The House on Fortune Street
by Margot Livesey
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 296)
Read in May, 2008
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Read in June, 2008
Although I knew I would enjoy it, The House on Fortune Street was still a surprise to me. For one thing, the summary of the book on the book jacket describes it chronologically, when in actuality, the book kind of jumps around the time line. Do you remember that movie Memento? Well, it’s sort of like that. But not really. Wow, I should be a professional book reviewer with this kind of coherency! Anyway, it is a book that offers a bit of mystery and then that relevatory “Aha!” feeling as it...more
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Read in May, 2008
I read this book in about a day--it was a pleasure. The novel consists of four sections, with four different narrators, though the climax in each is the same, and any questions we have about that situation are answered bit by bit by the different narrators: Dara, a woman in a long-term relationship with a married man; Dara's father; and her upstairs neighbors, Sean and Abigail.
Livesey's strength is her ability to characterize--each narrator feels fully formed, a person with strengths and ...more
Livesey's strength is her ability to characterize--each narrator feels fully formed, a person with strengths and ...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Edan by:
Joan Silberrecommends it for: Paria (for all the Scottish and British stuff)
I rarely like novels that shift the third person point of view to a different character for each section--it can feel too much like a little creative writing exercise for the author. But I was seriously invested in each of Livesey's characters, especially the father with his lust for little girls: he is rendered with such humanity and originality that you too, as you're reading, understand his desire, and his shame about that desire.
My only complaint with this book is that the final sectio...more
My only complaint with this book is that the final sectio...more
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When there was a GLARING error in a 19th-century literary reference in the first 40 pages, I nearly put the book down. And maybe I should have. The first character you're introduced to is a long-suffering graduate student writing his dissertation on Keats -- a type of character close to my heart for all the obvious reasons. And, given that context, you would expect some 19th-century references. But they started to pile up and never really add up to much. By the time she virtually replays a scene...more
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I'd give this one 4.5 stars. Well-written with compelling intertwining narratives told from four different perspectives, the central ones being Abigail (a confident, overachieving actress/theatrical producer with a hard-edged personality) and her college friend Dara (a less confident, emotionally intense therapist who's been unsuccessful in relationships). Surprisingly, though, the book starts with Sean, Abigail's boyfriend, a long-suffering perfectionist grad student unable to finish his diss...more
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Read in July, 2008
It took me a couple of weeks to get through the first few chapters and I almost put this one down. But I'm glad I stuck it out because this book was really freakin' good.
What I hadn't realized was that Livesey divided the book into four sections, each one following the life of one of the main characters: Sean, a struggling academic; Abigail, his theater-person girlfriend; Dara, Abigail's emotionally vulnerable best friend; and Cameron, Dara's estranged father. Sean's part is the first one, a...more
What I hadn't realized was that Livesey divided the book into four sections, each one following the life of one of the main characters: Sean, a struggling academic; Abigail, his theater-person girlfriend; Dara, Abigail's emotionally vulnerable best friend; and Cameron, Dara's estranged father. Sean's part is the first one, a...more
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Read in May, 2008
Livesey is exploring the disconnect the exists between our unstated private desires and feelings and the desires/feelings we choose to present to the world and the harm it does. Using four different characters (each one connected to a British author - Keats, Lewis Carroll, Charlotte Bronte/Virginia Woolf, and Charles Dickens - who know each other she explores the assumptions they (and we as readers) make and the consequences of those assumptions. I thought is was an extremely skillful book, ...more
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Read in June, 2008
This is the story of 4 indviduals whose lives are closely tied together; Abbie, Sean (abbie's boyfriend--one of many), Dara (abbie's best friend), and Cameron (Dara's father).
The author divides the book into 4 sections and each section is written in the perspective of one of the 4 main characters. Dara's and Sean's chapters are more enjoyable reads.
Their lives are very complicated and many serious issues are dealt with by the main characters (ex. adultry & suicide)
It was a good ...more
The author divides the book into 4 sections and each section is written in the perspective of one of the 4 main characters. Dara's and Sean's chapters are more enjoyable reads.
Their lives are very complicated and many serious issues are dealt with by the main characters (ex. adultry & suicide)
It was a good ...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
Anyone who likes a well told, interesting contemporary novel
This was fantastic. I've been a Livesey fan since I read Eva Moves the Furniture but slightly disappointed with everything since. Not this one.
The novel is made up of four interlocking chapters that all concern - in one way or another - the death of one of characters. Each chapter is told by or is about different character and each is influenced by a book or author - Dickens, Keats, Jane Eyre, and Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll). The chapters comment and inform on one another in a way tha...more
The novel is made up of four interlocking chapters that all concern - in one way or another - the death of one of characters. Each chapter is told by or is about different character and each is influenced by a book or author - Dickens, Keats, Jane Eyre, and Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll). The chapters comment and inform on one another in a way tha...more
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4 comments
Read in May, 2008
This book was pretty good, but unmemorable. It is told from the point of view of four different characters, who all experience the same event. However, I thought this book suffered in that I thought that it started with the wrong character telling his story.
The book was interesting, and it did tell with several "issues", such as suicide, promiscuity, growing old, and having inappropriate relationships. Actual, that's pretty much the gist of the entire book.
An interesting read i...more
The book was interesting, and it did tell with several "issues", such as suicide, promiscuity, growing old, and having inappropriate relationships. Actual, that's pretty much the gist of the entire book.
An interesting read i...more
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Read in May, 2008
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Satisfying story of four connected characters told in four parts, each from the perspective of one character as in “Rashomon.” The novel focuses on the two primary females, their friendship, and the role that chance (i.e. “Fortune”) plays in their lives as unmarried, accomplished women. Author addresses this and other sensitive social issues with deft. Her European writing style is nice and generally nonintrusive but for a few instances of clumsiness in the interest of suspense. Recommen...more
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Read in July, 2008
My favorite book I've read so far this year. I was a little disappointed when I started the section told from Cameron's point of view (the father of one of the two main characters), but I was wrong to worry: his story was just as compelling as -- if not more than -- the others'. The way the characters' lives were influenced by (or paralleled) the lives of their favorite authors made for some really smart writing as well. I was sad when this one ended.
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Read in August, 2008
This is the first book I read by Livesy although I have read some of her book reviews. I thought this was a very well written novel with an interesting structure. However, I was saddened by the story's themes and characters. Reading the book, I was reminded of Julia Glass for some reason.
Most memorable passage: "It would have been nice to be back together, even briefly, in that pool of memory where no one else would ever swim."
Most memorable passage: "It would have been nice to be back together, even briefly, in that pool of memory where no one else would ever swim."
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Brilliantly done. Loved the juxtaposition of the lives of two very different female friends. One strived endlessly to do quite well for herself regardless of life's roadblocks and tragedies, She never let men get in the way of her dreams, goals, or friendships. Unfortunately her friend didn't follow her example and grew weaker and weaker with every pitfall especially when it came to being wronged by men.
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Read in July, 2008
This author/book was highly recommended to me by a library patron. Set in England, it is the story of two women and the affect the relationship with their fathers had on future relationships with men. The interplay of each character's story going back and forward in time makes very satisfying story of character, plot, and beautiful writing. I am anxious to read more of her books.
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Read in August, 2008
I liked this book far more than I expected to. It was creepy and interesting and well-written and I found it unexpectedly hard to put down. I find I am reading more and more books of late that have different parts written from different points of view - I am becoming quite the fan of that style. I also like the intersection of the different characters and stories.
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Read in August, 2008
Not as powerful/tight as her others which I loved. Tells each character's story in separate sections of book which made it hard to follow perhaps because the characters weren't developed enough in opening of book.
Favorite quote (paraphrased) by a character missing his ex-wife:
"we share the same pool of memory that no one else will ever be able to dip into"
Favorite quote (paraphrased) by a character missing his ex-wife:
"we share the same pool of memory that no one else will ever be able to dip into"
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A wonderful book. It is an overlapping story told from four different perspectives. Each of the characters lives are shaped by childhood events as well as fate. Very well written - it drew me in and I couldn't wait to find out more about each character.
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