Monday 7 August 2017
The House With Old Furniture by Helen Lewis
Release Date: 20th July 2017
Publisher: Honno Press
Publisher: Honno Press
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
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The ghosts of a century’s worth of secrets and betrayals
are coming home to Pengarrow…
Evie has lost her
eldest son, Jesse, to gang violence. Leaving the house he grew up in is pulling
apart the few strings left holding her heart together. Only the desire to be
there for her younger boy, Finn, impels Evie to West Wales and the ancient
house her husband is sure will heal their wounds.
Days later, Andrew is
gone – rushing back to his ‘important’ job in government, abandoning his
grieving wife and son. Finn finds solace in the horse his father buys by way of
apology. As does his evasive and fearful new friend, Nye, the one who reminds
him and Evie of Jesse… Evie loses herself in a dusty 19th century journal and
glasses of homemade wine left by the mysterious housekeeper.
As Evie’s grasp on
reality slides, Andrew’s parents ride to the rescue. It is clear that this is a
house they know. They seem to think they own it, and begin making changes nobody
wants, least of all Alys and her son, Nye, the terrified youth who looks so
like Jesse.
Every
so often a book turns out to be something completely different than what you
were expecting. And, The House With Old Furniture is that book. Please don't be
put off by the title, which in my opinion does this book no justice and doesn't
really reflect the true story. But, that aside its a fantastic book.
Set
in modern times, as a result of the murder of their eldest son Jesse, Evie and
her husband and youngest son Finn move from London to rural Wales. Evie feels
like her heart is being ripped out having to leave behind everything that is
Jesse but Andrew feels that this is the best thing for them. Evie really didn't
get much of a say in the matter, much like anything else. Her descriptions of
how she feels about Jesse actually broke my heart. Evie's pain is almost
palpable and I found myself crying with her. Despite her husbands hope that the
move will go some way to repairing his broken family, Andrew works in
Westminster and Evie and her son Finn are going to spend long amounts of time
alone together in the new house, Pengarrow. Isolated and at times afraid.
When
they arrive Evie and Finn soon meet a woman who arrives one morning at their
home, cooking for them and being a presence there. Almost like a housekeeper,
albeit an uninvited one. She has a strong connection to Pengarrow which soon
becomes evident. With her, her teenage son Nye who also makes regular
appearances, befriending Finn. Nye looks very like Jesse and both Evie and Finn
find this very unsettling. However, despite the startling similarities in their
lives, there is something a little different about Alys. Alys soon
becomes a source of comfort to Evie who finds her old diary and discovers
so many secrets about her and her past. Evie soon learns much about Alys'
experience and about her broken heart and what ties her to Pengarrow.
Throughout
the book the theme of the First World War looms large. The detailed accounts in
the book of what life was like The Front are horrifying. Its seems that
everyone in this book is fighting a battle of sorts. The fear of mother's
losing their sons is an emotive topic both past and present. The story is told
from both the perspectives of Evie and Finn and switches from the at times
confused, lonely and sad adult language of Evie to the childlike and often
straight to the point view of Finn.
However,
soon the spectre of grief, which has never really left the family rears its
head in all its force and is something that appears to hit Evie hardest. Finn is
often forgotten about, a mere shadow in the family. Andrew puts on a brave
front, burying himself in his work. For Evie, life falls apart and we learn
more about her own history and the fact that she has never been accepted by
Andrew's parents.
If
there was ever a character written who didn't have a backbone it was Andrew.
Helen Lewis has written him in such a way that the reader feels as frustrated
with him as Evie is. However, he is nothing compared to his parents! At times I
did get very cross with how they treated Evie and how ineffectual Andrew was in
defending her. Their lack of compassion was at times shocking.
This
book explores many issues such as grief, the horrors of war, social class and
mental health. The characters are multilayered, each with an interesting and at
times surprising back story. Just when you think you've got to grips with them,
you find out something else! For those looking for a book with mystery,
family secrets and the story of someone so broken that the world is no longer
able to contain her grief and her grip on what is real and what is not slips
with devastating consequences for her. Evie has a desperate need to make
the world stand up and take notice that her heart has broken in two.
It's
a passionate book with an added paranormal element to it. One main message that
came across was that you can't run from your past, but face the ghosts that
haunt you. Just what secrets really do lie at the heart of Pengarrow? You'll
have to read the book to find out! Helen Lewis has a real talent for
descriptive language and it was easy to imagine myself in Pengarrow. Like Evie
I loved its charm and was a little afraid of what lay within its heart. A truly
brilliant piece of writing and up there with my highly recommended reads.
ABOUT HELEN LEWIS
Helen was born in 1967 in
the New Forest. She spent her childhood dreaming of becoming a ballerina and
doodling in the margin. She graduated from Southampton Faculty of Art and
Design (so long ago now, that the place doesn’t even exist!) and worked as a professional
Doodler of Margins (Graphic Designer) for twenty years. In 2006 She moved to
Pembrokeshire with her family and lives in the middle of nowhere where she
reads, writes, and runs.
Twitter: @hedlew
Website:
www.helen-lewis.co.uk
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