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Love & Inheritance Trilogy #1
Habits of the House
From the award-winning novelist and writer of Upstairs Downstairs, the launch of a brilliant new trilogy about what life was really like for masters and servants before the world of Downton Abbey
As the Season of 1899 comes to an end, the world is poised on the brink of profound, irrevocable change. The Earl of Dilberne is facing serious financial concerns. The ripple effects spread to everyone in the household: Lord Robert, who has gambled unwisely on the stock market and seeks a place in the Cabinet; his unmarried children, Arthur, who keeps a courtesan, and Rosina, who keeps a parrot in her bedroom; Lord Robert’s wife Isobel, who orders the affairs of the household in Belgrave Square; and Grace, the lady’s maid who orders the life of her mistress.
Lord Robert can see no financial relief to an already mortgaged estate, and, though the Season is over, his thoughts turn to securing a suitable wife (and dowry) for his son. The arrival on the London scene of Minnie, a beautiful Chicago heiress with a reputation to mend, seems the answer to all their prayers.
As the writer of the pilot episode of the original Upstairs, Downstairs—Fay Weldon brings a deserved reputation for magnificent storytelling. With wit and sympathy—and no small measure of mischief—Habits of the House plots the interplay of restraint and desire, manners and morals, reason and instinct.
As the Season of 1899 comes to an end, the world is poised on the brink of profound, irrevocable change. The Earl of Dilberne is facing serious financial concerns. The ripple effects spread to everyone in the household: Lord Robert, who has gambled unwisely on the stock market and seeks a place in the Cabinet; his unmarried children, Arthur, who keeps a courtesan, and Rosina, who keeps a parrot in her bedroom; Lord Robert’s wife Isobel, who orders the affairs of the household in Belgrave Square; and Grace, the lady’s maid who orders the life of her mistress.
Lord Robert can see no financial relief to an already mortgaged estate, and, though the Season is over, his thoughts turn to securing a suitable wife (and dowry) for his son. The arrival on the London scene of Minnie, a beautiful Chicago heiress with a reputation to mend, seems the answer to all their prayers.
As the writer of the pilot episode of the original Upstairs, Downstairs—Fay Weldon brings a deserved reputation for magnificent storytelling. With wit and sympathy—and no small measure of mischief—Habits of the House plots the interplay of restraint and desire, manners and morals, reason and instinct.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
191 people are currently reading
4,010 people want to read
About the author
Fay Weldon
175Ìýbooks386ÌýfollowersFay Weldon CBE was an English author, essayist and playwright, whose work has been associated with feminism. In her fiction, Weldon typically portrayed contemporary women who find themselves trapped in oppressive situations caused by the patriarchal structure of British society.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 548 reviews
February 27, 2013
Expecting Downton Abbey at 17 Belgrave Square is not a reality in Habits of the House. I'm probably one of the few that cannot give this book a good rating. Fay Weldon is certainly an accomplished writer; she's written some twenty successful books and is to be admired for her talents. But the comparison to Downton Abbey is completely exaggerated and misguided for Downton fans. We love Downton because of the luster of the intimate characters, the sweeping romances, and the immediacy of the twists and turns of their lives. And we grew to love them, faults and all.
In Habits of the House, the characters are like black and white portraits on a wall and pretty much unlikeable. Lady Rosina is practically a caricature of arrogance. I found Arthur to be so self-absorbed and obnoxious, I really didn't care if he married or not (which is the thrust of the story). Isobel and Robert? Dull as dust and nothing near the endearing elegance and sensitivity of Cora and Robert Grantham at Downton. And the "downstairs" people--thin as the paper in the book.
I grant you, the medium is different: TV vs. novel. But here's where the story also fails for me. Weldon's prose seemed terribly wooden. Her flat style of telling us what happened rather than showing us live on the page limited the narrative and created a cold distance. This story will NEVER come close to the quality of Downton Abbey!
In Habits of the House, the characters are like black and white portraits on a wall and pretty much unlikeable. Lady Rosina is practically a caricature of arrogance. I found Arthur to be so self-absorbed and obnoxious, I really didn't care if he married or not (which is the thrust of the story). Isobel and Robert? Dull as dust and nothing near the endearing elegance and sensitivity of Cora and Robert Grantham at Downton. And the "downstairs" people--thin as the paper in the book.
I grant you, the medium is different: TV vs. novel. But here's where the story also fails for me. Weldon's prose seemed terribly wooden. Her flat style of telling us what happened rather than showing us live on the page limited the narrative and created a cold distance. This story will NEVER come close to the quality of Downton Abbey!
December 10, 2012
London, 1899. The Earl of Dilbert finds himself in a huge financial pickle, and the only way out is to get his son Arthur married to a wealthy heiress ASAP. There not being any available prospects on their side of the pond, they reel in Minnie O'Brien, daughter of a wealthy Chicago meat packer. Minnie's got a few skeletons in her closet, and her reputation is so badly damaged in America she's come to England to buy herself better prospects. Oh, and Minnie's mother has a few skeletons of her own (it's a doozy), but then, so does Arthur (he's keeping a mistress on the side and he'd rather marry the mistress and not the heiress).
Confused? Don't worry, this one is so filled with fluff and air you'll breeze through it in no time. Large font, generous spacing and extremely short chapters make these pages fly by, and if the next two in this trilogy are like this I'd guess they could have been packed into one largish volume instead of the three being published. But then that cuts into sales...
I am not familiar with this author, but according to the blurb she's written quite a few other books, along with being a playwright and screenwriter (I smell a mini-series coming off of this). My guess (and it's only a guess), is that this isn't one of those novels that's been banging around in the author's head begging to be put to pen and paper, instead perhaps the publishers noticed how popular Downton Abbey is and sought out Weldon with a planned trilogy? Hmmm? While not a bad book by any means, this one was just too light and airy and filled with empty-headed, shallow, self-serving characters. There wasn't one to root for anywhere, not even Isobel's long-suffering maid Grace. Still, I suspect this trilogy will be a huge hit for those looking for a Downton Abbey fix.
Confused? Don't worry, this one is so filled with fluff and air you'll breeze through it in no time. Large font, generous spacing and extremely short chapters make these pages fly by, and if the next two in this trilogy are like this I'd guess they could have been packed into one largish volume instead of the three being published. But then that cuts into sales...
I am not familiar with this author, but according to the blurb she's written quite a few other books, along with being a playwright and screenwriter (I smell a mini-series coming off of this). My guess (and it's only a guess), is that this isn't one of those novels that's been banging around in the author's head begging to be put to pen and paper, instead perhaps the publishers noticed how popular Downton Abbey is and sought out Weldon with a planned trilogy? Hmmm? While not a bad book by any means, this one was just too light and airy and filled with empty-headed, shallow, self-serving characters. There wasn't one to root for anywhere, not even Isobel's long-suffering maid Grace. Still, I suspect this trilogy will be a huge hit for those looking for a Downton Abbey fix.
September 21, 2020
3.5 sterren eigenlijk. Het boek (of de trilogie) wordt dikwijls vergeleken met Downton Abbey of Upstairs Downstairs. Ik vind dat je het moet lezen zonder er deze verwachtingen van te hebben.
Inderdaad speelt het zich af rond de eeuwwisseling (1899), en het gaat over een adellijke familie. Moeder Isobel is echter oorspronkelijk niet van adel, maar komt wel uit een familie met geld. Dochter Rosina is een echte opstandeling, en bezorgt de familie heel wat hoofdbrekens als ze telkens tegen de normen ingaat. Zoon Arthur houdt vooral van automobielen, en zijn obsessie is de stoommotor te verbeteren. Zijn droom zou zijn om een eigen garage te hebben. Ondertussen geeft hij fortuinen uit aan zijn kleermaker en aan zijn vriendinnetje, de 'exclusieve' prostitué Flora.
Vader Robert dan, heeft geïnvesteerd in een goudmijn in Zuid-Afrika, maar door de Boerenopstand daar, is alles misgelopen. De mijn is zelfs onder water gezet. Verder is hij ook nog een fervente gokker op de paardenraces.
De familie zit dus erg om geld verlegen. Er zit niets anders op dan dat Arthur met een rijk meisje zou trouwen. En de rijke Amerikaanse Minnie O'Brien en haar moeder Tessa zijn in Londen...
Stof genoeg dus voor een heleboel intriges, waarbij ook het personeel regelmatig een duit in het zakje doet.
Aangename lectuur, als je geen echt hoogstaande literatuur verwacht.
Inderdaad speelt het zich af rond de eeuwwisseling (1899), en het gaat over een adellijke familie. Moeder Isobel is echter oorspronkelijk niet van adel, maar komt wel uit een familie met geld. Dochter Rosina is een echte opstandeling, en bezorgt de familie heel wat hoofdbrekens als ze telkens tegen de normen ingaat. Zoon Arthur houdt vooral van automobielen, en zijn obsessie is de stoommotor te verbeteren. Zijn droom zou zijn om een eigen garage te hebben. Ondertussen geeft hij fortuinen uit aan zijn kleermaker en aan zijn vriendinnetje, de 'exclusieve' prostitué Flora.
Vader Robert dan, heeft geïnvesteerd in een goudmijn in Zuid-Afrika, maar door de Boerenopstand daar, is alles misgelopen. De mijn is zelfs onder water gezet. Verder is hij ook nog een fervente gokker op de paardenraces.
De familie zit dus erg om geld verlegen. Er zit niets anders op dan dat Arthur met een rijk meisje zou trouwen. En de rijke Amerikaanse Minnie O'Brien en haar moeder Tessa zijn in Londen...
Stof genoeg dus voor een heleboel intriges, waarbij ook het personeel regelmatig een duit in het zakje doet.
Aangename lectuur, als je geen echt hoogstaande literatuur verwacht.
August 28, 2012
A sticker attached to the dust jacket of this novel states: "If you liked "Downton Abbey", you'll love this!". Well, not in my case, I fear. I love the TV drama - but "Habits of the House" is a very disappointing novel. It is facile and undemanding and nothing like what I was expecting, given the reputation of its author, Fay Weldon, for writing intelligent fiction of a feminist nature. Indeed, the writing style is sometimes so dull and plodding, the characterisation is so stereotypical and simplistic and the plot is so mundane that, quite frankly, I have my doubts that Fay Weldon actually wrote the book herself!
The story is set in London in the last few months of 1899. This is a time of strife in South Africa, the beginnings of social upheaval in England and of a shortage of money generally as the world economy deteriorates. All of these issues are to the fore in this Upstairs Downstairs-type story of love, politics and finance amongst the upper classes of the time. Robert, the Earl of Dilberne, is a politician and gambler. When the investments on which his family are heavily dependent for their wealth begin to fail because of the political situation in South Africa, his wife, Lady Isobel, tries to marry off their son, Arthur, who is a Viscount, to a wealthy Irish-American heiress who is visiting London with her mother from their home in Chicago. Arthur has a paid mistress in Mayfair, Flora, who, unbeknown to him, previously had a relationship with his father. Added to this mix are Mr Baum, a financier who advises Robert on his investments and to whom Robert owes a considerable amount of money; Rosina, Arthur's independent and strong-willed sister whose political views are very different from those of her father; and the Prince of Wales, who is a frequent visitor to 17 Belgrave Square, the Dilberne home in London.
"Habits of the House" is essentially a comedy of manners. The problem is it's not a very good one. Stereotypes abound. The English aristocracy are depicted as defensive, prickly and insincere. The wealthy Americans are portrayed as brash, impertinent and in awe of England and its upper classes; and the servants are, by and large, loyal and dutiful. The daughter of the house (Rosina) is a free spirit, who doesn't play the game. Where have we seen all this before? Well, in the TV series "Upstairs Downstairs" - and in many other films and novels about such people whose plots are set in much the same era. It's all very unoriginal and unchallenging. The writing is little better. It's light and easy for the most part, but it doesn't enthuse one to read further. And it can be infelicitous in places. Here is an example of that (from page 280): "She [Rosina] went to her wardrobe and looked through her clothes. Why had she felt it so impossible to choose her own, but that she must instead rely on someone else to do it? Perhaps because thus she had been making Grace responsible for her very looks?". The plot itself is an inconsequential soufflé. Absolutely nothing leaps off the page in a book that can best be summed up by the sentences that end the first paragraph on page 199 of the edition that I have just read: "Conversation remained a little stiff. Dull, dull, dull.".
The sub-editing of the book is sloppy, particularly in the latter half. There are numerous typos and other errors of that sort. One of the most notable occurs in the sub-heading to the chapter headed "Rosina Challenges Her Mother" on page 274. Most of the chapters in the book have sub-headings that state the time and the day on which the action that is about to be described actually takes place. In this instance, "11 a.m. Sunday, 3rd December 1899" should read "11 p.m. Sunday, 3rd December 1899". An error of that sort can confuse a reader who is being encouraged by sub-headings to pay particular attention to the chronology of the events depicted. And I lost count of the number of occasions in the story when the possessive apostrophe is positioned incorrectly in the case of a plural noun!
"Habits of the House" is apparently the first novel of a projected trilogy. I don't think I shall bother with the subsequent books. 4/10.
The story is set in London in the last few months of 1899. This is a time of strife in South Africa, the beginnings of social upheaval in England and of a shortage of money generally as the world economy deteriorates. All of these issues are to the fore in this Upstairs Downstairs-type story of love, politics and finance amongst the upper classes of the time. Robert, the Earl of Dilberne, is a politician and gambler. When the investments on which his family are heavily dependent for their wealth begin to fail because of the political situation in South Africa, his wife, Lady Isobel, tries to marry off their son, Arthur, who is a Viscount, to a wealthy Irish-American heiress who is visiting London with her mother from their home in Chicago. Arthur has a paid mistress in Mayfair, Flora, who, unbeknown to him, previously had a relationship with his father. Added to this mix are Mr Baum, a financier who advises Robert on his investments and to whom Robert owes a considerable amount of money; Rosina, Arthur's independent and strong-willed sister whose political views are very different from those of her father; and the Prince of Wales, who is a frequent visitor to 17 Belgrave Square, the Dilberne home in London.
"Habits of the House" is essentially a comedy of manners. The problem is it's not a very good one. Stereotypes abound. The English aristocracy are depicted as defensive, prickly and insincere. The wealthy Americans are portrayed as brash, impertinent and in awe of England and its upper classes; and the servants are, by and large, loyal and dutiful. The daughter of the house (Rosina) is a free spirit, who doesn't play the game. Where have we seen all this before? Well, in the TV series "Upstairs Downstairs" - and in many other films and novels about such people whose plots are set in much the same era. It's all very unoriginal and unchallenging. The writing is little better. It's light and easy for the most part, but it doesn't enthuse one to read further. And it can be infelicitous in places. Here is an example of that (from page 280): "She [Rosina] went to her wardrobe and looked through her clothes. Why had she felt it so impossible to choose her own, but that she must instead rely on someone else to do it? Perhaps because thus she had been making Grace responsible for her very looks?". The plot itself is an inconsequential soufflé. Absolutely nothing leaps off the page in a book that can best be summed up by the sentences that end the first paragraph on page 199 of the edition that I have just read: "Conversation remained a little stiff. Dull, dull, dull.".
The sub-editing of the book is sloppy, particularly in the latter half. There are numerous typos and other errors of that sort. One of the most notable occurs in the sub-heading to the chapter headed "Rosina Challenges Her Mother" on page 274. Most of the chapters in the book have sub-headings that state the time and the day on which the action that is about to be described actually takes place. In this instance, "11 a.m. Sunday, 3rd December 1899" should read "11 p.m. Sunday, 3rd December 1899". An error of that sort can confuse a reader who is being encouraged by sub-headings to pay particular attention to the chronology of the events depicted. And I lost count of the number of occasions in the story when the possessive apostrophe is positioned incorrectly in the case of a plural noun!
"Habits of the House" is apparently the first novel of a projected trilogy. I don't think I shall bother with the subsequent books. 4/10.
February 13, 2014
Is this trash? Probably so. I can't think of much redeeming value here. It will most likely slip through my brain like water through a sieve, leaving not much behind. But it was an incredibly enjoyable few hours of reading, and that says something. Hurray for trash! and and visit Downton Abbey; Habits of the House is injected with historical sex and scandal. As a novel, Habits of the House is simply written, with short, punchy sentences. The characters are like little prizes in the Christmas cake; as you eat your way through the deliciousness, you keep finding new characters to read about. No one is quite despicable enough to hate - or quite likable enough to sympathize with. Everyone is a hero, and everyone is sort of a douchebag. The descriptions of clothes and parties and food and the lives of servants are terrifically fun. The Prince of Wales is a bloated, lecherous pig who controls every bit of society - which is probably how it really was, both despised and courted (like all princes). Weldon adds historical touches and figures as sort of icing, to add some credibility to the story, as all good historical fiction writers do. I'm sure you've read historical fiction where the cardboard characters march out onto the page one after the other. Weldon, however, doesn't do this to us. Weldon adds enough flavor and verve, vim and vigor to make this a really rollicking romp!
May 24, 2013
If I may use writer terminology: A great, quite vast deal of telling in this book, and not a lot of showing. Many conversations are the author telling us what Rosina said, rather than letting Rosina come on stage and say it. This creates a distancing effect which is uncongenial. As a result it is difficult to care about the characters.
Nor does it help that there is not a great deal of action; the pace can best be described as glacial. All the action that does occur is of the most quotidian. I long for alien bombardment with death rays, or camo-clad commandos attacking the breakfast room with AKs and flamethrowers, or a character from Charles Dickens to come barging in being colorful and stealing the sterling-silver epergne off the dining table.
If you are new to the author, this is not the book to start on. This feels like it was written very fast, possibly under deadline. A first draft, sent to press too soon? A trunk novel, resurrected? In any case, the time is out of joint with this work.
Nor does it help that there is not a great deal of action; the pace can best be described as glacial. All the action that does occur is of the most quotidian. I long for alien bombardment with death rays, or camo-clad commandos attacking the breakfast room with AKs and flamethrowers, or a character from Charles Dickens to come barging in being colorful and stealing the sterling-silver epergne off the dining table.
If you are new to the author, this is not the book to start on. This feels like it was written very fast, possibly under deadline. A first draft, sent to press too soon? A trunk novel, resurrected? In any case, the time is out of joint with this work.
April 11, 2013
I hated this book, from beginning to end. Story of an earl and his family fallen on hard times when they loose everything on a bad investment. Now they need to marry the son off to a rich heiress as soon as possible. Enter Minnie, a young heiress who isn't at all innocent, and with manners that shock London society. Then there's the servants, all backbiting, and scarcely loyal to anyone. Riddled with anachronisms, and bad writing, I found this to be a dreadful novel, and by the end I wanted to throw it through the wall. I can't believe this author is well-acclaimed, this is more like a parody than anything else, and comes across as a blatant rip-off of Downton Abbey. Not recommended at all, and I am certainly not going to read the two sequels.
For the longer review, please go here:
For the longer review, please go here:
December 10, 2012
Ever since reading (and watching the TV series) ‘The Forsyte Saga� in my teens I’ve had a passion for late Victorian/Edwardian British stories. I was very excited to receive a copy of ‘Habits of the House� set in 1899.
The story revolves around the household of the Earl of Dilberne. He himself is deeply in debt, from both business ventures gone badly and from trying to keep up with his friend, the spendthrift Price of Wales; his wife, Isobel, daughter of a tradesman who brought money to the marriage, spends on clothing and dinners. His daughter, Rosina, spends her time going to lectures of the leftist kind and despises the moneyed class while enjoying the advantages it offers. His son and heir Arthur cares nothing for business or politics, freely spending on clothing, his mistress, and his steam powered automobiles. When the latest venture, a gold mine in Africa, is taken and flooded by the Boers, bankruptcy looms. The earl and his lady’s reaction to this is that their children (in their 20s) must marry for money. Everyone has their own opinion on how this should be accomplished, including the staff of servants who have a surprising influence on the lives of their employers.
What follows is a tangled web of greed, bigotry, and lies. There are no blameless characters here, but neither are there any monsters. These are all just flawed human beings, most of whom are fairly decent at heart. They are muddling through their lives, regretting their pasts, and trying to puzzle out what kind of future the want. These are not particularly deep characters; they are rather sketchy.
I enjoyed the book. Despite the unusual layout � a lot of very short chapters, each devoted to a character’s actions in a short period of time- sometimes as little as an hour- it reads fast. The entire book takes place over the span of a little less than two months- but the first 86 pages is devoted to a single day. At the beginning I did have trouble at times figuring out which character was which. There is enough description to set the reader firmly in the era. Standing outside of the time, the author skewers the manners and prejudices of the time. Is it great literature? No. Is it good enough that I’ll be seeking out the next two volumes? Yes.
The story revolves around the household of the Earl of Dilberne. He himself is deeply in debt, from both business ventures gone badly and from trying to keep up with his friend, the spendthrift Price of Wales; his wife, Isobel, daughter of a tradesman who brought money to the marriage, spends on clothing and dinners. His daughter, Rosina, spends her time going to lectures of the leftist kind and despises the moneyed class while enjoying the advantages it offers. His son and heir Arthur cares nothing for business or politics, freely spending on clothing, his mistress, and his steam powered automobiles. When the latest venture, a gold mine in Africa, is taken and flooded by the Boers, bankruptcy looms. The earl and his lady’s reaction to this is that their children (in their 20s) must marry for money. Everyone has their own opinion on how this should be accomplished, including the staff of servants who have a surprising influence on the lives of their employers.
What follows is a tangled web of greed, bigotry, and lies. There are no blameless characters here, but neither are there any monsters. These are all just flawed human beings, most of whom are fairly decent at heart. They are muddling through their lives, regretting their pasts, and trying to puzzle out what kind of future the want. These are not particularly deep characters; they are rather sketchy.
I enjoyed the book. Despite the unusual layout � a lot of very short chapters, each devoted to a character’s actions in a short period of time- sometimes as little as an hour- it reads fast. The entire book takes place over the span of a little less than two months- but the first 86 pages is devoted to a single day. At the beginning I did have trouble at times figuring out which character was which. There is enough description to set the reader firmly in the era. Standing outside of the time, the author skewers the manners and prejudices of the time. Is it great literature? No. Is it good enough that I’ll be seeking out the next two volumes? Yes.
February 3, 2013
I liked this tremendously. I can understand the mixed reviews on this being on the coat tails of Downtown Abbey, but afterall Fay Weldon was one of the frontrunners to help write the pilot for Upstairs Downstairs. Anyhow, I enjoyed the author's wit and the social snobbery of this story. I didnt take it seriously, it was just a fun look into the lives and dilemnas of the rich.
May 16, 2024
I listened to this as the narrator is one of my favorites: Mrs. Katherine Kellgren. In my opinion she made this story great! If I had read this I think I would've been bored. It's an upstairs/downstairs story. If you're a Downton Abbey fan, then give this a go!
August 1, 2013
This story claims to be for fans of Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs but is hardly comparable. It made me realize why I fell in love with Downton Abbey in the first place - the well-drawn characters that made me care for them. Sadly, this book is lacking in appealing characters. They are all cardboard stock characters that embody every single bad cliche of the late Victorian era. They are all selfish and unappealing. At first I liked Rosina, but she proved to be petty and just as fluff brained as the rest of the family. I did like Minnie and I cared about what happened to her but she appears cold at times. The characters are obsessed with s-e-x. They think about it, talk about it and do it all the time. (There's a shocking scene with Arthur, Flora and another man.) The downstairs characters aren't fleshed out enough to care anything about. They flit around in the background, aside from Grace, who appears as a minor character. The story is told from first person limited jumping between the thoughts of each character not giving the reader time to come to know any of them well. The plot is ridiculous and ends abruptly with a twist that didn't fit what had just happened in the previous chapter. There are some inaccuracies : the characters are referred to as gentry when they are actually aristocrats and I think there are some other mistakes, not to mention the inaccurate characters. I think Mrs. O'Brien was supposed to be modeled after popular portrayals of Molly Brown but Americans were actually more stuffy than their British counterparts. Needless to say, I just didn't enjoy this novel at all and won't be reading the other two in the series. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who claims to enjoy well-written stories.
January 30, 2017
Book received from Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Giveaways.
I have had this book for awhile now and I've tried to read it several times. I found the audiobook at my library and decided to give it a chance. I think it is much better listened to than read. I gave it two stars due to how many times I've picked it up and had to put it down. It is the first in a series but I don't believe I'll be reading/listening to the rest. I will admit the parts focusing on the servants of the house are much more interesting than the main family. If you're missing Downton Abbey give it a shot.
I have had this book for awhile now and I've tried to read it several times. I found the audiobook at my library and decided to give it a chance. I think it is much better listened to than read. I gave it two stars due to how many times I've picked it up and had to put it down. It is the first in a series but I don't believe I'll be reading/listening to the rest. I will admit the parts focusing on the servants of the house are much more interesting than the main family. If you're missing Downton Abbey give it a shot.
March 7, 2013
I received this book as part of the GoodReads FirstReads program and it was one that I was fairly giddy to have won. As a fan of historical fiction generally and "Upstairs Downstairs" specifically I was more than ready to enjoy this one.
On the good side the book gives us a wonderfully open portrayal of the behavior of the landed class at the time. No secret is too dark, no behavior too perverse to be placed on display. We're introduced to some of the notable personages of the time and the scene is littered with tidbits of historical amusement from the Boer Wars to steam powered autos. Weldon also treats us to a myriad of period vernacular that causes us Midwestern types to scramble for our dictionaries. If nothing else it's worth reading just for the language. Organizationally the book's short (almost tiny) chapters are each date-headed and titled helping the reader keep track of a sometimes tangled chronology. This is the sort of book you can take in small bites if you need to and come back without losing much of the thread of the narrative.
On the other side, there's just not quite as much story as one would expect from a period piece. Readers who anticipate a Classical level of detail from this novel are bound to be disappointed. It is a novel very much boiled down to its nucleus, a traveling sideshow rather than a museum piece. Additionally, while our author uses some amusing bits of language they do at times seem forced and inconsistently timed. Her characters whip out a colorful phrase about every 20 pages and then revert to current standard English until it is once again time to find an appropriate period idiom to insert. As the current vernacular so aptly puts it, "go big or go home"; if your characters drawl along in Cockney rhyming slang in chapter 1 then they'd best do so for the duration lest purists like me complain about it in online reviews.
To summarize, Weldon's novel is a cute period piece but it's a period piece written for the masses. Bibliophiles who have come to this novel as a modern break from perusing Austen would be advised to understand that this is a novel written for an audience less accustomed to the complexities of Classical literature. Readers are also advised to take a page of notes on the dramatis personae as they are introduced. Personally I had some difficulty sorting out the rather homogeneous nomenclature of the various characters involved.
On the good side the book gives us a wonderfully open portrayal of the behavior of the landed class at the time. No secret is too dark, no behavior too perverse to be placed on display. We're introduced to some of the notable personages of the time and the scene is littered with tidbits of historical amusement from the Boer Wars to steam powered autos. Weldon also treats us to a myriad of period vernacular that causes us Midwestern types to scramble for our dictionaries. If nothing else it's worth reading just for the language. Organizationally the book's short (almost tiny) chapters are each date-headed and titled helping the reader keep track of a sometimes tangled chronology. This is the sort of book you can take in small bites if you need to and come back without losing much of the thread of the narrative.
On the other side, there's just not quite as much story as one would expect from a period piece. Readers who anticipate a Classical level of detail from this novel are bound to be disappointed. It is a novel very much boiled down to its nucleus, a traveling sideshow rather than a museum piece. Additionally, while our author uses some amusing bits of language they do at times seem forced and inconsistently timed. Her characters whip out a colorful phrase about every 20 pages and then revert to current standard English until it is once again time to find an appropriate period idiom to insert. As the current vernacular so aptly puts it, "go big or go home"; if your characters drawl along in Cockney rhyming slang in chapter 1 then they'd best do so for the duration lest purists like me complain about it in online reviews.
To summarize, Weldon's novel is a cute period piece but it's a period piece written for the masses. Bibliophiles who have come to this novel as a modern break from perusing Austen would be advised to understand that this is a novel written for an audience less accustomed to the complexities of Classical literature. Readers are also advised to take a page of notes on the dramatis personae as they are introduced. Personally I had some difficulty sorting out the rather homogeneous nomenclature of the various characters involved.
February 24, 2013
Fans of Downton Abbey who find they are missing the drama of the television series will be delighted to pick up Faye Weldon’s novel, Habits of the House. Set in London at the end of the 1899 Season, the novel revolves around the happenings at 17 Belgrave Square. The staff, used to being back in the country, is in an uproar, and the family, the Earl of Dilberne, his Lordship Robert, Lady Isobel and their two grown children Rosina and Arthur, seem to be facing financial ruin. Robert’s gambling and friendship with the unscrupulous Prince of Wales has lead to near bankruptcy. The appearance of Minnie O’Brien, a very wealthy American, and her loud, larger than life mother Tessa, just might be the answer to their problems, if a successful match between Arthur and Minnie can be secured. While the social mores of the time are changing, both the family and the help find that it is not always easy to give up the habits and customs of the past, and often chafe at the process. Weldon, one of the script writers for the original Upstairs Downstairs, has a keen eye for storytelling, and fills the plot with many surprising twists and turns. Filled with period detail and a deep understanding of the issues of class and society at the brink of change, Habits of the House is a delightful and thought provoking look at late Victorian life. The first in a trilogy, Habits of the House will have readers eagerly awaiting Weldon’s next installment.
July 28, 2017
a nice read
September 3, 2018
I was really looking forward to this book. I read on a post that it was like Downton Abbey! But it was not as great as Downton Abbey and I was quite disappointed. It was still an enjoyable read, just not as exciting as I was hoping it would be.
The story is about an Earl and his family and staff. The Earl had a business deal that went wrong and he is short for money, so he is trying to get his son to marry and heiress so that the family can maintain their wealth and power. The characters were just ok. They were not very loveable and exciting, and I felt like the author was trying a bit to hard to make us like characters that were not super nice people. Even the serving staff wasn’t loveable and that’s where I was hoping the characters would come through. The plot also felt like nothing substantial happened, and every dramatic piece was added just for the sake of drama, and not real plot development. Yet like I said, there was enough to keep me interested in wanting to know what was going to happen! Which I consider good, but not great! I believe in making your own opinion, so if the synopsis interests you, then you should definitely read it!
The story is about an Earl and his family and staff. The Earl had a business deal that went wrong and he is short for money, so he is trying to get his son to marry and heiress so that the family can maintain their wealth and power. The characters were just ok. They were not very loveable and exciting, and I felt like the author was trying a bit to hard to make us like characters that were not super nice people. Even the serving staff wasn’t loveable and that’s where I was hoping the characters would come through. The plot also felt like nothing substantial happened, and every dramatic piece was added just for the sake of drama, and not real plot development. Yet like I said, there was enough to keep me interested in wanting to know what was going to happen! Which I consider good, but not great! I believe in making your own opinion, so if the synopsis interests you, then you should definitely read it!
September 15, 2013
I won this book in a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads Giveaway Contest and I was really excited when I heard that I won. Like most people, I was drawn to this book with its comparisons to Downton Abbey. Sadly this book was dreadful and a drag to read. I got about 3/4 through it before just skimming to the end and going "whyyyyyyy!". I really thought it was going to pick up and get interesting. So here is the rundown on my thoughts:
I look at the cover and I think, "Hmmm..a Period Piece story-line so it must be interesting and drama filled" Then I open the pages and begin to read. After a few pages or chapters it is revealed the main purpose of this whole book. The family of 4 has lost almost all of its money due to the dads poor decision making and putting it all in one place. So one of the children have to get married basically for money. The daughter is super pro women's rights and flat out refuses. The son doesn't want to, but will do it anyway. So they search for a wife for him and pop comes this American girl who will give him her money in exchange for a title or whatever. At this point I'm thinking, "Ok this story-line was played before. It is feeling repetitive and nothing is really truly unique after reading over 100 pages. Yawn, but I will try to pull through! Something exciting should happen right?! WRONG!"
Fast forward to the chapter around page 150 and Plus the fact that Penises are referred to as "doodles" WTF! Really? Really? Boy I was so turned off when I read that chapter. and let me further explain, each chapter title basically spoils most of the chapter because it is gonna tell you flat out what is gonna happen. It's like saying, "The Chapter where Ivan dies" or some crap like that.
Good gracious the writing is horrible and such a slump to pull through. The characters are not attractive and basically everyone has a hidden agenda, talks crap, or just boring. The author tries to pull this whole "drama upstairs and downstairs" bullcrap and I don't buy it. There is not enough meat or true drama to get you through this. One flat story-line and not enough conversations. Full of lengthy descriptions and pointless chapters. I don't care how hard of a British period story fan you are, don't grab this. 1.5 out of 5
I look at the cover and I think, "Hmmm..a Period Piece story-line so it must be interesting and drama filled" Then I open the pages and begin to read. After a few pages or chapters it is revealed the main purpose of this whole book. The family of 4 has lost almost all of its money due to the dads poor decision making and putting it all in one place. So one of the children have to get married basically for money. The daughter is super pro women's rights and flat out refuses. The son doesn't want to, but will do it anyway. So they search for a wife for him and pop comes this American girl who will give him her money in exchange for a title or whatever. At this point I'm thinking, "Ok this story-line was played before. It is feeling repetitive and nothing is really truly unique after reading over 100 pages. Yawn, but I will try to pull through! Something exciting should happen right?! WRONG!"
Fast forward to the chapter around page 150 and Plus the fact that Penises are referred to as "doodles" WTF! Really? Really? Boy I was so turned off when I read that chapter. and let me further explain, each chapter title basically spoils most of the chapter because it is gonna tell you flat out what is gonna happen. It's like saying, "The Chapter where Ivan dies" or some crap like that.
Good gracious the writing is horrible and such a slump to pull through. The characters are not attractive and basically everyone has a hidden agenda, talks crap, or just boring. The author tries to pull this whole "drama upstairs and downstairs" bullcrap and I don't buy it. There is not enough meat or true drama to get you through this. One flat story-line and not enough conversations. Full of lengthy descriptions and pointless chapters. I don't care how hard of a British period story fan you are, don't grab this. 1.5 out of 5
February 8, 2013
For an American who has grown up and stuck traditionally to American TV and Books, unless forced to look elsewhere (like when I was in school), British TV and novels produced by Brits like Fay Weldon who is witty and tell-it-like-it-is are FOREIGN.
But after a month of diving into everything I could about a certain British television program that has captured the hearts of many, I realized I was ready for more.
And Fay Weldon delivers more with Habits of the House.
In Habits of the House, Weldon is truly a captivating story-teller as she fills our hearts with a mixture of emotions with the spinning of her web, I mean pen.
There's Lord Robert - a father, a husband and someone who seeks higher up for himself -even if that means mixing with the lives of his children. Isobel, his wife, keeps their home together (and Isobel's maid, Grace keeps her together). But then there are their children, Arthur who is unmarried and keeps a courtesan (whispering - that is proper English terms for hooker), and Rosina, also unmarried, who keeps a parrot in her room.
Weldon brings about the properness of the life of being a Lord or a Lady and intertwines it with regularness of being a Dad, and his family.
Want something different? Go for it! Get a copy of Weldon's book!
But after a month of diving into everything I could about a certain British television program that has captured the hearts of many, I realized I was ready for more.
And Fay Weldon delivers more with Habits of the House.
In Habits of the House, Weldon is truly a captivating story-teller as she fills our hearts with a mixture of emotions with the spinning of her web, I mean pen.
There's Lord Robert - a father, a husband and someone who seeks higher up for himself -even if that means mixing with the lives of his children. Isobel, his wife, keeps their home together (and Isobel's maid, Grace keeps her together). But then there are their children, Arthur who is unmarried and keeps a courtesan (whispering - that is proper English terms for hooker), and Rosina, also unmarried, who keeps a parrot in her room.
Weldon brings about the properness of the life of being a Lord or a Lady and intertwines it with regularness of being a Dad, and his family.
Want something different? Go for it! Get a copy of Weldon's book!
September 23, 2013
A lot of books right now are claiming to be for fans of Downton Abbey. This one, written by a writer for Upstairs, Downstairs really is.
The Earl of Dilberne is facing serious financial concerns. Mr. Baum, his Jewish financial adviser, is ready to throw in the towel. Not only has he lent Dilberne a great deal of money, only to see the man fritter it away, he is tired of the politely covered scorn he receives at the man's hands. It is especially galling that Baum can not make them see their circumstances. To Lady Isobel, who rose from being the illegitimate child of a coal baron to being a countess and valued society hostess, the only course seems to be marry off their children. That will cut the expenses accrued by daughter Rosina and gain them a dowry through son Arthur. American heiress Minnie is seen as the solution to all their problems - but fate is rarely that kind.
Certainly an enjoyable read and definitely written along the style of Downton. I enjoyed the look at staff - the snobby maid, the nasty little piece of work that is the coachman, the over excitable cook. The upstairs folk are fun too, especially young Arthur whom I pictured as looking a lot like Mathew from Downton.
The Earl of Dilberne is facing serious financial concerns. Mr. Baum, his Jewish financial adviser, is ready to throw in the towel. Not only has he lent Dilberne a great deal of money, only to see the man fritter it away, he is tired of the politely covered scorn he receives at the man's hands. It is especially galling that Baum can not make them see their circumstances. To Lady Isobel, who rose from being the illegitimate child of a coal baron to being a countess and valued society hostess, the only course seems to be marry off their children. That will cut the expenses accrued by daughter Rosina and gain them a dowry through son Arthur. American heiress Minnie is seen as the solution to all their problems - but fate is rarely that kind.
Certainly an enjoyable read and definitely written along the style of Downton. I enjoyed the look at staff - the snobby maid, the nasty little piece of work that is the coachman, the over excitable cook. The upstairs folk are fun too, especially young Arthur whom I pictured as looking a lot like Mathew from Downton.
February 21, 2013
An awesome dysfunctional upper class British family drama (1899), mostly "upstairs" but with a few "downstairs" elements. And so, of course, its cover bears a quip from a review favorably recommending this to Downton Abbey fans, and I couldn't agree more. Better yet, this book is the first in a trilogy! Can't wait for the next book. Will the Earl of Dilberne's fianances continue their upswing motion after a disastrous dip near homelessness? Will the Earl's son Arthur successfully wed American heiress Minnie? Will his thought-to-be-overly-intellectual sister Rosina ever find love? Those are just some of the questions I am left with, but will have to sit tight until Long Live The King (book 2) and The New Countess (book 3) are released.
May 12, 2014
This novel provides a peek inside the lives of an aristocratic family for two months in late 1899. The driving force behind the story is the financial predicament in which the Earl of Dilberne finds himself� the actions of all of the characters revolve around that.
If you don’t like reading about the late Victorian era, I don’t think you’ll find much here to be of interest. The most enjoyable part of the story is in all of the period details. I’m still trying to find a picture of an Arnold Jehu car!
This is just the type of thing that I thoroughly enjoy. I’ll seek out the other two books in the series.
If you don’t like reading about the late Victorian era, I don’t think you’ll find much here to be of interest. The most enjoyable part of the story is in all of the period details. I’m still trying to find a picture of an Arnold Jehu car!
This is just the type of thing that I thoroughly enjoy. I’ll seek out the other two books in the series.
June 2, 2016
Chicklit a la Jane Austen: standen, hoe-heurt-het, liefde, rebellie en geld. Lekkere leessnack voor tussendoor.
August 25, 2017
A number of Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ reviewers marked this one down because it wasn't enough like Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs (Weldon in fact wrote the first episode of UD). They were probably misled by the cover descriptions which invited them to expect just that. But I think the TV shows were essentially high-class soap operas, while this is more a social satire somewhere on the continuum between Trollope and Wodehouse, maybe a little closer to Wodehouse. Nobody is completely admirable; everybody has at least one secret; financial ruin, public humiliation, and lost love threaten; comic and not-so-comic misunderstandings abound; but everything turns out miraculously perfect in the end. The whole book has the arch tone of Rosalind in As You Like It, "Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love." I very much look forward to the second in the trilogy.
April 15, 2020
Well what to say... I can't remember where I picked this book up, but it's been sitting on my shelf for a while. I pulled it down to read during the lockdown. I hadn't read any of the reviews on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ or anywhere else prior to starting and admit my heart sank when I read some of the reviews thinking id embarked on the worst book ever written. However, I actually quite enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong it's not high art, literature that is going to stand the test of time, with complex and diverting characters. But it's a quick read, entertaining and it was a perfect bit of froth in worried times.
October 10, 2020
Really enjoyed this because I love Weldon's cheeky, humorous insouciance. I was taken aback by all the negative reviews because "it wasn't like Downtown Abbey" or whatever! It was fun to read and I'm looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.
December 30, 2020
This scores a 3 for the story, which was just okay -- a comedy of manners in the vein of Jane Austen, with some sexual innuendo thrown in, but not nearly as witty. 4 stars for the narrator, which is why I listened. Katherine Kellgren is an excellent narrator.
August 27, 2020
Enjoyable novel from the author who gave us the first part of the Upstairs Downstairs saga. It is not Downton Abby, as the story is much simpler, the characters less rounded. But, if you like British aristocrat novels, this is a quick and easy read.
November 14, 2012
I am going to guess when this book is marketed they will unceremoniously slap a sticker that says something to the effect of If You Loved Downton Abbey blah blah blah on this unsuspecting book cover. Why or why must I love this if I love Downton Abbey, because it within the same 20 year time span? That is ridiculous, but I suppose they must promote. I won this from The Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ First Reads Program and was both thrilled and a little fingertip nibbly. Sure Ms. Weldon wrote the pilot episode to 'Upstairs Downstairs' and sort of gave birth to all the lovely and not so lovely period pieces that bask in the trend-hungry market of today’s entertainment industry. In truth I often wonder if the likes of Maggie Smith, Brendan Coyle, Kelly MacDonald, Hugh Bonneville and Judi Dench provide their own turn of the century wardrobe when they’re called up. Yet let us pause. Ms. Weldon is not a person or an author to be pegged or labelled. She is funny and serious, irreverent and found, boring and fascinating, humble and self-satisfied; this is a writer who can convey as few others the relentless anger of betrayal, the hopeless and honour of the classes, the simple dignity of love and death. She wrote ‘Lives and Loves of a She-Devilâ€� for goodness sakes. And she truly understands the lure and horror of chocolate as few do. So was this book up to snuff? It has a sure flow, much of it wallowing in the same insipid day that is anything but as the words do their exert themselves. It is the ending of 1899 and the world is turning on its axis, for better and for much worse, at the very least, change is ramming through with little regard for class or tradition. It is a circus of the concurrence of rich and poor, upper and lower classes who whirl in this ghastly dance, this travesty of conduct. It was a tad long, but that just means it will make a lovely mini-series so bring it on BBC, Masterpiece me.
May 13, 2015
I'll admit, Weldon has a large amount of knowledge on this period, she's got the information. But to read a novel and only take away that the author has done research isn't good. The novel itself wasn't very enjoyable. The characters were hard to like, hard to relate to and unrealistic. None of the characters developed and neither did the storyline. It begins with no one answering the door and takes over thirty pages for someone to opening it.
The plot could have been dramatic but it was bypassed - like having absolutely no money isn't a big deal ? I think the villain or at least antagonist was not a large or terrifying threat. He wasn't a threat at all. The servants were boring, the relevance of Elsie and her fiancée as a plot was pointless, as was lily. Grace's past didn't come back to bite her and was somewhat unbelievable, despite its truth. As for their masters and mistresses, Earl Dilberne was a naive and boring focal point of the family, his wife was better but her reaction to her husbands past was uncalled for, given what was expected of that time. Their daughter was obnoxious and rude with no redeeming qualities and Arthur, the saviour, perhaps, was a gullible and frustrating character with no wit. His fiancée was equally as bad.
With no redeeming characters, a poor storyline and a completely unsatisfactory and lazy ending, this novel isn't one I would recommend. Despite the credibility behind Weldon (or so I have been told) this was not a good read .
The plot could have been dramatic but it was bypassed - like having absolutely no money isn't a big deal ? I think the villain or at least antagonist was not a large or terrifying threat. He wasn't a threat at all. The servants were boring, the relevance of Elsie and her fiancée as a plot was pointless, as was lily. Grace's past didn't come back to bite her and was somewhat unbelievable, despite its truth. As for their masters and mistresses, Earl Dilberne was a naive and boring focal point of the family, his wife was better but her reaction to her husbands past was uncalled for, given what was expected of that time. Their daughter was obnoxious and rude with no redeeming qualities and Arthur, the saviour, perhaps, was a gullible and frustrating character with no wit. His fiancée was equally as bad.
With no redeeming characters, a poor storyline and a completely unsatisfactory and lazy ending, this novel isn't one I would recommend. Despite the credibility behind Weldon (or so I have been told) this was not a good read .
June 5, 2016
I really didn't like this book. I probably wouldn't have finished it, except that it's the only audiobook I brought on a weekend trip, and I didn't want channel surf on the radio. In the entire ensemble cast, there wasn't a single character who wasn't petty, selfish, short-sighted, arrogant, or spiteful, and sometimes all of these things at once. I can understand wanting to portray realistic, flawed characters, but to make them relateable, they can't be wholly irredeemable, and these characters mostly were. At their best, some were occasionally inoffensive; when that's the best you can say about a person, it's pretty damning.
Mechanically, the writing mostly wasn't bad, but there were some long-winded expository moments. There were also some things repeated several times from different characters' points of view, which became repetitive, since no new information or insight was being provided. Additionally, there was some occasional weirdness where it wasn't entirely clear whether a character was speaking aloud, or simply thinking something; I suspect this may have been an issue with the audiobook reader, more than the text, but without seeing it, I can't be sure. Overall though, I was bored and disliked everyone. Would not recommend.
Mechanically, the writing mostly wasn't bad, but there were some long-winded expository moments. There were also some things repeated several times from different characters' points of view, which became repetitive, since no new information or insight was being provided. Additionally, there was some occasional weirdness where it wasn't entirely clear whether a character was speaking aloud, or simply thinking something; I suspect this may have been an issue with the audiobook reader, more than the text, but without seeing it, I can't be sure. Overall though, I was bored and disliked everyone. Would not recommend.
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