Genre: historical fiction
Plot Summary: The history of an old English manor house is told from the point of view of successive generations of owners, servants, and occupants.
My Book Review: I think I might have discovered this book on the shelf at the library, or among goodreads recommendations. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that wasn’t a classic or by a Christian author. I think it’s time I start investigating other books out there and this looked like an interesting place to start.
Split narratives between past and present are it’s own genre now and its nothing new. But this book looked interesting to me because the main character is really about a house, and how history treats it. From the time it is built in the late 1700’s through to present day inheritors Charlie and his sister Ros, we are swept through history chapter by chapter. In one way this kept me from growing close to the characters. In another it kept my interest in what happened next. We know a few things from the first chapter about how the house is in it’s present state, but then we are taken back to the beginning and are clued in as to how it happened. And then the overall question at stake is, what will be its future?
Despite the interesting plot, there were a lot of things that kept me from liking this book. There is a small amount of foul language and ‘observations’ I could have done without. Around chapter 2 I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue with it, but it takes a lot to deter me from finishing something once I start. There are several characters who have mistresses or sleep around and have affairs. In one instance, a man stumbles across a couple having sex which is briefly but graphically described. So yeah, there are content issues.
However, I liked the conclusion the book makes [SPOILER] in that it doesn’t matter if there is a long uninterrupted line in a single family that owns a place so much as it does if the people who live there are happy and love it and can care for it. [END OF SPOILER]
I would have to say that my favorite time era depicted was probably when the original architect James Woods goes back twenty years later with his two nieces to visit the house he built. I liked the idea of Maria carving her initials for Reggie and Bunny to find more than a hundred years later. They have no idea the context for it, but they appreciate it as being a part of the history of the place as indeed it is. I wish there were more “easter eggs” like that throughout the book.
You might like this if you enjoy the manor house genre, and especially if you are into Downton Abbey. Enjoy with a good cup of tea!
I’ve heard that Ashenden Park is based on real-life Basildon Park in Berkshire, but I don’t know this to be 100% certain. It certainly sounds very similar, featuring honey-color stone and an octagonal room to boot:
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