Friday 13 April 2012

L is for The Little House by Philippa Gregory





It's my birthday today!! So I'm not really here, I'm spending time with my family and being thoroughly spoilt with presents and chocolate... hopefully. I'll catch up with all your comments tomorrow, but be sure to whisper!
On with today's post...





The Little House is a pyschological thriller about a new mother and the way her mother-in-law tries to take over. The writing is very stubtle. I was a new mother when I first read this book, and several of the early incidents happened to me - like not havng any clean nappies to hand at an inopportune moment, like not having time to have a shower and having milk stains down a top I wore yesterday, like not having time to hoover or clean the house.

The Goodreads page
The mother-in-law - who is nothing like the mother-in-law I have - is on hand to tell this poor new mother how she'd managed to always have a clean house, clean clothes, a fully made-up face to greet her husband. How she didn't have any help when she had a new baby.

Gradually, without the reader realising, the story escalates until the young mother is sectioned; with even her husband, the new father, believing that his wife is lacking as a mother and a danger to the baby. And when you look back, it all seems so reasonable. I remember a cold goose-bumpy feeling. Could I, could my friends, suffer the same fate?

I won't give the story away, if you haven't read it, but it's worth checking out.

What I took from this novel was pacing, the importance of balance and detail when you're creating the world in which your characters live.






30 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday! Have a lovely day!

    With all these books you're showing me, my to-read list is getting out of control!

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    1. Thanks. I'm hoping to get everyone's TBR list out of control :-)

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  2. Sounds an intriguing book that all mothers might be able to relate too... but does it have a happy ending. I'm for books with happy endings really.

    Happy birthday, Annalisa! Have a great day!

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  3. One of my favourite books from one of my favourite authors! I've devoured all of Philippa Gregory's books :-) Hope you're having a fab birthday x

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    1. Thanks Linda, had a great day! Did you see the ITV adaptation?

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  4. Happy birthday - enjoy your family and your day.

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    1. Thanks, I did. Now faced with 450 catch-ups! Glad it's Sunday tomorrow.

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  6. Have a very happy birthday and wonderful weekend! : )

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  7. I love Phillipa Gregory and I'm shocked she has a book out that not only have I not read but that I didn't know about. Thanks for correcting this terrible mistake.

    Happy Birthday!

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  8. Happy Birthday! I haven't read that one, but I like Gregory's work.

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  9. Happy birthday!! I remember my mother-in-law coming into the house and saying, "What a shame. Such a lovely house but it's so dirty."

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    1. Ooh, that sounds like something straight out of this book!

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  10. Happiest of birthdays, Annalisa!

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  11. Oh that book sounds good! Happy Birthday Annalisa! Enjoy the day!

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  12. Ooh, this sounds like a good one. Philippa Gregory has come out with some awesome stuff I've heard.

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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    1. I've not read her historical novels, but her contemporary stuff is great.

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  13. This sounds like something I'd like to read. Thanks for the recommendation!

    Ellie, who has 3 blogs in the challenge
    Ellie's Blank Book
    Ellie's Couch
    Help Michigan Pets

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