The House in Paris (Penguin Modern Classics)

by Elizabeth Bowen | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0140005358 Global Overview for this book
Registered by shovelmonkey1 of Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on 4/18/2011
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14 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by shovelmonkey1 from Crystal Palace, Greater London United Kingdom on Monday, April 18, 2011
Bought this in Hay on Wye - I knew nothing about it except that it was on the list and I liked the title. Will read and release soon.

Journal Entry 2 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Saturday, May 7, 2011
I bought the 1940's penguin edition of this book whih is really appealing. It has a minimalist post war cover and the most animated looking penguin logo ever. Slightly less appealing is the back page with the author photograph. While I have no doubt that Elizabeth Bowen was probably a delightful woman, the photographer has managed to catch her in a pose which has left her looking like Aunt Sally from the Wurzel Gummidge TV series which was probably not the look she was going for (I like to think she was aiming for worldly and erudite but falling wide of the mark).

I chose the House in Paris as my next 1001 books read based on the name alone, as I knew nothing of the plot. It's not a lively book and for the majority of the time I was reading I kept imagining all the characters with those impossibly clipped BBC accents that were so prevalent in the 40's and 50's amongst the upper middle classes ( if you don't know what I mean listen to the Queens speech). Needless to say this didn't help me to take them or their dilemmas more seriously. I disliked Leopold and Henrietta and found Charles the plush monkey to be a far more animated and likeable character. As for the adults (who were responsible for the accidental conception of Leopold); I found their story to be the most emotionally neutered love story I've ever encountered. Max and Karen plan their lovers tryst with stiff upper lips and military precision leaving the story with the residual romance of an abandoned fish supper on a wet weekend in Barry Island. I suppose the saving grace is Madame Fisher; a sinister corpse-like, bed-bound figure who despite never making it past 15 degrees from the supine position, still manages to meddle in everyones affairs. Bowen has created a memorable villain here... who knew an old biddy in a bed jacket could be so scary?

Journal Entry 3 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Saturday, May 7, 2011
This book is now heading out into the world as a bookray:

1.danielle23 - UK/UK
2.brunton11 - UK/UK
3.kingfan30 - UK/UK
4.caroley - UK/UK
5.kiyoitsukikage - UK/UK
6.mafarrimond - UK/EU<--------------- travelling here!
7.Tsjara - NL/EU
8.Totje2 - NL/EU
9.sintra - D/EU
10.Lilyklip - D/Intl
11.Icila - F/Intl
12.klaradyn - Africa/Intl <---- TO BE SKIPPED
13.Nakipa - Portugal/Intl
14.Victoriawagtail - Sweden/Intl
15.lauraloo29 - Canada/Intl
16.valpete - US/Intl
17.mepotter - US/Intl

Journal Entry 4 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Saturday, May 7, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (5/7/2011 UTC) at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom

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First stop on the bookray is Danielle23. Hope you enjoy this one!

Journal Entry 5 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Yey, it's here with me now. I love being first on a ring and I love that the book has come from Hay on Wye, I'm dying to go there someday. The book has arrived at optimum time as I've just finished the other ring that's here with me so I'll start reading this very shortly. Thank you xx

Journal Entry 6 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, May 21, 2011
I enjoyed the story of this book but can't say I really liked any of the characters. Leopold, although he had good reason, was just too whiny for me and Henrietta was just too nosy. I think Madame Fischer was the only character I found amusing because of the hold she had on almost everyone even from her sickbed. I can't believe how the story ended for Max as it seemed like the easy way out and it felt that Karen took the easy option too. I'd love to know what happened next though and how she would deal with that situation.

I have the address for brunton11 and this book will be in the post today. Thanks for sharing Caz xx

Journal Entry 7 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, May 21, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (5/21/2011 UTC) at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom

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Off to the next in line, I hope you enjoy it xx

Journal Entry 8 by wingbrunton11wing at Salford, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Arrived today. Have a few rings/rays in front of this one so had better get reading!

Journal Entry 9 by wingbrunton11wing at Salford, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Sunday, July 3, 2011
I really wanted to like this book but Bowen's style just didn't engage me at all. Always good to try new authors and it's another 1001 down.

Thanks shovelmonkey1 for sharing this book (loved the JE!). I'll get this one in the post to kingfan30 tomorrow.

Journal Entry 10 by kingfan30 at Corby Glen, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Book has arrived safe and sound, looks like a well read old copy which is what I love about books and the reason you won't find a kindle in my house! Thanks for sharing, will get to it as soon as I can xx

25 July 11 - well the main thing that stood out for me about this book was how Naomi did not seem bothered at all that her friend had been having an affair with the man she was going to marry! Also what appalling way to treat a child, no wonder he was not paticularly likeable! And was it me or was there something a bit sinister about Ray at the end? One very strange book that leaves me asking too many questions!

Journal Entry 11 by kingfan30 at Bourne, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (7/27/2011 UTC) at Bourne, Lincolnshire United Kingdom

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On its way to caroley

Journal Entry 12 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, July 29, 2011
Received today thanks!

Love the cover. One shilling!

Journal Entry 13 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, August 5, 2011
Yum, what a gorgeous smelly old book. I agree with Kingfan30 - this is one of the reasons why I don't own a Kindle. You just don't get this with electronics.

I did quite enjoy the contents of the book too. Yes, the children were whiny and annoying and Naomi was umm, odd. The characters were all interesting though, I thought. I too would have liked to have known what happened next but then I quite like being able to imagine that for myself and have a book that lets you do that.

Thanks for sharing this one shovelmonkey1. I've just PMd the next person on the list and will be waving off the wee dancing penguin soon. He is very cute, isn't he?

Journal Entry 14 by Caroley at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Friday, August 5, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (8/5/2011 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom

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Posted 2nd class. Hope you enjoy it!

Journal Entry 15 by kiyoitsukikage at Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, August 14, 2011
Arrived, thank you!

Journal Entry 16 by kiyoitsukikage at Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Friday, September 2, 2011
I'm sorry to say I've had enough of this book after about 20 pages. I flicked through a couple dozen more but in the end I couldn't care less about what was going on. I rarely have this feeling :P Maybe the style of writing didn't agree with me...
ANyway, have requested the next person's address.
Thanks for sharing!!

Journal Entry 17 by kiyoitsukikage at Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom on Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (10/12/2011 UTC) at Brixton, Greater London United Kingdom

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Sorry for the delay in sending the book on-- I've been ill and then away! However, it's finally on the way.

Journal Entry 18 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Monday, October 17, 2011
The book has arrived safely. Next to be read.

Journal Entry 19 by mafarrimond at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom on Sunday, February 26, 2012

Released 12 yrs ago (2/26/2012 UTC) at Hawarden, Wales United Kingdom

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Posted on

Journal Entry 20 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Monday, March 19, 2012
Arrived here safely. Thanks mafarrimond!
What a lovely old battered looking book, I will be very careful with it. :)
Just had another 1001 bookring arriving (Uncle Silas - it's rather fat), so it may take a bit longer before I get to this one. Thanks for the bookray shovelmonkey!

Journal Entry 21 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Well, I have finally finished reading it today. Took me a few weeks to get through, even though it was such a small book. I guess it was mostly because of the writing style, which I didn't really like and sometimes found a bit confusing (the words didn't really seem to stick). The characters weren't likeable at all, and their conversations and thoughts were often strange to me. Couldn't understand why Karen and Max started this affair (or why Naomi didn't seem to mind it much), or what his relationship was with Mme Fisher.. The ending was kind of unresolved/open and I wonder what will happen with Leopold and Karen (Ray did come across as a bit of a creep).
Glad to have finished this book, but don't think I will read any more books by this author.


I have Totje2/Boekentrol's address now and will mail the book tomorrow.

Journal Entry 22 by Tsjara at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands on Thursday, April 26, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (4/27/2012 UTC) at Assendelft, Noord-Holland Netherlands

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Off to Boekentrol/Totje2.
(the book was kind of falling apart when I received it, didn't dare to try to fix it, so I've just left it as it was)

Happy reading!

Journal Entry 23 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Saturday, April 28, 2012
Book has arrived safely today.
Thanks, Tsjara, for sending it and shovelmonkey1 for making it available as a ray.

The book is indeed falling apart....

Journal Entry 24 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Friday, May 18, 2012
Well, I must say that I tried, tried & tried not to give up. I hate giving up, but this book was just a no-no for me. Why? I didn't get into it, somehow got stuck on page 15 and tried to get on, but after 20 pages I had to admit that this wasn't going to work for me.

I've asked sintra for their address, then the book will be travelling on.

Thanks for sharing, shovelmonkey, I'm sorry it didn't work out!

Journal Entry 25 by Boekentrol at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands on Thursday, May 24, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (5/24/2012 UTC) at Leeuwarden, Fryslân (Friesland) Netherlands

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On to the next person today.
Safe travels to sintra, little book!!

Journal Entry 26 by sintra at Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, May 31, 2012
The book arrived safely in Bonn and will soon be read. Thanks a lot! :-)

Journal Entry 27 by sintra at Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Unfortunately, this novel failed to grip me like The Last September by the same author did. I enjoyed some parts but I found most of the novel strangely lifeless.

Thanks for sharing this book! I will be on its way again, soon.
[Edit: LilyKlip asked to be skipped, so the book will travel on to France now.]

Journal Entry 28 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Back for the week-end from the family shore-house the book was safely waiting for me with my husband, along with other BC books.
I intend to take a great care of this ancient book which is suffering from travel-sickness.

Journal Entry 29 by wingIcilawing at Nantes, Pays de la Loire France on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
I kept the book a little too long perhaps but I didn't want to travel with it.
It was a diificult read and I had to think hard to get the right meaning but liked it.

Elisabeth Bowen had a sharp look upon characters and describing them without sentimentality was a great job.
The children being "only" usually get a sharp look on the life. They are likeable to me as childs living by themselves, unexplained .
Naomi being herself the only child of her powerful mother, and not a beauty, was so glad to have found a husband at all that it's not so unbeliveable that she drive him and her loved friend Karen have their so longed for affair to be sure to marry safely.
For me the book is about impossible thoughts, impossible feelings, impossible worlds.
Very strong.

Journal Entry 30 by wingIcilawing at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France on Friday, October 19, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (10/19/2012 UTC) at La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, Pays de la Loire France

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On its way to Portugal !

Journal Entry 31 by wingNakipawing at Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
And here it is, the book is still alive but barely ;P Anyway, thank you Icila for sending it to me.

Journal Entry 32 by wingNakipawing at Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
It was not easy reading this book... I found myself literally falling asleep while reading it... it might have something to do also with the train's soothing movement. :D Anyway, still kept my interest enough to read it until the end. PMing Victoriawagtail for her address. :D

EDIT: Victoriawagtail asked to be skipped. PMing the next on the list.
EDIT: lauraloo29 asked to be skipped. PMing the next on the list.

Journal Entry 33 by wingNakipawing at Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal on Sunday, December 2, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (12/2/2012 UTC) at Lisboa - City, Lisboa (cidade) Portugal

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Traveling to USA as a part of this bookray. I hope you enjoy! :D

Journal Entry 34 by valpete at Walnut Creek, California USA on Thursday, December 20, 2012
This book arrived today! Thanks for posting it to me, Nakipa! I do have several rings/rays ahead of it, so it will be a while before I get to it.

Journal Entry 35 by valpete at Walnut Creek, California USA on Wednesday, February 18, 2015
My apologies for taking so long with this book.

I loved the writing...I thought it was rich in description and complex. Reading this novel reminded me of "peeling an onion." The story, the characters, the setting...all entranced me!

I've PM'd the next reader; however, I think she is no longer active on BookCrossing, so this will be sent as an RBACK to another BCer with it on her Wishlist.

Journal Entry 36 by valpete at Walnut Creek, California USA on Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Released 9 yrs ago (2/18/2015 UTC) at Walnut Creek, California USA

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This is a very old and weary book - to be lovingly handled and read once again. I'm happy to have found someone who has this on her Wishlist. It is definitely worthy of one more read.

Enjoy!

Journal Entry 37 by valpete at Walnut Creek, California USA on Wednesday, February 18, 2015
I did hear from the next person on the list, so will be mailing it to her.

Enjoy!

Journal Entry 38 by mepotter at Los Angeles, California USA on Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Received from valpete. There was a mix-up with the (correct) address and it sat in my complex's office for a week before they told me it was there, but it finally found it's way to me.

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