The Smell of Other People's Houses

“Sometimes you can be inserted into another person's life just by witnessing something you were never really supposed to be a part of.”

The Smell of Other People’s Houses is such a painfully open story that I feel like I can’t even critique it, I just have let it into my heart to shape and change me - making me a better person for having read it. I was either on the verge of tears or surrounded by this familiar warmth. Set against 1970s Alaska, this story comes to life in the quiet and honest moments in four teens lives. In how they interact with each other, their town, and their truths. There was such an earnestness and groundedness to the story that gave this heavy weight that was both comforting and oppressing. It made show more everything feel so much bigger and impactful, but never manipulative or forced.

Some of the characters kinda blended together in the beginning of the story. It really wasn’t a big issue, because after a few chapters the characters become more clearly distinct. And the audiobook had a full cast so that was helpful as well. The Smell of Other People’s Houses is a true slice-of-life story. I wouldn’t really say there’s a plot, but it’s a truly wonderful example of a character driven story that is both raw and realistic. A true highlight of the year. show less

I thoroughly enjoyed The Smell of Other People's Houses (as well as chatting about the title with kids walking into the library). In a nutshell, Hitchcock portrays the harsh realities and frank beauties of Alaska, deftly weaving together the lives of four adolescent narrators. It's a spider's web that manages to be lovely rather than cliché, and makes me want to explore the North.

I really enjoyed reading this short little book. This book first grabbed my attention with its title. I loved the title and the purple cover is just beautiful. The story inside the cover was equally wonderful. I haven't read a lot of books set in Alaska so the setting was a big draw for me. This was one of those books that I didn't want to put down and I read most of it within a day.

This book is told from multiple points of view. I really enjoyed each character's voice almost equally in this book. I think that the way the book was put together really built up my need to know what was going to happen to everyone. I loved the fact that this was not just another teen romance. In fact, there really isn't any romance in this book at all but show more it full of emotion.

One of the main strengths of this book is the descriptions. I love that scents are included in some of the descriptions. The book isn't packed with description of different smells but they are occasionally mentioned and help give a nicely rounded complete picture of the environment. I did find myself wishing that the time period would have had a stronger feel in the story. There were moments that the 1970's setting of the book was clearly illustrated. There were other times that I almost forgot that the events take place during a different time period.

I really liked that this book wasn't afraid to deal with very difficult topics. I am actually quite surprised that this one little book decided to focus on so many issues and that it ended up working so well. Poverty, teen pregnancy, and abuse all have a place in this book but I was still able to find hope in the story. It is really quite amazing that this story could have such a positive ending.

I would highly recommend this book to others. It was a really engrossing story that I found hard to put down. This is the first book by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock that I have read but I would not hesitate to pick up her work in the future.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Children's - Wendy Lamb Books via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life. http://carolesrandomlife.blogspot.com/ show less

Picked up an ARC on my last day at ALA and I'm so glad I did. I wasn't sure such a slim book could successfully pull off four different points of view, but oh, did it ever. I loved these characters, was glad to catch a glimpse into a place and time I hadn't encountered before, and couldn't get enough of Hitchcock's writing. Some might say things tied up a bit too nicely, but I'm always willing to set aside believability for the sake of a great ending. The Smell of Other People's Houses is a beautiful first novel. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

"Because sometimes you just have to hold on to whatever you can."

To be honest, when I picked this one up - I wasn't sure what I was getting in to. The cover is gorgeous but the title was odd... But the writing was wonderful - each line said a lot more than just words. And the interwoven story of all the kids and how all their parents are all pieces of puzzle was so enjoyable to unravel with each chapter. I loved this one.

I really, really enjoyed this! The setting was very unique: I sure have never read anything set in Alaska, let alone in 1970, and I don't think this will happen again anytime soon. I love multiple perspective stories, and parallel stories that start to intermingle the longer everything goes on. I also cried in pretty much every single chapter, which again proves just how good this was.

Holy insta love, my eyebrow got a good workout throughout this book. Luckily it wasn't the main focal point of the story.

This book covers the lives of four teenagers living in Alaska in the 1970s after it became a state. Ruth lost her father in a tragic plane accident that left her mother mentally insane and put her and her sister in the care of her strict Catholic grandmother. That doesn't stop her from experimenting teenage rebellion and getting pregnant with the child of a popular boy at school. Dora is a Native with an absentee mother and an abusive father. Her father ends up in jail for a time while her mother goes off with her friends and spends all their money on alcohol. The only good thing that came out of it was that she got show more to live with a nicer family that took her in when no one else would. Alyce loves ballet but she loves her father more which is why she forfeits any chance at getting good roles and skips the dance conditioning every summer for the chance to help her father during fishing season. But this year is different and she has never figured out a way to tell her dad that she would much rather be dancing than cleaning the fish they catch. Ever since Hank's father disappeared he's decided to be the man of the house to protect his brothers. When things escalate with his step-father the three boys decide to move in hopes of finding a better home.

I liked the connection between all the stories. They all wanted to find a place they could call home and feel that sense of comfort. Though there were many points of views the story didn't drag and not one story was better than the other. It's both a good and bad thing because in the end I didn't feel especially drawn to one character. But it was a nice story with a pretty ending. show less