The Clothes They Stood Up In (original 1996; edition 2001)

A sweet and odd little book, and I mean little in the literal sense--it's about 3 by 4 inches. It's really a short story more than a novel; I'm not sure why they published it like this.
Even so, it's worth reading--about a middle-aged British couple who come home from the opera one evening to find that all of their belongings have been stolen, right down to the toilet paper. ( )

This is the first Bennett book that I have actually read rather than listened to and this little novella is a charming little read.

The Ransomes are a middle-aged friendless, childless couple who have settled into a rather dull routine who are unable to even communicate which one another. The Ransome's return from a night at the opera to find that they have been 'burgled. Robbed.' by very thorough thieves who stole absolutely everything in their flat down to floorboards, even cutting the telephone wires at the wall. As they come to terms with the theft the Ransomes realise that they are owned by their possessions rather than the other way around. Mr Ransome wants to merely replace their possessions and return to their former ways but Mrs Ransome starts to have little adventures like visiting a Pakistani grocers and a thrift shop as she slowly re-enters the broader world. The ending is perhaps a little predictable but for me this did not spoil the overall story.

I read this book in one go and enjoyed it, the prose was beautiful, clipped and without an unneccessary word. ( )

Another thoughtful and humorous novella by Alan Bennett. As with "The Uncommon Reader," this book has a preposterous premise, but Alan Bennett makes it work. And in fact, it's the ridiculousness of the premise that makes the book so compelling! Mr. and Mrs. Ransome come home from the opera one night to find that their flat has been completely cleaned out... down to the stove and appliances--including the casserole left to warm in the stove! This elicits very different reactions from Mr. and Mrs. Ransome, each of whom have been going through the motions for years, stuck in stagnation and complacency.

I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as "The Uncommon Reader," I didn't feel the same kinship with the Ransomes as I did with the Queen in "Reader." Still, this is a funny and though-provoking book, absolutely worth the afternoon it will take you to read it. ( )

I rather expected more from this book - it wasn't particularly humorous or much a fable - just a story about some sad little people ( )

In this slim, amusing novel, Mr. and Mrs. Ransome arrive home from the opera (Cosi Fan Tutte—Mr. Ransome is nigh-obsessed with Mozart) to find that someone has burgled their home. Although, as is explained, “burgle” isn’t quite the right word for it, because burglars normally take only the most expensive, marketable items. But these thieves have literally stolen every single thing in the Ransome’s flat, right down to the toilet paper in the bathroom and the casserole in the oven. And the oven, too. All they are left with is, as the title indicates, the clothes they are standing in. Mrs. Ransome, a sweet soul, finds herself strangely excited by their new material poverty. She explores the neighborhood, venturing into shops she never would have patronized before and enjoying the simple life to be had when one owns only the essentials. Mr. Ransome, however, sees only the inconvenience of it all. Mrs. Ransome is almost disappointed when their belongings turn up in a storage unit in an industrial park—though the fact that their belongings have all been reassembled perfectly into a semblance of their home and, in fact, a young couple has been living there and playing house does put a curious spin on the discovery.

Bennett’s quiet, quirky novella does a delightful job of exposing all the small accommodations, evasions, and outright fabrications that allow two people to live together in some semblance of happiness, or at least of comfort. ( )

Mr. and Mrs. Ransome live a very quiet life. Apparently they have no friends, no family to speak of and each day is like the last. Mr. Ransome tunes Mrs. Ransome out by slipping on his headphones and listens to Mozart while Mrs. Ransome looks on. All changes one evening while they are attending the opera, mozart of course. They return to find their apartment completely stripped of absolutely everything. It is when the "stuff" is gone do they, especially Mrs. Ransome learn to live a little and break free from the shell they have formed.
Written by the author of The Uncommon Reader this book is small in stature but huge on relationship complacency. Some of Bennett's British humor may have been lost on me. Recommended it you are interested in reading more of Bennett. ( )

quirky little book and a very fast read. Well written parable of a traditional and conservative British couple who begin re-evaluating their lives after their flat is "burgled" (and, as the book explains, it is "burgled" not "robbed").

The only thing keeping this from a 5 star review (in my opinion) is the ending. Since I don't want to put out any spoilers, I will simply say it was unexpected and somewhat diluted the "message" this book seemed to be trying to offer.

Then again, maybe it should be read simply as a fun book. How would YOU react if you came home and everything including the contents of your refrigerator (and the refrigerator itself) and your toilet paper were all taken??? ( )

Fun read with a bite. ( )

Small, weird, funny, unexpected, fantastic. ( )

What would happen if you came home to find your house completely empty - Every piece of furniture, every picture, every physical memory of your life was gone? The Clothes the Stood Up In, explores the stress of loss and the chance of rebirth. ( )

Maurice and Rosemary Ransome return home from a night at the opera to discover that their flat has been burglarized. Everything, from the casserole in the oven to the toilet paper, has been taken. In the weeks following the bizarre theft, the middle-aged couple are suddenly forced to answer some difficult questions about themselves, namely, "Who are we without our possessions?" Their individual reactions to the situation highlight their response to this question.

After reading The Uncommon Reader and loving every moment of it, I was interested in finding more by the same author. From the description on it's cover, this book sounded like a light, amusing read. Since this is technically Bennett's first novel (novella might be more appropriate), I went in without any real expectations.
Unfortunately, I was not impressed by this book. The premise is intriguing and has a lot of potential and the prose is at times very eloquent, but it just didn't do anything for me. With a topic that is capable of such depth, this book could have been so much more. It started out all right but towards the end, it seemed to go off in a different and unrelated direction, almost as if the author himself wasn't sure where his story was going.

I don't regret reading this book. It was entertaining, at times funny, and even a little bittersweet. It was enjoyable. Not nearly as enjoyable or thought-provoking as Uncommon Reader, but not a bad read either. It is not a book that will stick with me for long, nor one that I will find myself thinking over a year from now. I have no plan to read this again or add it to my collection.
I would recommend this book to someone who is a fan of Bennett's other work and perhaps to anyone who enjoys British humor. The last quarter of the book contains some sexual content in the form of an audio tape recording. Nothing is explicitly described, but it could be uncomfortable for those who are sensitive to it. Those who wish to avoid such content might want to skip this read altogether. ( )

odd, funny, a little sweet, a lot sad ( )

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4152029 ( )

Thought this was brilliant - what an idea. I love Alan Bennett's writing ( )

A short story of 111 pages (smaller than a standard paperback page), first published in the London Review of Books. An unusual burglary prompts a journey of self-discovery. I couldn't put it down and stayed up late, reading under the covers. ( )