Reviews

The House on Teacher's Lane: A Memoir of Home, Healing, and Love's Hardest Questions by Rachel Simon

leannaaker's review against another edition

3.0

This was an enjoyable read. The premise is that a 40-something woman renovates her home with her husband, and is reluctant. Through the process, they encounter snags and difficulties that test their patience, and force the woman, Rachel, to evaluate her own life and tendencies in the process.

At times, the book made me think about something in my own life, and at times, it seemed a little too contrived (I mean, does every bump in the road to home renovation lead to personal discovery? In here, it did.)

The characters were likeable, and you grew to know them by the end of the story.

tctimlin's review against another edition

5.0

My favorite of all of my friend Rachel's books. At first it felt voyeuristic, this intimate look into the lives of two people I've known for many years. Then as each chapter unfolded I found that what I wanted was a method for having more dialogue with the author or other readers. Really thought provoking, I will likely return to this book again as different chapters of my own search for a purposeful life open.

charle's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting book - Rachel Simon wrote her memoir following the phases of the total reconstruction/renovation of her house. She relates the phases to her relationships with husband, family and friends and how they develop and change. Good book.

mikolee's review

2.0

I was disappointed by this true story of a home renovation on the east coast. I loved her novel and enjoyed the touching story of her year of riding the bus with her mentally disabled sister so I was expecting more.