THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON by Kate Morton - 473 Pages

Book Discussion title at McClay Branch

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton is a Gothic novel...told by 90 year "Grace" who began her life in said house as a serving girl. When the story opens Grace is meeting with Ursula who is making a movie about the "suicide" which occurred there years before. Since Grace was in residence the night of the tragedy Ursula wants to interview her as well as get Grace's "take" on the sets. From there we journey back in Grace memories....her Mother's presence in her life...stern, unaffectionate but as best as she could took care of Grace., Grace's own daughter Ruth with whom she has no better relationship than she had with her own Mother.

We get a bird's eye view into the residents of the House at Riverton...the serving staff, caring, warm, a well oiled machine who had "serving" down pat yet who truly cared about not only the lords and ladies of the manner but especially about the rest of the staff who served. We see Grace become mesmerized by Hannah and her sister Emmeline who had "soo much life" about them. Grace feels a special connection to Hannah especially all her life....until the day of Hannah's death. We learn the true story of the "suicide" of Robbie Hunter and like a game of chess...all the pieces fall together to make a tragic but well written ending if a touch unbelievable (my take only!)

Many rabbit trails there are to go down from mother/daughter relationships, WWI with its rationing, the privilege and responsibility of wealth, to the unfairness of life, lost love, being but a few.

As is true of all Gothic novels there is dark side Morton creates which permeates the entire book. Some of her quotes are priceless:

"There's nothing spoils a young lady's loveliness so much as impertinence of intellect."

"...for home is a magnet that lures back even its most abstracted children."

"Photographs force us to see people before their future weighed them down, before they knew their endings."

and one of my own personal favorites: "reading is one of life's great pleasures;talking about books keeps their worlds alive for longer."

The gals gave the book a 2 out of five...with 1 being the best...majority rule.

Ruth - MY Book Club