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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Review: The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna Van Praag




Hardcover304 pages
Publisher Pamela Dorman Books


From Goodreads: 

Distraught that her academic career has stalled, Alba is walking through her hometown of Cambridge, England, when she finds herself in front of a house she’s never seen before, 11 Hope Street. A beautiful older woman named Peggy greets her and invites her to stay, on the house’s usual conditions: she has ninety-nine nights to turn her life around. With nothing left to lose, Alba takes a chance and moves in.

She soon discovers that this is no ordinary house. Past residents have included George Eliot and Beatrix Potter, who, after receiving the assistance they needed, hung around to help newcomers—literally, in talking portraits on the wall. As she escapes into this new world, Alba begins a journey that will heal her wounds—and maybe even save her life.


My Thoughts:


There is a house in Cambridge, England, which appears to women who need a place of refuge when they discover themselves to be at crossroads in life.  Whether due to circumstances, a life event, or because the world around them isn't ready for their brilliance, these women need a safe place to get themselves together, and decide what path through life they should take.  These women need to recognize what is in their best interests, with a little help from the afterlife.  That's when the house on Hope Street appears to them.

When Alba experiences the worst event of her life, that's when the house appears and welcomes her with open arms.  There she finds the care taker, Peggy, and two other women in residence who also need the house's hospitality and wisdom, Carmen and Greer.  Each of these women must decide what to do next in their life, and also discover what will make them be true to themselves.  Who they really are.  The house helps with that, first by comforting them, then by offering them hints or suggestions of what they should do.  The house provides these women and those who have lived their in the past the love and support they need to get back on their feet.

The walls of the house are covered with photos of everyone who has ever stayed there, and many of them are famous: Agatha Christie, Vivian Leigh, Liz Taylor, Sylvia Plath.  They offer advice to Alba and they are all very funny.  The author has a little bio of each historical woman who is featured in the story, in the back of the book.  Back to Alba, she is so young and inexperienced with repeat to life, that she can't handle what is happening to her now.  She has family, but they are not supportive of her, and we learn all about that aspect too.  What a shame!  I won't give it away, but it explains a lot of how Alba grew up to be the way she is.  Besides the fact that Alba is brilliant, I think she has a photographic memory, but she also experiences things in color.  Alba has synesthesia; words and emotions are in color to her.  This was never fully explained or named, but a character in another book had this condition so I knew what it was.

Anyway, Alba is the main character in the book, but there are also two other women staying in the house, as well as the house mum.  All of these women have issues they need to work out, and the house helps them.  Filling their rooms with what makes them happy, like books, dropping helpful hints or quotes from the sky, and generally pushing them to explore themselves and come to the right decision.  And don't forget the photos of previous women who have stayed on Hope street who offer unsolicited advice.  They help too.  Everyone in the story eventually finds their path and the House at the End of Hope Street succeeds yet again.

Sorry if this review is all over the place, but there are so many wonderful aspects of this story and I  just loved it!  There wasn't one thing, truly, that I didn't like.  Not one character past or present that wasn't interesting and add something to the story.  The House at the End of Hope Street is a hopeful book that will you leave in a happy and loving place.  This one will be staying on my shelves because I can totally see myself re-reading it again.


Thanks to FSB Associates for my review copy.



© Jenny Girl - 2013 "All Rights Reserved"

Comments (23)

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I am getting this awwwww feeling
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
That was the idea sweetie :)
I think I'm going to have to read this... I've seen it go by on Goodreads, and thought it looked intriguing, and your review has definitely solidified that feeling for me. I love the idea of this house... (so that's where Christie went during her mysterious disappearance?) The whole thing just sounds wonderful. Moving it higher up on my Goodreads list.
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
Yes! That's where she went, and the Doctor was not involved either :)
The women the author selected to spotlight gave the story such richness.
Fabulous. Sounds so cool and different. I love the concept and cover. Great review. Glad to hear it's good.
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
thanks you! The cover drew me in and then the blurb sold me. Totally sweet and I think you would really enjoy it.
This sounds absolutely adorable. I could use a book like that. I'll be checking into it as soon as possible!
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
awesome! Perfect escapist reading and in between the heavy hitters.
Sounds absolutely beautiful, definitely going straight on my wishlist thanks to your wonderful review Jen :)
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
Awesome! I think you would like it. Also, Alba the heroine is really young, so I think your fondness for YA would also suck you in.
This sounds delightful! :)
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
thanks Jen! It truly was :)
Sounds fantastic, and I love the cover!
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
Isn't it adorable?! Way to get readers attention for sure.
I am so glad to read another amazing review covering this story! I absolutely loved it. New follower :)

If you get the chance, please stop by my blog and follow too!

Chelsey@Charming Chelsey's
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
Hi Chelsey and welcome! I will be sure to stop by :)
Love this great review!
1 reply · active 620 weeks ago
Great review. I've been seeing this one everywhere but you have convinced me that I really need to read it. I love magical houses :)
1 reply · active 616 weeks ago
Excellent! It's just a great gem of a story.
I've heard of this book before and that review was also good! I did check it out on Goodreads, but I should add it to my TBR - it sounds like a good read
1 reply · active 616 weeks ago
It was such a fun and entertaining story. All of the characters were likeable and I really wished I could visit the house someday myself!

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