The Irresistible Henry House (edition 2010)

I feel like this book was made more interesting to me simply because I read it on the heels of finishing [b:Room|7937843|Room|Emma Donoghue|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311633804s/7937843.jpg|9585076]. While Room is focused on the bond between mother & child, and how that bond & love helps both to handle a horrifying situation, this book is almost the opposite. By contrast, instead of forming a bond, Henry, an orphan, is raised by several practice mothers in the practice house of a women's college home-ec program. This constant handing-off, along with the style of parenting taught in the program, prevents Henry from developing a strong bond with any one mother. Of course this leads to issues as he grows up and the remainder of the book covers the course of Henry's life up through early adulthood.

To a point, the further I read in this book, the more disturbed and nervous I became. During his high school days, and the time in New York & California, I kept expecting Henry to start killing people. Fortunately that did not happen, but I would not have been surprised if it did. I enjoyed seeing him look in a mirror through living with Peace while in London & I am glad the book ended with the possibility that he was thinking about changing his life. It would have been too neat, tidy & unbelievable if the author had wrapped it all up with a happily ever after. ( )

In a fictional 1950’s College Home Economics Department, Martha runs the practice house – where young women students practice their mothering skills on a borrowed orphaned infant. Martha ascribes to a stern discipline for her charges. No smothering affection for them. Dr. Spock even makes a cameo appearance to be given a dressing down by rigid Martha. Her heart is soon melted by the winning personality of little Henry House, whose charisma and good looks gain him friends and admirers (mostly feminine) from the start. Throughout, Henry is cool and unable to form connections to those whom he attracts. The author apparently posits this is due to his lack of connection to s single mother figure (he was handed off from one to another a week at a time). Other factors might include Martha’s odd combination of stern no-coddling-allowed with ever-present smothering childrearing methods, Henry’s contempt for that which he gains so easily, and the intrusion and apparent abandonment of his birth mother at a critical juncture. I found this an easy and engaging read. The characterizations, even of minor ones, were nicely presented. I thought the ending perfectly rendered. This book comes down squarely on the side of ‘nurture’ in the perennial debate versus ‘nature.’ ( )

I really want to give this book three and 1/2 stars but we can't so I gave the author the benefit because Lord knows I can't even begin to write a book. The ending of this book is what pulled the whole story together for me. I don't want to print any spoilers, so I will just say that the author does an excellent job of finding a finish that makes this story believable in a way that left me hopeful without being made to feel I had just finished a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. ( )

Eh...I liked it...but I didn't. I'm not quite sure why, but I'm pretty sure it had to do with the main character. ( )

I was surprised at how little the book club liked this one. Though I did not find it especially riveting, I thought it was an interesting, quick read.

Things I enjoyed about the book:
1. Learning a little bit about animation
2. Imagining what the closet painting would've looked like
3. Learning about the practice house programs

What made me like the book less:
1. I had a hard time visualizing the character of Henry. He pulled so many ladies but sometimes the descriptions of him left a ton to be desired. As an adult, I want Henry to look like Jon Hamm (I mean, he could pull whoever the heck he wants) but that really wasn't the picture the author was painting.
2. While a few people at book club understood why Henry wouldn't forgive Martha--I found it a little hard to believe that he had to stop talking and then just leave her rather than forgive her for lying to him and (arguably) smothering him. (or at least just have a freaking conversation)
3. I was annoyed at the relationship between Mary Jane and Henry.
4. I don't think the school description was accurate. (for many reasons) ( )