Habits of the House

By: Fay Weldon

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

From the award-winning novelist and writer of Upstairs Downstairs, the launch of a brilliant new trilogy about what life was really like for masters and servants before the world of Downton Abbey

As the Season of 1899 comes to an end, the world is poised on the brink of profound, irrevocable change. The Earl of Dilberne is facing serious financial concerns. The ripple effects spread to everyone in the household: Lord Robert, who has gambled unwisely on the stock market and seeks a place in the Cabinet; his unmarried children, Arthur, who keeps a courtesan, and Rosina, who keeps a parrot in her bedroom; Lord Robert's wife Isobel, who orders the affairs of the household in Belgrave Square; and Grace, the lady's maid who orders the life of her mistress.

Lord Robert can see no financial relief to an already mortgaged estate, and, though the Season is over, his thoughts turn to securing a suitable wife (and dowry) for his son. The arrival on the London scene of Minnie, a beautiful Chicago heiress with a reputation to mend, seems the answer to all their prayers.

As the writer of the pilot episode of the original Upstairs, Downstairs—Fay Weldon brings a deserved reputation for magnificent storytelling. With wit and sympathy—and no small measure of mischief—Habits of the House plots the interplay of restraint and desire, manners and morals, reason and instinct.

©2012 Fay Weldon (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“With a tony accent and wry humor, Katherine Kellgren narrates this story of an upper-class family on the verge of losing the life its members have always known…Written by the author of ‘Upstairs Downstairs,' Habits of the House will delight fans of ‘Downton Abbey' and those who enjoy dry wit coupled with excellent narration.” —AudioFile Magazine

“Narrator Katherine Kellgren creates an amazing variety of voices for the numerous characters both British and American…Kellgren captures the subtle humor and the satire in author Fay Weldon's writing.” —Sound Commentary

“Narrator Kellgren creates distinct voices for all involved: servants, aristocracy and wealthy, title-seeing Americans.” —The Plain Dealer

Good story, awful narrator

The story is a good one, though a little thin on detail: or rather, with great detail in some parts, then sudden shifts with a great deal of action not described, but finished. Still, a good period story. The narrator, however, is awful: why employ someone with such a terrible phony British accent? It would be better to have it read out in straight American accent if a true British reader cannot be found.

Narration Made this Book

If I read this book on my e-reader I likely would have finished it but it would not have made an impression on me. There was nothing that truly set it apart from many of the fluffy period romance novels written by far less high-brow authors. The story was OK, not quite good and certainly not great. I must admit I expected more. The characters didn't seem fully developed and were presented inconsistently. The silly plot (which isn't a criticism, it was supposed to be somewhat silly and exceeded at that quite well) was wrapped up abruptly and in a way that seemed unplanned.

Katherine Kellgren breathed life into this book. She is one of the few narrators that I either love (Her Royal Spyness Series) or she sets my teeth on edge (Blackout). I loved her narration in this book. Like the Spyness series, the characters in this book were made just for Katherine Kellgren's voices.

As long as she is narrating, I will eventually read the other two books in this series. If it was not for the narration, I would have stopped at this one.

An enjoyable story but lacks depth

Would you try another book from Fay Weldon and/or Katherine Kellgren?

Yes

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Perhaps cutting down on the cast of characters and focusing on a few, solid characters instead.

What does Katherine Kellgren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

An excellent narrative voice that is easy to listen to and genre appropriate.

Did Habits of the House inspire you to do anything?

Not particularly.

Unlistenable--from a reader who loves this genre

What disappointed you about Habits of the House?

Early on in this novel, one character beseeches another to stop yelling. I felt the same way. In fact, stop narrating this book altogether!

I am an avid reader, who enjoys everything from Henry James to EM Forster to Ha Jin and Ruth Ozeki, from Jonathan Tropper to Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspeare's Masie Dobbs series. I also enjoy great history books such as Adam Hochschild's brilliant "To End All Wars" and Lynne Olsen's captivating "Citizens of London." In other words, I'll read almost anything.


Except this book. I regret I'll not be able to get through it, due solely to the strident narration. I liked the story and found these characters to be well-imagined and sadly laughable. I would like to know how it all works out.

But I simply cannot get past Katherine Kellgren's voice, which is best characterized as barking. Constantly. It softens only occasionally. It is so harsh, so breakneck, so forced into its wryness, it literally set my teeth on edge.

In scrolling through other reviews, I was frankly relieved to see other readers had similar reactions. I don't like to criticize narration. But I must. It is solely due to the narrator that I will not finish this book.

What could Fay Weldon have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Weldon has done a nice job of showcasing the end of an era, with characters who are so blind to the changes coming their way. I am assuming this trend continues throughout the book. But I'll never know, because I won't be able to get through it due to the narrator's grating, shouting interpretation.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Katherine Kellgren?

Oh. So many options there. Almost anyone would have been better. In fact, maybe this is somewhat the fault of the director of this production, who could have encouraged Ms. Kellgren to tone it down a notch. In voicing Isabelle, Ms. Kellgren clearly has a nice tone and is a seasoned reader. But between Isabelle's few moments, there was the horrible barking of Rosina, the lower barking of Robert, the annoying barking of the heir to the earldom.

Sadly, it all just went wrong here. At least for me.

What character would you cut from Habits of the House?

Cannot answer this as I must confess to not being able to get through it.

Any additional comments?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The same is true when it comes to hearing.

Clearly, as evidenced by some enthusiastic reviews, Katherine Kellgren has her fans. She lost me on this one.

skip this and go to the primary sources

This was boring--slim on plot and characters with any personality whatsoever. I find it hard to believe that it is only one of a forthcoming trilogy. If it is meant, as I suspect, to appeal to "Downton Abbey" or "Upstairs, Downstairs" fans in the "off-season," then editors are either severely underestimating the fans' intelligence levels or I am overestimating them. I hope the former, but fear the latter.

Do your brain a favor and use your credit on Edith Wharton or Henry James. If you want to know more about servant's lives, read any of the well-researched books or memoirs: "Up and Down Stairs," by Jeremy Musson, or "Below Stairs," by Margaret Powell.

Boring

Would you try another book from Fay Weldon and/or Katherine Kellgren?

I was excited as I had just listened to a few of Kate Morton's books and was thinking it would be as exciting. Not. Sad :(

skip this and go to the primary sources

This was boring--slim on plot and characters with any personality whatsoever. I find it hard to believe that it is only one of a forthcoming trilogy. If it is meant, as I suspect, to appeal to "Downton Abbey" or "Upstairs, Downstairs" fans in the "off-season," then editors are either severely underestimating the fans' intelligence levels or I am overestimating them. I hope the former, but fear the latter.

Do your brain a favor and use your credit on Edith Wharton or Henry James. If you want to know more about servant's lives, read any of the well-researched books or memoirs: "Up and Down Stairs," by Jeremy Musson, or "Below Stairs," by Margaret Powell.

Aimless, silly and unlistenable

It is not the fault of the narrator, but entirely that of the author that "Habits" is rubbishy drivel.
It is pieces of shapeless verbal frippery like this book that makes me wonder anew at the dreck that gets published. I bought this Fay Weldon on an Audible $4.95 sale, mistaking the author for one recommended by a friend. "Habits of the House", not worth a plastic penny.

Just ok

What did you like best about Habits of the House? What did you like least?

It was a glimpse into life of the times, but the characters were not very likeable.

What could Fay Weldon have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I found it very wordy. it seemed to go on a bit, and it was too easy to tune out.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Her accent fit the story and her characters were believable.

Was Habits of the House worth the listening time?

Not really if I hadn't gotten it on special for $4.95, I would have returned it right away.

Any additional comments?

All in all I was not impressed. Even at a reduced price it just wasn't worth it.

Really wanted to like this

Would you try another book from Fay Weldon and/or Katherine Kellgren?

I stayed with it to the end hoping it would get better. This is the first in a trilogy, but I won't be able to sit through another.

What was most disappointing about Fay Weldon’s story?

Love the genre, but the characters were predictable, and they weren't well developed enough to get excited about any of them.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The American mother's accent was extreme.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Habits of the House?

The steamy scene with Arthur's mistress was silly.