Lost in the Stacks: House Across the River

Has it really been almost a whole year since my last lost in the stacks post?  My how time flies, doesn't it.  I know fall is still weeks away, but there is something about August and the approaching school year that makes me really think of libraries and cool weather and piles of books to read (okay, so for me those piles are around all year), so it seems natural that it's time once again to see what forgotten hidden gems I can find in the library stacks.  I'm still hoping to share a few more readers' libraries, but I'll intersperse those with the books I discover in my upcoming browsing forays.

This week's choice was an easy one.  I was so intrigued by the last Persephone short story that I read, that I had to request another book by the same author.  Last weekend I read Margaret Bonham's "The English Lesson".  When I discovered that she  had written a mystery I thought I would try my luck with interlibrary loan and hoped to find a copy.  And as luck would have it, the book speedily made its way to me from Texas and here it is in hand.  

I'm always a little curious about the authors I read, and here she is.  It's quite a personal biography that her publisher offers.  She was born in London but preferred country life (Shropshire, Devon and then later Oxfordshire).  She began writing in 1944 and mostly published short stories (more than 80 of them by the time this book came out).

"Her interests are varied and include Wales and the Welsh, pre-1930 cars and Georgian architecture; she likes cats, Bach, Beethoven and Britten, Fowler's Modern English Usage, and the Times crossword puzzle; she dislikes long hikes, church bells, the Romantic Revival, ballet and opera."

I told you it was very personal.  A little hodgepodge of likes and dislikes. 

The House Across the River was published in 1950.  Like the author blurb that was printed on the dust jacket, the library also cut out and pasted into the first few pages part of the story description.  Unfortunately it ends mid-sentence, but this is what I gleaned from it about the story . . .  The setting is London either during or just after the war.  Nigel Cassell has left his wife.  As he makes his way through the rubble of a badly bombed district on the way to a hotel, he sees the foot of a woman.  Like the character in a scary movie who hears a noise in the basement and goes to investigate (me, shaking head, knowing trouble is coming), he goes to a hotel bar rather than to the police.  There he meets an "enigmatic doctor".  "An encounter that is to torment him for weeks."  Rather than tell the man about the body, he talks about himself and later becomes obsessed with finding and talking to him again.

The description cuts off here:

"In his pursuit of the doctor, at first alone and later with his unconventional cousin Olivia, Nigel begins to . . . "

Maybe whoever cataloged and processed the book did this on purpose.  Anyone looking at the book and reading the description would wonder what happened.  How can they leave the reader hanging like that?  I guess there is nothing for it but to begin reading, don't you think?

"Cassell came out of the garage with his suitcase, and started looking for a hotel.  He knew himself entirely  alone, and this was what he had chosen, but it was not a good feeling; it gave him the sensation of being hollow, holding back from panic.  It made him move deliberately, as if he watched himself from without, a critic in the stalls; he put down his case on the pavement and dropped the car keys in his pocket, and drew on his gloves.  In daylight he could find his way about the city, but now he did not know where he was."

I think I'll keep reading.  A good first choice.  I wonder what else I'll find.  Don't worry, I'll share whatever it is with you next week!

Comments

[Judith]

Danielle,
Do let us know what you think of her writing! I'm very curious.

I especially giggled at her dislike of "long hikes." Sounds to me as if she perhaps had friends who tried to push her into taking long hikes, or perhaps her parents.

I'm so glad you went to the trouble of ordering it ILL. Wonderful for all of us to discover her writing through you.

Have a good weekend. Have you been able to enjoy your porch at all lately?

Judith

Judith

[Danielle]

The weather has been really gorgeous here of late. I am actually really enjoying summer and usually I am mostly just moaning about the heat and humidity! I feel very spoiled and have indeed been spending time outside when I can--should take my book out there more often. Pity I don't have a porch swing--that sounds heavenly! I chuckled at her likes and dislikes, too! I guess she is not a fan of opera and ballet--I wondered if by listing those she (or her publisher) risked annoying someone who does! :) I love being able to use ILL and frequently take advantage of it. And I will indeed let you know what the book is like--I enjoyed her short story very much-and hope this is equally as good!

[Grad]

For some reason I searched The House Across The River in my library catalog...like within the last week. Was it something you said earlier? I don't remember. But the book is not in the system. I'll press on.

[Danielle]

I think I mentioned it when I wrote about her short story that is in the Persephone collection. I was thinking then what an interesting title it sounded and thought I might look for it. And voila--I did and it came really, really fast! I love being able to get books via interlibrary loan. Can you get to ILL at your library? I don't always get my requests, but more often than not I do--it's almost as though any and every book is literally at my fingertips.

[Caroline]

A whole year already? I can't belove it. I think thye are great posts always a new author to discover. The title of this sounds familiar. Not sure why. I don't think I have ever come across this book before.

[Christine Harding]

I haven't read the Margaret Bonham yet, but I seem to have built up a list of 'other work' that I want to explore and am delighted to have discovered more Katherine Mansfield short stories in an old Penguin edition of The Garden Party. I was in two minds about buying this, because I did not like The Black Cap at all, but I'm glad I got it, because these tales are so different, and so beautifully written.

[iliana]

I love the bio! Sounds like you are in for a treat with this book. I'm glad you were successful in getting it and do let us know how it goes!

[Danielle]

Although I didn't know anything about it at the time, I think I mentioned the title of this book when I wrote about the short story that is included in the Persephone Collection, so maybe that's why it sounds familiar? Or maybe it's just one of those titles that is sort of common and seems familiar. I could hardly believe so much time had passed from my last lost in the stacks post and this one. They are fun to do, so I'm looking forward to getting back to them.

[Danielle]

I think this is an excellent collection though I suspect that there will be stories that just do not quite click or seem less appealing or well done than others. I keep adding to my list of authors/books to look for, too!

[Danielle]

My last feww ILL requests totally fizzled so I am happy this one came through. I am reading a book by Laren Davis right now that is an ILL book, which I am really enjoying--must step it up, though, as I think I will have to return it soon and then there is this one to start next!

[Belle Read]

I love this feature. It is so rewarding to discover books from the past. There are so many great works that have older publication dates.
Like you, this time of year gets me thinking fall reads. While some people read more in the summer, I am in full reading mode once it is back to school time.

[Stefanie]

Oh my, the likes and dislikes in the author bio sound a bit like a personals ad. The story, however, sounds like a good one. And how so very cruel of the cataloger to cut off the description just at that point! There is indeed nothing for it but to read the book. Enjoy!

[Danielle]

I'm looking forward to exploring the library stacks once again. I always think surely I have found all the interesting looking books, but them am amazed by what new books I find. I am not sure I read more in the summer or not--maybe even less really since there is always yard work to do or something outside. Even though this summer (happily) has not been all that miserable, I am still ready for fall!

[Danielle]

Isn't that a funny biographical sketch? I guess the cataloger put just enough so the reader would be tempted to pick up the story and continue on? Well, it is working with me anyway!