The Red House by Mark Haddon
by Jenners • 06/12/2012 • 4 Stars, Contemporary, Fiction, H Authors, R Titles • 68 Comments
The Red House by Mark Haddon Publisher: Doubleday, 2012 (release date is June 12th … today!) Pages: 272 Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Where I Got It: Amazon Vine program Why I Read It: I fell in love with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time years ago and have read all his adult books, which is really only A Spot of Bother and now this one My Rating: 4 stars
Book Description
Angela and Richard are estranged siblings reuniting for a holiday after the death of their mother. Almost strangers to each other, their families come together for a week-long holiday in an old (red) house. Angela—the major breadwinner in her family—has been experiencing moments of separation from “real” life as she imagines a rich life for her stillborn daughter Karen (who would have been celebrating her 18th birthday during the holiday). Her husband Dominic is unemployed and competing with his wife for the attentions and affections of their three children, Alex, Daisy and Benjy. Each child has their own set of fears and anxieties—with Daisy’s recent conversion to Christianity causing the most angst within the family. On Richard’s side, he brings his brand-new family with him—having recently gotten remarried after a divorce. With the remarriage, he has acquired a rebellious stepdaughter, Melissa. His new wife, Louisa, is trying hard to be supportive and make things work, but both find that their expectations for each other are not quite what they might have first thought. As for Melissa—well, she is the type who stirs up trouble wherever she goes, leaving a wake of destruction and anger in her wake.
My Thoughts
This may sound like your “typical” dysfunctional family story in many ways. After all, estrangement, alienation from a spouse, teenage angst and rebellion are the staples of such stories. What makes The Red House different and unique is how Haddon chooses to tell the story. The book is broken down into seven “chapters” named after the days of the week—with each chapter representing a day of the vacation. Haddon then switches from each character’s point of view—from paragraph to paragraph at times—to tell their inner stories and advance the relationships and how they change and evolve during the course of the holiday.
As such, the book doesn’t proceed in a traditional narrative arc. We move from Daisy’s mind into Angela’s mind into Alex’s mind and so on—cycling through each character’s interior lives throughout the chapter. This approach to telling the story took some getting used to. At first, it was disorienting, and I struggled quite a bit to figure out whose mind we were in. The shift in character wasn’t always clearly delineated, and there were some sections were I wasn’t quite sure WHOSE mind we were in. Yet, as the story progressed, and I began to get a handle on each character and the story arc, the book started to read easier and this approach began to grow on me.
It was interesting to hear one character’s view of an event and then immediately cycle into another character’s mind and see it completely differently—to hear what was left unsaid between them, to hear the unstated regrets. By the end of the book, I was getting rather invested in each of these characters and their various problems. However, the book ends with the end of the holiday—leaving us behind and returning the characters to their lives, changed but still evolving, with everything unsettled and the future stretching out uncertainly before them.
If you enjoy books that take chances with how to tell a story, The Red House will most likely be an enjoyable and rewarding reading experience. If, however, you like your stories written in the traditional way, this might be a struggle for you and lose and frustrate you with its ever-shifting points of view. I appreciate when authors takes risks with how to tell a story, and I thought Haddon did a fine job with this novel. The fact that I ended up caring about these characters says it all.
This looks like it would confuse the hell out of me and I’m pretty sure I’d not like the ending.
It was really confusing at the start, but once you got to know them, it was easier. Still, the ending was a bit unsatisfying if you like things resolved.
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I loved The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night and enjoyed A Spot of Bother, too. I’ve been waiting for Mark Haddon to come out with another book. Red House sounded good and I was anxiously waiting for a trustworthy blogger to review it. You did and liked it. Yay!
The style or set-up of the book sounds interesting. Haddon always does something a little off kilter or dofferent and I like that.
Wonderful review, Jenners.
I’m sorry for neglecting your blog the last month or so. I cannot sem to organizemyself or get going each day. One of these days I’ll figure things out!
Enjoy your time with BB and being unplugged!
No need to apologize for me. I meant to take a few days off from the blog and stayed away more than a week. It happens sometimes and we need to feel OK about it. This is a fun hobby, not a job.
And Haddon does mix it up with each book. I can’t wait to see what you think.
I love it when an author takes risks and it works well. Great review.
Isn’t it rewarding to read a book like that?
I’ve poked around this one after seeing it on Amazon several times and I think I’d take a chance on it. It sounds good to me.
It is a book that asks you step out of your comfort zone a bit but that can be a good thing.
I listened to a little bit of the Curious Incident book and wasn’t in the mood for it at the time, and haven’t gone back to it since then. I’ve heard good things about it though, and because of it I’ve been keeping an eye out for reviews of this book. I read another book recently with shifting perspective (There But For The by Ali Smith) that was interesting, but very strange and artsy.
I like shifting perspective but this book really takes it to a new level. It was kind of neat once I got used to it.
I agree that I like how Haddon mixes it up with each book…but I also really love how he tends to choose nontraditional storytelling devices. I will never be able to forget how well he did it with the Dog in the Night Time book. Love an author who takes risks!
I know. All of his books have been so different. I read the Dog Night Time book so long ago that I think I may actually have to read it again — something I almost never do.
I believe I shall read this book, based on your review. IT BETTER BE GOOD!
Hey, do you want my copy? Let me know and I’ll mail it to you. That will take the pressure off of me since you won’t have to buy it or anything.
I think caring about the characters is essential. If an author can make me do that then I’m happy. I’ve liked his other work too. Enjoy taking a break too! We all need to unplug sometimes.
I just wanted to sit all these characters down and have a talk with each of them and get things straightened out.
I love stories that gives emphasis on peoples lives, characters, changes from bad to good. A unique transformation, a totally different story.
I’ve enjoyed Haddon’s two first books, so this will no doubt be something I like.
Thanks for the review.
It is definitely different than his other books but worth reading.
You’re it my worthy gamestress! http://www.eclectic-eccentric.com/2012/06/more-tag-with-jenners-did-you-ever-play.html
You little vixen! How quickly you answered! I’m salivating at the thought of reading your answers.
Your review peeks my interest
Since you write novels, it should be interesting to see a totally different way to write!
This does sound interesting. I do like unique ways of telling the story as long as they make sense to me so I will have to keep this one in mind. Of course, I haven’t even read The Curious Incident book yet!
I read the Curious Incident book so long ago that I barely remember it … other than thinking good about it.
that sounds like a very unique way to tell a story. nice review.
It was unique. I’ve read multiple viewpoint stories before but never where it shifts from paragraph to paragraph with so many different characters.
I have had A spot of bother in my TBR pile for ages now, having loved Curious Incident. This one sounds brilliant. Thanks for the recommendation.
martine
Glad to be of service. He doesn’t write fast so it is always a treat when a new book comes out.
Seemingly another book with a difference from this author. Having loved The Curious Incident I keep meaning to get around to reading another one of this authors books.
I’ve found all three very different but with a thread of sameness (love of his characters) running through them.
If you look up dysfunctional family in the dictionary, I’ll be in the picture. I’d probably enjoy this book, if only as a way to say that my dysfunction is bigger than yours.
And it’s true, my younger brother remembers things a lot differently than I do…and it’s okay that his memory is flawed.
Oh … so that is why you look so familiar! I knew I saw you somewhere.
I have been waiting to read this and was thrilled to finally be able to make it a part of my new release post. I enjoy looking at things from more than one characters point of view, so that is a big bonus for me. Thank you for your informative review. I enjoy your review style very much.
He doesn’t turn out books every year so it makes it special when a new one gets released. He took some chances on this one but I think they paid off.
I like a little “different”, non formula writing. Sounds good.
Definitely different. I love when a book challenges and surprises you as a reader.
I think I’m going to like this one – I really enjoy reading multiple characters voices, especially if there is a clear distinction of who is who. I have this one to review later this month. Thanks for the great recommendation!
Just a warning: there isn’t always a clear distinction between who is who — at least in the beginning until you get to “know” them and recognize their voices. Just be prepared for that!!! It takes some work to get used to everything.
I’ve borrowed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime twice for my Kindle from my library and both times I was too busy to read it. I’ll have to make time, it keeps calling to me! Now you’ve got me curious about his other books and I want to read them too!
I guess you need to borrow it a third time and really make the time for it!! : )
I’m not sure all of those shifts in the narrative would work for me.
It was very disjointing at first, and quite a few reviewers on Amazon didn’t like this format at all.
I’m reading a book right now that is structured in a similar way. The POV keeps changing! But not necessarily to offer different perspectives, I don’t think. I’m really enjoying the story though, so I’m rolling with it. I’ve heard great things about this guy and this book. I’m in the sniffing around stage of interest.
You’re making yourself sound like a dog … sniffing around and all. You should start with his Curious Incident book I think. That is the book that made him. And this is a crazy ass shifting POV structure — like every other paragraph with no cues as to who is thinking. It takes some effort until you get to know that characters.
It does sound disorienting. And crazy-making!
Well, at first it is a bit. It requires some effort on the reader’s part.
I have to be in the right mood for a book like this. After all, I’m living in my own world of dysfunction! Still…. the way the book is set up sounds quite interesting and I think would apppeal to me.
It was definitely a challenging reading experience and worth trying out just to see what you think.
hmmmm..Am I too old and set in my ways for an author who takes risks? maybe..maybe not.
I’d love your take on this book. I can’t really tell if it would annoy you or please you! : )
I love the way this one is structured. I had no idea it was written that way. I need to put it on the list. Wish You Were Here by O’Nan was written with the same structure and it was wonderful.
Now I want to try the O’Nan book!
Oh it sounds like it would leave me with not enough closure at the end. Very interesting way to write it though
The ending does leave you wanting more … because you want to see how things are going to work out for them. I think that is a sign of a good book in a way though.
I’ve never read anything by Haddon before, but I’m a total sucker for non-traditional narratives so count me in!
Well this should scratch that non-traditional narrative itch!
This sounds really good. I think pulling off the retelling of events from a different point of view can be hard to do without feeling like a rehash, but it sounds like it works here.
It really works because there is so much left UNSAID between the characters except in their thoughts that you find yourself wishing they would just speak up and not cause all this angst and drama and estrangement between each other. Makes you think about all that is left unsaid in your own life too.
This one is already on my list but your review just pushes it closer to the top !
Oh good! I’m dying to read another blogger’s review of it. I’m so curious about what other people felt about the structure.
After our students read Curious Incident they always ask if he’s written more. But I don’t think this sounds like a great book for high school students. For me, however, it sounds like it might be a good one. Thank you for the review!
I suspect it might challenge them quite a bit … but who knows, maybe they will surprise you. It does feature the POVs of several teens so it might be interesting to see what they think of it. Lots of sex longing in it too.
I like novels that challenge me (at least at times) so the non linear storytelling sounds appealing to me. Great review!
This sounds right up your alley then.
I’ll probably read this at some point because I’ve read his first two novels. The last line of your review kind of seals the deal
I love that he mixes it up with each book.