Summer '09 discussion thread: The House at Riverton

[Caryl]

Here is our discussion thread for The House at Riverton, one of our summer group reads. As always, be cautious of reading the posts below if you haven't finished, as they may contain spoilers.

[SusanH]

****Not that spoiler-y, as it turns out****





I read this a few weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. The gradual unfolding of the mystery worked beautifully for me, keeping me guessing for much of the novel. Grace was such a fascinating character. I loved the small details, like her shock at hearing her own voice sounding so old on the tapes, or her hiding Sherlock Holmes novels in her room. I had fun trying to catch the literary allusions as they came by (many of them are mentioned in the afterword) but didn't feel like the allusions took over the story at any point. The characters were each so well-realized and it felt very much like entering their world for the length of the novel.

All in all, a great summer read. I immediately put in a request for her next novel at the library but it seems that I'll be waiting for quite a while to get it.

[iherrera]

Susan, I am reading it now after deciding to put another book aside for this title.

I am glad I did because once I started turning the pages, I fell in love with Grace and I cannot wait to find out the truth she holds so dearly.

I have not read much but enough to get myself involved with the plot.

[Caryl]

I've just started this one, too, and I am also hooked after 50 pages or so. I don't feel like I know Grace very well yet, but I look forward to getting to know her. I love Hannah!

[iherrera]

Originally Posted by Caryl

I've just started this one, too, and I am also hooked after 50 pages or so. I don't feel like I know Grace very well yet, but I look forward to getting to know her. I love Hannah!

I am on page 158 and I am loving Grace's character. The way she tries to fit in a role that doesn't define her. No wonder she connects with one of the sisters. They don not conform to their era.

[Caryl]

Irina, I finished part one last night, and I've really warmed to Grace now. Isn't it hard when you're in the middle of a good book and you can't just drop everything to read it?? Looking forward to spending more time at Riverton tonight.

[Sharn]

Ok, I finished this book yesterday. I liked that she kept us guessing at what happened and I can honestly say that I didn't find it predictable. It was funny to me how the author addressed the reader - at one point she tells us we've been patient. I will say that I was a bit confused at times when it came to who was related to who and how... am I alone on this? Like I didn't know that the Major and Mr Frederick were brothers until the war... eventually, she came around in telling you one way or another.

It also reminded me, the way it was told, of The Titantic, with the old lady telling her story. Or even Water for Elephants.

[iherrera]

I finished it this morning and I'll put this title at #2 on my list of favorites after The Kite Runner. I loved the way Grace transported me back and then forth in the same sentences. How masterful of Kate Morton!

[Caryl]

Sharon, Riverton reminded me of Water for Elephants at first, too, and I was a little concerned that Morton wouldn't pull this off for me, as I felt immediately connected to Jacob, but Grace was much more evasive. Obviously, that fits the character and the plot, and it ultimately worked very well for me.

More later... I just finished today!

[Caryl]

Okay, I'm back to write a bit more.

Irina, I enjoyed reading this one "with" you! I see you are starting Sarah's Key now; I am going to start it in a few days. (I need to take a bit of a break to let Grace's story settle with me. Sigh -- I don't want to let go of these characters yet...)

Susan, I'd love to hear more about the literary allusions you noticed. By Part Three, I was on my library's website requesting Agatha Christie novels, the t.v. show Upstairs Downstairs, and the movie "Bernice Bobs Her Hair," based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Read/saw it in high school, but want to take a look at it again now.) Then I hopped onto Wikipedia to read about the Sitwells, which led me to the Bloomsbury group. Today, I took a peek at the Mitfords; I've been meaning to read Nancy Mitford's novels, and I've also wanted to read Remains of the Day; I have both of these on my bookshelves, waiting for me. I think it's great when novels get me interested in learning more about a time period.

What did you all think of the ending? I predicted a lot of things, but it was because Morton used foreshadowing so skillfully: Mr. Frederick being Grace's father, Hannah marrying Teddy, Emmeline supplying the gun in the tragedy. I didn't predict quite how it would all play out, and it was nice to have a bit of a surprise at the end. I liked how we learned the rest of Grace's life story throughout the novel, but that the novel ended with the resolution of the Riverton secrets.

I also requested Kate Morton's second novel, but like you, Susan, it will be a bit before I get it. I look forward to it!

P.S. Who else thinks Marcus and Ursula will become good friends? I think they are already by the end of the book.