Customer Reviews

The Little House: A Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Little House is a remarkable gem of a psychological thriller. It makes even the most normal, everyday events seem sinister and riveting.

The plot focuses on Ruth who is talked into starting a family by her husband and living down the road from his upper class parents in the country. Then the nightmare unfolds. The book is a masterpiece of claustrophobia as Ruth's in-laws intrude more and more into her life. All throughout the book I felt tense and unsettled - just as I love to be when I am reading a thriller. I could absolutely empathise with Ruth and as her situation got worse and worse I was routing for her all the way.

Ruth is a delightful, yet in some ways tragic character. She is a successful journalist and yet her past has meant that she is needy and desperately seeking love. She thinks she has found a family which she can belong to at long last in her in-laws but what she fails to realise is that they want to control her. The mother in-law, father in-law, and Ruth's husband Patrick are chillingly plausible and well developed. The beauty in this novel is that unlike in many other psychological thriller's these three characters are not evil, they truly believe they are doing the best for Ruth and themselves - even as they push her further and further towards the limits of her own sanity.

Overall The Little House is a fantastic study of relationships between a woman and her in-laws and how the ordinary things can lead someone to madness, and to do the most unspeakable things. The Little House's packs a hard, chilling punch, especially as the ending is so unexpected and compelling. I would recommend this book unreservedly.

JoAnne

What a wonderfully written book! I was immersed in the lives of these well developed characters within minutes and couldn't stop reading until I'd reached the end in one sitting. This is an illuminating book for women. It illustrates the frightening results when a woman is unable or unwilling to set boundaries in her life. I was so affected by this book that I bought it for my newly married daughter and insisted she read it as an object lesson. I think most women will relate to the heroine of this book. The ending was electrifying and immensely satisfying!

This book starts off as a sweet little relationship read, of an adopted woman, Ruth trying to get accepted into her in-laws' family. Unfortunately the mother-in-law has such lofty standards that no-one, besides herself is really good enough for her son and the daughter-in-law has no hopes of attaining them.

The baby comes along, and Ruth is just in the way then; as her mother-in-law literally casts her aside leaving Ruth to feel inadequate as an inexperienced mother, rather than being encouraged.

RUTH FIGHTS BACK! Totally dependant, financially and mentally, Ruth sees that there's only one way to claim her space in the family and sets out to grasp it! The conclusion is brilliant, and leaves you mulling over the story line, long after you've finished reading it!

I have read most of P Gregory's books but this is my absolute favourite!! I don't view Ruth's character change at the end of the book as her giving in to the stereotypical 50's housewife routine - I think this is Ruth reclaiming her power - and some!!!.
As she looks into the future she sees with frightening clarity that her son will never be her own as long as Elizabeth, the mother-in-law is around. At the same time she's knows that Elizabeth would like nothing more than for Ruth to disappear so that they can all play happy families with Thomas without her getting in the way.
Ruth did become Elizabeth in the end but Elizabeth was not the perfect housewife in the subordinate sense. The Ruth who stood poised by the switch waiting (willing?) for Elizabeth to touch the pram was no longer immature and spineless but supremely confident and in total control of her emotions, actions and thoughts, just like Eliabeth who had ruled the roost from a position of power whilst the men in her life (husband and son) danced contentedly to her tune.
Despite Ruth's suffering at the hand of her in-laws, Ruth did love her husband, Patrick and was determined to keep the family unit together.She saw the inheritance of ELizabeth's 'crown' as being preferable to being a single mum, or, worse, a mother without her child.
Yes this was a dramatic character change for Ruth who was initially career oriented but it was Ruth's overwhelming and protective maternal feelings for her baby which were the catalyst for her transfomation and led to the horrific demise of Elizabteth. 'A jolly good read!' as Frederick would say!!!

The Little House is definetly scary. Even the people you root for in this book will frighten you with the things they do. The story starts out seeming simple enough. Ruth is married to Patrick. Ruth is a dedicated journalist, and does not want any children. However both her domineering husband and strong willed in laws are determined that she should have a baby - and soon. Ruth becomes pregnant, loses her job, and goes to live in the little house at the foot of her in laws driveway. Soon enough she finds herself in danger of losing her husband, her baby, and even her sanity to her demanding in laws. This is a book that WILL keep you up until the wee hours... and the ending will certainly give you a lot to think about it, even if it frustrates you (it certainly frustrated me!)Strongly reccomended!

This book is an interesting study of relationships within a family, and with those who have come into it through marriage. The ending, as so many have commented, is indeed somewhat unsatisfactory. I think this is because the reader is eager to know the motivations for Ruth's actions, and these are not made clear, in contract to the times in the book where wh know very clearly exactly what the character is thinking. One is left wondering whether her mind has simply snapped, or if she is taking 'carpe diem' to extremes in an effort to establish herself in the life of her family.

The excessivly passive aspect of Ruth's character is sometimes irritating, although it does serve as a stark contrast to the denoument. Other characters are fairly well fleshed out, although there is occasionally an element of caricature in Frederick. It would also have been nice if the character of David (Ruth's only evident friend) had been rounded out a little, as he disappears halfway through the book for no apparant reason. His relationship with Ruth as the only non-family member is intriguing, and it seems a shame to terminate it so soon.

All in all, this book does an excellent job of creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and implied threat. It is an engrossing read, and well worth a look, especially for newly married women!!

I have read most of Philippa's books this is my absolute favourite!I don't interpret Ruth's change of character, at the end of the book, as giving in to the sterotypical 50's housewife routine;quite the contrary, I think this is Ruth reclaiming her power - and some!!...Yes this was a dramatic change of character for Ruth, initially career orientated but it was Ruth's overwhelming and protective maternal feelings for baby Thomas which were the catalyst of her transformation and led to the horrific demise of Elizabeth. Mother-in-laws' watch out!!!

I found that I could not put this book down! Ms. Gregory's storytelling is wonderful and witty. I have never "talked back" to a book before, but The Little House was the exception; I was so caught up in the story. The ending was a little rough, but in my eyes, it was satisfying!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing, the characters and plot were all superb. However, I found the ending clever, but deeply unsatisfying. Poor simple Ruth turns into her mother-in law in the end and frets about doing the baking and the flowers -oh yuck, like a fifties housewife! I was hoping that Ruth, as a modern woman, would have found a way out of her prison, set up some sort of new life with her son and left that ghastly, chauvinistic setup for good!

If you like to read thrilling and exciting story about family relations, here's book for you! a sort of ruth rendell-like tale about monsters and victims. characters are not very deep, but it's easyread entertainment allright.