it's tone; did any one else?
I must say, however, I'm a little disappointed that, after the slow and menacing build up of intrigue in the first three parts, the final and most important section of the book, where we discover the secrets Grace has been habouring all those years, seemed a little rushed; the affair between Robbie and Hannah just seemed a little bit sudden to warrant such a violent and desperate ending for the two of them. But regardless of this, the hopeless romantic I am, thoroughly enjoyed the story from start to finish. _________________ Currently reading; Marianne Dreams
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2142 Birthday: 10th June
Location: Scottish Borders
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:40 pm Post subject:
Agree there was so much before the final hundred or so pages and it did end quickly while things were explained fully that happened earlier on the end was just left.
If I hadn't read the blurb on the back I don't think I'd even have got half way through it... wanted to find out what happened though.
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject:
No, I totally understand why Hannah fell for Robbie and wanted to run off with him and don't think it was rushed at all.
I haven't read Remains of the Day so cannot compare, but would definitely like to read it one day _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject:
I finished this last night. I thought the writer caught the atmosphere of the early 20th century but the storyline had a few problems which in the end spoiled it for me. (No not just the tights, although Grace did revert to stockings for her mothers funeral in the middle of winter).
Spoiler:
The fact that Hannah thought that Grace was taking shorthand was pivotal to the story but it was not plausible. Edwardian servants often worked eighteen hours a day with only half a day off once a week, and for very low wages. Even Hannah couldn't really have thought that a young teenage maid had the time or the money to learn shorthand for no reason, after all she had left service and had no use for it in her job. Years later Hannah expected Grace to be able to read a full letter in shorthand. Even if she did really believe Grace had done shorthand, would she not have checked that she could still read it years later especially before writing such an important letter.
The portrayal of the up-stairs downstairs relationships were quite good and the she captured the the way the changes that started happened to society after the 1st World War but I expected better from someone with a couple of degrees and going for a doctorate. Only 5/10 Ms Morton- could do better.
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:01 pm Post subject:
I tried to learn Pittman's shorthand years ago, failed miserably. Spent a year drawing odd lines which made no sense to me then attempted the stage one exam. Needless to say I didn't pass so gave it up.
Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Posts: 180 Birthday: 20th April
Location: Middlesex
Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:08 pm Post subject:
Good point Blueflower. Didn't think too much about it. I just assumed that Hannah was one of those upper class girls who had no knowledge or interest in servant's lives & assumed in her ignorance that Grace would/could be able to attend secretarial school & learn shorthand. Hannah did appear to be very self centred in the novel & seemed to expect Grace to always be there for her. We know that is how she grew up but you would like to think that somewhere along the line she would see Grace as an individual & not just as an appendage for her convenience. I think if she ever found out that Grace was her half sister she would not have treated her any different or with any more respect as to do so would inconvenience her. I didn't hate the character of Hannah but I thought she represented her type in that class system at that time. _________________ http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/MyBooks.aspx
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:30 am Post subject:
Quote:
but I thought she represented her type in that class system at that time
I agree with you there Amarie - Hannah was a product of her time, in the way she saw Grace, and Emmeline was worse. You can see it in Atonement too and it always winds me up. _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 459 Birthday: 22nd April
Location: Devon
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 11:25 am Post subject:
Suspect that Hannah wouldn't even stop to think about how much their servants were paid, nor how much time they had at their disposal, so although the situation is incogruous to our eyes, it's probably an accurate reflection of how someone like Hannah would have thought/acted. _________________ Currently reading,
"The Mathematics of Love", Emma Darwin
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 7:33 pm Post subject:
I thought that Hannah was quite fond of Grace and treated quite well for the times. For me it was her sister (who's name escapes me) who treated her more like the older generation saw servants - or rather didn't see them- as part of the furniture. I thought Hannah saw Grace as a person in her own right, some of the time.
Spoiler:
At the end of the story, Hannah did leave her key to a locker with the means for Grace to start a new life as a reward for helping her. I can't remember what happened to the contents of that locker when the plan went wrong, and Hannah hated Grace blaming her for Robbie's death, did the book mention it again - I can't remember?
Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2509 Birthday: 19th July
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:58 pm Post subject:
Was going to put this on my Secret Santa wishlist but picked it up today in a charity shop for £1 (and Girl with a Pearl Earring for the same) so will let you know what I think when I get round to it.
Suspect that Hannah wouldn't even stop to think about how much their servants were paid, nor how much time they had at their disposal, so although the situation is incogruous to our eyes, it's probably an accurate reflection of how someone like Hannah would have thought/acted.
I got that impression too Elaine. _________________ Swap List: http://tinyurl.com/33pg6r
Currently Reading "Switchcraft" by Lowri Turner
Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 7637 Birthday: 7th July
Location: Shropshire
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:59 am Post subject:
Emmeline is the one you're thinking of Gwen. Hannah wasn't too bad the way she treated Grace, but Emmeline was dreadful - I didn't like her. _________________ Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10
I finished House at Riverton last night, I really really enjoyed it.
I too saw Upstairs Downstairs characters all the way through, I was also reminded of Barbara Taylor Bradford's style of writing - The Woman of Substance series.
I'd guessed about Grace's parentage almost from the beginning, but was very shocked at the ending and thought the build up was excellent.
I would have loved to have learned more about Grace's mother - who seemed a very bitter and dissillusioned woman.
I thought there were some really clever touches in the book but separates it from the usual writers of this genre, it just seemed have a little more about it .
I've not read Atonement, so cant make any comparisons.
All in all, a very good read - although a thick book I raced through it, I suppose it didnt really make you think much but I liked the escapism it provided. _________________ Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13
I'm about 100 pages in and finding this a little bland so far ... I even put it down last night! I really don't want to give up on it and have read some good posts, which have encouraged me to stick with it!
_________________ Reading: The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho
2009 '1001 Challenge':
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I'm afraid I started the 'thighs' debate. When Grace went into service in 1914 and was unpacking her clothes she said she had some black tights which is unlikely as tights weren't worn until the 60's. This remark sparked a small discussion earlier in this thread.
Born 30/12/08
