Oct 2020 buddyread: The House on the Strand: Daphne du Maurier

[Tracey, Yorkshire White Rose.]

Please post freely your comments after reading this section. I read this earlier this year. I will love to see what you all think of it.

[Jess]

Help me out, ladies, are we reading this one in the first two weeks of October and then Jamaica Inn in the second half? I forgot how we organized this one.

[Brenda]

Hi Jess, yes I double checked recently and this is first, Jamaica Inn second.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I've already started this one.

[Jess]

Brenda wrote: "Hi Jess, yes I double checked recently and this is first, Jamaica Inn second."

Thank you! I'm trying to get all my October reading sorted out and didn't want to mistakenly read out of order.

[Brenda]

I've just started today. It took me a minute as I'd just finished a Rosamunde Pilcher and it was quite a change to du Maurier.

I do like it so far. It's been some time since I read RdM. I really like her descriptions, they're colorful and even funny at times.

I wanted to find the location, which I did and inadvertently found that the jacket illustration was done by her daughter, Flavia Tower which I thought an interesting little tidbit.

If anyone else is interested... It is set in and around Kilmarth, where Daphne du Maurier lived from 1967, near the village of Tywardreath, which in Cornish means "House on the Strand". (via Wikipedia)

It is exciting so far, as I'm curious where it will end up!

[Brenda]

I'm not sure how I feel about this yet.
I'm through Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ I like the descriptions, there are some good laugh out loud comments. I like the storyline around the potion and the time travel, but the actual time travel story and the story with his family is a bit dry for me. I'm not sure if its my audio narrator, but I'm just not finding them very engaging. I'm hoping something picks up. But maybe its just me, or the narrator? I've looked at reviews, and feeling it must be me. (hide spoiler)]

[Brenda]

And then I feel like the tone changed after that (of course) and its picked up. :)))

[Brenda]

Ann, I’m listening on audio. So it’s easy to get a few hours in at a time. I’m taking advantage of working from home.

I’m glad your joining in! Did you see, she mentions the title in the book. What Wikipedia had it’s almost verbatim.

I kept meaning to check but hadn’t had a chance, if the 2nd storyline is based on a true story?

[Heather]

I love how the opening scene is set, you know something is different because the first paragraphs describe sharper than normal colors. The landscape seems to crop up in the first couple chapters as important. I’m trying to see all of it in my mind’s eye.

[Brenda]

I've just finished, but I'll wait for others as I know I got a bit ahead on it.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I thought the conversation about who went/saw what was interesting; they immediatly conclude Roger is their link or guide. I thought it could simply be that they took the drug in different spaces at different times, but they didn't seem to consider that there could have been another explanation. Magnus makes the point about them understanding medieval French so I guess du Murier intended the link explanation.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Yes, it must be like a binge-worthy box set on TV. You know you really should be doing something else but...

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

For us too.

[Jess]

Heather wrote: "I love how the opening scene is set, you know something is different because the first paragraphs describe sharper than normal colors. The landscape seems to crop up in the first couple chapters as..."

I agree! I switched to audiobook for this one and was struck by the imagery. I felt like I was right there with him in the fields with the riders!

[Heather]

You’re right Ann. He’s not into his family. Chapter 10: “Everyone disappeared into the kitchen. I went upstairs and ran the bath, wishing I could lie in it and drown.” Geez. Tell us how you really feel.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

They don't really seem well suited at all. He doesn't like her friends and seems to merely tolerate her sons.

[Heather]

Thank you Ann. I enjoyed reading about them and that they were actual historical characters. I, too, enjoy the time travel and watching the historical events unfold. Vita, you are in the way, go home!!

[Heather]

A thought just occurred to me. What a great plot device Vita is! We feel Dick’s frustration because he wants to explore the past just as much as we want him to. We want her to go away just as much as he does. That’s a brilliant way to make the reader share in the whole experience.

[Brenda]

Heather wrote: A thought just occurred to me. What a great plot device Vita is! We feel Dick’s frustration because he wants to explore the past just as much as we want him to. We want her to go away just as much as he does. That’s a brilliant way to make the reader share in the whole experience.

What a great notion! We do see her mostly through Dick's eyes and thus feel his angst towards her because his focus is on other things at the moment.

[Brenda]

I'm afraid I didn't get the same satisfaction from the historical story of the book, for me that part dragged a bit. I really liked the areas of the book related to the scientific aspect and the drug and what happened when they took it, and the telepathy, and all that. I thought that was fascinating. I wish there would have been more of that.

[Brenda]

Ann wrote: Yes, the historical story is based on real people who lived during the 14th century

Thanks for looking into that Ann!

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Heather wrote: "A thought just occurred to me. What a great plot device Vita is! We feel Dick’s frustration because he wants to explore the past just as much as we want him to. We want her to go away just as much ..."

I hadn't thought of this, but your right. I didn't like her, but I did feel sorry for her. Dick was being a dick, but of course he was telling the story, so we could sympathise with him about her getting in the way.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Brenda wrote: "I'm afraid I didn't get the same satisfaction from the historical story of the book, for me that part dragged a bit. I really liked the areas of the book related to the scientific aspect and the dr..."

I'm with Brenda here, the historical storyline was rather patchy, and it felt like several chapters were being missed out in between. I became more interested in what was happening in the present, which I hadn't expected at all.

[Heather]

I thought that the missing pieces in the historical story were because the drug is still in an experimental phase. They couldn’t control exactly what time they arrived or for what scene. I think that’s what I like most. Every time he takes it he could show up for anything.

[Heather]

I don’t know if we’re all there yet but I need help with the ending. 🤔

[Heather]

Ann you got censored!!! I imagine that was exactly what I was confused about 🤣😂

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

I agree with Ann, that was how I read it. I also think your supposition with the Dr is correct.

[Heather]

I missed some discussion. I can’t see Ann’s thoughts. I’m looking forward to what everyone thinks about the ending. Still confused.

[Tania, Gloucestershire Wild Daffodil.]

Heather wrote: "I missed some discussion. I can’t see Ann’s thoughts. I’m looking forward to what everyone thinks about the ending. Still confused."

Click on 'view spoiler' in Ann's comment msg 38.

[Heather]

ok- thanks everyone I used the desktop computer at work to view the spoiler. That was not an option on my phone.
But yes, I knew the drug had side effects. I found the Drs attitude curious, however. Almost as if he expected it. Like he knew more than he was saying.
The ending has puzzled fans for eons as I have now discovered. It is deliberately vague, as if Dick was our drug and we are left in limbo waiting for more.

[Jess]

I feel like I can read all the comments and talk about this now that I've finished. Whew! It knocked me for a loop! I really enjoyed it. I listened on audiobook for about 3/4 of the novel and then had to pick up my copy to impatiently read on to see how it ended!

[Jess]

Tania wrote: "They don't really seem well suited at all. He doesn't like her friends and seems to merely tolerate her sons."

I agree. And she was a bit much at times too. I find her nagging a bit annoying and when they were all drunk with the hint of spouse swapping... LOL.. I had to stop and laugh. It just seemed like a caricature scene from the time. But Dick definitely was the ruder of the two.

[Jess]

Ann wrote: "Do you mean [when Dick tries to pick up the phone? One of the potential side effects of the drug (mentioned by the doctor) was paralysis, so presumably that is what du Maurier was hinting at"

I was a bit confused on the ending too. Mainly because once he reencounters the doctor as he does the post mortem on Magnus and then confesses about the new potent hallucinogenic drug to him that both have done... I just felt like the doctor wasn't as surprised as I thought he ought to be. It was almost like he had prior knowledge of it. And we know about the paralysis side effect when he couldn't grasp the coffee a bit earlier and it wears off. So how did the doctor know?! I just got a bit of a sinister feeling about the doctor at the end and hoped it was my overactive imagination.

[Jess]

Maybe I misinterpreted Magnus's note to Dick; he is basically talking about cellular memory and genetic brain patterns. Is he hinting that perhaps he and Dick were related to the individuals they watch? I know in the end Dick wonders if he's manifested Roger as sort of an alter ego. After reading the note, I wondered if he was a descendant of Roger?

[Jess]

Heather wrote: "But yes, I knew the drug had side effects. I found the Drs attitude curious, however. Almost as if he expected it. Like he knew more than he was saying...."

Yes! Agreed. He was far too accepting and not questioning enough for me from a medical standpoint on this drug. That alone made me think, he's seen this before or has knowledge of it!

Also, he did Magnus' post mortem and did an analysis of the contents of his stomach. Even though he said it was unremarkable; I wondered if he still knew more than he let on.

[Jess]

I think I was the most anxious to get back to history when I was hopeful Roger gave Oliver his just desserts! I felt like Dick- just so upset how it all ended and wanting to know what happened. And all the while, I was hopeful justice was served.

[Heather]

You said it Jess!! There is something sinister behind that doctor. He is not having “normal” health care provider responses to Dick’s symptoms. A normal physician would start asking questions or having a discussion. This doc feels more like a bystander. Does anyone else recall the doctor having had a discussion with the grad student that went undisclosed? Maddening!

[Jess]

Heather wrote: "You said it Jess!! There is something sinister behind that doctor. He is not having “normal” health care provider responses to Dick’s symptoms. A normal physician would start asking questions or ha..."

Yes! Either du Maurier did a disservice to the medical community in her portrayal of the doctor ( I doubt it.. she seems pretty detail focused) or the deliberate omission to clue the readers in to darker intentions?

[Heather]

Primrose Jess wrote: "Heather wrote: "You said it Jess!! There is something sinister behind that doctor. He is not having “normal” health care provider responses to Dick’s symptoms. A normal physician would start asking..."

Okay we agree that doctor is not right. Curious. I am going to watch the film with Ian Richardson to see their interpretation.

[Jess]

Heather wrote: "Primrose Jess wrote: "Heather wrote: "You said it Jess!! There is something sinister behind that doctor. He is not having “normal” health care provider responses to Dick’s symptoms. A normal physic..."

Ohh! Please report back on your findings after you watch!