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Nachts schwimmen
Heißt lieben, immer die Wahrheit zu sagen?
Tagsüber kämpft Rachel um das Leben ihrer kranken Mutter, nachts entspannt sie sich beim Schwimmen. Eines Abends ist sie nicht allein. Auch Quinn, der Arzt ihrer Mutter, liebt es, in der Dunkelheit durchs Wasser zu gleiten. Jeden Tag fiebert Rachel nun dem Sonnenuntergang entgegen. Den Momenten, wenn sie nebeneinander ihre Bahnen ziehen, reden und sich näherkommen. Die leidenschaftliche Affäre ist unausweichlich, obwohl sie wissen, dass ihre Gefühle nicht sein dürfen. Denn Quinn ist mit Marianna verheiratet, und die wünscht sich nichts sehnlicher als ein Kind …
Tagsüber kämpft Rachel um das Leben ihrer kranken Mutter, nachts entspannt sie sich beim Schwimmen. Eines Abends ist sie nicht allein. Auch Quinn, der Arzt ihrer Mutter, liebt es, in der Dunkelheit durchs Wasser zu gleiten. Jeden Tag fiebert Rachel nun dem Sonnenuntergang entgegen. Den Momenten, wenn sie nebeneinander ihre Bahnen ziehen, reden und sich näherkommen. Die leidenschaftliche Affäre ist unausweichlich, obwohl sie wissen, dass ihre Gefühle nicht sein dürfen. Denn Quinn ist mit Marianna verheiratet, und die wünscht sich nichts sehnlicher als ein Kind …
447 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2015
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353 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Armstrong
6 books49 followersSarah was a journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation before writing three novels, Salt Rain , which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, 'His Other House' and 'Promise'. Her first novel for kids is 'Big Magic.' http://www.sarah-armstrong
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
January 30, 2016
Re His Other House - I did not read this as a romance or women's fiction - I read this one as a character study on how and why some people make decisions and others don't and how the effects of not making a choice (which is also a choice), reverberate and permeate a person's life and all who know them. This is a very good study of dysfunctional relationships and also a good study on the nature of everyday pervasive evil - how people you never would suspect just slip into a absolute moral and ethical decay that they will never really recover from and how that decay affects the most innocent.
Neil Gaiman in Good Omens said, "It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused, not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally bad, but by people being fundamentally people."
And Jim Butcher of Harry Dresden fame said, "Most of the bad guys in the real world don't know that they are bad guys. You don't get a flashing warning sign that you're about to damn yourself. It sneaks up on you when you aren't looking."
Those two quotes describe this book perfectly for me, Rachel, Marianna and Quinn form a triumvirate of weakness, indecisiveness and willful obsession and while one of the triad, Marianna, is arguably ignorant of the severe problems she is entangled in, I felt it was more a case of putting her hands over eyes during the scary part of the movie rather than true ignorance. Marianna had the subconcious knowing, but as long as she had the illusion of a good marriage and more importantly, she had her child - she never really questioned Quinn's actions.
Quinn is a pathetic person, he slides into adultery, slides into dual households and is completely unable to make any kind of personal decision whatsoever - his choice is consistently not to make a choice - he lets first Marianna and then Rachel drive him into pursuing their own agenda-- and he never once in the story makes a decision or a choice on his own. He can only react to the actions of both Marianna and Rachel, and it is this lack of inner drive that allows him to drown in a sewer of moral morass which will contaminate every relationship he has for the rest of his life. Quinn becomes evil not by overt choices to do wrong, but by disinterest in changing his status quo, and thus he demonstrates the slow tarnishment of his soul and his person, and sadly it spreads to encompass his kids.
I believe he really does love both of his kids, but he is so ineffectual at decisions and his moral compass is so twisted, that by the end of the story the reader knows that he has hit his interpersonal relationship zenith five years earlier and the rest of his life is just going to be a slow rotting of decay as he will die a lonely old man and no one will remember his name. He is totally lost in his own internal fantasizing and his refusal to see reality makes him the most pitiable character of the book. He really is like Gollum falling in at Mt. Doom by the end.
Rachel and Marianna are actually very similar in willful determination to achieve their goals, (and it is why Quinn moves so easily between them and why he is attracted to both of them). They both demonstrate the force of will to do whatever they need to achieve their desires and devil take the hindmost. They are by far two of the most powerfully goal motivated women I have read about in recent years. They go for what they want and they don't count the cost.
The difference between R and M, is that M is satisfied with the birth of her child and her illusion of a perfect marriage. Make no mistake, i believe M knew there was something wrong, she had just hung around Quinn so long that his choice avoidance ennui is embedded in her psyche. Once she is shaken out of her complacency, she is once again driven to reach her goals, but this time it will be an independent and more satisfying life with no trace of Quinn in it-- and that includes marginalizing Quinn in her daughter's life.
Out of the three of them, Marianna is the one I believe will recover and move on to a happy and satisfying life. I don't think she will ever sink into complacency again and of the three, she is also probably going to prove to be the best parent.
Rachel is just as driven as M, but she is capricious in her wants and the only thing that really excites and motivates her is the thrill of the chase and the win. Once she has it, she doesn't want it, and I foresee a long dreary future of back and forth between her and Quinn, with the eventual addition of future lovers for both, to make huge messes of tangled relationships that are ultimately going to end in a lifetime of regrets, damaged feelings, emotional pain and aloneness for both R and Q.
Rachel and Quinn will lose their son Ned, as even at his young age he already shows the ability to walk away from dysfunction with the inner fortitude to soothe his own internal hurts. There was heavy foreshadowing at the end that Ned would eventually abandon both his parents and that he would actually be much better off with that outcome, but there is every indication that both R and Q will never again have a real and deep connection to another person, their legacy will only be grief and heartache and the world will eventually move on without them.
If they do stay together it will be a dysfunctional affair of resentment, bitterness and mutual distrust because they have lost their ability to be honest and giving, and more than likely they will alienate any other who tries to get close to them, as neither one of them is capable of putting another's needs above their own so eventually no else will want to have them.
Needless to say I did not like anyone in this book but the children. My heart hurt for them-- but both of them showed that were very strong people even at their young ages. They had an ability for inner healing and very strong moral compasses to guide them, plus M's daughter had a very decent mum who would do her best to ensure she was emotionally healthy and happy.
My final thoughts on this book are best summed up by Dostoyevsky when he said "Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him."
I think in terms of characterization and the dissection of a moral trainwreck, SA did a great job in showing how inertia and cowardice rot both the soul and a person's life and how that rot ripples outward to taint all it touches. So in that respect the book is definitely a five star book, in terms of my sense of rightness and the feeling that the world is a better place for reading this book, well IMO this book is a 2 - I can tolerate it, but I don't want to think about it really - I am a bit sadder and sorrier I read it.
Neil Gaiman in Good Omens said, "It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused, not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally bad, but by people being fundamentally people."
And Jim Butcher of Harry Dresden fame said, "Most of the bad guys in the real world don't know that they are bad guys. You don't get a flashing warning sign that you're about to damn yourself. It sneaks up on you when you aren't looking."
Those two quotes describe this book perfectly for me, Rachel, Marianna and Quinn form a triumvirate of weakness, indecisiveness and willful obsession and while one of the triad, Marianna, is arguably ignorant of the severe problems she is entangled in, I felt it was more a case of putting her hands over eyes during the scary part of the movie rather than true ignorance. Marianna had the subconcious knowing, but as long as she had the illusion of a good marriage and more importantly, she had her child - she never really questioned Quinn's actions.
Quinn is a pathetic person, he slides into adultery, slides into dual households and is completely unable to make any kind of personal decision whatsoever - his choice is consistently not to make a choice - he lets first Marianna and then Rachel drive him into pursuing their own agenda-- and he never once in the story makes a decision or a choice on his own. He can only react to the actions of both Marianna and Rachel, and it is this lack of inner drive that allows him to drown in a sewer of moral morass which will contaminate every relationship he has for the rest of his life. Quinn becomes evil not by overt choices to do wrong, but by disinterest in changing his status quo, and thus he demonstrates the slow tarnishment of his soul and his person, and sadly it spreads to encompass his kids.
I believe he really does love both of his kids, but he is so ineffectual at decisions and his moral compass is so twisted, that by the end of the story the reader knows that he has hit his interpersonal relationship zenith five years earlier and the rest of his life is just going to be a slow rotting of decay as he will die a lonely old man and no one will remember his name. He is totally lost in his own internal fantasizing and his refusal to see reality makes him the most pitiable character of the book. He really is like Gollum falling in at Mt. Doom by the end.
Rachel and Marianna are actually very similar in willful determination to achieve their goals, (and it is why Quinn moves so easily between them and why he is attracted to both of them). They both demonstrate the force of will to do whatever they need to achieve their desires and devil take the hindmost. They are by far two of the most powerfully goal motivated women I have read about in recent years. They go for what they want and they don't count the cost.
The difference between R and M, is that M is satisfied with the birth of her child and her illusion of a perfect marriage. Make no mistake, i believe M knew there was something wrong, she had just hung around Quinn so long that his choice avoidance ennui is embedded in her psyche. Once she is shaken out of her complacency, she is once again driven to reach her goals, but this time it will be an independent and more satisfying life with no trace of Quinn in it-- and that includes marginalizing Quinn in her daughter's life.
Out of the three of them, Marianna is the one I believe will recover and move on to a happy and satisfying life. I don't think she will ever sink into complacency again and of the three, she is also probably going to prove to be the best parent.
Rachel is just as driven as M, but she is capricious in her wants and the only thing that really excites and motivates her is the thrill of the chase and the win. Once she has it, she doesn't want it, and I foresee a long dreary future of back and forth between her and Quinn, with the eventual addition of future lovers for both, to make huge messes of tangled relationships that are ultimately going to end in a lifetime of regrets, damaged feelings, emotional pain and aloneness for both R and Q.
Rachel and Quinn will lose their son Ned, as even at his young age he already shows the ability to walk away from dysfunction with the inner fortitude to soothe his own internal hurts. There was heavy foreshadowing at the end that Ned would eventually abandon both his parents and that he would actually be much better off with that outcome, but there is every indication that both R and Q will never again have a real and deep connection to another person, their legacy will only be grief and heartache and the world will eventually move on without them.
If they do stay together it will be a dysfunctional affair of resentment, bitterness and mutual distrust because they have lost their ability to be honest and giving, and more than likely they will alienate any other who tries to get close to them, as neither one of them is capable of putting another's needs above their own so eventually no else will want to have them.
Needless to say I did not like anyone in this book but the children. My heart hurt for them-- but both of them showed that were very strong people even at their young ages. They had an ability for inner healing and very strong moral compasses to guide them, plus M's daughter had a very decent mum who would do her best to ensure she was emotionally healthy and happy.
My final thoughts on this book are best summed up by Dostoyevsky when he said "Nothing is easier than to denounce the evildoer; nothing is more difficult than to understand him."
I think in terms of characterization and the dissection of a moral trainwreck, SA did a great job in showing how inertia and cowardice rot both the soul and a person's life and how that rot ripples outward to taint all it touches. So in that respect the book is definitely a five star book, in terms of my sense of rightness and the feeling that the world is a better place for reading this book, well IMO this book is a 2 - I can tolerate it, but I don't want to think about it really - I am a bit sadder and sorrier I read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2016
Dr Quinn Davidson and his wife Marianna have spent many years going through the painstaking process of the IVF and several miscarriages. The emotional roller coaster is taking its toll on the couple and Quinn can't bare to go through anymore, simply knowing how desperate Marianna is to be a mother, Quinn doesn't know how he will tell Marianna, he wants to take a break from it all, in fact he wants a permanent break.
With tension in their marriage, Quinn finds himself attracted to a patient's daughter. Quinn and Rachel hit it off straight away and before they know it things have escalated very rapidly. Quinn now has to decide who he wants to be with, but It may not be quite that simple because Quinn is about to receives some news that will turn his world upside down.
His Other House by Aussie author Sarah Armstrong was a very enjoyable read and for me an emotional read. Reading about the couples struggle going through the IVF hit a personal nerve for me. Having been through the IVF I know just how that emotional roller coaster feels and by the end of it you are physically and emotionally drained. A well written story which covers many topics and one in which I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
With tension in their marriage, Quinn finds himself attracted to a patient's daughter. Quinn and Rachel hit it off straight away and before they know it things have escalated very rapidly. Quinn now has to decide who he wants to be with, but It may not be quite that simple because Quinn is about to receives some news that will turn his world upside down.
His Other House by Aussie author Sarah Armstrong was a very enjoyable read and for me an emotional read. Reading about the couples struggle going through the IVF hit a personal nerve for me. Having been through the IVF I know just how that emotional roller coaster feels and by the end of it you are physically and emotionally drained. A well written story which covers many topics and one in which I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
July 27, 2017
Dr Quinn Davidson and his wife Marianna have endured years of IVF and several miscarriages. The constant trying for a baby has put a strain on their marriage. Desperate to be a mother, Marianna wants to persevere despite the most recent miscarriage but Quinn wants to call it quits on trying for a baby. It was easy to feel for this couple and think how hard it must be for those facing such a situation. Added to the strain on their marriage is Quinn working in a small town practice a few hours from their home. There he meets Rachel and the two are attracted to each other. Without reading the blurb on the back of the book, the reader can guess what is going to happen. The situation becomes even more complicated as events unfold.
The book is filled with tension and is very readable, since it deals with issues that occur in society. I found the characters believable if not likeable. I did get tired of incidents of the f word that occurs throughout. Even when the author could have used the term ‘making love’ she chose to use the cruder term.
It’s hard to write much about this book without giving too much away about the plot. I will say, my sympathy was very clearly with Marianna. I didn’t like Quinn who was, ‘gutless’ and neither did I like Rachel. They were both selfish and cared little for anything other than what felt right for them, despite who got hurt. As often happens in these situations, it is the children who suffer. At the end of the book I felt it portrayed the largely self centred aspects of society which, while it may reflect our world, I found depressing. So, well written and realistic, but not for me an enjoyable read. Others may enjoy it more than I did.
The book is filled with tension and is very readable, since it deals with issues that occur in society. I found the characters believable if not likeable. I did get tired of incidents of the f word that occurs throughout. Even when the author could have used the term ‘making love’ she chose to use the cruder term.
It’s hard to write much about this book without giving too much away about the plot. I will say, my sympathy was very clearly with Marianna. I didn’t like Quinn who was, ‘gutless’ and neither did I like Rachel. They were both selfish and cared little for anything other than what felt right for them, despite who got hurt. As often happens in these situations, it is the children who suffer. At the end of the book I felt it portrayed the largely self centred aspects of society which, while it may reflect our world, I found depressing. So, well written and realistic, but not for me an enjoyable read. Others may enjoy it more than I did.
June 17, 2015
Reading this book was like walking on broken glass - a very dangerous enterprise. This is a story of good people who make non-deliberate bad mistakes, perhaps because they love too much.
The three main characters in this web of confused emotions are truly all rendered in a compassionate way.
There's no judgement here about the actions they take, about the mistakes, the difficulties in which they are trapped.
But the lies and hidden lives have a truly devastating effect on everyone, in particular the two children who become the centre of the last few chapters. Will their innocence and their love be enough to compensate for the mistakes of their parents?
This was the sort of book that I had to put down towards the end. Was that because I dreaded the outcome of the final chapters or because I wanted to savor the unfolding story.
This is a dramatic but a poignant and compassionate story where the drama comes from the way human being try to negotiate (not successfully) their relationships.
The style is truly poetic and sensual and I'm in admiration of Sarah Armstrong.
The way she deals with peoples' painful emotions will take your breath away.
The three main characters in this web of confused emotions are truly all rendered in a compassionate way.
There's no judgement here about the actions they take, about the mistakes, the difficulties in which they are trapped.
But the lies and hidden lives have a truly devastating effect on everyone, in particular the two children who become the centre of the last few chapters. Will their innocence and their love be enough to compensate for the mistakes of their parents?
This was the sort of book that I had to put down towards the end. Was that because I dreaded the outcome of the final chapters or because I wanted to savor the unfolding story.
This is a dramatic but a poignant and compassionate story where the drama comes from the way human being try to negotiate (not successfully) their relationships.
The style is truly poetic and sensual and I'm in admiration of Sarah Armstrong.
The way she deals with peoples' painful emotions will take your breath away.
September 18, 2021
This one just grabbed me by the short hairs and didn't let go. Quinn, our H/Beta Male literally had it ALL for so long. Marianna, h1, took the cake for willful blindness. Rachel, h2, willingly walked into a lifelong situation with a man who, for much of the world, would appear to be unavailable. I had to stay to watch the trainwreck unfold until the very end. The kids paid the highest price for Quinn's decisions. At the end, I didn't get the sense that Quinn had grown any wiser, nor that he would have made different decisions!
I listened to the audiobook and loved the Australian narrator! I love learning about how life is lived in different countries through stories - the things folks eat, laundry, property ownership, healthcare, marriage laws, weather, wildlife, etc. All of that fascinates me and I got a heaping helping of all of that in this story. I haven't been to Brisbane or the more rural area where Quinn worked several days a week, so I completely soaked that experience up!
I listened to the audiobook and loved the Australian narrator! I love learning about how life is lived in different countries through stories - the things folks eat, laundry, property ownership, healthcare, marriage laws, weather, wildlife, etc. All of that fascinates me and I got a heaping helping of all of that in this story. I haven't been to Brisbane or the more rural area where Quinn worked several days a week, so I completely soaked that experience up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2019
I read this book again. It is fiction. Probably general fiction. It has a husband, a wife, a mistress and two children. The desperate wife is finally pregnant but so is the lover. Two children, a boy and a girl, are born weeks apart. The father leads a double life. His wife, and, their daughter, remain ignorant that there is another family. They both accept that he has a job that requires he spend half his time away. This deception goes on for six years. The husband is forced into making a decision by his mistress. He must tell his wife. The daughter puts enough pressure on the mother to drive to the other town but when they visit nothing prepares them any of them for the outcome. Circumstances make it necessary for them all to share a house for the night. The half siblings, just five years old, are traumatized by everything and a passage in the book is wonderfully written showing just how devastated a child can be by this outrageous deception. The mother takes her child and leaves. She goes to family with the hint that it is permanent. The lover decides it is all a bit too much and banishes the same man she demanded tell his wife. The author does a wonderful job describing two selfish people and the affect their behaviors have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2020
Sort of painful to read because , the main character Quinn shows no growth through the whole book . He’s selfish and weak and you’re just waiting for him to be miserable and get what he deserves . He is cheating on his wife Marianna with Rachel . Marianna desperately wants a child and he’s basically sick of going through IVF . So instead of trying to work things out with her , he cheats on his wife with Rachel who he meets when he’s tending to her mother who is one of his patients . He winds up getting his wife and mistress pregnant at the same time . He’s unable to leave his wife when she’s pregnant , even though that is what he promises the mistress . This drags on for five years and then the mistress insists he tell the wife . After he tells the wife , the mistress doesn’t want to stay with him either . The kids are cute and you feel for them and Marianna . But Quinn is a wishy washy loser and you can’t feel sorry for him or Rachel really because she did choose to be involved with a married man and he’s a cheat , who wasted precious years of his wife’s life who he knew he was going to leave . He keeps saying he’s more himself with Rachel and he feels more comfortable with her , because he’s a loser and she is too . The ending was abrupt , I did want to read that Marianne was happy and moved on with another man . The ending was somewhat satisfying because he does end up alone as Rachel dumps him too . It made no sense that she pushed him to tell his wife but didn’t want to stay with him in the end , I guess she mentions because she can’t trust him because he’s so duplicitous , but she was too so I don’t get the hang up .
There is one scene in the book when Marianna( the wife ) goes upon Addies insistence to where Quinn lives with his other family , where Addie has a complete meltdown banging her head against the floor , kicking and screaming , biting , eating dirt that is heart wrenching . Marianna soothes her . Then a few hours later when it is time for bed , at Rachel ‘s( the mistress) insistence he sleeps with her in her bed . Not on the pullout in neutral territory . At that point I just hated Quinn and Rachel the most , incredibly selfish and frankly mean people . He was Addies father ( and still Mariannas husband ) and after that huge breakdown by Addie he couldn’t give her , his child and wife , the small comfort of not sleeping with his mistress in front of them . He was irredeemable I felt at this point for Addie . He was simply mean I felt to Marianna , he couldn’t give his wife the mother of his child just a little comfort or respect . Was she just garbage in comparison to Rachel ? I sincerely hope Marianna finds another man a good step father for Addie and somehow or other gets more children and lives a happy life , and I hope that Quinn and Rachel end up alone and miserable .
I did feel incredibly sorry for the kids , especially Addie who I think will never be able to get over how her father
“ chose “ his other family . It just galled me that on one hand he’s crying that she’s hurting herself ( self harm ) and on the other hand he keeps putting off taking her to his “ other house” . Then he has the nerve to blame Marianna for bringing her . I think the reason I hated him was his complete disregard for the wife . How can you be with someone for so many years and not care about them at all ? He showed ZERO REMORSE TO MARIANNA. I wish Marianna had at least slapped him a couple of times , he was just a habitual liar and my heart broke for her when she realized she had never experienced love in her life . She thinks that when she sees him at Rachel’s house .
Ned , the other child , had more of an innate ability to soothe himself , but I think ultimately he will move away from his messed up parents . His mother was a selfish piece of work too , cheating on her partner and being involved with a married man , then promptly dumping him when he finally tells the wife . Not that he didn’t deserve it though . Ned , I feel would be messed up in the long run with two parents such as his . At least Addies mother wasn’t a habitual liar and cheat .
I would love an epilogue , and the story was very well written , I didn’t understand the Tabbano thing was that supposed to give some insight into Quinn ?
There is one scene in the book when Marianna( the wife ) goes upon Addies insistence to where Quinn lives with his other family , where Addie has a complete meltdown banging her head against the floor , kicking and screaming , biting , eating dirt that is heart wrenching . Marianna soothes her . Then a few hours later when it is time for bed , at Rachel ‘s( the mistress) insistence he sleeps with her in her bed . Not on the pullout in neutral territory . At that point I just hated Quinn and Rachel the most , incredibly selfish and frankly mean people . He was Addies father ( and still Mariannas husband ) and after that huge breakdown by Addie he couldn’t give her , his child and wife , the small comfort of not sleeping with his mistress in front of them . He was irredeemable I felt at this point for Addie . He was simply mean I felt to Marianna , he couldn’t give his wife the mother of his child just a little comfort or respect . Was she just garbage in comparison to Rachel ? I sincerely hope Marianna finds another man a good step father for Addie and somehow or other gets more children and lives a happy life , and I hope that Quinn and Rachel end up alone and miserable .
I did feel incredibly sorry for the kids , especially Addie who I think will never be able to get over how her father
“ chose “ his other family . It just galled me that on one hand he’s crying that she’s hurting herself ( self harm ) and on the other hand he keeps putting off taking her to his “ other house” . Then he has the nerve to blame Marianna for bringing her . I think the reason I hated him was his complete disregard for the wife . How can you be with someone for so many years and not care about them at all ? He showed ZERO REMORSE TO MARIANNA. I wish Marianna had at least slapped him a couple of times , he was just a habitual liar and my heart broke for her when she realized she had never experienced love in her life . She thinks that when she sees him at Rachel’s house .
Ned , the other child , had more of an innate ability to soothe himself , but I think ultimately he will move away from his messed up parents . His mother was a selfish piece of work too , cheating on her partner and being involved with a married man , then promptly dumping him when he finally tells the wife . Not that he didn’t deserve it though . Ned , I feel would be messed up in the long run with two parents such as his . At least Addies mother wasn’t a habitual liar and cheat .
I would love an epilogue , and the story was very well written , I didn’t understand the Tabbano thing was that supposed to give some insight into Quinn ?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2015
His Other House’ is Sarah Armstrong’s second book, coming ten years after her Miles Franklin shortlisted debut novel, ‘Salt Rain.’ Both books are set in the Northern Rivers Region and the lush environment is an intrinsic part of the story.
‘His Other House’ is a tense domestic drama focusing on a love triangle of sorts. The book was inspired, Armstrong says, by a news story she read about a man who lived a double life with two wives and two families for many years.
Quinn is a doctor whose marriage is pushed to its limits by efforts to have a much longed-for child. A succession of IVF rounds and miscarriages leave him drained and needing a break, but his wife Marianna wants to press on with another attempt. She can’t see how her life will ever be complete without a child.
While Quinn lives in Brisbane he is doing a stint as a visiting doctor in Corimbi, a town much like Mullumbimby. Here he meets Rachel, a disillusioned journalist taking a break from her job. A night-time swim in the town pool leads to an unplanned kiss and soon Quinn and Rachel are involved in a passionate affair.
Quinn’s intention to leave Marianna is tested when she unexpectedly falls naturally pregnant. It is at this stage that the tension ratchets up. Quinn decides to keep his relationship with Rachel a secret, a decision which involves him in a web of lies. ‘He was dismayed how readily he took to lying. He’d always thought of it as a decisive abandonment of the truth. Instead, he realised, it was simply a matter of one word slipping into the place of another.’ While it would be easy to judge Quinn, by now we know him so well that we can only empathise, even if we suspect that it’s going to end badly.
The time this novel has taken to come to fruition shows in its insight and many delightful turns of phrase. As in ‘Salt Rain’ Sarah’s writing is evocative and striking. While all the characters are believable and finely drawn, it is the children who linger most strongly in my memory. ‘His Other House’ is both a page-turner and a powerful story of morality within relationships.
‘His Other House’ is a tense domestic drama focusing on a love triangle of sorts. The book was inspired, Armstrong says, by a news story she read about a man who lived a double life with two wives and two families for many years.
Quinn is a doctor whose marriage is pushed to its limits by efforts to have a much longed-for child. A succession of IVF rounds and miscarriages leave him drained and needing a break, but his wife Marianna wants to press on with another attempt. She can’t see how her life will ever be complete without a child.
While Quinn lives in Brisbane he is doing a stint as a visiting doctor in Corimbi, a town much like Mullumbimby. Here he meets Rachel, a disillusioned journalist taking a break from her job. A night-time swim in the town pool leads to an unplanned kiss and soon Quinn and Rachel are involved in a passionate affair.
Quinn’s intention to leave Marianna is tested when she unexpectedly falls naturally pregnant. It is at this stage that the tension ratchets up. Quinn decides to keep his relationship with Rachel a secret, a decision which involves him in a web of lies. ‘He was dismayed how readily he took to lying. He’d always thought of it as a decisive abandonment of the truth. Instead, he realised, it was simply a matter of one word slipping into the place of another.’ While it would be easy to judge Quinn, by now we know him so well that we can only empathise, even if we suspect that it’s going to end badly.
The time this novel has taken to come to fruition shows in its insight and many delightful turns of phrase. As in ‘Salt Rain’ Sarah’s writing is evocative and striking. While all the characters are believable and finely drawn, it is the children who linger most strongly in my memory. ‘His Other House’ is both a page-turner and a powerful story of morality within relationships.
May 26, 2015
I loved this book & would have given it four & a half stars if able. I was instantly drawn in to the story & found it hard to put down. Without giving too much of the story away it's about Quinn, a doctor who ends up having two homes & families with children born only months apart. He knows what he is doing is morally wrong but desperately wants to protect the children & enjoy their childhood for as long as he is able.
Whilst Quinn was obviously not behaving in an open & honest way with at least one of his partners I did feel sorry for him & the situation he found himself in, even though it was of his own making. He just didn't have the heart to hurt anyone involved in the situation, until his hand was forced.
A thought provoking & well written book which draws the reader in & keeps you guessing till the end. Thank you netgalley & the publishers for the opportunity to read & review this book.
Whilst Quinn was obviously not behaving in an open & honest way with at least one of his partners I did feel sorry for him & the situation he found himself in, even though it was of his own making. He just didn't have the heart to hurt anyone involved in the situation, until his hand was forced.
A thought provoking & well written book which draws the reader in & keeps you guessing till the end. Thank you netgalley & the publishers for the opportunity to read & review this book.
March 27, 2015
I really liked this book. It kept me intrigued from start to finish. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to Quinn and whether his world was going to explode. The characters were captured really well and I almost felt I knew them and their idiosyncrasies. The plot moved along really well and kept me from wanting to put the book down. It was very readable with easy language. It was a novel that could so easily be a real life saga. It showed how easily someone can get swept away in lies. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
November 9, 2015
Sarah Armstrong has written this novel with creativity, care & emotion. Complicated lives of three main adult characters and two beautiful children. What could have easily been a storyline that was predictable Armstrong has given depth to this novel; this depth involves the reader and gives it the body which makes the reader want to continue and discover how this storyline could possibly end in a happy place.
April 28, 2015
3.5 stars. The concept of the book was fantastic, even if it felt like it had been done before. This made it a really easy read. It's hard in these types of books to know just where your sympathies lie - they've all got massive crosses to bear. Loved the use of scenery, but in the end it was just "okay" for me.
March 11, 2016
I couldn't put this book down. Apart from it being set in an area I am very familiar with, the scenes and characters in this story are so alive. I felt so compassionate for every character, despite their misgivings, and even by the end, I was questioning who was right, and what 'right' even meant. A very cleverly crafted story.
February 15, 2017
As a child of a father who lived such a double life, I appreciated the depth Armstrong gave all the characters, and the moral quandary Quinn navigates. No matter that people are people and fall in and out of love I can't overemphasize how devastating it is to encounter strange children calling your father daddy.
April 23, 2015
Interesting story, probably something that happens from time to time a man leading a double life with two families on the go. Quite well written, with believable characters.
March 14, 2017
Mal ein ganz anderes Buch, wo ich schon das ein oder andere mal tief durchatmen musste. Es gibt 3 Hauptcharaktere und bis zum Ende habe ich situativ mit jedem einzelnen mitfühlen können.
September 11, 2025
Rachel ist in ihren Heimatort zurückgekehrt, um ihre sterbende Mutter zu pflegen. Entspannung findet sie nur beim nächtlichen Schwimmen. Eines Nachts ist sie nicht mehr alleine. Quinn, der Arzt ihrer Mutter, geht auch nachts schwimmen. Aus der anfänglichen Freundschaft wird schnell mehr. Aber Quinn hat noch ein anderes Leben: in einer anderen Stadt mit einer anderen Frau.
Während Quinn vor seinem Leben in seiner Heimatstadt zumindest zeitweise wegläuft, ist Rachel nach Jahren des Fortlaufens wieder angekommen. Die Entscheidung, in ihren Heimatort zurück zu kehren, ist ihr nicht leicht gefallen. Hier kennt man sich und so weiß auch jeder über den Tod ihres Bruders Bescheid. Dieses Ereignis aus Rachels Kindheit verfolgt sie immer noch. Ganz anders geht es Quinn. Seit Jahren versuchen er und seine Frau erfolglos, ein Kind zu bekommen. Er in Rachels Stadt, um einem Kollegen zu helfen und um der drückenden Atmosphäre daheim zu entkommen. Es kommt, wie es kommen muss. Rachel und Quinn verlieben sich ineinander, obwohl Quinn seine Frau immer noch liebt.
Von Anfang an ist klar, wie sich die Geschichte entwickeln wird. Anfangs ist es mir schwer gefallen, Partei zu ergreifen weil mir alle drei sehr sympathisch waren. Auch Quinn fällt es schwer, eine Entscheidung zu treffen. So nehmen die Dinge einen Lauf, der unweigerlich zur Katastrophe führen muss. Trotzdem kann ich diesmal niemand verurteilen. Ich kann alle Motive nachvollziehen. Rückblickend wäre mehr Ehrlichkeit besser gewesen, aber das Ergebnis wäre sehr wahrscheinlich das Gleiche gewesen. Ein berührendes Buch bei dem ich mich gefragt habe, wie ich mich verhalten hätte. Alleine der Schluss kam mir ein bisschen zu lieblos erzählt vor.
Während Quinn vor seinem Leben in seiner Heimatstadt zumindest zeitweise wegläuft, ist Rachel nach Jahren des Fortlaufens wieder angekommen. Die Entscheidung, in ihren Heimatort zurück zu kehren, ist ihr nicht leicht gefallen. Hier kennt man sich und so weiß auch jeder über den Tod ihres Bruders Bescheid. Dieses Ereignis aus Rachels Kindheit verfolgt sie immer noch. Ganz anders geht es Quinn. Seit Jahren versuchen er und seine Frau erfolglos, ein Kind zu bekommen. Er in Rachels Stadt, um einem Kollegen zu helfen und um der drückenden Atmosphäre daheim zu entkommen. Es kommt, wie es kommen muss. Rachel und Quinn verlieben sich ineinander, obwohl Quinn seine Frau immer noch liebt.
Von Anfang an ist klar, wie sich die Geschichte entwickeln wird. Anfangs ist es mir schwer gefallen, Partei zu ergreifen weil mir alle drei sehr sympathisch waren. Auch Quinn fällt es schwer, eine Entscheidung zu treffen. So nehmen die Dinge einen Lauf, der unweigerlich zur Katastrophe führen muss. Trotzdem kann ich diesmal niemand verurteilen. Ich kann alle Motive nachvollziehen. Rückblickend wäre mehr Ehrlichkeit besser gewesen, aber das Ergebnis wäre sehr wahrscheinlich das Gleiche gewesen. Ein berührendes Buch bei dem ich mich gefragt habe, wie ich mich verhalten hätte. Alleine der Schluss kam mir ein bisschen zu lieblos erzählt vor.
July 3, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Dr Quinn Davidson and his wife Marianna have endured years of unsuccessful IVF and several miscarriages, and Quinn can't face another painful attempt to conceive. Marianna is desperate to be a mother and their marriage is feeling the strain. At a small-town practice a few hours from their home, Quinn meets Rachel, the daughter of one of his patients. Drawn to each other, it's not long before they find themselves in a passionate affair and Quinn realises he must choose between the two women. Then Marianna announces a surprise natural conception, news that will change the course of all their lives.
This came as quite a surprise - while the blurb doesn't really give anything away, it was written by an Australian author (which I am a sucker for) and it delved into the heart of family, love and honesty.
What I took from this was the following: a husband and wife who have tried everything in their power to have a child. The husband, a doctor, falls for the daughter of one of his patients. The wife falls unexpectedly pregnant. The triangle only has sharp edges.
Written with skill and full of heartbreak and hope, this novel really reaches down into our hearts and squeezes - it doesn't really let up. The emotional impact of this novel cannot be overstated. I found myself, in turn, feeling sorry for all three of the main characters - and then found myself hoping that they all got the resolution they needed - which, in a "love triangle", is pretty impossible.
Definitely recommended reading!!
Paul
ARH
Dr Quinn Davidson and his wife Marianna have endured years of unsuccessful IVF and several miscarriages, and Quinn can't face another painful attempt to conceive. Marianna is desperate to be a mother and their marriage is feeling the strain. At a small-town practice a few hours from their home, Quinn meets Rachel, the daughter of one of his patients. Drawn to each other, it's not long before they find themselves in a passionate affair and Quinn realises he must choose between the two women. Then Marianna announces a surprise natural conception, news that will change the course of all their lives.
This came as quite a surprise - while the blurb doesn't really give anything away, it was written by an Australian author (which I am a sucker for) and it delved into the heart of family, love and honesty.
What I took from this was the following: a husband and wife who have tried everything in their power to have a child. The husband, a doctor, falls for the daughter of one of his patients. The wife falls unexpectedly pregnant. The triangle only has sharp edges.
Written with skill and full of heartbreak and hope, this novel really reaches down into our hearts and squeezes - it doesn't really let up. The emotional impact of this novel cannot be overstated. I found myself, in turn, feeling sorry for all three of the main characters - and then found myself hoping that they all got the resolution they needed - which, in a "love triangle", is pretty impossible.
Definitely recommended reading!!
Paul
ARH
July 6, 2023
Rachel was a selfish, horrible, man stealing woman. She had no remorse for the decisions she made and I'm going to imagine her ending up alone and miserable later on. Quinn was just a pathetic man who basically ruined the lives of about 5 people. He deserves to lose both of his children and end up alone. Marianna deserved better. Their daughter most definitely deserved better. She may now spend the rest of her life with low self esteem wondering why she wasn't good enough for her father to stay. Why he chose another woman and his son over her. She will likely have many issues with relationships as a grown woman. I'll also imagine both of his children cutting them out of his life along with his wife. Best case scenario, Quinn ends up alone and miserable and I hope his father cuts him off as well. Needless to say, the only characters I liked in this book were Quinn's father, Quinn's wife, and his children. The rest can go rot. Yes, this is a ranty review, but I haven't have a book upset me this much in a long time. I gave three stars because I believe that's what the author was trying to get across. That lies and cowardly decisions can lead to misery. It's very realistic... but a downright depressing read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2024
Im Großen und Ganzen eine interessante Idee, aber doch eher schlechter ausgearbeitet.
Im Buch geht es quasi um eine Dreiecksbeziehung. Quinn ist der Arzt von Rachels sterbender Mutter. Quinn ist mit Marianna verheiratet, die Schwierigkeiten hat schwanger zu werden, aber sich so so sehr ein Kind wünscht.
Quinn und Rachel fangen eine Affäre an, die sich über Jahre zieht. Und hier kommen wir auch schon zu meinem ersten Punkt. Ich habe gefühlt kurz geblinzelt und schon waren die beiden am küssen, ein Blinzeln später schon im Bett. Und ich dachte mir nur: wtf? Ist mein Buch fehlerhaft? Fehlen da Seiten ? Also wirklich... Für mich kam das einfach irgendwie plötzlich und unverständlich. Normalerweise entwickelt sich sowas doch. Aber hier kam das einfach so, aus dem nichts. Und das Problem war, dass es über das ganze Buch so war. Mit diversen Situationen. Es passierten ganz plötzlich Dinge. Einfach so, ohne Zusammenhang. Ohne Sinn oder Logik. Ich hatte durchgehend wirklich das Gefühl, dass jemand mir Seiten rausgerissen hat. Keine Ahnung, eine ganz wilde Sache.
Nichtsdestotrotz gab es dennoch viele Stellen wo ich wirklich mitgefühlt hatte. Aber davon gab es leider zu wenig. Deshalb nur 2 Sterne.
Im Buch geht es quasi um eine Dreiecksbeziehung. Quinn ist der Arzt von Rachels sterbender Mutter. Quinn ist mit Marianna verheiratet, die Schwierigkeiten hat schwanger zu werden, aber sich so so sehr ein Kind wünscht.
Quinn und Rachel fangen eine Affäre an, die sich über Jahre zieht. Und hier kommen wir auch schon zu meinem ersten Punkt. Ich habe gefühlt kurz geblinzelt und schon waren die beiden am küssen, ein Blinzeln später schon im Bett. Und ich dachte mir nur: wtf? Ist mein Buch fehlerhaft? Fehlen da Seiten ? Also wirklich... Für mich kam das einfach irgendwie plötzlich und unverständlich. Normalerweise entwickelt sich sowas doch. Aber hier kam das einfach so, aus dem nichts. Und das Problem war, dass es über das ganze Buch so war. Mit diversen Situationen. Es passierten ganz plötzlich Dinge. Einfach so, ohne Zusammenhang. Ohne Sinn oder Logik. Ich hatte durchgehend wirklich das Gefühl, dass jemand mir Seiten rausgerissen hat. Keine Ahnung, eine ganz wilde Sache.
Nichtsdestotrotz gab es dennoch viele Stellen wo ich wirklich mitgefühlt hatte. Aber davon gab es leider zu wenig. Deshalb nur 2 Sterne.
February 14, 2021
I went to the author's website and read her thoughts on the book and how she can identify with all her characters. And I don't know why but I don't find that so easy. The book is well written and the characters are believable but for some reason they don't stick with me. I finished this book only a few days ago and already I'm beginning to forget it. Maybe the fact that Marianna gets pregnant so suddenly at the most inconvenient time for Quinn is a bit too much. Or maybe it's because I can't feel the pain of the people strongly enough.
I once read " the light between oceans" and that book and its characters are still with me after many years. I suffered with all of them. Here, I just had a good read and that's it.
I once read " the light between oceans" and that book and its characters are still with me after many years. I suffered with all of them. Here, I just had a good read and that's it.
February 26, 2018
Thought this would be too obvious but lots of surprises in what is allowed to keep happening. I found it quite believable tho I can see that others might find it incredible. Very readable.
August 30, 2018
Schönes Buch, auch wenn das Thema nicht einfach ist.
October 12, 2018
Heart wrenching
I got lost in the words and lost track of time. The story filled my head. A gift of a true writer.
I got lost in the words and lost track of time. The story filled my head. A gift of a true writer.
November 12, 2018
Langweilig & sehr weit hergeholt. Das Handeln der Personen ist wenig nachvollziehbar. Und dann auch noch ein offenes Ende...
January 20, 2019
Best book ever! What happens now? I want more to read. I feel like the book isn't finished yet.
March 11, 2019
It was a bit slow to start but once it got going it kind of reminded me of my bad habits with sims. Complicated lifes. I ended up feeling sad and sorry for everyone. Especially the kids.
September 6, 2019
This book gripped me made me cry and was so well written loving this author and my fav pet so Aussie love Australia ...
March 3, 2020
This is a brutal read.
September 8, 2020
Loser POS husband and father. Total douche bag
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