tlfuller13's review against another edition
3.0
I found a lot of aspect of this book interesting, but I wasn't over all fond of it. The idea was great, showing how each story affected the character, and how the house sometimes affects them. It shows more of how a big house like this can impact more than just the service, but also the owners and visitors.
nicolebonia's review against another edition
3.0
Ashenden is a charming historical read that concerns itself with the generations of owners and servants living in a manor house built in the English countryside in 1775. Beginning in the present when siblings Charlie and Ros inherit Ashenden upon the death of their great aunt, it meanders back to when its foundations were first carefully chosen and laid. Charlie and his sister must decide whether to sell it, or keep it for future generations of their family to enjoy. Charlie is happily married and settled in the United States, and sees the expense of the old mansion as prohibitive, but Ros is determined to save it, and has mapped out what she thinks is a plausible plan for its restoration.
Wilhide fills the story with history and atmosphere - the novel and its vignettes show the house in war time, poverty and at the height of its glory. Even as Ashenden, the novel explores how former owners have gained and lost the house and surrounding property, Ashenden itself is the star of the show, so much so that its almost pointless to bother getting attached to the people who live, work and die there. Their stories are picked up on a whim and dropped just as quickly, with some coming to more satisfying resolutions than others. Home restoration and architecture are prominently considered within the narrative, and readers who enjoy those details will find them in this pleasant, though rambling meditation on the history of a historic house.
Wilhide fills the story with history and atmosphere - the novel and its vignettes show the house in war time, poverty and at the height of its glory. Even as Ashenden, the novel explores how former owners have gained and lost the house and surrounding property, Ashenden itself is the star of the show, so much so that its almost pointless to bother getting attached to the people who live, work and die there. Their stories are picked up on a whim and dropped just as quickly, with some coming to more satisfying resolutions than others. Home restoration and architecture are prominently considered within the narrative, and readers who enjoy those details will find them in this pleasant, though rambling meditation on the history of a historic house.
csemanek's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was a neat concept of the story of the house and its inhabitants.
jbrad's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
snowmaiden's review against another edition
3.0
This is a very pleasant and amiable novel that traces the occupants of a manor house in England over 200 years. The author is an architect, and after struggling through the first two pages with all the architectural terminology going over my head, I was afraid I would be lost for the whole book! Actually, though, after she described the technical details of the house that first time, it was ok. I was also a little skeptical of some of the historical detail (I think I spotted an anachronism or two), but overall it seemed well-researched, and there was more emphasis on character than I had expected at first. It was an easy read, and would be a good choice for someone interested in English history or in historical architecture.
(Note: I received my copy of this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.)
(Note: I received my copy of this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.)
readinginfinland's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book - it’s beautifully written. The only thing I found confusing was all the different time periods and people. I had to skip back to the start of the chapter to remember which year it was and how many years after the previous chapter.
The connective threads throughout were a little tangled. The idea of the house as the central connector was good but the execution of it was a little confusing.
I found myself wanting to know more of the people’s lives in each time period - which is positive! But of course I never got to know because it continued to the next stage.
The connective threads throughout were a little tangled. The idea of the house as the central connector was good but the execution of it was a little confusing.
I found myself wanting to know more of the people’s lives in each time period - which is positive! But of course I never got to know because it continued to the next stage.
turnherintoliterature's review against another edition
3.0
[ This review was originally posted on my blog: http://turnherintoliterature.tumblr.com/ ]
Straight from one old house to another, though not exactly by design. I must confess, I love reading about houses with lots of history, and tend to get stuck in loops on Wikipedia, reading about both grand old estates and prisons/mental asylums alike. I seem to have this deep fascination for how everyone else lives, and I spend a lot of time musing on the lives of people I don’t know very well, and even those I do.
This novel revolves around the grand house of Ashenden, and not so much about the class structure of the inhabitants, as so many similar novels do. It begins with middle-aged siblings Charlie and Ros inheriting the house from a widowed and childless aunt, and their struggle to upkeep the property while deciding whether to sell. The chapters about Charlie and Ros alternate with the history of the house and its previous inhabitants, beginning with the architect who designed and built the original structure. Further down the track, the architect appears again, with his daughters, to see how the house is going along, and we as the reader get a sense of the magnetic pull of a grand structure, even if we have never lived in one, or (being in Australia) really had one within our reach.
It’s a pleasant enough novel, with a few weaker chapters - nothing groundbreaking, but a nice read if you’re interested in period architecture. The author herself is an interior designer and architect, which really shows in how she describes Ashenden Park as a place that is sometimes more alive than the sometimes rather colourless or flat characters. Overall, while I probably wouldn’t read it again, I would probably recommend it quite easily, and without regret.
Straight from one old house to another, though not exactly by design. I must confess, I love reading about houses with lots of history, and tend to get stuck in loops on Wikipedia, reading about both grand old estates and prisons/mental asylums alike. I seem to have this deep fascination for how everyone else lives, and I spend a lot of time musing on the lives of people I don’t know very well, and even those I do.
This novel revolves around the grand house of Ashenden, and not so much about the class structure of the inhabitants, as so many similar novels do. It begins with middle-aged siblings Charlie and Ros inheriting the house from a widowed and childless aunt, and their struggle to upkeep the property while deciding whether to sell. The chapters about Charlie and Ros alternate with the history of the house and its previous inhabitants, beginning with the architect who designed and built the original structure. Further down the track, the architect appears again, with his daughters, to see how the house is going along, and we as the reader get a sense of the magnetic pull of a grand structure, even if we have never lived in one, or (being in Australia) really had one within our reach.
It’s a pleasant enough novel, with a few weaker chapters - nothing groundbreaking, but a nice read if you’re interested in period architecture. The author herself is an interior designer and architect, which really shows in how she describes Ashenden Park as a place that is sometimes more alive than the sometimes rather colourless or flat characters. Overall, while I probably wouldn’t read it again, I would probably recommend it quite easily, and without regret.
rebbierae's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very interesting historical read, with a bit of a twist being the "main character" is a house, not a person. To me it seemed to be more of a book of short stories about different people in different time periods--some intertwining with each other, and others not--but what brings them all together is the home--Ashenden Park. To be fair, I received this book as a giveaway from Goodreads and was quite excited to read it. It didn't disappoint. Starting in 1775 with the architect who designed and built Ashenden, all the way up to present day and the current owner, this was an entertaining read.